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Seminole Scott teams up with a reptilian opponent to produce a show worth hearing

Ever eavesdrop on guys talking college football? Guys who sound like they know what they're talking about? That's what it's like to wrap your ears around a listenable new podcast called Friends Except Saturday. It's the work of Scott, an FSU grad, and Bryan who attended a certain school to the southeast. You can catch FES via iTunes. But first, some background from the show's better half.

Scott: First of all, thank you to Rich and Chantrant.com for giving us a forum to introduce our podcast. I have been a reader of the site for a very long time, and it is an honor to be a part of it. Bryan and I really appreciate that support and that you have given our show.

When did you go to FSU and what are your favorite games or sports-related moments during that time?

Scott: I started at Florida State in the summer of 1999. Not a bad year to start going to FSU huh? I’m sure it would be easy to say that the 1999 championship was my fondest moment, but that would be false.  Although it was awesome to witness a national championship, I hadn’t yet become a huge fan, and didn’t yet appreciate the magnitude of the event and how few times a fan base gets to experience it.

In terms of a favorite moment, I would have to be split into two: 

• “31-7”. Such a satisfying feeling to finally beat a team that had, for what felt like forever, walked all over FSU. The helmet paint chipping hit by Moody on Demps was amazing. But the moment in that game that stands out the most was Eddie Gran saying to Jimbo Fisher “They quit… Jimbo, they quit” (link), when referring to Urban Meyer giving up on the game, and consequently the Gators later that year. 

• The other moment that sticks with me the most was being seated in the same end zone where the infamous Stanford Samuel vs. Roscoe Parrish hit happened. The sound alone was intense, but just being right there to witness that impact was incredible. I thought Parrish would never play again, just from the impact of the collision.  Although FSU lost that game, it was just a once in a lifetime thing to be right there for history.

How did your show start, whose idea and how often will you produce new episodes?

Scott: The show started because we were tired of hearing podcasts from writers who didn’t sound like anyone we talked to about sports. It always sounded like they had a script of bullet points they wanted to cover that made it so robotic and stale.  And what little banter the hosts had outside of the topics they wanted to cover, seemed forced and uncomfortable. We wanted to hear something smarter, funnier, and more honest than just your typical X’s and O’s podcast. 

The 4-1-1 on Josh Delph, that new face in the Noles lineup

Good story here on Josh Delph, the name that's beginning to creep into minds and hearts of FSU Baseball fans. Just a freshman, he's hitting at a decent clip for a newcomer facing tougher pitching than a year ago in high school. And in the field, the guy is perfect: 0 errors in 34 games he's played. So remember the name. You'll be hearing more of it in the years to come.

He's Baaaaaack! Uh, but does anybody remember him to begin with?

FSU has a new mascot character. Or, according to the press release, an oldie but a goodie (a "revived" mascot).

His name is Cimarron and you'll be seeing him at Seminole athletic events and other public appearances. The reason is pretty apparent: A guy in a horse costume is much easier and more affordable to schedule -- not to mention logistics and on-site pooper-scooper duty -- than Osceola and his faithful steed.

Let us know what you think of Cimarron, reimagined by a leading corporate costume designer, on the Nole Poll on the right. And here's the complete release from FSU's Media Relations:

The Athletics Promotions and Marketing Office at Florida State University unveiled on Thursday the costume and logos associated with the revived character “Cimarron” that will be associated with Seminole athletic events.

Under the supervision of FSU’s cheer and spirit groups, Cimarron will make appearances at many Florida State athletic events and functions. In addition, the character will make public appearances and will be available for functions at area schools and service projects. Cimarron will also serve as the mascot of the Florida State University Kid’s Club. Fans can find officially licensed products bearing Cimarron’s likeness at retailers soon.

Another "can't miss" future star checks out, but don't blame this one on the coaches

The expected departure of Jeff Luc came to pass on Wednesday, as announced by FSU coach Jimbo Fisher. Luc, of course, was a five-star that every school wanted and was pretty much the crown jewel of the Noles 2010 recruiting class. And then?

Then he slowly faded from view. When his name did pop up -- usually in the spring -- Luc was remembered as the chiseled-better-than-a-Greek-God LB with immense potential, his breakout season just around the corner.

Now he'll be lumped in with past phenoms who fizzled. Guys like Xavier Lee and Fred Rouse. But not for the same reasons.

Luc's failure to launch and eventual departure wasn't due to character issues or because he thought superior talent meant he wouldn't have to work that hard -- stuff that previous coaches overlooked in recruiting and couldn't correct later. 

The reason, according to our source, is that Luc never really fit in at middle or weakside linebacker and clearly struggled to grasp the playbook. It's just stunning that a guy can't grasp how to play linebacker when his teachers are Hudson and Stoops. Both veterans and even younger guys got it. Luc couldn't? 

His absence leaves only three experienced linebackers: Christian Jones, Vince Williams and Telvin Smith -- though the Nick Moody move should pay dividends. 

But are the coaches worried? Naw, they're probably thinking what we're thinking: Better to give the young guys a shot at moving up the depth chart -- including incoming freshmen like stud Markuss Eligwe -- than waiting yet another year for number 48 to become the next Derrick Brooks. Here's hoping the light comes on for him at a new school in a different conference.

FSU a last minute choice for the newest Nole

Tuesday's commitment by 4-Star LB E.J. Levenberry was right down to the wire." He admitted to the Washington Post he decided only about an hour before the announcement. “I was thinking about it all last night whether it would be Michigan or Florida State.”

He also told The Post that he chose Florida State "because it had the best program for his likely major (Criminology) and also seemed like a place where he could compete for playing time right away under a defensive assistant, Odell Haggins, with whom he grew comfortable with during the recruiting process.

"Levenberry visited Tallahassee three times and said the Seminoles had been recruiting him since between his freshman and sophomore seasons."

Besides earning a reputation as a hard hitter, Nole fans know all too well a player's actions off the field are important. Which is why we like this video of E.J. sounding the exact opposite of a spoiled football star, along with some solid character indicators from his coach.

Update: E.J. Levenberry commits to FSU

Here's the story from his hometown newspaper.

An early plum for the Noles 2013 class would be 4-Star Virginia LB E.J. Levenberry. At 6'3", 226 lbs. he fits the prototype LB mold nicely. And the video above is a testament to his skills and speed.

E.J. announces his college commitment today. It's reportedly down to FSU and Michigan, though a Washington Post story says he favors the Noles. Besides getting a promising talent, Florida State would be adding an E.J. to the roster to the replace the one that will be sweating out the NFL draft around this time next year.

We drop in on Mike Martin as he talks about sweeping FSU's rivals from bling town

It's not everyday FSU Baseball is in the zone like it was for three straight over the weekend. Mike Martin recognizes just how big a sweep of the Canes really is as he talks about it here in his Sunday post game press conference.

Jimbo on tour talks about the offense

Here's video of Jimbo firing up Pensacola boosters duirng his spring tour. In this clip "Mean Gene" asks him to talk about the offense, specifically the QBs.

It's a whole new ballgame for FSU's pitchers

With the Hurricanes blowing into town for a crucial weekend series, our program insider looks at how the Noles pitching is progressing under new coach Mike Bell.

by Seminole Savant

Florida State coach Mike Martin knew there would be speed bumps this season when it came to the Seminoles’ young pitching staff.

And there have been frustrating moments, including the three midweek losses to Florida and a 17-6 loss to Boston College on Sunday.

But the big picture has been clear: this is a different pitching staff under the guidance of Mike Martin and first-year pitching coach Mike Bell.

Pitchers have praised Bell for his patience and demeanor. He’s preached keeping the ball down and inducing ground balls. He’s expanded the use of video analysis, sitting all of the pitchers in a room together during the fall so everyone can take part in critiquing mechanics.

A year after losing ace Sean Gilmartin and two of the teams’ best relievers in Daniel Bennett and Tyler Everett, FSU’s young staff has a 3.49 ERA with 279 strikeouts and 129 walks (in 330 innings).

“Michael (Bell) is just doing a fantastic job with our pitchers,” Martin said. “I am just so impressed with the way that we are under control. We are throwing change-ups and cureveballs in all counts, we are keeping hitters off balance and it is a direct result of the great job that Michael is doing with our pitching staff.”

Photo of Robert Benincasa by FSU grad Reid Compton (www.reidcompton.com)

Jimbo's spring game press conference uncut

You've seen or read bits and pieces of Jimbo's media grilling after Saturday's annual Garnet and Gold contest. Now hear him uncut (except for a few awkward pauses) as the Seminoles coach goes in depth on which players and what segments made his spring honor roll.