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Inside skinny on the Racers from Murray State's play-by-play announcer

Neal Bradley has been broadcasting Murray State games for several years, and has watched the team in pre-season workouts. Here's his no-B.S. look at the team that lines up against FSU on Saturday.

"They have all the elements they need to succeed at the FCS level. The receivers are there, good offensive line. But for this team to go to the next level against the FBS, they needed to improve defensively and that's something where I think they've made big strides. It's a good team, but you may not be able to notice that when they line up against the Seminoles on Saturday night."

On the offense:

"When they're playing a team at our level they use the run to set up the pass. That might be next to impossible to do Saturday night. But they do like to throw 35 to 45 passes per game. That's mostly short passes. But our short passes are like running plays, they're just done with receivers with little bubble screens and things of that sort. And you'll see that Saturday night with short passes to get the ball out of (QB) Casey's hands quickly and into somebody else's, especially early to try and get some confidence against that incredible front line of Florida State."

On veteran QB Casey Brockman:

"He's very poised in the pocket. He's really improved in his decision making about when to tuck and run. Because of his size (6-2, 220), he is capable of getting a few yards, even breaking off 10 to 15 yard runs from time to time. But he's a very smart kid. Just really seems to grasp what the offense is trying to do. He can throw the deep ball, hits well on the short ball and just really doesn't have any bad qualities about him whatsoever. And the team loves him. He's also a quarterback who's going to shatter every record pretty much held by a quarterback here."

On who to watch catching the ball:

"It's an impressive group of returnees. Walter Powell (no. 9) has probably been the most impressive. He's a kid that really came on toward the end of last year. He's very dangerous and has really great hands and a knack for getting open. Ja-Vonta Trotter (no. 7) has great speed, and Patrick Robertson (no. 5) is probably even a better speed guy. He's a little bigger than Trotter. Then a kid who walked on last year, Nevar Griffin (no. 85), 6-2, 205, he's become really good, too. And Dontel Watkins (no. 17), the transfer from Utah State, he'll get a lot of playing time. Also Anthony Hayes (no. 16) is another bowl division transfer. So it's not your typical receiving corps that was FCS all the way."

On Coach Hatcher calling any trick plays:

"He's not a guy that depends on gadgetry unless other things aren't working. He'll pull one out now and then. The year before last we were ahead at the half and he started the second half with an onside kick. You don't see that very often. But based upon what I know of Hatcher, you won't see any gadget plays unless it's late and they need to get a score. I think he's holding those plays close to the vest for games they have a very good chance of winning."

On how much Hatcher's defense has improved now that he's entering his third year as head coach:

Stud RB transfer from Ohio State will have little impact for Murray State on Saturday

Murray State play-by-play broadcaster Neal Bradley tells us that Jaamal Berry will be a great addition to the Racers, just not on Saturday at Doak.

"The question for 2012 was running back and it looks like they answered that with Jamal Berry. I don't think he'll play against Florida State, though, and if he does I don't think he'll be any impact at all. He's a bowl division transfer from Ohio State. He's just getting eligible this week with the NCAA clearing house. And his time with the team to practice has been limited to just two weeks. He had some good numbers when he was at Ohio State, was a highly sought after 4-Star recruit, and at our level he'll be a fantastic running back. But he's just not in shape at this point, doesn't know the plays and they think it may be as late as Friday just getting him cleared."

This campus altercation last year probably has a lot to do with Berry's departure from the Buckeyes.

He's Baaaaack: Ryan kicks off his 2012 Season of Rants

This is it.

This is the moment we have been waiting for since December 29, 2011.

We’ve spent the last 8 months watching the television, reading the newspaper, and trolling the internet forums, gathering as much information as we could.

We watched 18 year old men put on the garnet and gold cap in February and pledge themselves to this university for the next four years.

We watched as we saw our first glimpse of next season in April, wondering who would be ready to take that next step in the fall.

We spent all summer reading and listening to the good and the bad, from quality players being removed from the program, to incoming players preparing to make their mark from day 1.

We’ve listened as the talking pundits have declared, once again, FSU is “back.”

And now, it’s time for the players, who have committed their bodies and mind since the end of last season, to represent the garnet and gold on the field.

But it’s also time for us, as fans, to represent the garnet and gold everywhere else.

We need to be there, for our team, at all times. From kickoff until the clock shows all zeros, we need to be on our feet, yelling, rooting, and showing opposing teams that a trip to Doak Campbell Stadium is the worst thing imaginable.

We need to walk around from Sunday-Friday in our garnet and gold best, letting all who come into contact with us know that we are fans of college football’s greatest team.

But most of all, we need to support them. From every blowout win to heartbreaking loss, from touchdowns to interceptions, sacks to blown coverage, and everything else in between. These young men who so valiantly fight for our team need to know that they have our support.

We need to support our coaches, who spend every waking moment finding ways to improve this team.

So whether you make it to every game, or have to listen to Gene Deckerhoff on the radio, be there for your Seminoles in whatever way possible.

As Coach Fisher once said, “This is our time. This is FSU time!”

Seminole Soundbites: Rodney Smith on the urgency for FSU seniors, "We’ve gotta put it all out there on the table"

Hard to believe big Rodney Smith is starting his final season. He's had some great highlights, but still has a lot to prove. And speaking on behalf of fellow seniors, it's all about the ultimate goal of championships.

Seminole Soundbites: Terrence Brooks pumped for a big season after leaving "some fans upset last year"

He's FSU's new starting safety. But junior Terrence Brooks isn't happy about one thing: the way the team let down some fans last year. You can hear Brooks' optimism for 2012 as he talks about the Noles taking maturity and team unity to a new level.

Seminole Soundbites: Timmy Jernigan knows "There are a lot of expectations out there and we’re just trying to make everything come true"

Here's another key player who seldom sits down with the media. Soph nose tackle Timmy Jernigan talks about adding technique to his raw physical advantage, getting double-teamed, and sharing time at his position with Amp McCloud who’s working to overcome a pre-season injury.

Breaking News: Dan Hicks out for the season

Dan Hicks is out for the season with microfracture surgery on his knee. He could have been the No. 2 tight end but is done. And he already took a redshirt earlier in his career.

Amp McCloud is not going to play in the opener but could play in week 2.

[Tuesday night report from Bob Ferrante for ChantRant.]

Seminole fan Chris Hatcher will try not to "get caught up" in the moment on Saturday

By now you know Murray State's Coach is a lifelong Nole fan. So he'll be trying his best not to start chopping when he hears The Chant. He told the Murray Ledger & Times, "We are going to be in a big stadium, hearing the old War Chant, watching (Chief) Osceola throw the big, flaming spear down as he rides Renegade on the field. I’m a Florida State buff, so I know all of that stuff,” then added “But you know, you can’t get caught up in that moment.”

Hatcher was far more serious in the video above, as he gives a sneak preview of the Racers -- especially the offense -- at the end of two-a-days. As for Saturday's game, Hatcher says, "“We are going to have to throw the ball quick, we are going to have to run the ball right at them and there won’t be any side-to-side runnning or anything like that, just because they are so big and athletic and fast.”

Here's another video preview of Murray State, this one a close-up of the O-Line that will try to slow down FSU's defensive rush.

Chris Hatcher on everything from his playbook to the rumor about once being considered for FSU's O.C. job

Here's part two of our exclusive interview with Murray State Coach, Chris Hatcher.

If you put your playbook next to Mike Leach's playbook, would they be almost page for page? Or, say, 80% alike?

"I assume he's still doing the same thing. They'd probably be 80 or 90 percent the same."

Will you have any special wrinkles for FSU, maybe some pages you're adding to the playbook?

"Well, I wouldn't tell you that. But we've got a lot of new freshmen we're going to be counting on, so a lot of it will be how far along we are in our installments. But we're going down for that game and do what we do. And if it's good enough to hang in there with those guys that would be great. And if not, we've got ten other games after that'll be important in our pursuit to win the OVC (Ohio Valley Conference) Championship and make the (FCS) playoffs."

You were 7-4 last year and gave in-state rival Louisville a tough opening game. What do you think your biggest improvements are from 2011 to 2012?

"We gave up a few cheap touchdowns early (at Louisville), and then we shut 'em out for three quarters. But we just couldn't get much going offensively. Casey (QB) didn't have a very good day. And we don't play on the big stage but once a year, so the butterflies kinda got to us early and we kind of dug ourselves in a hole. But I think we'll be a lot better defensively this year. Offensively, our biggest question mark will be our left tackle -- we lost a good one there in Raymond Hobson. And then we lost Mike Harris who had a tremendous year at running the football for us. So those will be two areas where we'll be untested going into the first game. Hopefully we can go down there and put a good show on and not get beat up too bad."

What is the strength of your defense going into the season?

Exclusive Interview with Murray State Coach Chris Hatcher as he previews what FSU's defense is up against

Here's part one of our interview with Chris Hatcher, former head coach at Valdosta State and Georgia Southern, now running the show at Murray State.

Coach, if your offense is anything like what you ran at Valdosta State's, FSU DBs will get a good workout on Saturday.

"We like to play the high tempo and of course we hope to be able to score a lot of points this year.

"It's the same offense I learned when I played at Valdosta State for Hal Mumme and Mike Leach. And it's basically the same offense that Mike Leach ran at Texas Tech. Dana Holgorsen (now West Virginia Coach) was a student coach when I played. It's all the same, but we play at a higher tempo than those guys do. We try to play fast break a little bit more, but the plays are all the same. It comes from that air raid, Hal Mumme, Mike Leach type. Then of course I've got a few wrinkles in there. But it's pretty much the same offense we ran at Valdosta State. We had a good run there, won a national title.

"So on Saturday we're going to try to throw the ball around the field as much as we can. But going against FSU in that first game with the great defense they have will be quite a challenge for our football team."

Has your version of the offense evolved much since your Valdosta State days?

"When we were at Valdosta, we were very fortunate to have Dusty Bonner and a lot of big time players playing Division II football. Then we got here to Murray State and they'd only won 13 games in five years. We were trying to piece things together and felt that going to that high tempo would kinda neutralize some of the deficiencies we had. So we've been fortunate. We've recruited well. But we stuck with the fast paced game, and that's the only difference people would see if they remember the Valdosta State days."

Is your fast tempo offense similar to Clemson's, with a goal of running 80 to 90-something plays a game?

"Our first year here I think we averaged 91 plays a game, and that was first in the FCS. Last year we averaged 89 plays a game, which was second in the FCS. So we like to run a lot of plays. We go for it on fourth down a good bit and try to keep the ball in our hands as much as possible."

So is part of your strategy, like Clemson's, just to tire the other team out?

"Yeah, it's no secret. You try to go fast and limit what the defense can run against you and things of that nature. You know, we're up here in basketball country, and we like to say we play basketball on grass."

Talk about your QB, Casey Brockman, who was fourth in passing in FCS last year, and fourth in total offense.

"Casey's a fine player, a former walk-on and a local product who's really thrived in our offense and made it go. He's an extremely accurate passer. Great leader. And he can beat you with his feet, too. I mean, he's not going to choose to run first, but he's got great pocket presence. He's really good at extending the play. So he's got all the intangibles that we look for. And this will be his third year in the system so we're hoping this is gonna be his best year yet."

What do you think Casey does best?

"I think he does a good job of extending plays with his feet. I wouldn't consider him a dual-threat quarterback, just because we're not going to run him a whole lot. But he's able to get himself out of trouble and continue plays and be able to make big throws downfield. But I'm sure with that great defensive line FSU has that unfortunately we'll have to rely on his feet a little more than we'd like to."

Playing high tempo, do want your quarterback to have it in the air in about 2.5 seconds, or what's your benchmark?

"We don't time it. We just tell the line, you block as long as he needs you to, and throw it to the guy with your color jersey on. And that's pretty much how we coach it up."