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Flashback Friday: Warrick Dunn breaks FSU career TD record

The one and only "W.D." runs around and through Southern Miss to break the school TD record. It was November 16, 1996.

Public records reveal salaries for all FSU assistant coaches except one

Regular contributor Bob Ferrante was able to obtain through public records contract numbers for the five new assistants plus Dawsey and Haggins -- everybody except Trickett. Here's what Bob found -- not just about salaries but interesting details, as well.

New Florida State defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will earn $500,000 annually - including $300,000 from speaking engagements and public relations compensation - according to the terms of his contract.

Pruitt’s deal runs through January 2016 – and it will not include a buyout if he is named a college head coach or takes a position on an NFL staff. Otherwise, his buyout amounts to $75,000 buyout for the first year of the contract and $50,000 for the second year.

Pruitt will also earn $7,500 for participating in the ACC championship game.

He and the other FSU assistants will earn postseason bonuses, which had been previously announced. The assistants will earn a month’s salary for an appearance in a non-BCS bowl game, 1.5 month’s salary for an appearance in a BCS bowl game and two months’ salary for an appearance in a national championship game.

Passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey received an extension through January 2015. He will earn $315,000 annually plus postseason bonuses, a raise from his $242,000 salary on a deal that ended last month (that included $37,000 for speaking engagements). Noles247’s Josh Newberg reported earlier that Dawsey passed up an offer to join the staff of the Chicago Bears.

Defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins, who is entering his 20^th season as an FSU assistant, also received an extension through January 2015. He will earn $325,000 annually plus postseason bonuses, a raise from the $275,000 he made annually on the previous contract that ended last month (and included $70,000 for speaking engagements).

New defensive ends coach Sal Sunseri’s contract runs through December 31, 2014. He will earn $200,000 annually plus postseason bonuses. His contract includes a $75,000 buyout for the first year of the contract and $50,000 for the second year.

New linebackers coach Charles Kelly’s contract runs through January 2016. He will earn $275,000 annually, and his deal also includes a bump to $7,500 for an appearance in the ACC championship game. His contract includes a $75,000 buyout for the first year of the contract and $50,000 for the second year.

New running backs coach Randy Sanders’ contract runs through January 2015. He will earn $225,000 in the first year of the deal and $325,000 in the second year. His contract includes a $75,000 buyout for the first year of the contract and $50,000 for the second year.

New tight ends coach Billy Napier’s contract runs through January 2015 and he will earn $275,000 annually. His contract includes a $75,000 buyout for the first year of the contract and $50,000 for the second year.

No updated contract information was provided for offensive line coach Rick Trickett, although a school spokesperson said that Trickett and FSU officials are working on a deal and that the contract has not been finalized. Trickett’s current deal runs through January 2014.

All of the contracts stipulate that, by statute, a maximum of $200,000 annually is paid to the assistant coaches through state funds. The rest come from private sources like Seminole Boosters, Inc.

It was a fumbling, bumbling night in Raleigh

by Bill from Tampa

As the game progressed you never got the feeling that Florida State was going to make that run and make it five straight wins over North Carolina State.

The closest the Seminoles ever got was 9-8 at the 15:22 mark of the first half. After that it was all down hill for the 'Noles as they dropped a disheartening 84-66 loss to the Wolfpack.

Anytime FSU looked poised to make a run at NC State, the Seminoles found some way to mess it up.

The best example of that was what turned out to be a five point turnaround. Down 28-21, Robert Gilchrist blew a slam dunk in transition. The ball quickly went the other way for a three point play bt TJ Warren. So instead of being down by five, FSU found itself down by ten points.

It was pretty much like that the entire game until the margin just got so out of hand, thanks in large part to Warren's 31 points. It was the second time a NCS freshman scored that many in his first game against FSU.

FSU Def. staff loses another member to Stoops

You may not recognize the name Joe Scola, but he's been working behind the scenes as a grad assistant. Now Kentucky media reports he's on his way to UK to become a player development specialist on Stoops' staff. Not a big loss, but more chipping away at continuity as the Noles reboot their defensive braintrust with only one incumbent, Odel Haggins, remaining.

Notice something missing in FSU's 2013 recruiting class?

For only the second time since 1948, Florida State didn’t sign a single player from Georgia. Blame it mainly on the assistant coaches who bailed, like Demayune Craig (his area). While FSU rebounded nicely from the departure of so many assistants by signing a top ten class, it came up with a big goose egg in the Peach State. Even Jimbo couldn’t work his magic across the state line.

But then the Noles were barely under consideration by Georgia’s best to begin with. Of the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s top 50 players, not one had FSU as a contender in the week before signing day. The only guy on the list who was serious about the Noles late in the game was DE Davin Bellamy, a Rivals 3-Star. Bellamy was committed to FSU for most of 2012, but switched to the home state Bulldogs on January 30th, despite a visit by newly-hired Sal Sunseri on the 11th.

So maybe it wasn’t a great year for Georgia talent, you say? Apparently the gators believed it was. They recruited the state hard. Even Will Muschamp’s death ray stare on the sidelines during the UGA-UF game didn’t turn off six Georgia players-- kids who in previous years would’ve at least had FSU on their hot lists. Four of them were AJC Top 50 players. The other two were from South Georgia towns always considered Seminole territory, as much if not more than UGA.

Example: Octavious Jackson a 6-4, 275 OG from Moultrie, just an hour from Tallahassee -- and from Cam Erving’s high school -- signed with the dark side. Didn’t even have FSU on his list.

Border states on all sides joined in the harvest of Georgia’s 2013 high school crop. FSU’s main ACC rival, Clemson, reeled in five Georgia players. National champ Alabama grabbed three. Tennessee signed four and Auburn inked six.

Here’s hoping this one year Georgia drought is just that -- one year. FSU’s new assistants need to re-establish the Noles as the coolest, and in many cases the closest, out of state choice for Peach State stars. 

Did FSU almost lose another assistant coach?

David Kaplan has covered the Bears for several years and currently hosts a show on Comcast's Chicago sports channel. So he isn't exactly a guy who's just making stuff up.

Seminole Soundbites: Devon Bookert may be only 80% but he's making his mark as PG

Haven't heard from this freshman from Alaska before? Here's Bookert after the win over B.C. talking about his on-going injury recovery and what he's doing to be game-ready -- even during games.

Seminole Soundbites: Hamilton insists he didn't take Boston College lightly

The Noles coach is obviously in a better mood after his team edges B.C. 69-66 and notches its 14th win of the year.

Noles win over B.C. closer than Friday's asteroid near miss

by Bill from Tampa

Florida State started strong and then the best free throw shooting team in the ACC held off a determined Boston College team, 69-66, converting 7 of 8 attempts in the final minutes.

For the second straight game Leonard Hamilton started Michael Ojo, Aaron Thomas, and Devon Bookert along with Okaro White and Michael Snaer. The combination once again provided a certain energy that helped FSU build an early 24-12.

But a patient Eagles' offense worked its way back in to the game to trail by just five at the break, 31-26.

On the strength of four three pointers, Boston College took a 45-42 lead at the 13:05 mark when Patrick Heckmann canned a three from above the key.

It was FSU's veterans that carried the team to victory, however, notably Snaer who scored 11 of his 21 points in the last ten minutes of the game.

Snaer's two free throws with 2:05 left gave the Seminoles a 66-60 lead.

Florida State looked to be headed for victory and seemingly in control.

Obviously, Rome isn't the only thing that wasn't built in a day

Building a new Indoor Practice Facility takes time. But Florida State's is progressing nicely, thank you. By the looks of this latest shot, it won't be long before the sounds of construction are replaced by the thud of shoulder pads and toe meeting leather.