 "Photo: Cameron Mellor/FSView")
Florida State will open its season in Tallahassee against in-state rival Miami.
While head coach Bobby Bowden and his staff has been preparing for the Hurricanes on the field, he didn’t expect the hurricane that swept through his own football program.
The NCAA reported in September 2007 that several FSU football players were accused of cheating in a music history class. Bowden suspended 34 players that season in a losing effort at the Music City Bowl.
The NCAA will take away 14 victories from the 2007 and 2008 seasons in which the ineligible players were used. Bowden has tried to appeal the NCAA ruling, because his staff had no part in the academic violation.
The 14 wins will greatly reduce his chance to catch Penn State head coach Joe Paterno in the chase to become the all-time football wins leader at the Division I level.
Adding insult to injury, the Seminoles have had four players arrested during the off-season this year. Linebacker Maurice Harris and receivers Rod Owens and Richard Goodman have been suspended. Former team MVP receiver Preston Parker has been kicked off the team.
The Seminoles had a 9-4 campaign last season, which lead to a Champs Sports Bowl victory over the Wisconsin Badgers. However, FSU fans are looking for a BCS win, and are restless that Bowden hasn’t delivered in the new millennium.
On the gridiron, FSU will have a very tough test ahead this season.
The Seminoles will face some tough non-conference opponents, including national champion Florida, Brigham Young University, and South Florida. And don’t forget the Seminoles’ traditional prime-time season opener against historic rival Miami on Labor Day.
On the offensive side of the ball, Seminoles fans are counting on quarterback Christian Ponder to display NFL potential this season. Ponder threw for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. However, with Parker out of the picture, Ponder will have a limited arsenal of receivers to throw to, as most of them are ineligible or in prison.
He’ll be relying on an offensive line that will return all five starters from the previous season. That experience combined with the play of standouts Rodney Hudson and Ryan McMahon should turn the Seminoles’ traditional weakness into a strength in 2009.
Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews made some noise in Florida State’s spring game, as the defense dominated. Andrews’ unit managed to recover five fumbles, including one for a touchdown.
The defense will return five of its starters, but will miss former defensive end and standout pass rusher Everette Brown. Brown was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2009 draft.
Texas fans will be rooting for FSU at the end of the season, as the Seminoles will play their annual rivalry game against the Gators in Gainesville. The Seminoles haven’t won the “Sunshine Showdown,” since 2003.
Team name: Florida State Seminoles
Head coach: Bobby Bowden
Conference: ACC
2008 record: 9-4
Players to watch:
- Christian Ponder – Junior – QB
2008: 2006 yards passing/55.7 CMP%/14 touchdowns/115 rating
The third-year quarterback will have to carry the offense without the explosive Preston Parker at wide receiver.
- Patrick Robinson – Senior – CB
2008: 26 tackles, 1 interception
The senior is the lone holdover from a secondary which lost both safties and a cornerback.
Game to watch: Nov. 28 at Florida
The trip to Gainesville is as daunting as ever for the Seminoles, who have not beaten their in-state rivals in five years. Florida returns much of the team that claimed last year’s national championship, and blew out the Seminoles en route.
The Word on FSU: The Seminoels must recover from some big losses on both sides of the football, but an challenge for the conference crown in a weak ACC.
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