NCAA Football FanHouse

Florida State Loses Starting Guard for Season

Adam Jacobi — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, NCAA FB Injuries

Over the next six months, this sort of thing would be a serious medical problem for Bellamy. Yes, football is out of the question.

Not good news of the extra large variety from Tallahassee, as FSU guard Evan Bellamy has been put down for the season after doctors found a blood clot in his right leg. Fortunately, Bellamy's life is in no danger--he was released from the hospital today after being admitted last week--but football's a long way away.

Treatment will probably last for six months, for the duration of which Bellamy is essentially a hemophiliac. As football is a bleedin' sport and Iron Man suits are still illegal (bastard), the redshirt sophomore has no choice but to sit idly on the sidelines and watch.

Also, running with scissors is right out.

Florida State Loses Starting Guard for Season originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OK, Stop Selling Your Championship Rings

Brian Grummell — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:08:00 EST

Filed under: Auburn Football, Florida State Football, ACC, SEC

This is heartbreaking.

Strolling the internets today I've already found two stories of college football championship rings being up for sale on eBay. Florida State and Auburn fans, you must be proud!

I realize hard times regularly happen to even the best of us, and good athletes sometimes get coddled and lose touch with reality and how to do the little things like manage their money. But this stinks.

Given the imperfection of college football's championship system, and the alignment of stars needed to even come close to a title even at a big time national power, it's almost absurd someone would want to part with an actual piece of evidence that they won a title. These aren't exactly like the "place" medals you get for competing in a basketball or football rec league as a kid, you know?

Especially damning is this happening to Auburn, where they didn't, in fact, win a championship in 2003/2004. But dammit if they didn't put it on t-shirts and a ring. Maybe I should be laughing, instead.

OK, Stop Selling Your Championship Rings originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did Miami Recruit Get a Death Threat, or Just Mean Advice?

Brian Cook — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, Miami Football, NCAA FB Recruiting

Via Bruce Feldman($) we come to this quote from Miami safety recruit CJ Holton, who decommitted from Florida State just before signing day to sign with the 'Canes:

Well, a bunch of people were kind of shocked. I got it from a lot of people. I got a bunch of hate mail, just people talking crazy stuff. One dude told me before I leave that I better make sure to get a (bulletproof) vest. That was the craziest thing I heard.

Miami's violent crime rate does happen to be the highest in the country (although Sperling's Best Places cheerfully notes the murder rate is "relatively low"), but more likely that is one supermean guy making impolite reference to the murders of Brian Pata and Sean Taylor.

Which... dude. That's like a whole new universe in negative recruiting, not that it had any impact on Miami's universally-lauded 2008 recruiting class.

Did Miami Recruit Get a Death Threat, or Just Mean Advice? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 19 May 2008 15:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowden: Academic Scandal 'Didn't Bother Me'

Ryan Ferguson — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:55:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, NCAA FB Coaching, NCAA FB Scandal

Bobby Bowden is close to last on the list of people to know what's going on with his football team.

The last: his staff. Which obviously includes "Head Coach In Waiting" Jimbo Fisher.

And that doesn't particularly bother him.

As long as he doesn't know about it, and didn't have anything to do with it, the actions of his players are apparently of no concern to him.

Sound incredible? If you find it hard to believe that a head coach of a national football power could say such a thing, you're not alone. But you can easily imagine Bowden's familiar southern drawl as he speaks on FSU's academic cheating scandal:

Q: There was an academic cheating scandal at Florida State that involved a significant number of football players. As the head coach how did that affect you and did you feel responsible?
A: It didn't bother me because I knew there was no involvement by me or my staff. But I didn't know about it until the president told me. My staff didn't know about it until I told them. I know some people will say 'you're the head coach' but there are a number of things like this that the head coach does not know.

So many levels... so many layers. Where to begin?

For starters: how about the fact that the long-term implications of FSU's cheating scandal have yet to be felt? 36 players were ruled ineligible for last year's Music City Bowl. Since that time, OT Daron Rose was ruled academically ineligible, LB Marcus Ball -- one of the suspended players -- was released from his scholarship and Preston Parker was arrested on a drugs-'n-gun charge. (Parker is likely to return if his charges are reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.) At least 7 starters (and roughly 20 subs) will be unable to play in Florida State's first three games of the season; no doubt school officials are praying nightly that the NCAA will agree that the actions they've taken to flagellate themselves have been sufficient.

Surely this must bother one who molds and leads young men?

Bowden, who turns 79 on Nov. 8, remains undeterred. He insists that it is possible to rebuild the program and win his third national championship.

"Undeterred" is the central theme of FSU's legendary football coach's long farewell tour and should probably replace the Seminoles' ill-timed "Unconquered" campaign, which emerged just in time to kick off back-to-back 7-6 seasons. You've got to give Bobby Bowden credit: he is capable of cutting through his critics with laser-like precision by simply not caring what they have to say. It is an unerring and mind-numbingly effective strategy, and it's tailor-made for him. After all, Bowden is firmly entrenched, he has many powerful allies and no amount of angst from the Seminole fan-base will remove "St. Bobby" until he's ready to move on.

As a result, Bowden provides college football with memorable quotes such as these which tarnish his vast and otherwise enviable legacy. Just a tip, coach: this is one of those things that really ought to bother you.

Bowden: Academic Scandal 'Didn't Bother Me' originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 14 May 2008 23:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preston Parker Likely to Remain a Seminole

Brian Cook — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, NCAA FB Police Blotter

Welcome news for beleaguered Florida State fans who have seen their team decimated by academic scandal and other off-field issues:

The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office on Monday formally charged Parker with a felony for carrying a concealed firearm and a misdemeanor for marijuana possession. But a resolution is in the works that could reduce the felony charge.

"That probably is what we are looking at most strongly," Assistant State Attorney Alan Johnson said. "We will have an offer out there. A perfectly appropriate resolution to this case would be a reduction in charges."

If Parker's charge gets dropped to a misdemeanor, he'll be free to rejoin the team. Bobby Bowden said he would be suspended for "a few" games at the beginning of the year, like a dozen other players implicated in an academic scandal.

Previously on Fanhouse:
Florida State Rapidly Running Out of Football Players
FSU Linebacker Marcus Ball Is Gonzo
Preston Parker Surprisingly Caught With Non-Musket

Preston Parker Likely to Remain a Seminole originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 13 May 2008 15:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida State Rapidly Running Out of Football Players

Brian Cook — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:16:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football

Books may be Florida State's most formidable 2008 opponent.

Potential starting linebacker Marcus Ball announced plans to transfer a couple days ago, bringing the carnage wrought by the Florida State academic scandal to seven players. Make that eight:

An already-thinned Florida State offensive line will be without starting tackle Daron Rose this season.

"He will just have to dig down and get refocused on his grades," his mother, Ann Miller, told the Tampa Tribune on Monday evening. "He'll be back at Florida State (the next year)."

Rose started eleven games last year; redshirt freshman Antwane Greenlee is his projected replacement. At least Greenlee was a highly touted recruit. Seminole fans are predictably overwrought, but at least they can compare themselves to the Marines or... uh... colon cleansing.

It'll be interesting to see what the mass outflux does to Florida State's APR, currently comfortably above sanctions at 954. FSU's unlikely to see a drop big enough to cause problems next year, but further bad luck/poor performance could cause problems once next year's score is an anchor two or three years back.

Florida State Rapidly Running Out of Football Players originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 07 May 2008 15:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FSU Linebacker Marcus Ball Is Gonzo

Brian Cook — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC

Dadgummit.

A blow for the Seminoles:

Florida State announced on Monday that linebacker Marcus Ball has asked for a release from his football scholarship and that request has been granted.

Ball had 24 tackles last year and was projected to start this fall once he served a three-game suspension for being part of the online cheating scandal that gutted the Seminoles late last year. No word on where he's going to transfer to.

With the questionable status of gun-charge bearing Preston Parker, Florida State now finds its vaunted linebacking corps whittled down significantly.

FSU Linebacker Marcus Ball Is Gonzo originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 05 May 2008 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old School: Gators vs. FSU, 1973

Ryan Ferguson — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:06:00 EST

Filed under: Florida Football, Florida State Football, SEC, NCAA FB Fans, NCAA FB History, NCAA FB Video

"Old School" is the College Football FanHouse's irregular look back at the rich history of college football, usually through the medium of embeddable flash video. Check out the Old School archive for more famous plays and infamous hair.

Step back in time with me, college football fans, to an earlier era. Here we have the Seminoles of Florida State taking on the Florida Gators in 1973.

This is pre-Ben Hill Griffin stadium stuff, so that's just Florida Field. Note that the Swamp is highly recognizable. Back then the stadium was painted blue rather than orange but "This is... Gator Country!" is still scribed on those trademark vertical walls rising out of the east and west stands. The press box was a tad smaller back then, too, as you might notice.

Florida's mascot was in a woeful state in those days. "Albert E. Gator" looked like an inflatable green jalapeno with teeth and a tail.

As for the game itself? Florida routed the Seminoles 49-0. For the rivalry, it was an era which favored the Gators, who won 9 straight from 1968-1976. Today, Florida leads the overall series, 30-19-2, but FSU is 17-15-1 against the Gators under Bobby Bowden.

Old School: Gators vs. FSU, 1973 originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 02 May 2008 11:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Old School: The Longest Two Seconds Ever

Brian Cook — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:43:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, Nebraska Football

"Old School" is the College Football FanHouse's irregular look back at the rich history of college football, usually through the medium of embeddable flash video. Check out the Old School archive for more famous plays and infamous hair.

The 1994 Orange Bowl was a classic between Florida State and Nebraska -- and yes, envisioning those schools as long-ago national powers does make me feel old, thank you for asking -- that came down to the final second, twice. Nebraska took a 16-15 lead on a 27-yard field goal with 1:16 left; Florida State made it 18-16 just 55 seconds later.

A 15-yard celebration penalty ensued. Florida State is kicking off from the 20 with 21 seconds left in the game. Those 21 seconds take nearly ten minutes, with the final second occupying the vast bulk of those minutes as the referees accidentally let the final second tick off and the teams flood the field, thinking the game over. It is not:

...all that, and he missed. Favorite moment is ABC cutting to a sideline camera just in time for that camera to get told to get off the damn field.

Florida State won the national title. Eventually.

Old School: The Longest Two Seconds Ever originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preston Parker Surprisingly Caught With Non-Musket

Brian Cook — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:39:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, NCAA FB Police Blotter

Not pictured... but he totally could be that guy.

"Preston Parker" is the sort of name that conjures up images of ascots and yachts and golf clubs and maybe the sort of fraternity you get in because your grandfather's grandfather's grandfather was a member of the Continental Congress.

So this is kind of surprising:

Florida State star Preston Parker was arrested late Monday and charged with carrying a concealed .45-caliber pistol and a small amount of marijuana.

The 21-year-old receiver was released Tuesday from the Palm Beach County Jail, Palm Beach Gardens Police spokeswoman Ellen Lovejoy said. The gun charge is a felony.

Personally I would have bet on an heirloom blunderbuss and Macallan 20, but life is weird sometimes.

Those who didn't watch much of a mediocre ACC team last year might also be surprised that Preston Parker is a pretty excellent wide receiver. Last year he led the team with 62 catches and over 1500 total yards. He's now suspended until the gun charge is cleared up.

Preston Parker Surprisingly Caught With Non-Musket originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peter Tom Willis Sacked By Florida State

Mark Hasty — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:17:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, NCAA FB Media Watch

Former Florida State Seminoles quarterback Peter Tom Willis has been sacked again, this time by his alma mater. Willis has been an analyst on Noles radio broadcasts since 1998 but won't be heard this season because of his criticism of FSU's performance over the past few seasons.

This naturally raises the question, "Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?" Well, Willis has referred to the Seminoles' offense scheme as a "high-school offense" in recent, frustrating years, which strikes me as a rather apt criticism of their recent performance. But hey, it's FSU's network, and they are well within their rights to decide they don't want their analyst to be too critical of the team. Of course, Willis was only saying what was plainly obvious to anybody who has watched the Noles over the past few seasons. They aren't what they used to be, and nobody's really afraid of them any more.

Still, with Willis gone, things should get better in a big hurry. Or at least that's the impression you're going to get if you're listening to their radio broadcasts. As for Peter Tom Willis, I bet you'll find him hanging out with Jim Rose and Steve Stone.

Peter Tom Willis Sacked By Florida State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida State On Probation For Two Years, Just Not The Exciting Kind

Ian Cohen — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:13:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, BCS, NCAA FB Scandal

If this year's Music City Bowl was remarkable for anything (and it really wasn't), it would probably have something to do with the nearly two dozen Florida State players who couldn't make the trip due to allegations of a cheating scandal in an online class. Perhaps this whole Indiana imbroglio is letting FSU slip under the radar a bit with this, but as a preemptive measure in light of their academic shakeup, they are putting themselves on "probation" for two years.

What that entails is up for debate right now, although approximately 60 athletes will have their eligibility affected. None of the names have been released, and let's not forget that the people who missed the Music City Bowl are also ineligible for the first three games of 2008. Before you get your headdress in a twist, let's take a look at this veritable minefield- the Noles don't leave Tallahassee until September 27 (and even that's a de facto homer in Jacksonville against Colorado), and start off with Western Carolina, UT-Chattanooga and Wake Forest. Not to overlook Wake's success over the past two seasons, but you don't exactly bolster your soon-to-be undeserved ranking with a three-pack of Catamounts, Moccasins and Demon Deacons.

Florida State On Probation For Two Years, Just Not The Exciting Kind originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida State's Dodgy 2008 Schedule

Brian Grummell — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Colorado Football, Florida State Football, Miami Football, ACC, The Word

More adventures in iffy scheduling. As for the culprit, where else but a school down south lightening the load.

Florida State has begun recent football seasons against the likes of Miami and Clemson, but because of an academic fraud scandal that will leave Coach Bobby Bowden's team short-handed, the Seminoles will open their 2008 season against two of the weaker teams they've played in recent memory.

FSU on Friday released its 2008 schedule, which features season-opening games at home against Division I-AA teams Western Carolina, on Sept. 6, and Chattanooga on Sept. 13.

I'm all for free enterprise so I'm not here to demand a banning of the whole scheduling of I-AA opponents thing. However, I am here to shame schools like Florida State and LSU who try, no matter their reasons. Money talks and a suitable opponent could have been found.

As made clear in the article, Western Carolina and Chattanooga are a helplessly impoverished man's Appalachian State. They combined to go just 3-21 last year in I-AA. To be fair, the Seminoles do face Colorado in Jacksonville this year after having tripped out to Boulder to play the Buffs last year.

Also: Miami fans already hold a grudge over Florida's general unwillingness to play them. Now Florida State's off the schedule. Not good. What has happened to the state of football in Florida when these schools can't get together? This is the stuff that creates real opportunity for UCF, Florida International and USF to emerge from the shadows. Retracted, amended . . . I know.
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Florida State's Dodgy 2008 Schedule originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recruiting: Less Lobster, More Wholesome

Brian Grummell — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:08:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, Miami Football, NCAA FB Recruiting, The Word

Rarely have the excesses of recruiting ever been so on display as during the recruitment of linebacker Willie Williams. Williams wrote diaries detailing his visits and interactions with coaches for the Miami Herald. In them, he described visits to night clubs, private jet flights, rides in fancy cars and the epicurean madness that is consuming limitless steak and lobster.

It didn't take long for the NCAA to react and further impose recruiting regulations mirroring its reaction to sex and drug related recruiting madness at Colorado several years prior. A brief sampling:

The NCAA acted quickly, forcing schools to formulate and submit written policies that would govern official visits. It outlawed recruiting hostess groups, instead forcing schools to use the tour guides available to any prospective student. Private planes were banned along with personalized jerseys, "gameday simulations," swanky hotel suites and anything but a "standard" meal.

Don't get me wrong, recruiting is still a sometimes seedy game, but it appears some of the excesses have successfully been curbed.

Brian Battle, [Florida State's] associate athletic director for compliance, said the guidelines leveled the playing field and ended a costly game of one-upsmanship.

"[The rules] standardized things. It did away with the excessive nature of things," Battle said. "Everybody was playing by the same rules."

As much as I rail about the NCAA, these recent changes have been reasonable while still allowing schools to show their more coveted recruits a good time. Some things remain unfair ($30 for player to entertain recruits goes a lot further in Starksville than it does Los Angeles or Chicago), but those can be worked out over time.

Recruiting: Less Lobster, More Wholesome originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ACC Embrace of the Hawaii Scheduling Model

Charles Rich — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Clemson Football, Florida State Football, Georgia Tech Football, Virginia Tech Football, ACC

Everyone lambasted the Hawaii schedule for being so easy and especially for having two 1-AA opponents on their schedule. Who knew they were just ahead of the curve.

Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Virginia Tech are all struggling to find one more home game. All of them already have a 1-AA team on the schedule. It appears that all four may have to resort to having two 1-AA home games for the 2008 season.

The problems are the usual: last minute buyouts/cancellations, wanting the game to be relatively safe (read, patsy), not wanting to provide a return game, "needing" another home game and/or not wanting to pay the premium price that 1-A guarantee games now cost.

Of course, those were the same problems Hawaii faced. I'm sure the other teams will get the same sympathy and understanding as the Warriors received for their scheduling issues.

ACC Embrace of the Hawaii Scheduling Model originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trendspotters: Joker Phillips Named 'Coach of Future' at Kentucky

Ryan Ferguson — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, SEC, NCAA FB Coaching, Kentucky Football

FSU's athletic department and Bobby Bowden apparently sparked a trend when they named Jimbo Fisher 'head coach in waiting'. Kentucky has now followed suit; at a press conference on Friday, offensive coordinator Joker Phillips was named 'head coach of the future' -- slight disparity in terminology there -- by UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart.

After Kentucky's bowl win (ironically, over FSU in the Music City Bowl) head coach Rich Brooks received a contract extension through 2011, but apparently he's not sure he'll want to coach any longer than that. From Kentucky Sports Report ($):

"As I am one of the elder statesmen in the coaching profession, I thought it important for recruits to know that there will be continuity in the program and the coaching staff," Brooks said. "Joker Phillips has earned the right as a Kentucky graduate, and having built one of the most productive offenses in school history, to have the opportunity to lead the program in the future."

Nice, but... what's puzzling to me is that Brooks is still a relatively spry 66 years young, and has the moves of a 50-year old. He's no spring chicken, sure, but he looks pretty darn healthy to me. A succession plan? Is that really necessary? Bobby Bowden will turn 79 this year and was basically pushed into naming a successor by FSU's administration. And Joe Paterno is 82, for crying out loud!

Trendspotters: Joker Phillips Named 'Coach of Future' at Kentucky originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can't Knock the Hustle: Geno Hayes

Ian Cohen — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:21:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, BCS, NFL Prospects

In regards to the timeline of the 2007 Florida State Seminoles football season as most people knew it, Geno Hayes fits in thusly: he was the guy who claimed that Tim Tebow was "going down," and he managed to not get suspended for the Music City Bowl. So, he had that going for him.

And now, he'll be the latest Floridian defensive prospect from the ACC to jump from a mediocre team to the NFL. What's interesting is that this might be the first that seems to have gotten some resistance from the head coach; while Randy Shannon seemed to be okay with the departure of Kenny Phillips and Calais Campbell (particularly since the latter got his degree), but Bobby Bowden remains skeptical that Hayes is at the level of last year's LB defection, Lawrence Timmons (1st round, Steelers), but at least was willing to admit "it's a matter of time" before he succeeds at the next level. One can only hope for Hayes' sake that it's not the same "matter of time"-table that Bowden himself is on, because he could damn well be waiting into 2020 for that to come.

Can't Knock the Hustle: Geno Hayes originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kentucky Wins in Wacky Fashion Over Noles for 2nd Straight Bowl Victory

Ryan Ferguson — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:36:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, SEC, Bowl Games, Kentucky Football

Despite turning the ball over 4 times to Florida State's 2, Kentucky pulled out a 35-28 win on the strength of senior QB Andre Woodson, who completed 32/50 for 358 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT.

It wasn't an overly pretty game for the 'Cats or the 'Noles, but one pattern emerged which annoyed fans of both teams: terrible officiating. FSU was robbed on a phantom Offensive Pass Interference call when Greg Carr caught a Drew Weatherford pass in the endzone, and the Big East crew seemed reluctant to call a hold when Kentucky was on defense... for ANY reason, no matter how obvious.

The game also had some wacky turns of events. Late in the 2nd quarter, Lones Seiber lined up and made a 36-yard field goal, giving the 'Cats a 17-14 lead going into the half. FSU's Kenny Ingram was called for a personal foul, however, and Rich Brooks elected wipe the points off the board and take the first down. Two incomplete passes and a questionable intentional grounding call later, Seiber trotted out for a 39-yard attempt, which he missed. Oops.

Bobby Bowden had some strong words for the refs going into the locker room. For the first time in memory, he used the word 'crap', which for Bowden is the equivalent of cursing a blue streak. Frankly, he was right... the officiating was crap.

With 7:55 remaining in the 4th quarter, Woodson threw a 38-yard touchdown strike to Steve Johnson, giving the 'Cats a commanding 35-21 lead. Instead of the game grinding down and becoming a clock management siesta, things started to get quite interesting.

After a touchback on kickoff, Weatherford got the ball back at the 'Noles' 20-yard line and was promptly intercepted by Kentucky's Corey Peters, who brought the ball back to FSU's original line of scrimmage. Two Raphael Little rushes went nowhere (lucky for him he didn't drop the ball; he'd already had 3 fumbles on the night) and Woodson's 3rd-down pass attempt fell incomplete. Lones Seiber, who might well have changed his first name to "Lonely" by this point, ran onto the field and missed another 39-yard field goal.

A minute and 17 seconds later, FSU found themselves in the end zone, making the score 35-27. FSU went for the onside kick, didn't get it, and Kentucky went to their ground game with 1:35 remaining. After a terrible series of 2 yard rushes -- one of which included a fumble by UK's Tony Dixon, but was recovered by the 'Cats -- Tim Masthay punted for 34 yards and a touchback. Thanks to FSU's timeouts, they'd taken only 32 seconds off the clock.

So now it was Kentucky 35, Florida State 28 with 50 seconds remaining. Yet again, Drew Weatherford wasted no time in throwing yet another interception, this time to Kentucky LB Micah Johnson. All Johnson has to do once he snags the leather is to simply get down, and the game will be over... but is that what he did? Nope! The big fella ran it back 24 yards before fumbling at FSU's 17-yard line.

It was a fresh breath of life for FSU, but it wouldn't last long. Five plays later FSU found themselves at their own 45-yard line with :03 remaining on the clock. Hail Mary time! Weatherford's attempt didn't have much of a chance as the endzone was crammed full of Kentucky DBs, who collectively batted down the desperate prayer of a pass and sealing a victory for the Wildcats.

Kentucky Wins in Wacky Fashion Over Noles for 2nd Straight Bowl Victory originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posse on Bowl-way: Florida State

Ian Cohen — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:13:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, SEC, Bowl Games, Kentucky Football

Happy To Be Here?

Well, I imagine that the approximately 4/5ths of the Seminole team that wasn't declared ineligible for the Music City Bowl are at least happy they get the free industry swag and a trip to sunny Nashville (current temp: 55 and cloudy). One could say that the highlight of the season, other than the anointment of Jimbo Fisher as the next head coach, would be a prime-time win over Boston College, but that's the kind of achievement you have to prop up as a highlight when a perennial top-five fixture has reverted to having the kind of non-descript 7-5 years that are usually reserved for the likes of Maryland or NC State.

Come Here Often?

You're kidding, right?
Why Care?

Well, if you're the type of ACC die-hard that likes their schadenfreude sipped straight, you're probably looking to tune in just to see the Seminoles get totally wrecked by Kentucky after that whole academic scandal that gutted their roster. Either that, or you're a Ravens/Bears/Falcons fan that wants to see the quarterback your team might squander a 1st-round pick on (no, not Drew Weatherford). Andre Woodson has been supposedly dive-bombing on mock drafts, but I'm uncertain what he's done that's more egregious than Matt Ryan or Brian Brohm...other than confusing lazy sportswriters by being an African-American QB that isn't known for his running skills.

And The Winner Is...

Do you go with the SEC team that dragged ass to the end of the season or the ACC team that dragged ass all year and is missing 20+ players? The obvious look is to say that SEC > ACC and that FSU sucked anyway before the suspensions, but I'm not so sure that it's so easy. Bowls are rarely indicative or what happened before the season, and the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl is more often than not a close one. But in the end, I don't think FSU has the offensive firepower to score into the 20s, and Kentucky does. Provided there's no bonehead moments from Woodson, I think that's the kinda score we're looking at.

Kentucky 23 Florida State 10

Posse on Bowl-way: Florida State originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida State Suspended For Music City Bowl

Brian Cook — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State Football, ACC, NCAA FB Scandal

You might be looking for a "cornerback" or "wide receiver" in the above headline, but, uh... no. Pretty much just "Florida State":

As many as 20 Florida State football players will be suspended from playing against Kentucky in the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl, as well as the first three games of the 2008 season, for their roles in an alleged cheating scandal involving an Internet-based course, a source with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday morning.

This stems from the widespread academic fraud reported in September that implicated a couple dozen FSU athletes, but at the time the football team was thought to have only one or two of the perpetrators; the Tallahassee Democrat has a full recap of the situation if you're interested.

The bigger news here is not so much the Music City Bowl -- programs are not made by winning anything sponsored by Gaylord Hotels -- but what will be team-crippling suspensions to start 2008. Florida State, unlike many teams, plays a real nonconference schedule these days. With Florida and Colorado on the docket, there's no way for the Seminoles to shuffle teams around and get three tomato cans to open 2008. Also, the ACC tends to play conference games on opening weekend. Florida State's 2008 may end before it starts.

Florida State Suspended For Music City Bowl originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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