the empire strikes back

FSU has one goal in mind — the national championship

By Josh Robbins
The Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Confidence and determination wash over Florida State defensive end Alonzo Jackson when, for the umpteenth time, he offers a prediction for the Seminoles’ upcoming football season.
‘‘I’m telling you,’’ Jackson says, his voice rising. ‘‘I’m telling you we’re coming back with a vengeance!’’
He smiles, like a man who believes he has spoken a fundamental truth. The Seminoles have revenge on their minds.
Last year the Seminoles finished with an 8-4 record, placed second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and lost to in-state rivals Miami and Florida. For a program that had won 10 or more games every season for 14 consecutive seasons, that’s a lot of losing.
The memory of last year even prompts straight-laced quarterback Chris Rix to make a bold statement of his own. ‘‘In the end picture, anything less than a national championship here is a failure,’’ he says. ‘‘With the amount of talent we have out there, it’s unbelievable.’’
The Seminoles kick off their 2002 training camp this week. Freshmen reported Monday and begin practicing Wednesday. Returning players report on Thursday, followed on Saturday by the first practice for entire team.
Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden senses a different attitude among his players and his coaches. Bowden believes everyone has recovered from the death of linebacker Devaughn Darling during an off-season workout prior to the 2001 season.
‘‘When he passed away, No. 1, there was sadness. But even more than that, there was doubt about the coaches,’’ Bowden says. ‘‘So there was a lot of doubt and apprehension among players and coaches and mistrust and stuff like that.’’
Bowden told his coaches last season not to work players too hard in practice.
‘‘You can’t imagine how many times I talked to my coaches about, ‘Don’t work ‘em too hard,’ ‘‘ Bowden remembers. ‘‘The next thing you know, you’re not coaching like you should be. You’re not even doing the kids fairly.
‘‘Do you see any of that lingering this year?’’ he continues. ‘‘Not one bit. It seems like a different set of guys. They’ve kind of given us the green light to go.’’
Players point to this summer’s voluntary workouts, which garnered record attendance. On Thursday, 46 players braved sweltering conditions to participate in the summer’s last informal conditioning drill, a series of 16 sprints of 110 yards apiece.
‘‘I think everybody was a little cautious last year after losing Devaughn, but I think we definitely come out this year willing to work a little harder,’’ running back Nick Maddox says.
This season will be more grueling, too.
For the first time in the program’s history, Florida State will play 13 regular-season games, beginning with the Eddie Robinson Classic against Iowa State on Aug. 24 in Kansas City, Mo. One week later, the Seminoles open their ACC schedule at home against Virginia. Never before has FSU played two football games in August.
In addition to their Oct. 12 game at Miami, the Seminoles also face potentially dangerous road games against defending ACC champion Maryland, Louisville, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State.
Though this year’s schedule appears more difficult than last year’s, Bowden enters the start of camp far more confident in his team’s chances. He has labeled the team a contender for the national championship, something he was hesitant to do last season.
Gone are his concerns about the team’s inexperience, especially at quarterback. Before last season, Rix had never played a down of college football. Now he has 12 games of experience and ended last year performing like a veteran.
Seven other returning starters join Rix on offense — including all five offensive linemen — while eight starters are back on defense. Add kicker Xavier Beitia and punter Chance Gwaltney, and the Seminoles have 18 returning starters, the most in the ACC.
‘‘We struggled a little bit last year, but we came back at the very end, showing that we will be ready for this season,’’ says defensive end Kevin Emanuel.
There’s that trademark optimism once again. It seems to have filtered down to Jackson’s teammates, too.
‘‘As long as winning is the main point of the team, we’re going to be so good this year because we’re so dangerous,’’ Maddox says. ‘‘That year of experience under everybody’s belt, plus you get the injured guys back. Wow. That makes for a very, very dangerous team.’’

 

Prediction: FSU starts out with a suprise loss to ISU!

OK, It's a SERIOUS longshot, but it could happen...and nothing could make me happier!
No offense, Larry.

 

NCSU becomes the first ACC team to beat FSU in consecutive years.

 

The semis had better get serious because the rest of the ACC is closing in fast. Well, except Duke. NCS and Clemson are already there. Let FSU take it out on the Heels. No mercy.

 

Sorry, they'll own that tie with the TarHeels even though the Heels lost key starters at key positions...

 

No way in hell they beat Miami at Miami. I can't think of 1 position where FSU is better than Miami.

My top 5...
1) Miami - still the best team in the land overall
2) Oklahoma - balanced and deep - DL is awesome
3) Texas - talented as anyone, history says Mack will lose the big game. With Oklahoma at home, is this the year??
4) Tennessee - should win all but Miami game
5) Colorado - Big12 is loaded! They are better than Ohio St and any PAC10 team.

Sleeper: Marshall - beating Va Tech in Blacksburg could give them a early high profile win.

Florida State, IMO, has the toughest schedule in the land.
Tough games include:
Louisville, Miami, Florida, at Maryland, at Ga Tech and at NC State

They will lose at least 2 of those games.

 

FSU looks strong. Miami will be a test, but FSU is better. Last year was more a reflection of the drop in play at FSU.

One question Larry, the offense looks real good, but what about the defense? I'm not that familar, but there didn't seem to be any big time playmakers last year on the FSU defense.

I'm a bit worried about the UT defensive line. Otherwise I'd put them right in the BCS title hunt.

 

UT's DL is about like Miami's DBs. The one big problem.

The linebackers should be good. Eddie Moore is a guy I wouldn't mind having at Carolina. Burnett is solid returning. He should probably get up around 100 tackles this year. Between he and your safeties, Battle and Baker, you should be decent overall. Greer coming back helps. I'm looking at him early, because as a senior he should be way above average. Was Miles injured last year?

What would really help for you guys is to have Whiteside step up at MLB. But in front of him, you pretty much just have four guys at DT who don't look to have distinguished themselves. You hope the two guys that are around 300 will step up - you assume Rashad Moore is one, having had some playing time. What's up with him getting a pick? I think I remember that.

I guess Hand is entrenched at the one end but I'd like to see Neal come on over Ritzmann.

 

Darnell Dockett should definately emerge this year. Michael Boulware I could see being a force, some have high feelings on Keldall Pope but I dunno. Womble's not a play maker, but should start becoming a guy to watch as a solid interior lineman. Alonzo Jackson should be a bit of a playmaker along the line but I don't know about him in the pros at 250. I'm really unsure of why FSU is so undersized, though, and that could be their undoing. If Dockett's playing end, where I'd have to put him, then Benford should be a good DT as well.

I'm totally unfamiliar with the secondary.

 

CATCH! I thought you followed football? Fox Sports South referred to Clemson as "the dregs of the ACC" yesterday. They have NO oline, QB, or defense! They could very easily win only one game this year.