Osceola Newspaper

Volume 26, Issue 23

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MAILED WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

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FSU’s athletic director search focuses on four candidates

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OSCEOLA • JANUARY 30, 200 8

Prospects don’t create the drama T

he recruiting message boards are currently filled with drama as high school football players try to decide which school they are going to attend.

The posters and the web czars have become frustrated by the remaining undecided prospects’ indecision, and get down right angry when one of the uncommitted prospects vacillates between school A and school B and school C after visiting the respective campuses.

The emotion becomes even uglier when one commits to school A and then switches his commitment to school B. How ugly? Generally, there are three prevalent theories pontificated in those threads. One is that school B bought the kid. The other is the “teenagers are just fickle” thread. And the third is the kid likes the attention and is just milking the system for all the attention he can get.

While there is some truth in each of these theories, the fact is the fans and the ‘journalists’ who cover recruiting miss a very significant point: recruiting is not about you. It is about the kid; the teenager who has to make the first life-altering decision of their life. And the “drama” everyone is getting frustrated about is not created by the kid as he goes through the process of visiting campuses and meeting coaches and players to explore his options but by us, the fans and media, who are trying to shepherd him to a decision that meets our self-centered timetable and needs.

The kids are not the problem, we are.

Admit it. You are a Peeping Tom just like me: a voyeur who can’t wait to for National Signing Day to come to open all your presents.

Let’s be real. Many of the kids being recruited didn’t have parents who could take them on campus visits their junior summer or chat them up about various college options. Many of the kids who are trying to make this decision didn’t even think about going to college until a couple of months ago when college football coaches were first allowed to make personal contact with them. And with multiple colleges offering visits, there’s a lot to digest.

I don’t know what percentage of kids come from homes where the parents did not attend college but I would venture to say it is a pretty high percentage of kids in Florida.

Some kids do have a parent who went to college; who talked about the college experience and what’s important to look for; and who made multiple campus visits over the years. My hunch is many of those kids were prepared to make early commitments to their favorite school and have stuck by them.

Notice I wrote most of those kids. Why not all?

Well, let’s suppose a hypothetical wide receiver loves Florida State and is willing to commit to Florida State if they offer but they don’t offer right away. The Seminoles are “slow playing” him waiting to see what other receivers they rate higher do first. Or, they may be waiting to see how they do with other positions before they want to offer this prospect. Even though he has his heart set on being a Seminole, what

is he supposed to do?

Schedule visits to other schools of course and hope that FSU eventually offers a visit.

Now, let’s complicate this scenario a little more. FSU has a bunch of other kids on their board that are in the same situation. They like FSU and are willing to take a look but they have their heart set on another school if they should offer.

The NCAA allows a prospect to make five official visits so our hypothetical receiver schedules trips to South Florida, Georgia, Marshall and Florida. That visit list gets posted on the message board. He will schedule one to FSU if they offer but they haven’t yet.

This is a very sensible plan, wouldn’t you agree? He knows what he is looking for and schedules accordingly.

He makes the trip to South Florida with his parents and they all have a good time. Wally Burnham offers a scholarship but warns that they have extended four conditional offers to receivers but can only sign two. If he’s serious about being a Bull, he should not wait too long to commit.

On the drive home, he and his parents agree that South Florida is nice but they want to see some other campuses and wait a little longer.

This would be a simple and quiet process if they could make all their visits in private before deciding. But inquisitive minds want to know what they are thinking and lots of adults make money providing that intrusive information before the picture develops.

The kid gets home and the phone rings.

“How was your visit to South Florida,” the reporter asks. “Great,” the kids says. “I love Wally Burnham and my parents and I love the fact it is close to home.”

“How would you rate your visit?” the reporter follows up. What is the kid going to say? He’s only visited one campus. If he’s polite, and wants to keep his options open, he’s going to say a 9 or a 10.

Everyone thinks he’s leaning to South Florida.

The following week he visits Florida and even though his girlfriend goes there and they have a pharmacy school, he has a terrible visit.

The reporter calls again and asks him to rate the visit. “My girlfriend is a 10 but Oscar Meyer is a zero, so I’d give it a 5,” the kid says. “I think South Florida is superior. My girlfriend and I are thinking of going there.”

The Bull fans go nuts on their board and the Gator fans crucify him on theirs.

The following week he visits Georgia.

Mark Richt is awesome. He loves the campus and the players. Richt tells him, “We only have one scholarship to give and we want to offer it to you if you are ready to commit.”

He likes Georgia better than USF and UF. Should he cancel his other visits and commit? He would like to keep his options open with FSU but Richt needs to know now. After some discussion, Richt gives him a week to talk with his parents about it. Mark will make a home visit in a week and would appreciate an answer then, as Georgia has another receiver who love to be a Bulldog waiting for the offer.

The family agrees and drives home very happy that they are close to making a conscientious decision.

The phone rings. It is the reporter again. “How did your visit go to Georgia go?” he asks. “It was awesome. I loved everything about it,” the kid says. “Did you commit to Georgia,” the reporter asks.

“No,” the kid answers, “not yet, but Coach Richt is coming to make a visit next Wednesday and I am going to cancel my visit to Marshall. I’m not going to make any other visits.”

With the Gators out of the way, the reporter infers this to mean that the kid is bound to be a Bulldog and not a Bull. The Georgia message boards get all excited about how this kid loves Coach Richt and has always wanted to play for him.

Meanwhile, Florida State learns their top two receiver prospects have committed elsewhere. No sooner does the reporter hang up than FSU calls to offer a visit.

Wow, Florida State, his dream school! He quickly accepts the visit.

The reporter reads this news on the message boards and thinks, “This kid doesn’t know what he wants”. He never mentioned FSU and now, after scheduling a home visit to commit to Richt, and saying he’s cancelling all his visits, he’s taking another visit to a school he hadn’t even mentioned before.

Kids! Who can figure out what they are going to do, he writes, which sends the Georgia board into a tizzy. The USF fans write him off as some sort of a nut or on the take.

Notice: the kid has done nothing wrong. FSU was not an option before.

He’s simply going through the process adjusting to the options made available to him as they become available to him. It is the reporter and the message boards, “the Peeping Toms,” who are creating the drama, not the kid.

Richt comes on Thursday. The kid wants to visit FSU on Friday. The other receiver Richt is slow playing calls to say he has an offer from Tennessee he wants to accept if Richt can’t commit to him. The story is all over the message boards. The Bulldogs have opinions about which kid Richt should sign. There’s strong language about each kid, some not so complimentary.

Our kid reads the message boards and sees he’s being slandered by fans from all

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Cover: Wayne Hogan, Randy Spetman, Martin Mayhew, Donald Smiley \

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JANUARY 30, 200 8 • OSCEOLA

Inside this week’s Osceola Departments F o o t b a l l c ov e r ag e — pages 7-9 M e n ’s B a s ke t b a l l — page 11 W o m e n ’s B a s ke t b a l l — page 12 Schedules — page 13

Features SEARCHING

FOR AN

A.D.

Wayne Hogan and Martin Mayhew, two men with deep FSU ties, were the first two to interview for the university’s athletics director job.

— page s 4-5

RECRUITING NEWS The Seminoles picked up two new verbal commitments over the weekend as Signing Day nears.

— page 8

GETTING TOUGH S p o rt s R o u n d u p — page 14

After a tough loss to Duke, the women’s basketball team is playing with toughness and heart.

— page 12

H o t a n d C o l d The Florida State men’s basketball team has struggled to keep

D e re k R e d d C o l u m n — page 15

momentum in the past few weeks, losing five of their last six.

— Page 11

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OSCEOLA • JANUARY 30, 200 8

What kind of Athletics Director do you want?

This past week, we asked readers of Warchant.com and TheOsceola.com to tell us what they wanted to see in Florida State’s next Athletics Director. Here is a sample of those responses:

POSTED BY FSU91

1) Experience as a Director of Athletics and success at the school(s) where he has worked. I want to see FSU hire someone that has led a program that has made major strides in multiple areas ... corporate development, academic support management, facilities expansion, marketing programs, and has had successful teams that have won championships both on the conference and national levels.

2) Experience in leading major fund raising campaigns that have led to facility expansion and improvements. I want to see FSU hire a person that knows what it takes to get new projects funded and completed and has led such projects in the past.

3) Experience in hiring and firing coaches. Not every hire has to be a blazing success ... peoople learn from their mistakes. If you have never made a mistake then you are not going to learn much and you won't improve yourself. I just hope that the mistake(s) were made at the last school and that the knowledge gained from the mistake(s) will help in future hires.

4) Successful background in overseeing academic support efforts. I want someone that knows the ins and outs of academic support and knows how to put a top-notch academic support staff in place. This is of extreme importance for FSU going forward.

5) Someone who understands Southern collegiate athletics and the importance of FSU athletics to the Seminole Nation. I would prefer to have someone lead FSU's athletics programs that has ties to FSU. Someone that bruises Garnet and Gold is most desirable if we can find someone that meets the above criteria. Having a passion that is more than just professional but is, instead, personal is very desirealbe. I've worked in an athletics department at a school where I had no passion. It was just a job. Instead I would rather be at a place where I was more emotionally invested and I hope that whomever we hire is someone that has a deep and meaningful love for FSU and Seminole athletics.

Now of course there is a candidtate out there that meets all of the above criteria ... his name is Wayne Hogan and he's just up the road in Atlanta where is is the Associate AD for Public Affairs.

He was still wet behind the ears in his late-30s when he filled in as our interim AD after Bob Goin resigned and wasn't ready for the FSU job. He's paid his dues sicne then and learned a great deal while having enormous success as the AD at the University of Montana. He's older now and wiser and much more experienced. There is not a better man for the job and it just makes too much sense for him not to be the hire.

Let's hope that we bring him home.

POSTED BY ILNOLE

AN FSU ALUM that has all the qualifications and experience you would want in an AD, and well respected by his/her peers in the AD community. I would have no problem with combining Boosters / Atheletic department like at UF. Andy Miller would be a well qualified AD that loves FSU.

POSTED BY FLATSKW88

Much improved reputation 2. No more 7-6 seasons and laydown games against [Wake Forest] 3. A better basketball team 4. A smooth transition and classy departure for Coach Bowden 5. A concerted effort to use the media to our advantage (see 1)

POSTED BY NOLEMIKE

1. A business background, with previous A.D. or assistant A.D. experience.

2. Must be strong-willed enough to stand up to the

University President or football coaches that want end run the athletic department; this means it must be someone who demands that the coaches be accountable to the AD, and not the university president.

3. A person that agrees with my opinion on nepotism within the athletic department (i.e., that it has no place, and there are no exceptions).

4. A person that will demand coaches discipline players in an acceptable manner that demonstrate a "see me" approach to the game (e.g., front flips into the end zone after a touchdown); this would include making sure that coaches understand and can repeat the rule governing penalties for excessive celebration.

5. The person must concede at the outset that the idea of a "coach in waiting" is a half-baked idea, at best.

POSTED BY NOLENEWSISGOODNEWS

1)Someone that is not just TK'S Mouthpiece would be a great start....but I am not holding my breath on that...

2)Someone that has no FSU ties....we have become way too good ole boy at FSU in the Administration and Coaches thus the overwhelming "staleness" that has enveloped the whole school 3)Someone that realizes while success in "minor sports" is nice the Football Program is the "straw that stirs the drink"...something our previous guy never fully grasped

POSTED BY DYNASTYNOLE

FSU has to get beyond the mentality of only hiring 'within the family'. That has gotten FSU Jeff Bowden as OC and TK as president. If FSU strives to compete with universities beyond Leon county, it has to mature as an institution and hire the BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE. If all things are equal, I want the FSU grad, but too many are blinded when one of the candidates is 'family' and I think cease to see the qualifications objectively.

We need a candidates who is: 1. The most qualified. Someone with experience working in an athletic dept. A person who can fundraise, deal with budgets, and people. Someobdy with ambition for ALL of our sports.

2. Someone who will be more than just a puppet for our president.

3. Somebody that maintains FSU's strengths (right now the olympic sports) and can improve upon it's weakness (Football pregame, PR department, building fan bases, basketball, etc).

POSTED BY NEIONDEON

First and foremost, someone who will stop letting FSU be a punching bag by the state and national media. FSU has plenty to be proud of, and rarely anything to apologize for, yet we are routinely blasted in the media. That needs to change. Make public relations a high priority.

Second, the new AD needs to revamp the basketball program--not necessarily the head coach, but the way season tickets are allocated. FSU boosters simply buy season tickets to increase their booster point totals for when the buy football tickets, but they never show up for basketball games. FSU's facility is one of the worst in the ACC, and while that won't change, they can still make it more intimidating by changing seating.

Third, it should be a priority of the new AD to correct the national embarassment that are the ACC football officials. If the ACC wants to be taken seriously as a conference, this needs to be fixed. As of now, it is a laughingstock.

POSTED BY THE REAL SONNY

1. Got to be honest.

2. Got to be tough, both with the coaches/athletes under him, as well as, with the administration and boosters that he/she will have to deal with. Can't be a "Yes man" to the President, etc. and yet, can't be unwilling to admit that some hires are mistakes, for whatever reasons.

3. Has to be able to set a vision or plan for all the sports.

4. Has to have been successful in several endeavors.

This person needs to be able to improvise and adjust when things get tough, find a way to win.

5. Needs to be a leader.

6. Needs to be a business man, not a former or failed coach. (Really, that's antiquated, but....)

7. Some past in athletics would be nice and I'm thinking a non-revenue sport such he/she would have a better understanding of all the sports.

8. An NCAA background isn't necessary, so far as experience working as an employee of the NCAA but I would want someone that could show in the interview process a working knowledge of the NCAA rules.

POSTED BY NOLE4757

As a Golden chief, I want an AD who will not settle for medicority in the big three sports, i.e., football, basketball and baseball, any longer. Enough is enough.

An AD who will stand-up to all three head coaches and let them know that the current state of all three programs is unacceptable and that he is going to build winning and highly compettive programs with or without them, and who will let them know that free-passes, sixyear rebuilding plans and so on are a thing of the past.

An AD who has the [guts] to lay the law down snd carry-out the law -- either turn the programs around or FSU will move on without them.

An AD who will stop accepting the homer "FSU talent spin", accept that FSU does not have the talent and develop a strategy to rebuild our sports programs so that FSU will be second to none in the State of Florida, as well as nationally.

If that means all three head coaches have to go, so be it and he has the power and conviction to fire them.

An AD who will not accept complacency.

POSTED BY MILEMARKER

I'd love to see someone that has strong leadership and a track record of success. Someone that is very goal oriented and never satisfied yet will take the time out of his day for his family at both the home and those involved with the school. Someone that is very humble. Honestly, we have a very religious atheletic program at FSU and I'd love to see and AD that would mesh with that.

It is very important for the canidate to understand all the different facets of the NCAA from scheduling teams to benefit our team to creating interesting matches at offsite locations like Hart did with Bama this past year. To me it makes no difference if the director has FSU ties although I feel it would be beneficial if he had ties to the region and perhaps conference. This would help with negotiations, working with the NCAA, and recruiting coaches. A motivated, public speaker, who is also a proven lobbiest to help raise funds and better facilites and the programs as a whole. I like the idea of a higher education degree beyond a basic BS or BA. Im afraid that the most important attribute that the new AD must have is the ability to cooperate with TK while also explaining and implimenting his own beliefs into the atheletic program. A balancing act.

POSTED BY BONEPLYR

As a Double Gold/Platinum Chief (or whatever we're now calling it), I'd like someone extremely capable on what I'd call The Big 6; - Impecable Academic Standards/Processes - Excellent at Hiring/Retaining Top Tier Results Oriented Coaches & Administrators - Strong Scheduling, Revenue Generation, and Fiscal Capabilities - Solid evidence of building Outstanding (yet efficient) Facilities - Top Notch Relational Skills (all directions -- academia, athletics, administration, athletes, boosters, ACC & NCAA peers/leadership) - Integrity, Integrity, Integrity

POSTED BY WELLINGTONNOLE00

Young, aggressive, intelligent, Bobby Bowden personality-like, go-getter. Asking too much? theosceola.com

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JANUARY 30, 200 8 • OSCEOLA

Mayhew eager to come ‘home’ to FSU Former FSU star is now executive with Lions

By Ira Schoffel

Martin Mayhew relied upon his speed and agility during his years as a football and track standout at Florida State, as well as during an eight-year NFL career. But Mayhew didn’t try to elude any questions about his inexperience during an interview Tuesday for Florida State’s vacant athletics director position.

Mayhew, who has been an assistant general manager with the NFL’s Detroit Lions for three years (eight years with the team overall), was asked repeatedly by search committee remembers about his lack of experience as a college administrator. In particular, Mayhew was asked several times about how familiar he was with gender equity and Title IX issues.

Mayhew acknowledged that he had no experience in that regard, but said he believed men’s and women’s teams and student-athletes should be treated the same.

“It’s my job to make sure that all of those sports are treated equally,” Mayhew said.

Another committee member asked him how many women worked in the Lions’ front office.

Mayhew said there were two, but then quipped, “I’m the assistant GM. I’m not the GM.” Mayhew told committee members that he oversees a budget of about $8.5 million with the Lions, but when asked if he had any fund-raising experience, Mayhew said he did not.

“But I know [Seminole Boosters President] Andy Miller does, and I hope to lean on him,” Mayhew said.

Miller later asked Mayhew how he would overcome his lack of college experience, and Mayhew relayed a story about his one season of playing for highly respected NFL coach Tony Dungy.

Mayhew recounted how Dungy approached his first season (1996) as head coach in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers had failed to make the playoffs the year before, but Mayhew said Dungy didn’t come in making wholesale changes. Instead, Dungy

was deliberate with his evaluations and waited until after the season to make moves.

Mayhew said nearly all of Dungy’s decisions worked out for the best and set the Bucs up for their run of success earlier this decade. He said he would follow the same path.

Mayhew, who was the second of four candidates expected to interview this week, offered several main issues that he would work to address as athletics director.

■ He wants to restore academic integrity to the athletics department, particularly after the recent academic cheating scandal. He called it a “credibility issue.”

■ He wants to work on improving the athletic department’s image, sharing positive stories with fans and the media. Part of reshaping the image, he said, is recruiting student-athletes with the right character.

■ He also would use his business background to help FSU get on better financial ground.

■ Lastly, he wants to see improved performance on the field across the board.

“We should try to dominate every sport we play,” he said.

Mayhew was one of four candidates to

advance to the interview round of the application process. He will be followed by former Florida Marlins president Don Smiley on Wednesday and Utah State athletics director Randall Spetman on Friday.

Mayhew said he is not necessarily looking for a career change from the NFL to the college ranks, but he was immediately interested when Dave Hart resigned late last year. A Tallahassee native, Mayhew said his mother, grandmother and other relatives still live in Tallahassee.

“This is my home,” Mayhew said. “If hired, I’m totally committed to this program, this university and the City of Tallahassee.”

Tallahassee attorney Sean Pittman asked Mayhew about dealing with a legendary figure like Bobby Bowden, particularly if another program’s needs conflict with those of the football team.

“I’m not in it to win a popularity contest,” Mayhew said. “I believe it’s more important to be respected.”

The most important thing, he said, is to make the right decision for the university and communicate to all parties why it’s the best course of action.

“That’s all you can really do,” Mayhew said.

Hogan impresses during A.D. interview Former FSU administrator focuses on Seminole roots

By Ira Schoffel

The interviews for Florida State's vacant athletics director position started with a familiar face Monday as former FSU assistant A.D. Wayne Hogan answered questions from members of a 24person search committee.

Hogan, who currently is an associate athletics director at Georgia Tech, was the first of four candidates expected to interview this week. Former Seminoles football star Martin Mayhew, who is an assistant general manager with the NFL's Detroit Lions, interviewed Tuesday afternoon.

The final two candidates have no Florida State ties. Former Florida Marlins President Don Smiley is expected to interview Wednesday, and Utah State athletics director Randy Spetman is scheduled to interview Friday.

Hogan got the process off to a strong start, as he seemed to impress committee members with his background in college

athletics – he served as athletics director at the University of Montana for nine years after spending 13 years at Florida State – as well as his passion for Florida State University. At the conclusion of his 20-minute interview, Hogan drew rousing applause from several committee members.

A Tallahassee native and Florida State graduate, Hogan previously served as the school's sports information director and interim athletic director.

"My love for this place is deeper than you can ever imagine," Hogan said, in summarizing his desire to bring his 30 years of collegiate administration experience back home.

Hogan faced questions ranging from how he might handle a difficult decision about Bobby Bowden's future, the looming academic scandal and relationships with

Warchant.com Recruiting Wrap-up Party Sunday, Feb. 10 Tallahassee Comedy Zone at 4 p.m.

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boosters, fans and former athletes.

"We want to get back to being about the people," said Hogan, noting that the big business of college athletics has negatively changed the way schools are perceived. "At the end of the day, it's still college sports. It's supposed to be fun."

One of the criticisms of former Florida State athletics director Dave Hart, who resigned in late 2007 after 13 years on the job, was that he had a tendency to be distant from the community and the rest of the university. Hogan vowed to be more accessible.

"From the time I was 3 years old, I was a Seminole," Hogan said. "I've spent a lifetime following and loving this program with every bit of my soul. I will not be someone sitting behind a curtain pulling strings."

Hogan was not asked about his resignation from the University of Montana in 2004. According to published reports, Hogan stepped down from his post following the news that university’s athletics budget was nearly $1 million in the red.

Of the four candidates, Hogan and

Spetman are the only ones with administrative experience on the collegiate level.

Spetman, who was announced as a candidate Monday, was recommended by search consultant Chuck Neinas.

Neinas was expected to turn in two names for the committee to consider on Monday, but the committee was given no explanation as to why there was only one additional candidate.

Spetman, who previously served as athletics director at the U.S. Air Force Academy, is a retired colonel and holds several advanced academic degrees.

While the school will continue to accept applications through the hiring process, search committee chair Mary Coburn. Coburn told the group she would like to wrap up the interview and candidate evaluation process by Friday.

A timetable for naming the new athletic director has not been established.

Though the committee will conduct public interviews with each candidate, the final hire is expected to be made by university President T.K. Wetherell.

Gene Williams will break down FSU's 2008 recruiting class and present video highlights of the recruits.

Florida State running backs coach Dexter Carter will also discuss the class and answer questions. Each attendee will receive a handout with information on the 'Noles' 2008 recruiting class.

All proceeds go to benefit the Warrick Dunn Foundation.

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OSCEOLA • JANUARY 30, 200 8

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JANUARY 30, 200 8 • OSCEOLA

Lilly joins Richt’s staff at UGA

By Ira Schoffel

The University of Georgia coaching staff already had a certain Florida State feel. Now, the Bulldogs are taking that a step further with the hiring a fourth football coach directly from the Seminoles’ sidelines.

John Lilly, who was FSU’s third-most tenured assistant coach behind Mickey Andrews and Odell Haggins, agreed last week to leave Tallahassee for Athens, Ga. Lilly, who coached tight ends during a Florida State career that lasted more than a decade, will assume the same position with the Bulldogs. Though he was highly respected as FSU’s recruiting coordinator, Lilly will not fill that role at his new school.

Lilly’s move comes seven years after Georgia hired former FSU offensive coordinator Mark Richt as head coach. And Richt, who helped direct Florida State's offense for 14 years before leaving in 2001, later hired former FSU assistants Dr. John Eason (wide receivers) and Dave Van

Halanger (strength and conditioning).

Lilly is close friends with both Richt and Van Halanger, and he said those relationships played a major role in his decision.

“I am extremely excited and feel truly blessed to be joining the coaching staff at the University of Georgia,” Lilly said. “I have long considered Coach Richt to be both a mentor and a friend and I am honored that he will now be my head coach.

This opportunity also presents me with the chance to work again with Dave Van Halanger who I also counted as one of my closest friends when we were together in Tallahassee and with whom I've been fortunate to maintain contact over the past seven years.”

Aside from coaching tight ends, Lilly earned recognition over the years for his work as Florida State's recruiting coordinator. The Seminoles hauled in several top10 signing classes during his tenure, including the nation's top-ranked classes in 2001 and 2005, according to some recruiting services.

“I’ve known John since 1995 and know exactly what we are getting,” Richt said.

“He has exceptional football knowledge, especially regarding the tight end position, and he’s an outstanding recruiter. But beyond that, John cares not only about how his players do on the field, but also how they mature, work toward their degrees, and become responsible young men.”

Though he left of his own accord, Lilly's departure completes the overhaul of Florida State's embattled offensive coaching staff. Former offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden resigned following the 2006 season, and three other assistants – Daryl Dickey, Billy Sexton and Mark McHale – were released soon after.

It is not yet known whether FSU head coach Bobby Bowden will select Lilly's replacement or if that responsibility will fall to offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who recently was named the Seminoles' “head coach in waiting.”

The position likely won't be filled until after National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Lilly

Lilly offers thanks to Bowden, Seminole Nation Note: This statement from John Lilly was released by Florida State University after it was announced that Lilly would be leaving to become the tight ends coach at Georgia.

I am extremely excited and feel truly blessed to be joining the coaching staff at the University of Georgia. I am appreciative of Coach Richt for giving me this opportunity and I’m eager to get to work to help in any way possible to make the Bulldogs the top college football program in the nation.

I have long considered Coach Richt to be both a mentor and a friend and I am honored that he will now be my head coach. This opportunity also presents me with the chance to work again with Dave Van Halanger who I also counted as one of my closest friends when we were together in Tallahassee and with whom I’ve been fortunate to maintain contact over the past seven years. I have admired and respected the work done by the coaching staff at the University of Georgia during that time.

Having met many of them in regular coaching circles or through recruiting I hold them in very high esteem and am both ecstatic and humbled to now have the chance to be counted among them.

The passion with which the entire state of Georgia views its football has not been lost on me during my years at Florida State.

Having been a college football fan all of my life I am quite familiar with many of the truly great traditions of

Bulldog football and look forward to learning of others and getting involved in the university and the Athens community as a whole.

It was only after a great deal of prayer that this decision was made. I am thankful for the peace that God has provided both my fiancé and I as He has directed this move and we are anxious to see all that He has in store in this next chapter of life. While it is a tremendous blessing to be able to come to the University of Georgia it was also special to have been able to work at Florida State University.

Words cannot adequately express my gratitude to Coach Bowden for taking a chance by hiring me first as a graduate assistant and then to a full-time position and I treated it as both an honor and a huge responsibility to work for the greatest head football coach in the history of the college game each day for the past thirteen years. I owe him, along with others such as Mickey Andrews, Billy Sexton, Jim Gladden, Chuck Amato, and Odell Haggins, just to name a few, a tremendous amount for guiding me through my first years in college coaching and showing me not only how to coach at the highest level but also more importantly how to do the job with integrity.

In many ways I regret that I only worked together with the rest of the current offensive staff at Florida State – Jimbo Fisher, Rick Trickett, Lawrence Dawsey and Dexter Carter - for one year because they coach with purpose and passion and are excellent representatives of

all that is good in the profession. I will continue to count them as good friends. There is little doubt in my mind that they, along with the rest of the staff, players and support personnel at Florida State, will have the Seminoles in the upper echelon of college football and I wish them nothing but the greatest success.

I am thankful to the many players and their families who have come through Florida State during my time there. I appreciate the way so many of them have enriched my life not only with their play on the field but also primarily with their friendship away from it. I can only hope that I have added half as much to them as they have added to me. These young men are the real reason we as coaches do what we do.

Finally the great images of Chief Osceola, the War Chant and countless big games in a sold out Doak Campbell Stadium are permanently embedded in my mind and I will miss the exuberance of the Florida State Seminole fan base which I have found to extend all across this great country. These loyal fans make what I’ve had the opportunity to do here on a daily basis even more special.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to meet so many of them and even to form some friendships which will carry on long after my change of address.

With that being said, I cannot wait to experience the unbridled enthusiasm of everyone involved in any way with Georgia Bulldog football. August 30th “Between the Hedges” in Sanford Stadium can’t come soon enough!

Daily Recruiting News theosceola.com

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8

OSCEOLA • JANUARY 30, 200 8

Recruiting Roundup Tampa OL Sanderson commits

By Chris Nee

When you are an uncommitted prospect, life doesn't get much busier than the week before Signing Day. In the case of 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive line prospect Rhonne Sanderson that describes his Tuesday.

"It was a busy day," Sanderson said.

"Louisville came by and told me they wanted me to visit this weekend and they would offer me."

The Tampa (FL) Plant offensive lineman was scheduled to visit Michigan this weekend, but with the Cardinals putting themselves in the mix he was prepared to change of plans. But that wasn't the final time on Tuesday that his plans got turned around.

Everything changed for him this evening when he spoke to one particular coach.

"I just got off the phone with Coach (Rick) Trickett," Sanderson said.

That conversation led Sanderson, who officially visited Florida State this past weekend, to go ahead and pull the trigger.

"I committed to Florida State," Sanderson said. "To put it in simple words – it is FSU. Not that many people get there

Sanderson

and get to say that they played at Florida State. That has always been a goal of mine to play at Florida State and then hopefully play at the next level. That is just one more

footstep to hopefully get where I am going. I know that is the type of program and type of school that can help me get to the next level."

Sanderson said one of the biggest factor in his decision was the relationship he developed with Trickett during his recruitment.

"He played into a lot," Sanderson said.

"I like his personality. I like everything about him when it comes to him being the guy I am going to be working with during my college career. You have to like who you are working for and under. I like the way his work ethic is. He is going to push you but he is always going to be there to put his arm around you at the end of the day."

This begs the question, did Sanderson get an offer to come in and immediately join the team in August or is he another greyshirt candidate for the 2008 class.

"I was asking him about it and he told me to tell people I have a full ride to Florida State, that you are coming up here, and that you are going to sign on Signing Day," Sanderson said.

Honestly though, it doesn't matter to Sanderson if he were forced to wait until January to join his future teammates.

"I look at it either way that it is a scholarship," he said. "It is a scholarship for me at Florida State. I always wanted to play there and there was one, so I just took it."

His brother, Watts, and mother are the two main people he relied upon in this process and he says they are pleased with his decision to select an in-state school.

"They liked it," Sanderson said. "They knew I always wanted to go to Florida State. They saw it as an opportunity for me to fulfill my dream and they wanted me to be happy with the decision that I made.

They didn't want it hanging over their head them telling me that I need to go here or there. It is all on me right now with which school I picked and I picked Florida State.

They are behind me a 100-percent."

As for those visits that were a possibility for this upcoming weekend, they are now off the schedule as Sanderson knows where he wants to spend his collegiate career.

"I have to cancel my Louisville visit," Sanderson said. "I also won't be visiting Michigan."

Sanderson said he will sign at a ceremony at Plant on Signing Day.

’Noles land Alexander ... again

By Chris Nee

Committing to Florida State is not a new feeling for Altoona (PA) athlete A.J. Alexander. The four-star prospect committed to the Seminoles back in May before eventually deciding to re-open his commitment. After months where Florida State wasn't in the picture, they re-emerged in December. After an official visit to the Seminoles on Sunday and Monday, Alexander is once again a part of the Florida State recruiting class.

"I committed today before I left," Alexander told Warchant.com. "I know when I decommitted I said I wanted to look around but when I have visited other places it made me realize I wanted to go there. I am glad to be ending up there."

The Rivals250 member was joined on the visit by his mother, who he said was very impressed by both Florida State and Tallahassee.

"She loved it," Alexander said. "She likes all of the coaches down there. We just liked everybody down there."

Freshman cornerback Dionte Allen served as Alexander's player host. He said the two of them talked about what it means to be a part of the Florida State football program.

"We are both from up north so it was

Alexander

cool to know there are other people there that are from where we are at," Allen said.

"He told me what it is like to be a part of the team."

One of the big reasons why the 6-foot, 180-pound athlete chose Florida State is

his relationship with the coaches, specifically offensive line coach Rick Trickett.

During his visit though, he had the chance to speak with other coaches. "(Trickett) had to leave so we only got to talk briefly," Alexander said. "I talked to Coach (Jimbo) Fisher a lot. He told me that the reason they wanted me in this class and why I am so unique is because I am versatile. He was telling me that I could come in there and play a number of positions. I also talked to Coach (Mickey) Andrews, Coach (Dexter) Carter, and Coach (Lawrence) Dawsey, he was gone, but we talked on the phone. They said I could be like (former Ohio State Buckeye) Chris Gamble. They told me I could possibly play on either side of the ball."

Even though the speedy athlete has previously played only on the offensive side of the ball at Altoona, he could end up on either side of the ball at Florida State.

"They told me I could be a great defensive back, a great slot receiver, a great kick returner, a safety, a punt returner, a running back, all of that stuff," Alexander said.

"They told me I will get a chance to try to find where I fit. I told them I don't even care, I just want to be there."

In addition to several assistant coaches, Alexander also met with head coach Bobby Bowden.

"It was crazy," Alexander said. "He knows who you are. It is just like wow. He knows everything about you. He was incredible."

Just a couple of weeks ago, he had given his word to Pittsburgh, but after a coaching change at his position he decided to re-open his recruitment before choosing Florida State over Tennessee. With such an up-and-down recruiting, should people be concerned over the next week about Alexander changing his mind once again.

"I am just going to chill," he said. "I am done. I am going to Florida State."

As for the entire process, which included three oral commitments, the four-star athlete is just glad it is over.

"I am real glad to be done with it," Alexander said. "I am real happy with this decision. … I feel great to have it over with. I am sure some of the fans might not be happy with how this all happened but I am just going to go in and try my hardest.

I just hope they have a change of heart about me. I don't want them to think I love the attention or that I do it for the stories.

All I can do is try, hopefully it works out.

"I am happy to be a Seminole – again."

In the classroom, he projects as a full qualifier with a 3.2 GPA and an 830 score on the SAT.

Special 2008 Signing Day DVD See back cover

theosceola.com

JANUARY 30, 200 8 • OSCEOLA

Recruiting Wish List – Defense

Current oral commitments

The Big Target – DB T.J. Bryant

Travis Arnold DB, 6-4, 182, Madison, Fla.

Nigel Bradham LB, 6-2, 230, Crawfordville, Fla.

Nigel Carr LB, 6-3, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.

Everett Dawkins DE, 6-2, 242, Duncan, S.C. LINCOLN HIGH DEFENSIVE BACK TJ BRYANT

Anthony Hill DT, 6-4, 301, Pensacola, Fla.

Markus White

On the list – Everett Dawkins (6-2, 242) Duncan, S.C.; Toshmon Stevens (65, 198) Crescent City, Fla.; Markus White (6-4, 245) El Dorado, Kan. On the radar – Quinton Coples (6-7, 235) Chatham, Va.; Leon Mackey (6-5, 258) Chatham, Va. Analysis – With juco superstar White as its crown jewel, this defensive end crop already is an outstanding one. White’s late surge and NJCAA defensive player of the year award made him FSU’s second fivestar prospect (QB E.J. Manuel lost a star in recent weeks). Dawkins is solid, while Stevens is an intriguing project. The signing day haul could get even better if Florida State can grab Hargrave Military’s two studs, Coples and Mackey. The Seminoles could use some defensive end help. Injuries and suspensions manhandled the unit’s depth and the coaches need a bookend for pass rusher Everette Brown.

DE, 6-4, 245 El Dorado, Kan.

DEFENSIVE LINE

DT, 6-2, 268, Tampa, Fla.

Terrance Parks DB, 6-1, 200 Fairburn, Ga.

Toshmon Stevens DE, 6-5, 198, Crescent City, Fla.

Vincent Williams LB, 6-0, 210 Davenport, Fla.

theosceola.com

There’s no denying there’s a recruiting pipeline from Tallahassee-Lincoln High to Florida State. At least one Lincoln player has been part of the last seven recruiting classes. That streak is guaranteed to reach eight with tight end Jabaris Little, but the Seminoles would love to sign, Little’s teammate Bryant as well.

Bryant is considered one of the fastest and most physical defensive backs in the 2008 recruiting class. He also was named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, though an ankle injury kept him from playing.

As a senior, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound corner recorded 30 tackles and four interceptions. He’s picked off 15 passes over the last three seasons.

Bryant has been mostly mum on his recruitment so far, but he has named six finalists – Florida State, LSU, Alabama, Florida, Miami and Southern Cal. He could immediately do some good for a cornerback group that could lose a player or two to suspension for academic misconduct. On top of that, some of the corners have struggled since they’ve arrived in Tallahassee, sliding up and down the depth chart.

Bryant could be someone who could eliminate the big passing plays that hurt FSU’s secondary. Chances are, they won’t know his decision until signing day.

What FSU is still looking for DEFENSIVE END

Moses McCray

9

On the list – Anthony Hill (6-4, 301) Pensacola, Fla.; Moses McCray (6-2, 268) Tampa, Fla. On the radar – Corey Liuget (6-3, 260) Hialeah, Fla. Analysis – Defensive tackle is another position of need this recruiting season.

Andre Fluellen has graduated and should be an NFL draft pick. Letroy Guion sur-

prisingly bolted for the draft after his junior year as well. A decent core remains, led by wild man Budd Thacker, but it is not yet know how much the academic misconduct suspensions will affect the unit. Hill and McCray could play pretty quickly.

Liuget would be a great pickup, but several schools, most notably LSU and Illinois, are vying for his services.

SECONDARY On the list – Travis Arnold (5-10, 184) Madison, Fla.; Terrence Parks (6-1, 200) Fairburn, Ga. On the radar – T.J. Bryant (6-1, 175) Tallahassee, Fla. Analysis – It’s starting to sound like a broken record, but true freshmen will have a chance at playing time at this position.

Suspensions are one reason, but they also might have a chance to beat out some upperclassmen that have disappointed.

Parks fills a serious need at free safety, with Roger Williams gone and no player a lock to step into the starting role. Arnold, another standout safety, is headed to junior college. Bryant, one of Rivals.com’s top 100 recruits could make an immediate impact at corner.

LINEBACKER On the list – Nigel Bradham (6-2, 230) Crawfordville, Fla.; Nigel Carr (6-3, 220) Jacksonville, Fla.; Nick Moody (6-1, 218) Philadelphia, Pa.; Vincent Williams

(6-0, 210) Davenport, Fla. On the radar – Marcus Robinson (62, 210) Homestead, Fla. Analysis – This unit is as solid as the Seminoles have right now. They have the luxury of having two recruits – No. 1 OLB prospect Bradham and No. 10 ILB prospect Williams – already signed to grants-in-aid and in school. Carr and Moody only make the better and wooing Robinson away from Miami could make it one of, if not the best LB class in the country. Robinson still feels good about the Hurricanes, though. This is another position where freshmen could play immediately. Geno Hayes skipped his senior year to apply for the NFL draft and a couple other linebackers could be caught up in the academic misconduct scandal.

ATHLETE On the list – None.

On the radar – Ed Imoekparia (6-0, 188) Blairstown, N.J.; Jarmon Fortson (63, 220) Columbus, Ga. Analysis – Imoekparia could step in at either corner or safety. That should help this recruiting class, especially since Arnold will take the juco route. Fortson is being scouted on both offense and defense.

He could play linebacker, safety, wide receiver or tight end. But it won’t be easy pulling him away from Auburn. With OC Jimbo Fisher and WR coach Lawrence Dawsey recruiting him, FSU has a shot.

10 10

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JANUARY 30, 200 8 • OSCEOLA

‘Noles seek late-season surge Joy and pain. For the Florida State men’s basketball team, those feelings haven’t just changed from game to game.

They’ve changed from minute to minute.

The Seminoles wanted to build some momentum after a close win against Virginia. And, in the first half against North Carolina State, they looked like they were on their way. Three straight 3-pointers gave FSU a 12-point lead with 5:08 to go.

Those would be the last points they scored in that half.

N.C. State went on a 17-0 run to take a five-point lead into the half. The Seminoles recovered to take a three-point lead with 40 seconds left in the game, but couldn’t hold on again, losing to the Wolfpack 69-66. It was their fourth loss in five games, and the Seminoles had held leads in all five.

The Seminoles now sit at 2-5 in the ACC with Tuesday night’s 89-80 loss at Virginia Tech. With nine games left in the regular season, and a crucial home game against North Carolina coming on Super Bowl Sunday, FSU is running out of time to make a run.

This isn’t the first time this season that FSU’s hot and cold streaks have worried head coach Leonard Hamilton.

“Unfortunately, the issues that I’m concerned about are the same ones I was concerned about after each game,” he said.

“Even when we won those games earlier in the year, I was not really pleased with our rhythm.

“I’m still concerned with our ability to stack positive execution on top of execution on top of execution,” he continued.

“We have not been able to overcome that as well as I hoped. There’s no reason for us to be having those issues.”

From that 5:08 mark until halftime against N.C. State, the Seminoles missed

all six of their shots and committed four turnovers.

“We beat ourselves, man,” guard Toney Douglas said. “In that first half of the game is where we really lost it. We were taking quick shots and we weren’t moving the ball and they were getting easy transition points.

“Do that against the last team in the conference,” he added, “and they’re going to capitalize.”

FSU’s last win, against the Cavaliers, actually was against the last-place team in the ACC. And the Seminoles had to come back to get that one. After leading by three at the half, FSU fell behind by 10 with about nine minutes to go. Douglas scored the go-ahead lay-up, then swiped the ball from Virginia All-American Sean Singletary and hit two free throws.

FSU hasn’t been so lucky for the rest of its 1-4 streak. It held a late lead against Duke, then surrendered a 16-2 run. The Seminoles led by three at the half at Wake Forest, then got outscored by 20 in the second half. Against N.C. State, FSU led in the final seconds, but watched Courtney Fells bank in a 3-pointer to tie the game and freshman center J.J. Hickson hit two free throws and block a Douglas shot on the other end.

As tight as the ACC race is this season, Hamilton said that runs like the Wolfpack’s 17-0 streak are deadly.

“That’s what happens in this league,” he said. “The league is so closely contested that you can’t have those runs. That allows you to be in a position where shots like Fells’ can be made.”

But, that tight race is why Hamilton remains optimistic about his chances. Of the conference’s 12 teams, seven had three conference losses as of Monday morning.

Last season, North Carolina and Virginia tied for the best conference record, each losing five ACC games. That means if the Seminoles can hit a hot streak – like they

KUTZ, from page 2 his favorite schools. Even the FSU board is calling him a “Fall back”. “Noles must have lost receivers they needed.”

Burnham calls and wants to know where USF stands. The kid doesn’t have a firm scholarship offer from FSU and hasn’t made a visit. Plus, he doesn’t know if Georgia will wait. He has two birds in a bush but none in the hand. So what does he honestly have to tell Burnham?

USF decides to withdraw the offer and move on. Marshall is convinced he’s Georgia bound and sign another receiver.

The FSU and Georgia boards want to know why USF and Marshall withdrew their offer. Certain posters are now convinced the kid is over rated or a screwball, probably both.

Richt makes the home visit and agrees to hold the offer until Sunday, after the kid family has a chance to take a good look at FSU. “Don’t want you to commit to Georgia until you are certain you want to be a Dawg,” Richt tells him. The family is thrilled by Richt’s patience as they go through what Richt knows is a thoughtful process.

The reporter calls again: “How did

your home visit with Coach Richt go?”

“Awesome, my parents and I love him more now than ever,” the kid gushes. “Did you commit?” the reporter asks. “Not exactly,” the kid said. “I told Coach Richt I wanted to visit FSU first and I would let him know Sunday.”

The Georgia message boards, expecting the commitment, are now on fire. “The kid is playing us. He has his hand out.

Richt is not a closer. FSU is cheating.”

The kid makes the visit to FSU and it is awesome. While there, Coach Andrews wants to talk to him about the possibility of playing safety. The academic people explain that he can major in sciences but will have to wait on pharmacy school.

Coach Bowden calls the family into his office on Sunday afternoon and makes him an offer.

The kid accepts immediately.

He arrives home with a message waiting from the reporter. He calls Richt to let him know he’s decided to go to FSU. Richt wishes him well and then offers the other receiver the one last scholarship to Georgia. The kid then calls the reporter back and makes a verbal commitment to FSU. The FSU message board lights up:

By Derek Redd

theosceola.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF AP

Toney Douglas looks to drive past a Virginia defender. did last year in winning five of six conference games – they could get right back into the postseason mix.

“Mathematically, the team who wins this thing is probably going to lose four or five games (in the ACC),” Hamilton said.

“We’ve got to be on the winning side of some of these types of situations.

“There’s going to be a lot of close games down the stretch,” he continued.

“We have to correct our deficiencies and we have to get on a run here where we can stack four or five good wins. Last year we had a run of five out six. I think we’re capable of doing that.”

He’s in! The Georgia Board lights up: He’s out!

Strong language follows on each board.

Please note: with parental help, this kid diligently followed his options and did right by everyone. Each of the coaches have been noble. No money has changed hands. And yet there is “drama” according to the “Peeping Toms”.

The kid has a restless night of sleep.

After four visits, he now has reference points and is having some cognitive dissonance, or buyer’s remorse. He stops by his high school football coach’s office to tell him the good news but confides that he’s worried about a couple of things. Are the Seminoles going to move him to safety?

Can he reach his career goals taking science classes at FSU rather than pharmacy classes? And when he told his girlfriend about his decision to attend FSU in their hometown, she wasn’t as excited as he had hoped.

His coach tells him to call FSU and talk about those concerns. The coach also mentions the kid’s concerns to a reporter who puts it up on the message boards.

Is this “immature kid” vacillating again? Meanwhile, Richt calls the other receiver to offer him the scholarship. The

kid tells him he couldn’t wait and accepted the offer from Tennessee, which drew rave reviews from the Vol fans who love to beat their SEC rival at anything.

The Bulldog fans accuse Phil Fulmer of using his donut allowance to buy the kid, not knowing that Richt hadn’t even officially offered.

Richt needs a receiver desperately and didn’t get one because he patiently waited on the kid that committed to FSU. No good deed goes unpunished, he thinks. The Georgia message boards blast him and the Tennessee fans gloat.

Needing a receiver, does Richt double back on the FSU commitment, who is reportedly having second thoughts, or on the Tennessee commitment, who would have loved to be a Bulldog in the first place if only Georgia had offered?

Richt offers the UT commitment, who accepts. The internet sets a record for hits, with Bulldogs and Volunteers bashing everyone. All ends well.

Both kids eventually ended up where they would have naturally, where there heart was. And all of us “Peeping Toms” created something dramatic to talk about before football practice begins again this spring.

12

OSCEOLA • JANUARY 30, 200 8

Davis-Cain energizes team with her return

By Derek Redd

All FSU women’s basketball player Tanae Davis-Cain could do was watch and wait. Sitting nine games for team rule violations, she had no choice.

As she sat on the bench for those nine games, her anticipation grew. Davis-Cain wanted so badly to return to the floor and knew she had to make the most of it when she did. She’s done a pretty good job of that so far.

With 12 points in FSU’s overtime loss to Virginia, she has scored in double-figures in all three of the games since her return. Davis-Cain said she’s taken all that pent-up energy from nine games on the bench and released it against her opponents.

A month-and-a-half as a spectator gave Davis-Cain a new perspective on the game, she said.

“The game is so much different from the bench. You can analyze everything and see everything and say, ‘Man, does that look like me when I’m out there?’

“For me, watching from the bench, when I saw the team mess up, I was like, ‘Man, I’ve got to know to do that,’ or ‘I’ve got to know to tell them that and to do that right to make my team better,’” she continued. It’s a totally different perspective from the bench and it makes you eager.”

The Seminoles were eager to have Davis-Cain back as well. The team’s leading scorer at 13.3 points per game, she sparked the scoreboard. But, FSU coach Sue Semrau said, she was a spark in other areas as well.

“You can’t even imagine,” she said.

“The thing she’s taken is she’s taken some of the load off the other kids, not only on the offensive end, but she’s one of the best defenders in this league. That’s why she

was on the floor for 20 minutes in the second half (against Virginia). She defends.

She moves and she gets it done.”

Davis-Cain said that returning after nine games gone wasn’t easy. She had to knock off the rust and get back into the flow of the game. There were times, she said, that releasing all that stored energy proved a little too much.

“I’d say I got a little winded,” she said, “not being in bad condition, but being so excited and having that rush.”

Yet that energy has been a boost to the entire team. Against Virginia, Davis-Cain would shoot a long jumper and, if it bounced off the rim, she’d tear into the lane to rebound her own miss.

“I think that plays a big part in wanting to go out there and crash (the boards),” she said. “Also, Coach Sue preaches that all day in practice. Go for it. When you shoot and you see the ball coming, go for it. I felt like, before, I was just one of the players just going back to play defense, and now I’m one of the players crashing the boards.”

With the Seminoles searching for help in the paint, Davis-Cain’s rebounding is a big plus, as is her return to the scoring column. With a tough ACC schedule ahead, FSU could use her all over the court. For Davis-Cain, that’s no problem. She has energy to spare.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AP

Junior guard Tanae Davis-Cain is excited to be back in the lineup helping her Florida State teammates.

FSU getting tough as ACC slate gets harder

By Derek Redd

As far as low points go, the Florida State women’s basketball team could name its with no problem.

A humbling 32-point loss to Duke on January 11, one that coach Sue Semrau said “turned into a glorified pick-up game,” put the Seminoles in a contemplative mood. Could they return to the form that catapulted them into last season’s Sweet 16?

A day of meeting and soul-searching after that game has put the team back on track. Florida State has won three of four games since then and, with several important ACC games on the horizon, is playing with grit and determination.

Against the Blue Devils, the Seminoles shot 23 percent from the floor and just 19 percent from 3-point range. Duke also blocked 11 FSU shots. The Seminoles were missing three players in that game, including regular starters Tanae DavisCain (team rule violations) and Britany Miller (academically ineligible).

After that game, the team decided to talk things out, junior Mara Freshour said.

“We had a huge four-hour day of meetings,” she said, “and I don’t know if I can pinpoint one thing we said to them, but we just talked about being great and our goals and do we really want them and what are we willing to sacrifice to meet those goals.

“It was a day full of really breaking everything down and coming to terms with what we needed to do to continue with the season,” she added. “I think everyone took it to heart.”

Semrau said that upperclassmen like Davis-Cain, Freshour and senior Shante Williams really took control of the situation, letting the younger players know that a new standard – succeeding in the NCAA Tournament – had been set in the program and that this team needed to live up to that standard.

“They just took command and said this is our upperclassman year and we are going to do this,” she said. “I think they really took a stand and the team followed.”

The Seminoles rattled off two dominating wins against Clemson and Wake Forest, then clawed their way to an overtime win against Miami. Williams’ flashy lay-up with eight seconds left in regula-

tion, kept the Seminoles alive and the team’s free throw shooting kept them ahead. Florida State shot 71 percent from the line, compared to the Hurricanes’ 47 percent.

Florida State followed that up with another overtime game against Virginia.

The Seminoles fell in that contest 69-66, unable to keep up with the Cavaliers’ monster post player Aisha Mohammed.

Mohammed led the game with 18 points and 21 rebounds, including eight off the offensive glass. The Cavs scored 46 points in the paint, a season-high against the Seminoles.

That showed how much the Seminoles are hurting for inside help. With Miller’s absence, sophomore Jacinta Monroe has had to shoulder the lion’s share of the scoring load in the paint.

“We’re just undersized now in our post position in the sense of girth,” Semrau said.

But Semrau is pleased with the heart the Seminoles have shown since the Duke game. Even in the loss, FSU recovered from shooting just 26 percent in the first half to force overtime.

The Seminoles have shown toughness, too. Davis-Cain returned against Clemson and has scored in double-digits in every game since then. Post player Cayla Moore left the court against Virginia wincing from a bone bruise in her leg, only to return and play with the same reckless abandon that she showed before she got hurt.

Florida State has a great chance to keep the momentum going as it progresses in the ACC schedule. The Seminoles have a return date with Virginia, plus road games against top-five teams in Maryland and North Carolina.

Right now, though, Semrau isn’t looking that far ahead into the future. FSU’s next game, against Georgia Tech, will suffice.

“One game at a time,” she said. “This game (against Virginia) could have gone either way and we talked about getting 10 possessions better.

“We need some rest and we’ve got an opportunity to do it,” she added. “The girls will do what it takes to get better and we do have a week to get better. All we’ll worry about is Georgia Tech.”

theosceola.com

13

JANUARY 30, 200 8 • OSCEOLA

Seminole Schedules FSU Football 2007 Schedule Sept. 3 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 11 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24 Dec. 31

at Clemson UAB at Colorado Open Alabama (Jacksonville) NC State at Wake Forest Miami Duke at Boston College at Virginia Tech Maryland at Florida Kentucky

L, 24-18 W, 34-24 W, 16-6 W, 21-14 W, 27-10 L, 24-21 L, 37-29 W, 26-6 W, 27-17 L, 40-21 W, 24-16 L, 45-12 L, 35-28

2008 FSU baseball schedule 02/22/08 vs. Duquesne 02/23/08 vs. Duquesne vs. Duquesne 02/24/08 vs. Duquesne 02/26/08 Philadelphia Phillies 02/28/08 at Auburn 02/29/08 at Auburn 03/01/08 vs. Auburn 03/02/08 vs. Auburn 03/04/08 vs. UNC Asheville 03/05/08 vs. UNC Asheville 03/07/08 vs. Maryland 03/08/08 vs. Maryland 03/09/08 vs. Maryland 03/11/08 vs. Georgia 03/12/08 vs. Georgia 03/14/08 vs. Georgia Tech 03/15/08 vs. Georgia Tech 03/16/08 vs. Georgia Tech 03/18/08 at Florida 03/21/08 at Virginia Tech 03/22/08 at Virginia Tech 03/23/08 at Virginia Tech 03/25/08 vs. Stetson 03/26/08 vs. Stetson 03/28/08 at Wake Forest 03/29/08 at Wake Forest 03/30/08 at Wake Forest 04/01/08 vs. Florida 04/02/08 at Jacksonville 04/04/08 vs. Virginia 04/05/08 vs. Virginia 04/06/08 vs. Virginia 04/11/08 at Boston College 04/12/08 at Boston College 04/13/08 at Boston College 04/15/08 vs. Florida 04/16/08 vs. North Florida 04/18/08 vs. Miami 04/19/08 vs. Miami 04/20/08 vs. Miami 04/25/08 at North Carolina 04/26/08 at North Carolina 04/27/08 at North Carolina 04/29/08 at Stetson 04/30/08 at Stetson 05/03/08 at Clemson 05/04/08 at Clemson 05/05/08 at Clemson 05/07/08 vs. Jacksonville 05/09/08 vs. Savannah State 05/10/08 vs. Savannah State 05/11/08 vs. Savannah State 05/12/08 vs. Savannah State 05/15/08 vs. NC State 05/16/08 vs. NC State 05/17/08 vs. NC State 05/21/08 ACC Tournament

theosceola.com

Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Clearwater, Fla. Auburn, Ala. Auburn, Ala. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Gainesville, Fla. Blacksburg, Va. Blacksburg, Va. Blacksburg, Va. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Winston-Salem, NC Winston-Salem, NC Winston-Salem, NC Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Chestnut Hill, MA Chestnut Hill, MA Chestnut Hill, MA Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Cary, NC Cary, NC Cary, NC Deland, Fla. Deland, Fla. Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Clemson, SC Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla.

4:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 4:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 6:35 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 4:00 p.m. ET 2:00 p.m. ET 2:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 4:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 6:30 p.m. ET 5:30 p.m. ET 5:30 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 2:30 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 2:30 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 6:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET 4:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 7:00 p.m. ET 1:00 p.m. ET TBA

2007 MEN’S BASKETBALL N9 Nicholls State W, 81-58 Georgia Southern W, 92-67 N12 1 N16 2 UAB W, 78-70 N17 2 Cleveland State L, 69-66 USF L, 68-67 N18 2 N20 Georgia State W, 78-48 at Florida W, 65-51 N23 N27 3 Minnesota W, 75-61 N30 Stetson W, 72-59 Samford W, 61-45 D2 D8 Maine W, 95-55 D15 4 vs. Butler L, 79-68 College of Charleston W, 66-61 D18 D22 at Providence L, 101-95 at Georgia Tech W, 66-64 D30 ^ J5 La Salle W, 81-76 J12 ^ at Clemson L, 97-85 J16 ^ Duke L, 70-57 J20 ^ at Wake Forest L, 74-57 J23 ^ Virginia W, 69-67 J26 ^ NC State L, 69-66 at Virginia Tech 9:00 p.m.

J29 ^ F3 ^ North Carolina 2:00 p.m.

F6 ^ at Miami 7:30 p.m.

F14 ^ Wake Forest 9:00 p.m.

F16 ^ at Maryland 3:00 p.m.

F19 ^ Clemson 7:00 p.m.

Boston College 12 Noon F23 ^ F27 ^ at NC State 7:00 p.m.

M4 ^ at North Carolina 8:00 p.m.

M8 ^ Miami 12 Noon M13-16 5 at ACC Tournament TBA * -- exhibition game at Donald L.Tucker Center; ^ -- ACC Game; 1 – Glenn Wilkes Classic at Tallahassee, Fla.; 2 – Glenn Wilkes Classic at Daytona Beach, Fla..; 3 – ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Tallahassee, Fla. 4 – Wooden Tradition at Indianapolis, Ind.; 5 – ACC Tournament at Charlotte, N.C.

2007 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 11/09/07 at FGCU

Fort Myers, Fla.

W, 93-53

11/11/07 vs. North Florida Tallahassee, Fla.

W, 75-48

11/15/07 DePaul

Chicago, Ill.

L, 79-68

11/16/07 FIU

Chicago, Ill.

W, 70-50

11/20/07 vs. Fordham

Tallahassee, Fla.

W, 77-42

11/23/07 at Florida

Gainesville, Fla.

W, 81-78

11/30/07 at Indiana

Bloomington, Ind.

W, 85-78

12/02/07 at Oakland

Oakland, Mich.

L, 85-75. ET

12/06/07 at Texas A&M College Station,Tex.

L, 81-67

12/16/07 vs. Alabama St. Tallahassee, Fla.

W, 94-42

12/20/07 at UAB

Birmingham, Ala.

W, 66-52

12/27/07 vs. Samford

Tallahassee, Fla.

W, 52-51

12/29/07 vs. Georgia

Miami, Fla.

L, 71-62

12/30/07 Hofstra

Miami, Fla.

W, 72-54

01/03/08 vs. LSU

Tallahassee, Fla.

L, 73-61

01/06/08 vs.Virginia Tech Tallahassee, Fla.

W, 67-63

01/11/08 at Duke TV

L, 70-38

Durham, N.C.

01/17/08 vs.Wake Forest Tallahassee, Fla.

W, 80-54

01/20/08 at Clemson

Clemson, S.C.

W, 63-39

01/24/08 at Miami

Coral Gables, Fla.

W, 75-70

01/26/08 vs.Virginia

Tallahassee, Fla.

L, 69-66

02/03/08 at Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga.

4:00 p.m. ET

02/07/08 vs. N.C. State Tallahassee, Fla.

7:00 p.m.

02/10/08 at Virginia

Charlottesville,Va.

2:00 p.m. ET

02/17/08 at UNC

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

02/21/08 vs. B. College Tallahassee, Fla.

7:00 p.m. ET

02/24/08 at Maryland

College Park, Md.

TBA

02/28/08 vs. Miami

Tallahassee, Fla.

7:00 p.m. ET

03/01/08 vs. Clemson

Tallahassee, Fla.

7:00 p.m. ET

03/06/08 ACC Tournament Greensboro, N.C.

TBA

03/07/08 ACC Tournament Greensboro, N.C.

TBA

03/08/08 ACC Tournament Greensboro, N.C.

TBA

03/09/08 ACC Tournament Greensboro, N.C.

TBA

Volleyball 2007 schedule Aug. 25 vs. UNC-Asheville, 10 a.m.; vs. TCU 7 p.m. at FSU Invitational Aug. 31 vs. Missouri State at MSU Inv., 8 p.m.

Sept. 1 vs. Kansas 11 a.m.; at Michigan State 7:30 p.m. at MSU Inv. Sept. 5 at Florida, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 vs. Washington at Long Beach State Inv., TBA Sept. 8 at Long Beach State at Long Beach State Inv., TBA Sept. 14 vs. Miami, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Virginia, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 vs. Duke, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30 vs. Wake Forest, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 vs. Georgia Tech, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 vs. Clemson, 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Maryland, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 at Boston College, 7 p.m.

Oct. 19 at North Carolina, 7 p.m.

Oct. 20 at NC State, 6 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Miami, 7 p.m.

Oct. 26 vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.

Oct. 27 vs. Virginia, 6 p.m.

Nov. 1 at Duke, 7 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Wake Forest, 7 p.m.

Nov. 9 vs. Boston College, 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 vs. Maryland, 7 p.m.

Nov. 16 at Clemson, 7 p.m.

Nov. 17 at Georgia Tech, TBA Nov. 21 vs. N.C. State, 7 p.m.

Nov. 23 vs. North Carolina, 1 p.m.

14

OSCEOLA • JANUARY 30, 200 8

Shults hired to lead academic support

By Derek Redd

Florida State has brought in a familiar face as its new director of athletic academic support.

Former Seminoles swimming coach Bill Shults has returned to replace Mark Meleney as athletic academic support director. Meleney’s contract will not be renewed. The athletic program currently is suffering through an academic misconduct scandal that has forced the suspension of a number of athletes.

Shults’ hiring was announced at a recent athletic advisory board meeting. The group made a number of other decisions including voting to increase ticket costs by $1 and hammering out a new attendance policy for student athletes.

Shults coached the FSU swim team from 1979-92, when he moved into athletic administration and became Florida State’s director of compliance and student

services. He held that job until 1997, when he left to become an associate athletic director at the University of Connecticut.

Shults returned to Florida recently Bill Shults to become Florida International University’s Special Assistant to the General Counsel for NCAA Compliance. His isn’t the only new hire.

Mary Wright also will come from FIU to coordinate the athletic department’s tutoring program. Also, former FSU linebacker Lamont Green, a 1998 Seminoles team captain, will come back to work as an academic advisor for the football team.

Florida State football fans will have to shell out an extra dollar per game for their tickets next season, but FSU executive associate athletic director Gary Huff said the increase should net a decent amount of revenue. He estimated that next year's seven home games would gather an extra $372,503 with the price hike.

Tickets last season cost $35 for lowerprofile games, $45 for regular games and $55 for marquee games like Florida and Miami. Fans paid a total of $215 for five games in 2007. For seven games in 2008, fans would pay a total of $312.

Student-athletes will be subject to a new attendance policy, one that doles out severe punishment for multiple absences.

With the new policy, three unexcused absences in any one class will cost a student-athlete one game. A fourth unexcused absence will force the athlete to miss 30 percent of his or her games that season, while a fifth knocks the athlete out for the

year.

In other news from the board meeting, it was announced that Florida State’s 2008 football game against Colorado will be played in Jacksonville. Huff estimated that game would bring in $1 million in revenue for the program. It will be the second straight season FSU has played a regularseason game in Jacksonville. The Seminoles lined up against Alabama in the “River City Showdown” this past season at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, beating the Crimson Tide in front of 85,412.

It was the largest attendance number for a football game in Jacksonville, beating out the 2004 Super Bowl and any of the Georgia-Florida games.

Also, a feasibility study showed that women’s bowling would work if added to FSU’s slate of sanctioned varsity sports. A vote to officially add a women’s bowling team to the Florida State roster is scheduled for the next board meeting.

Seminole Sports Roundup Osceola staff reports

SWIMMING RETURNS FROM SC TOUR

The Florida State women’s swimming and diving team finished a very successful two-day tour of South Carolina, while the men’s team got halfway there. The women defeated South Carolina on Friday and Clemson on Saturday, while the men beat the Gamecocks and lost to the Tigers.

The 20th-ranked FSU women remained undefeated in the ACC (15-2, 5-0 in the ACC).

"Our backs were against the wall and we faced some adversity and we came through," said FSU head coach Neil Harper said in a university release.

"Halfway through the meet we didn't think we could pull it out, but I challenged the team and we were able to pull through."

The FSU women used a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 butterfly to provide the separation needed to bring home the victory.

FSU also had clutch performances from diver Katie Sirounis and swimmer Georgia Holderness. The sophomore diver swept the diving events by winning the one-meter event with a career best score of

303.15 and on the three-meter. Holderness swept the breaststroke events winning the 100 and 200. Junior Caroline Robertson also won an event with her victory in the 500 freestyle.

"We kept getting second third and fourth and couldn't get those victories," Harper said. "The turning point came in diving with Katie winning on both boards and in the 500 free when Caroline was able to beat out a swimmer on the other end of the pool. It was a really gutsy swim."

On the men's side the No. 25 ranked Seminoles had a great performance on the diving board. The FSU divers went 1-2-3 on both the three-meter and one-meter boards with sophomore Terry Horner winning the three-meter and junior Dan Frebel taking the one-meter.

Against South Carolina Scott Baker swept the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

Freshman Matt Shead and Thacker helped lead Florida State to 1-2-3 finishes in both breaststroke events.

TRACK SNAGS NCAA QUALIFYING TIMES

In just the second meet of the indoor

season, the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Gaineville, freshman Kim Williams automatically qualified in the triple jump for the NCAA Indoor Championships while fellow freshman Ngonidzashe Makusha provisionally qualified in the long jump.

Florida State's 4x400m women's relay team also picked up a provisional qualifying mark.

In her third collegiate attempt at the triple jump, Williams took earned herself a spot as the top women's triple jumper this season with a first-place leap of 44'0.7" for an automatic bid to the national indoor meet in March and a spot at No. 3 in Florida State's all-time triple jump records.

Williams’ jump earned her the honor of ACC track performer of the week.

Makusha also made a promising debut as he unleashed a 25'8.7" leap on his first long jump attempt, picking up a provisional qualifying mark and tying for the top long jump spot in the nation this season. In addition, Makusha's powerful jump also earned him a place at No. 3 on Florida State's all-time long jump list.

Another strong early season performance today came from the women's

4x400m relay team who finished with a third-place time of 4:40.10, enough to earn themselves a provisional qualifying spot for the national indoor meet.

In the men's events, 15-time AllAmerican and seven-time national champion Walter Dix began his final season with the Seminoles with a third-place, 6.26 mark in the 55m dash, the top collegiate time of the meet. Fellow All-American Michael Ray Garvin finished fifth in the event with a time of 6.31, while Makusha took sixth at 6.33. Sophomore Andrew Bachelor also had a strong showing as he notched a second-place mark in the high jump with a 6'10.7" leap.

BURNS-JACKSON NAMED ACC LEGEND Former FSU women’s basketball player Wanda Burns-Jackson has been named this season’s Seminoles representative for the ACC Legends to be honored at the ACC women’s basketball tournament in Greensboro, N.C.

Former Seminoles ready for action in new league Osceola staff report

Florida State football fans will get another chance to see some names from the past on the gridiron – provided they can handle watching them at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Six former Seminoles were drafted this past weekend into the new All American Football League, which begins play this April. Four former FSU players – wide receiver Peter Warrick, defensive backs Leroy Smith and Kyler Hall and defensive end Charles Howard – were selected by Team Florida. Defensive back Peter Claudius Osei went to Team Tennessee, while defensive back Abdul Howard went

to Team Alabama.

Team Florida, coached by former University of Florida quarterback Shane Matthews, will play three of its five home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Another home game will kick off at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, while another will happen at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Other Team Florida players include former Florida quarterback Chris Leak and former Miami center Anthony Wollschlager.

The AAFL was created to give football fans something to watch in the months the NFL is dark. Only those who have completed their NCAA eligibility and earned a

four-year degree are eligible to play in the league. According to the AAFL Web site, most league players will be paid $5,000 a game – $50,000 for the 10-game regular season – plus benefits, while six players on each team can be designated as “franchise players” and receive an extra $50,000.

The league’s first six teams have been placed in major college football strongholds. Other than Florida (based in Gainesville), Tennessee (based in Knoxville) and Alabama (based in Birmingham), there are teams in Arkansas (based in Little Rock), Texas (based in Houston) and Michigan (based in Detroit).

The regular season begins April 12 and concludes June 14. The inaugural champi-

onship game is scheduled for either July 3 or July 5.

‘NOLES IN THE DRAFT Peter Warrick – 7th round, Florida Peter Claudius Osei – 15th round, Tennessee – Lettered 01-04 Leroy Smith – 20th round, Florida – Lettered 01-04 Kyler Hall – 26th round, Florida – Lettered 01-02-03-05 Charles Howard – 31st round, Florida – Lettered 00-01-03-04 Abdul Howard – 41st round, Alabama – Lettered 97-99-01-02

theosceola.com

15

JANUARY 30, 200 8 • OSCEOLA

FSU needs super upset on Super Sunday

I

it.

f the Florida State men’s basketball team’s backs were any farther against the wall, they’d be on the other side of

So, on Super Bowl Sunday, the New York Giants aren’t the only team needing an upset.

The Seminoles must beat North Carolina. End of discussion.

I’m sure most of you reading are sitting there thinking, “Wow, ya think so, doctor?”

But as obvious as that statement is, it couldn’t be truer. If Florida State wants any shot at the NCAA Tournament, any shot at all, it needs to knock off the Tar Heels on Sunday afternoon.

Right now, you can look at the ACC standings one of two ways. There’s the optimist’s view: With so many teams bunched in the middle of the conference standings, it’s still anyone’s to win. That just goes to show you how even ACC basketball is and that the conference still has the best basketball in the country.

Then there’s the pessimist’s view: Everyone is bunched in the middle because, other than UNC, Duke, maybe Clemson and possibly Miami, there isn’t a slew of teams that look like they deserve to make the tournament.

At least one national expert is looking at the glass half empty. ESPN.com’s “Bracketology” guru Joe Lunardi is usual-

dredd@osceolanews.com

ly pretty good in picking the March Madness field every year. In his last update, he had four ACC teams in the tournament – the Tar Heels, Blue Devils, Tigers and, just squeaking in, Miami.

The Tigris and Euphrates of college hoops getting just four teams into the Big Dance? Sure makes that regular season a little more important now, doesn’t it?

Now if Lunardi’s predictions hold true and we figure that Duke and UNC are the only locks for the tournament, that leaves 10 teams fighting for two, maybe three, spots. And you know what would hurt a team’s chances? Blowing a 12-point lead and losing to North Carolina State at home, then following that up with five turnovers in the first eight minutes in a loss at Virginia Tech.

That leads us to FSU’s must-win Sunday match. The best way to erase the

thoughts of tough losses to N.C. State and VT, and inexplicable losses to South Florida and Cleveland State, is to pick up a signature win. FSU had two of those last year. The Seminoles knocked off eventual national champion Florida in Tallahassee and beat Duke in Durham.

Yet those wins still didn’t guarantee Florida State of a Big Dance invitation.

Home losses to Clemson and Boston College relegated them to the NIT. Sure, it’s nice, but it’s kind of like getting turned away at the hottest club in your college down and settling for the freshman bar down the street.

They’re still playing dance music, but the place isn’t as nice.

So Florida State’s uphill climb won’t end if the Seminoles beat North Carolina, but they need to put the rucksacks on their backs, lace up the boots and start climbing the Matterhorn on Sunday.

Beating the Tar Heels should give Florida State momentum it desperately needs. For some reason, the Seminoles haven’t been able to keep any momentum since the conference schedule started.

They led Duke late at home and couldn’t ice it, watching the Blue Devils go on a 16-2 run. They led Wake Forest on the road at halftime and got trounced in the second half. They led N.C. State by 12 in the first half, trailed by five at the half, recovered to lead by three with 40 seconds

to go and still lost.

But if they can steal one from UNC, that’s something different. That’s knocking off the No. 4 team in the country and the current No. 2 team in the ACC, doing it on a day when the spotlight shines bright. It’s just the right kick in the pants that reminds the players that, y’know, they do have the talent to hang with anyone in this conference and it’s time to go prove it.

It also should prove something to the folks who’ll sit in that conference room as part of the NCAA Selection Committee.

One or two more bad losses could knock FSU off the board with little to no chance of returning. But taking out North Carolina reminds the committee that this team could be dangerous if it gets an invitation to the party. It turns losses to Clemson and Duke into scrappy performances by a pretty good team, rather than shaky performances by an underachieving team.

The Seminoles’ hopes of ending their NCAA Tournament drought likely will hinge on this next game. Win here and they survive for another day. Lose here and they’re probably getting the Tucker Center ready for a couple of postseason home games.

The window of opportunity remains open, but it’s one really small crack.

Derek Redd is the Osceola’s managing editor.

Gehres follows pipeline to FSU Lincoln star receiver commits to Seminoles Courtesy of Rivals.com

Bobby Bowden and the Florida State coaching staff might have to think about renaming the team with the large amount of Lincoln Trojans on their roster. On Monday night, that number grew again as another talented prospect for the Trojans has decided he wants to stay close to home and be a Florida State Seminole.

Lincoln WR Josh Gehres made it quite clear the school he wanted to attend. It was the school he has been following ever since he could pick up a football, Florida State. On Monday night after a visit from offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, Gehres made his wish come true as he gave the Seminole staff his verbal commitment.

"I just committed to FSU. It's really an unbelievable feeling that I can't describe," explained Gehres. "This has been my dream school ever since I can remember. I love FSU so much and to know in your heart that after watching them every weekend at Doak Campbell Stadium that I get a chance to be a part that is truly special.

The talented 6-foot-3, 190 pound star

theosceola.com

Josh Gehres will carry the Lincoln tradition to FSU. wide receiver breaks down the conversation between the head coach in waiting for FSU.

"We really just talked about how I fit into FSU and how they planned on using me there. Then I told coach Fisher I'm ready to be a Nole and he was absolutely elated with the decision and he just said we are so thrilled to have you."

The Lincoln standout chose to stay home and play for FSU over offers from Michigan State, Iowa, Illinois and South Florida.

"It wasn't easy because all the coaches from the other schools were fantastic but the thing is, you know what fits you as a player and what program does and FSU is the place for me."

What does Gehres feel he brings to the table at wide receiver that maybe the Seminoles don't have?

"I'm going to make the tough catch and when the pressure is on I want an opportunity to be counted on," added Gehres.

Another important piece to the puzzle for Gehres picking the Seminoles was the recruitment of wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey, a former star for FSU. "That's special in the fact that here's a guy I've watched so many times on T.V. with his career and now he's my coach so I'm very much looking forward to that. My decision really just came down to the fact that I feel FSU in my heart and I know I

can help the team out," said Gehres.

This season, Gehres had an unbelievable season racking up well over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. The talented, but athletic wide receiver credits his work in the off-season and star quarterback B.J. Daniels.

"Obviously anytime you have a player with the caliber of BJ Daniels it's makes things easier but as far as myself goes, I just had to go out there in the spring and bust my tail in working on all facets of my game."

The decision was not only a relief to Josh Gehres, but the entire family as well it seems as they get to see their talented son stay home in Tallahassee.

"Actually I told my Mom this morning so she probably knew before anyone did.

Everyone is happy, but even more so it's just such a big relief to have this out of the way," said Gehres.

Now the big question remains will Gehres come in with a full scholarship or will it be a Greyshirt scholarship? "That is still up in the air, but for the time being it's a greyshirt but Coach Fisher said that could change and it just depends on the rest of the class. The only thing I know for sure is that I'm a Seminole, and I couldn't be more excited right now."

16

JANUARY 23, 200 8

The Osceola and Warchant.com are pleased to announce a special offer for the 2008 recruiting season!

We now are accepting SPECIALLY DISCOUNTED ADVANCE ORDERS for the Osceola's 40-page 2008 Signing Day Review and the Warchant.com 2008 Signing Day DVD. THE SIGNING DAY REVIEW WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FEATURES: * At least 40 pages of recruiting coverage, including profiles of every signee. * Feature stories on top signees. * Analysis of the class by Warchant.com's Gene Williams and other recruiting experts. * Complete breakdown of which signees will contribute immediately. * Comments from FSU coaches about each prospect. * A look back at the top five classes of the past 25 years. * Scouting the ACC – a look at the recruiting hauls of schools like Miami, Clemson and Virginia Tech. * Class rankings, photos, statistics and much, much more.

THE SIGNING DAY DVD* WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FEATURES: * Video highlight packages of Florida State's signees. * Interviews with top prospects and coaches. * Bonus features. ** For a LIMITED TIME ONLY, the Signing Day Review-DVD Combo is available for just $17.95!

Shipping Note: To allow time for editing and production, all DVD orders will be shipped within 10-14 days of Signing Day. NOTE: The Signing Day Review will be mailed free to print Osceola subscribers. ___ Review Only -- $8.95, including shipping, for non-Osceola print subscribers (*Current Osceola subscribers will receive this edition free as part of their annual subscription.)

Check enclosed

___ Purchase DVD Only -- $14.95, including shipping ___ Purchase Review-DVD Combo -- $17.95, including shipping (after 2/6/08)

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