FSU rallies past UNC, 30-27

The Florida State Seminoles came to life in the second half to rally past the North Carolina Tar Heels, 30-27.

The Seminoles found themselves trailing 17-6 heading into the locker room but outscored the Tar Heels 24-10 in the second half.

The defense, which played pretty well in the first half but was put in bad field position because of offensive turnovers, held strong in the second half.

The offense really came to life behind quarterback Christian Ponder, who is way too good to be the signal caller on such a struggling team.

Maybe the big road victory will spur Florida State on to more wins, but it’s likely it will only lead to more inconsistency.

Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 6:58 am by steve

Ponder sparks rally as FSU earns first ACC victory

By Bud L. Ellis

Maybe all Florida State needed was a week away from the field to earn its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory.

The Seminoles didn’t get into gear offensively until the third quarter Thursday night, but from there it was all FSU as Christian Ponder sparked the ‘Noles to a 30-27 win at North Carolina.

The ‘Noles, who improved to 1-3 in ACC action, certainly looked headed to an 0-4 conference start after falling behind the Tar Heels 24-6. Ponder led the climb back from the big hole, throwing three touchdown passes in the second half as FSU gained a much-needed victory.

Ponder shredded the UNC secondary, completing 33-of-40 passes for 395 yards and the three second-half touchdowns. Rod Owens hauled in nine passes for 199 yards and a score.

The Seminoles play host to N.C. State next Saturday, then travel to Clemson Nov. 7.

Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 7:02 pm by bud

Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Christian Ponder, Clemson, Florida State, N.C. State, North Carolina, Rod Owens

FSU falls to Georgia Tech, 49-44

The Florida State Seminoles finally got their offense going but it wasn’t enough in a 49-44 loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

The game quickly turned into a shootout, only to be delayed for more than an hour because of lightning.

The players didn’t seem to mind the rain-soaked field when the game resumed, as the two teams continued to put points on the board in bunches.

After taking a lead into halftime, Florida State stumbled in the second half, particularly the fourth quarter.

The most recent loss certainly won’t do anything to quell the tide that is rising against head coach Bobby Bowden.

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 8:41 am by steve

Seminoles don’t play this week … and maybe that’s best

By Bud L. Ellis

Maybe after all that’s swirled around the Florida State football program in recent weeks, a Saturday away from the football field will do the Seminoles some good.

Losers of three straight games on the field, and in the center of a national firestorm surrounding head coach Bobby Bowden’s status outside the lines, the Seminoles don’t play again until an Oct. 22 date at North Carolina.

Nothing stings more than sitting during a losing streak, and that indeed is where FSU finds itself following its third-consecutive setback, a wild 49-44 loss to Georgia Tech last Saturday night in Tallahassee. But at the same time, maybe it’s for the best the Noles are out of the limelight — or at least not on the schedule — this weekend.

For now, the tempest stirred when a trustee called for Bowden to step down last week seems to have calmed. Even the governor of Florida spoke out in support of the long-time coach, and his players marched arm-in-arm with Bowden before Saturday night’s game against the Yellow Jackets.

Bowden’s future does remain up in the air. The 79-year-old did his best to push away the issue during interviews leading up to the Tech game. The fact remains a large part of Seminoles Nation would like to see a change in command. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen.

Also up in the air is what happens to FSU’s season. Now 2-4 on the year and 0-3 in the ACC, if the Noles are going to turn things around, now is the time. Four of the final six games are away from home, capped by a regular-season ending contest at No. 1-ranked Florida.

–30–

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 9:38 pm by bud

Tags: Atlantic Coast Conference, Bobby Bowden, Florida, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech, North Carolina

Bowden under fire

Florida State Seminoles head coach Bobby Bowden is taking some heat for the team’s 2-3 start.

In fact, there is a possibility that Bowden may even be forced into retirement at the end of the season.

There has been reports of fighting within the coaching staff because of a power struggle over who is the person of authority.

Meanwhile, Bowden has made it clear that he has no intentions of retiring anytime in the near future.

Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will be named the head coach whenever Bowden decides to walk away from the game.

Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 11:16 am by steve

Bowden Says He’s Criticized For Age

Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden, who’s come under fire recently after a 2-3 start to the season (his worst start in the past 30 years), said in an interview on ESPN on Friday that he’s being criticized because of his age.

“My problem is age,” Bowden said. “If I was 50, nobody would be saying a word as far as that’s concerned. But at 79, he’s too old. I found out when I first started, it’s always this way: ‘Yeah, but what have you done lately? What have you done lately?’ What you used to do doesn’t count, and I know it’s that way. I’m ready for it. But I also know anytime something goes wrong, he’s too old.”

Bowden does not plan on deciding whether to coach in 2010 or not until after the end of this season, however; he hopes that he actually has the opportunity to make the choice himself.

“I’ve always been told you can coach as long as I want to,” Bowden said. “But I’ve got a one-year contract and after the year, I let them know if I want to come back another year. That’s as far as I go.”

With Bowden’s one-year contract expiring on Jan. 4, 2010, and head coach-in-waiting, offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, being owed $5 million for the school if he’s not the head coach by January 2011, the clock on college football’s second most winningest coach could be close to striking midnight.

Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 10:39 am by bryan

FSU falls to Boston College, 28-21

The Florida State Seminoles couldn’t get over last week’s disappointing loss, falling to Boston College, 28-21.

Florida State played absolutely terrible in the first half, heading into the locker room trailing the Eagles 21-3.

The Seminoles finally woke up in the second half and rallied back, but it was too little, much too late.

It was another sad performance in a string of them lately under head coach Bobby Bowden, who is really starting to feel the heat.

The Seminoles sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and must quickly turn their season around or risk more embarassment.

Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 8:19 pm by steve

Bowden’s Job Safe… For Now

In a release on Wednesday from the university, Florida State president T.K.Wetherell announced that football head coach Bobby Bowdenwould keep his job through the end of the season, at which point, the head coaching position will be re-evaluated.

“FSU does not make coaching changes in the middle of the season,” Wetherell said. “What message would it send to anyone — friend or foe — to do that at this time?”

Wetherell reiterated that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is in line to become the next head coach of Florida State, and that the school will begin hammering out details of a potential contract.

Despite being off to the worst start they’ve faced since Bowden’s rookie head coaching season (mind you, in 1976), Wetherell plans to stick by Bowden, who is the second winningest coach in college football behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno.

“His character and commitment to excellence has always been the signature of his career,” said Wetherell, who played receiver at Florida State in the mid-1960s, when Bowden served as an assistant at FSU.

“Two years ago coach Bowden and I, and others, stood together and announced that we were beginning a period of transition for the football program,” Wetherell said. “That plan is in place and will produce results, given the opportunity and support.”

“I think he’s wise and I’m very thankful,” Bowden said. “Our players, we tell them don’t pay any attention to that stuff, just concentrate on your next opponent, and I’m sure that’s what they’ll do.”

Florida hosts No. 22 Georgia Tech (4-1) on Saturday night.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 9:41 pm by bryan

FSU Boosters Calling for Bowden’s Head

All it took was a stumble out of the gate for Florida State fans to call for the resignation of their legendary head coach, Bobby Bowden.

With a 2-3 start to the season, including a demoralizing loss to Boston College on Saturday, the chair of Florida State’s board of trustees seemed to think the end should be near for Bowden. This is the first time that the Seminoles have opened ACC play 0-2 since Bowden’s rookie year - 33 years ago.

“My hope is frankly that we’ll go ahead, and if we have to, let the world know that this year will be the end of the Bowden era,” chairman Jim Smith told the Tallahassee Democrat on Sunday. ” … I do appreciate what he’s done for us, what he’s done for the program, what he’s done really for the state of Florida.”

During an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Smith elaborated on his concerns, suggesting that the relationship between Bowden and offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has broken down.

“We’ve got too many bosses out there,” Smith said. “Jimbo is in a very, very tough situation where people assume he has a whole lot more authority than he really has. He’s getting blamed for a lot of things that’s just not his fault.”

Fisher was deemed the head coach-in-waiting in 2007.

” … I think the record will show that the Seminole Nation has been more than patient,” Smith said to the Democrat. “We have been in a decline not for a year or two or three but I think we’re coming up on seven or eight. I think enough is enough.”

Monday, October 5, 2009 at 6:13 pm by bryan

Florida State rally falls short in loss to Boston College

The Florida State Seminoles didn’t give up after falling behind 18 points on the road against the Boston College Eagles, but still found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a 28-21 loss.

Trailing 21-3 late in the second quarter, the Seminoles got their act together and knotted the game at 21 early in the third quarter after a converted 2-point conversion. The Eagles then gave them a gift by fumbling the ensuing kickoff, and suddenly the Seminoles found themselves staring an unlikely victory in the face. But Dustin Hopkins pushed a 37-yard field goal attempt wide right, and the Eagles drove the ball down the field for the game-winning touchdown.

The Florida State passing game was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreadful effort. Quarterback Christian Ponder was 29 of 42 for 341 yards, and both Richard Goodman and Bert Reed had over 100 yards receiving.

Still, the Seminoles now find themselves 2-3 and 0-2 in the ACC, and a once promising season that had them in the top 25 is now teetering on the edge of a full-blown free-fall.

Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 5:24 pm by Raj Sethi