FSU season preview
FSU season preview
Hurricanes and football are two sure signs that summer in Florida is coming to an end.
And the Seminoles open their football season Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium against
the Catamounts of Western Carolina.
Head coach Bobby Bowden starts his 33rd season as the Seminoles coach tied with Penn State's Joe Paterno for most wins in Bowl Championship Series (formerly Division 1) history.
However, Bowden downplays the importance of the record.
"Eddie Robinson has 408 wins. When you get to that number you've actually done something," Bowden said.
Paterno notched his 373rd victory last week equaling the mark set by Bowden.
As with any college team, the roster of players changes from year to year but Florida State's coaching arsenal remains strong this year.
Chuck Amato returns as executive head coach and linebackers coach, longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews resumes his role as associate head coach and presumptive heir apparent Jimbo Fisher resumes his duties as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Red shirt senior Drew Weatherford won the starting quarterback job for the fourth year. Many feel that Weatherford has not lived up to the role required as starting quarterback for the Seminoles. Last year he threw for more than 2,000 yards and nine touchdowns despite being benched after the fourth game of the year.
Coaches said that Weatherford "worked as hard as anyone on the team to win his starting job back." And that hard work was rewarded with him being named the starter for the final six games of the year.
Despite the Seminoles finishing the season 7-6 Weatherford had a passer rating of more than 118 and completed nearly 57 percent of his passes.
One of his chief targets this season looks to be junior college transfer wide receiver Corey Surrency.
Surrency had more than 30 receptions last year for nearly 700 yards and was listed as one of the top junior college players in the country. He also adds speed to the receiving corps running a 4.45 40-yard-dash.
The 'Noles will not be able to win exclusively through the air. They will also need a strong performance from their rushers.
Senior running back Antone Smith enters this season as the starting tailback for the second straight year. Smith carried the ball 192 times for 819 yards last year despite battling injuries all season. And that was missing a game and a half with a shoulder injury and another half game with a concussion.
The coaching staff reports Smith is in perfect health this year and ready for the season to begin.
One point at which the Seminoles are lacking this season is offensive line. Only two players, sophomore guards Rodney Hudson and Ryan McMahon are the only players
on the line tht have ever played in an FBS game.
Injuries during the off-season have also left the 'Noles relying on walk-on players along the defensive line.
However, the secondary remains one of the strongest in the ACC. Cornerbacks Tony Carter and Michael Ray Garvin join Myron Rolle. And while the starting safety Roger Williams graduated last year his replacement will be either senior Darius McClure or former All-ACC sophomore Jamie Robinson.
