She Preaches! -- "Tebow's Passion"

I have a confession to make. As much as I detest the Gators I cried when they lost to Alabama. It was only for like half a second -- I promise. Please don't revoke my FSU alumni card. I couldn't help it. For a small moment, something in me identified with Tim Tebow -- it was his passion.

I approach everything I do with passion. It determines what kind of jobs I take. It determines who I CHOOSE to love. It dictates what direction I will take in any given situation. If I don't have a passion for something, if I don't have a burnng desire to work as though my life depends on what I'm doing, then I won't be doing it long.

If I am not committed to a person or a relationship, you will know because anything I commit to, I commit to it wholeheartedly. I don't know how to give half of myself to anything. Either I'm in it or I'm not. Anything else is a waste of time.

Passion is vital to one's success. Without it, you will never know what it is to be successful. Passion will make you stay up late and study.

Passion will make you fight for a marriage or a relationship that others tell you to walk away from.

Passion will make you stand by your wayward children.

Passion will make you pray for your enemies.

Passion made Jesus go to the cross and die for sins He didn't commit.

Passion will make you play hard and leave it all on the field.

I don't understand why but it was always Tebow's dream to play football for the University of Florida. And when he got the opportunity to do just that, he didn't approach it like some others often do. He didn't have a sense of entitlement. He didn't behave as though the University owed him something. No. He played as though he owed the University something. He sacrificed his time, his talent and even put his body at risk just to gain a few more inches so that he could get his team closer to the goal line.

Tebow always played with passion. Yet on the night of December 5, 2009, despite how devoted he was to his team and to Gator Nation, and despite his desire to lead them to victory, he failed -- miserably. I understood his pain.

I know what it's like to love and lose.

Iknow what it's ike to give my all and come up with nothing.

I know how it feels to fight so hard and still suffer defeat.

That is a pain that is indescribable.

But passionless people don't get it. They laughed at Tebow. They ridiculed him. They posted pictures of him on Facebook making fun of him. (Though even Gator nation must admit that the "CRYING" Tebow pic is funny!).

Show me a person who lives life without passion and I will show you a person who is doomed to a life of mediocrity. They will never be great. They will always be average. Average makes me itch.

Passionless people won't work hard for anything because they don't care about anything.

Passionless people can't sustain relationships because they won't invest themselves into them.

They will never live life to the fullest because they would rather sit on the sidelines where it's safe. They won't have to take a hit and no one will blame them for any failures.

Not caring about anything or anyone is a defense mechanism. If you don't care about anything then you can't get hurt if things don't work out. The problem with that mindset is that you won't take a risk for something or someone you don't care about. No risks, no returns. That kind of life is BORING!

Tebow still gets on my nerves though. Mostly because he didn't go to FSU, but also because I think he's one of the most overrated quarterbacks in the history of college football. He doesn't have the strongest arm in the world and he's not that accurate of a passer. The absence of Percy Harvin revealed who the real star of that team was. But there was something special about ol' Timmy. He had two things going for him. He had passion and the favor of God is on his life.

Favor is what made him a star before he ever played a down for the University of Florida.

Favor is what gave him the opportunity to win the Heisman Award even though he really isn't all that.

Favor is what allowed him to play for and win two National Championships back to back. (Though Chris Leak had a lot to do with the first one...Gators ought to be ashamed of themselves for how they treated Chris. Make me sick....but I digress.)

Favor is what makes people love Tebow while others hate him because favor ain't fair!

Oh, Timmy! It's okay to cry. Even with that horrible defeat you suffered at the hands of Alabama (and boy was it bad...lolllll), you still accomplished more than your critics. I don't think you'll be that successful in the NFL but you will be successful at something. Keep living your life with passion. Your passion, your prayers, and your love for God will take you further than you have ever imagined.

For the rest of you, if you aren't passionate about something you need to ask God to give you something to be passionate about. A life without passion is a life that isn't worth living.

Til next time, may the Lord God bless you real good!

Seminole Spotlight: Marcus Sims

With injuries taking running backs Antone Smith and Jermaine Thomas out of the game, Marcus Sims played both fullback and tailback on Saturday. The North Florida Christian graduate made the most of his chance to lobby for even more playing time by rushing for 29 yards on eight carries.

He also had two catches for five yards and made some key blocks.
"Marcus came in and played real well," coach Bobby Bowden said. "He's really been important to our football team."

Yeah, yeah, I'm biased. So what?! I have not made it a secret that Marcus Sims is one of my favorites on the team. He's a wonderful young man and I want to see him carry the ball even more this year. We need him for the rest of the year, Jimbo. I especially want to see him kick the crap out of Florida. I personally believe he is as powerful a full back as William Floyd. Still looking for great things from him.

FSU jumps to No. 16 in AP and coaches' poll

FSU jumps to No. 16 in AP and coaches' poll Tallahassee Democrat: "Dekoda Watson was hoping that Florida State had played well enough to rank No. 18 in the latest national polls. His Seminoles did better than that in jumping up to No. 16 in both the USA Today coaches poll and the Associated Press poll."

That’s great news,” Watson said. “I am very happy. We’re trying to bring it back. … The good thing about it is it doesn’t have to stop here. We can keep it going and that’s what we plan to do.”
It is the highest ranking for the Seminoles since being ranked ninth against Clemson on Sept. 16, 2006.
“It’s been a little while,” offensive lineman Rodney Hudson said. “We feel good about it but we got to keep working…”

Twenty-seven games had passed since FSU was one of three ACC schools ranked in the top 25.
North Carolina is No. 22 and Maryland is No. 25. Tech is the first among teams outside of the top 25 receiving votes in the USA Today poll.

Marcus Sims is "Singled Out"

Me with Marcus at the Ernie Sims Celebrity Weekend Silent Auction

'Nole coaches praise QBs, Sims for scrimmage Tallahassee Democrat: "Jimbo Fisher saw plenty from his review of Florida State football's first preseason scrimmage to address in Monday's practice. The offensive coordinator was encouraged by his group's first real test."

That included the work of his three quarterbacks — Drew Weatherford, Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson.
"For the most part, most of the decisions were pretty good," Fisher said. "We missed a couple and a couple of them we missed had a chance to be big plays. But for the most part it wasn't bad."
The offense scored one touchdown in the regular part of the scrimmage, but Fisher liked the group's fight. He also said FSU's young offensive line is making progress.
"The young guys are taking steps and doing things right and then you see the youth show up at times," Fisher said. "Back and forth. They did some good things for the first time (they) ever walk in that stadium and scrimmage. There weren't a lot of bust assignments."
Head coach Bobby Bowden pointed to the play of running back Marcus Sims after watching tape.
"Marcus Sims, I singled him out because he ran so good in that scrimmage Saturday," Bowden said. "I thought (Antone) Smith ran much better, too.

"There's some good things happening. We just got to get all the mistakes corrected."

Defensive line borrows Dawkins

Defensive line coach Odell Haggins already knew he would be without Budd Thacker, Paul Griffin and Justin Mincey, provided Mincey retained his academic eligibility, for the first three games. He's also been without Moses McCray for part of the preseason.

That has left Haggins with two healthy scholarship tackles in Emmanuel Dunbar and Kendrick Stewart during preseason camp.

To help that situation, freshman defensive end Everett Dawkins moved to the interior line on Monday.

"You need four (interior linemen) and we've got three with Moses," Bowden said. "Of course, he hasn't been able to get a lot of work which makes you think you better get somebody else in there, too."
Enter Dawkins, who played at high school powerhouse Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes.

"It's not a permanent thing," Haggins said. "He's just helping us out. He can play inside. He's strong. He can move.

"Put him in certain situations and he'll be OK. But we have to have some help in there."

FSU was without freshman running back Jermaine Thomas again on Monday. The freshman did not participate in Saturday's scrimmage.

"There's a little glitch in there that I feel like is going to work out OK," Bowden said.

The Seminoles continue to wait on word on Mincey and tight ends Charlie Graham and Matt Dunham.

Injury updates

Two FSU running backs are nursing injuries and are listed as day-to-day. Antone Smith has a bruised thigh and Ty Jones has a hip pointer.

Marcus Sims is definitely one of my favorite Noles. He is an extremely humble and genuinely nice guy. I credit his parents. I'm also looking forward to seeing him do great things this season. Look for #35 to do it big this year.

FSU's Markus White has seizure, misses football practice | tallahassee.com | Tallahassee Democrat

FSU's Markus White has seizure, misses football practice tallahassee.com Tallahassee Democrat: "Florida State defensive end Markus White missed practice this morning after having an apparent seizure prior to practice."

The seizure was due to a pre-existing condition, according to FSU sports information officers. White takes medication for the condition, they said.
No more details are available at this time. According to federal rules, FSU officials aren’t allowed to comment on the specifics of a student-athlete’s medical condition.White is a junior college transfer from Butler (Kansas) Community College, where he was an All American.
He is expected to contend for a starting position.FSU is scheduled to have a second practice this evening. It isn’t known if White will be able to participate.Check back at www.nolesports.com for more details.

Harrington is back on the bench...dang

Harrington voices his disappointment ajc.com: "A day after being replaced as the Falcons starting quarterback in favor of Byron Leftwich, Joey Harrington spoke his mind. He's hurt. He doesn't think he deserved to be benched. He could care less if he's viewed as a player who can't cut it as a starter in the NFL. Is it tough? Yeah. It's awful,' Harrington said Thursday. 'It's terrible. Every week I sit here and I pour every ounce of effort I have into this team. And to be sitting here at 1-5 and to be replaced is a difficult thing to deal with. But it's something I've dealt with before."

Poor Joey. Bless he little heart. I feel for him and I honestly don't think Byron Leftwich big, slow behind will do any better. I was so glad when the Jaguars let him go that I became a fan again. Falcons, get it together before I get to the ATL.