Derrick Brooks Looking Towards the Future

Former FSU linebacker and current FSU Board of Trustees member, Derrick Brooks is keeping a watchful eye on the process of hiring a new president as well as FSU's appeal of an NCAA sanction that could cost his former college coach, Bobby Bowden, 14 victories.

"We're going to try to do what we can to get the best guy in here," Brooks said about the search to replace T.K. Wetherell. "I've known leading up to his announcement he was leaning that way. We as trustees have to do our due diligence really to find someone to replace (him).

"The president has committed to us he is going to give us the time that we need as trustees to find the right person to lead us."

Brooks supports FSU's appeal in an academic-misconduct case that involved 61 student-athletes and an online music course. Ten sports could be affected by the sanction that covers the 2006 and 2007 fall semesters and the 2007 spring semester. FSU football coach Bobby Bowden, with 382 victories, trails Penn State's Joe Paterno by one victory as major college football's all-time winningest coach.

"We have to (appeal)," Brooks said. "Everyone is making about Coach Bowden's wins. It's much more than that. It's other things that are involved outside of football wins that we're trying to hang on to."

Read the entire article.

Seeking Attention Much, Shaq!

The NBA superstar will star in "Shaq Vs.," a TV series where the All-Star center will challenge top athletes in their respective sports. During one episode, which debuts on Aug. 8 on ABC, Shaq will swim against Olympic superstar Phelps.

O'Neal, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, also will try his football skills against Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, box retired world champion Oscar De La Hoya, trade tennis volleys with Wimbledon champ Serena Williams and play volleyball against Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.

O'Neal will negotiate a handicap with his opponents and train for one week leading up to each challenge.

My response:

Get somewhere and sat down. He makes me soooooo sick. The only Omega I can’t stand.

The Three Greatest Athletes In Seminole History

3. Walter Dix, Track
Quite simply, the most decorated athlete in Florida State history. Dix dominated his sport like no other Seminole ever has. An eight-time national champion, a 17-time All-American and an NCAA record-holder in the 200-meter. Spurning pro contract offers, Dix led Florida State to back-to-back-to-back national titles as a sophomore, junior and senior. He then went to Beijing and collected two bronze medals in the 2008 Olympics.

I’m going to be honest. I had a hard time with Dix. A part of me wanted to put him at the very top of this list. After all, has anyone won more trophies for Florida State University than Walter Dix? He was the key figure in a dynasty run by the men’s track program and stayed in school to get his degree when he could have left much sooner. He might deserve to be No. 1 of all time. But when you see the two guys ahead of him, maybe you’ll understand.

2. Charlie Ward, Football/Basketball
I wish someone could look this up for me, but I don’t know that it would matter. Because I think I know the answer. Has anyone ever quarterbacked a team to a national championship and also played point guard on a basketball team that earned a spot in the Elite Eight? I’m thinking probably not. Charlie was just that special.

He brought Florida State its first national championship and its first Heisman Trophy. He was clutch. He was calm. He was almost impossible to sack when he saw you coming. The signature play of his college career was of course the little flip pass to Warrick Dunn to sew up a 33-21 win over Florida in the Swamp. But remember, he also had to lead the Seminoles down the field in the final minutes to beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Charlie was, without a doubt, the best football player in the nation in 1993. And yet he went pro – and was a first-round draft pick – in an entirely different sport. And he was clutch on the hardwood, too. As a freshman he sank a 30-footer to beat Louisville in the Metro Conference Championship game. He was just an amazing talent. Part of me wishes he would have given the NFL a try, because he was such a treat to watch in football (and the joke when he was a rookie with the Knicks was that he was the best quarterback in New York). But I understand the decision.

By the way, before he became a star under center as a junior and senior, Ward spent his freshman season as the team’s starting punter. That’s how insane an athlete he was – he could, almost literally, do anything. But then again, so could this last guy.

1. Deion Sanders, Football/Baseball/Track
Seriously, who else could it have been? Not only is he perhaps the best cornerback in football history (certainly no defensive back ever altered more gameplans), a two-time consensus All-American, one of the best punt returners who ever lived, an NFL Defensive MVP, a two-time Super Bowl winner, a eight-time Pro Bowler and a soon-to-be Hall of Famer, but he was pretty good on other fields as well.
What gets lost in Deion’s two-sport days during the 1990s was just how good he was at baseball. No, he wasn’t an All-Star and he won’t be in Cooperstown, but he was a very serviceable major leaguer for a number of years. He wasn’t a carnival act (hey, look at the football player trying to swing a bat!) at all. He was a legit major leaguer.
In 1992, he led the NL with 14 triples while hitting .304 for the season. In the World Series that year, Deion hit a stunning .533 with five stolen bases and likely would have been the World Series MVP if the Atlanta Braves had won.
In 1994, he stole 38 bases in just 92 games. In 1997 with the Reds, he stole 56 bases.
As we all know, he is the only person to hit a home run in the major leagues and score a touchdown in the NFL in the same week – will that milestone ever be reached again?
But that’s just his professional career. What Deion did in college will never be forgotten by Florida State fans (the responses to my last blog proved that). From “calling his shot” before returning a punt for a touchdown against Clemson, to terrorizing Andre Rison and the Michigan State Spartans, to intercepting a pass in the end zone against Auburn on his final collegiate play, to returning a pick 100 yards as a freshman to returning a punt for a touchdown against the hated Gators later that year to starring for the Florida State track and field team (he was an All-American in that sport, too) to helping the Seminoles to the College World Series as a starting outfielder. He did it all. He was confident. He was brash. He was unbelievably fast and undeniably talented. There will never, ever, be another Florida State athlete like Deion Sanders.

Kitchen makes game-winner, defense gets final stop, FSU heads to semis

When it mattered most, Derwin Kitchen wasn't going to be denied.

Three times during Florida State's white-knuckle thriller against Georgia Tech on Friday, the sophomore guard had a layup rejected by a Yellow Jacket defender.

But with just 9.9 seconds left in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal game, Kitchen took an inbounds pass from freshman Luke Loucks, sped toward the goal and hit a game-winning reverse layup while being fouled in the Seminoles' 64-62 win at the Georgia Dome.

It was just his third basket of the game.

"I was struggling the whole night," said Kitchen, who finished with eight points, five assists and four turnovers. "To make a big play like that for my teammates, for Luke to have confidence to pass it to me (and) just to bounce back from a terrible game — that was big."

The whole world — or at least the 26,352 in attendance Friday — expected FSU star Toney Douglas to take the game-winning shot. After all, he had 25 points in the game (on 11 of 15 shooting) and has taken, and made, virtually all of the Seminoles' big shots in conference contests this season.

Instead, the pass went to Kitchen, who attacked the basket despite his earlier struggles.

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.

Bowden is Out

Clemson fired football coach Tommy Bowden today, four days after the Tigers lost to Wake Forest and fell to 3-3, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

They just told us. It's what he deserved," said senior quarterback Cullen Harper, who was benched after the Tigers' loss to Wake Forest loss and replaced by highly regarded sophomore Willy Korn. "Dabo Swinney is a fine man and will do an excellent job.

Harper struggled playing behind an inexperienced offensive line this season. His father, Jeff Harper, an offensive lineman on Georgia's 1980 national championship team, said Bowden's dismissal was justified.

"I'd call it karma," he said. "I thought it needed to be done. I think anytime a head coach or someone in a leadership position starts to place blame on his coaches and players, it weakens their respect on the team. His past experiences have shown he's done that."

Clemson running back C.J. Spiller had mixed emotions seeing Bowden let go.

"I'm shocked. We are 3-3 because we didn't make enough big offensive plays," Spiller said. "I'm shocked by our record and now I'm shocked that our coach is gone.

"I enjoyed playing for coach Bowden and I liked him, but in the end he was yelling at us to be leaders and it wasn't working. He did all he could to motivate us but guys weren't buying into what he was saying. And he said a lot of the same things over and over again.

"He let the offensive coordinator [Rob Spence] run the show and we got away from me and James [Davis]. I think part of the problem was when he benched Cullen. Some people wanted the offensive coordinator fired, [Bowden benched] the quarterback and then he got fired."

While the Tallahassee Democrat reports that Bowden was fired, ESPN.COM reports that he "resigned.

Um huh...he resigned...right after they fired him. But I ain't mad. Matter fact I'm glad. Now, I don't have to root for Clemson anymore. The only reason I tried to get with them was because Tommy was Bobby's boy. Now, I hope they lose every game they play. And how classless is Cullen Harper? He should have kept his mouth closed. The fact of the matter is that he deserved to be benched with that raggedy performance he gave Thursday night. Both he and his father need to learn when to talk when to shut the heck up.

Tommy is coming out of this pretty good too. Bowden will be paid through the end of the season, then get $3.5 million as a buyout negotiated in the contract extension both sides agreed to last December. Boy, white folks sho'll don't get fired like us.

Come on to Tallahassee, Tommy. We'll leave the light on for you.

I Believe, Coach Bowden...I Believe!

nolesports.com Tallahassee, FL: "Bobby Bowden was giving a speech in front of approximately 1,400 people at the Civic Center on Friday, but the Florida State head coach might as well have been addressing every single Seminole fan in the country during the 57th annual FSU Kickoff Luncheon.

'You have got to give us a home field advantage,' Bowden emphatically told the crowd. 'We go out there to warm up, nobody's there. Get into the dadgum game and start making some noise. And get that other team intimidated. That's what we need.'

This statement elicited the second-biggest cheer of the entire afternoon."

The biggest came a few moments later as Bowden was quickly going through the Seminoles' schedule for the 2008 season.

"We've got Miami in Miami," he said. "They're about like us. We're both trying to fight our way back up. Right now, Florida is a little ahead of both of us. But folks, we're going to be back. We're going to be back."

Click on the link (above) to read the rest...

Dix Is Not Done

Dix won the bronze today because of two disqualifications but he's still not done. He will be competing in the 4x100 meter relay for a chance at another medal.

Click the link to read the rest...

Dix Advances to 200 Meter Finals!

"FSU All-American sprinter Walter Dix advanced to Wednesday’s finals in the 200 meters at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Dix, seeking a second Olympic medal after winning bronze in Saturday’s 100 meters, finished third in his heat in the semifinals this morning."

A mere 0.14 separated the top four finishers in the heat, with all four moving on to the finals. Dix ran a 20.19, which was .02 behind former FSU sprinter Brian Dzinghai (20.17) of Zimbabwe.

The heat was won by Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles. He set a national record with a time of 20.11Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who set a world record in the 100 meters (9.69) on Saturday, won the other heat in a time of 20.09. Americans Shawn Crawford and Wallace Spearmon were right behind him.

Go to http://www.nolesports.com/ for local reaction to Dix’s quest for Olympic gold.


GO NOLES!!! OOOOH, OOOH, OOH, OOH...

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.

Update: Dix wins bronze medal

Dix is on the far left.

Walter Dix wins bronze medal in Beijing.

"He may not be the fastest man on the planet, but the Florida State All American won a bronze medal today in the 100 meters.

Dix posted a personal best 9.91 in the finals, good enough for third place.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won the race and set a world record with a time of 9.69. Richard Thompson, who competed for LSU and is running for Trinidad/Tobago in the Olympics, gets the silver medal with a personal-best time of 9.89.

Jamaica’s Asafa Powell, who posted a 9.91 time in the semifinals, finished fifth at 9.95.

In addition to Bolt’s world record, the other big news in the 100 meters was American Tyson Gay, the U.S. record holder, failing to get beyond the semifinals."

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.