Maryland : Week 11

Wow, did our program need that win. Like that 4 year old brat screaming behind you in the grocery store needs a beating, FSU desperately needed that type of victory. No more 7 win seasons...our Bowl destination moved from Boise to Atlanta or Jacksonville...Florida week became bearable...and the Terps can send us to the ACC Championship with an upset in Chestnut Hill.

My favorite moment in this game was maybe an under-the–radar highlight, but it typified where we have come in the last two seasons in this offensive regime. Second half, game in hand and before the snap, a Maryland lineman jumps offsides and makes contact with one of our lineman. Our boys do not move, I mean they do not stir. The officials caucus (it is an ACC crew and the penalty is not on Florida State – this requires absolute Obama consensus). Our Line is still in formation, not a muscle has twitched. Ryan McMahon has his hand on the ball and is in his stance ready to snap even as entire Maryland team is wandering backwards toward a new line of scrimmage. Only when the referee taps McMahon on the head and then leans over to tell him he can move does he acknowledge the call. Now, if you ever wondered before what type of discipline our resident Marine Trickett instills in our big uglies – wonder no more. These boys are way more scared of angering the rabid Rasputin than conforming to conventional mores.

I think it can now be said that we officially missed our boys returning from the front. Our warring wideouts were the difference in this offense. Jimbo said after the game that if it wasn’t for a strong breeze knocking him down, Bert Reed would have scored twice. And folks, Taiwan Easterling is money. His block scored a suddenly dynamic-again Preston Parker, and his third down grab was the play of the game in making this a true blowout. Surrency took two guys out on more than one occasion and those Ponder option runs around the ends are not possible w/o our wideouts locking up the corners and safeties. Speaking of Preston Parker, he initially took a page from the Greg Carr LL Bean “Winter in Maine” fashion catalogue with his first quarter attire, but after a few grabs shed his stylish outerwear for a more manly look on National TV.

Defensively, we opened like we have for much of the season – playing matador to even the most banal ACC offenses. The speedy Terrapins marched down the field on both of their first two possessions until our one-man Sitting Bull made a Little Big Horn stand and forced a punt and a missed FG. Apparently Everette Brown has decided that collegiate lineman are no longer a challenge for him. Inside, outside, spins, power rushes, rips, speed – whatever it takes. He is going to beat his man and make a play. In my opinion, he is the best defensive lineman since Peter Bouleware to don the garnet & gold. The last time we beat a UF team this good? 1996 at home and Pete had fellow stud Reinard Wilson on the other side. Neefy ain’t no Wilson, but he better start acting like it, cuz the Liazrds are going to double and triple our man Everette. I would be shocked if our soon-to-be top 10 draft pick makes too many plays on Saturday. I just think UF will take him away and see if the rest of the team can make a play.

It was pointed out to me on Sunday that we have not had a pick from the free safety position since the Emerald Bowl – 26 games. We had one Saturday, by substitute safety Kenny Ingram. Yikes. Myron is back full time this week, and apparently he is overdue. Speaking of Myron, it has been over 20 years since a Division 1 football player won this award. Folks, this is honestly a bigger deal than the two Heisman awards. I felt incredible pride being a Seminole when that kid hugged his parents. What an ambassador for our academically challenged program this young man is…

Our opponents the last three weeks have obviously been scared of Tony Carter for some reason, because Patrick Robinson has been getting picked on mercilessly. That has been good for us, as we in turn have relented on our usual boundry / field corner assignments and have put P-Rob on their best wideout all over the field. He responded last week with two big downfield breakups on Darius Hayward-Bey. I hope that he can somehow find a way to do the same to Percy Harvin (who in my opinion is the best player in College Football).

This week will certainly be interesting. When was the last time we had this little pressure on us going into a Florida game? Maybe 1998, when Weinke went down and the Rooster crowed… We are sixteen point underdogs in our building, and the UF arrogance around our State is deafening. I think the first quarter will tell the tale. The lizards have outscored the opposition 147 to 7 in the first stanza over the last half season or so. If we get roached (turned over on our back with our legs kicking) in the first period this week, it is over – we do not have the firepower to outscore them. BUT, if we hang with them for 15 minutes, doubt and frustration will creep in over on the other sideline.

I think that we are the best team they have played this year, and certainly the best road opponent by a bunch. It should be fun.

Go Terrapins, Beat those pesky Eagles…

Go Noles!