NC State

Homecoming. When we share embarrassing stories with old friends that seem to grow in scope every year while our kids quietly listen so they can try to top them when they get to college - involve police - and then watch us unbraid them while asking where they got such a terrible idea. At FSU, it is when we lay out the proverbial garnet and gold carpet to the Seminole tribe rightfully honoring them in parades, halftime ceremonies, and most impressively this week with the planting of the spear at midfield. This was like handing a Driver to Jordan Spieth. This dude knew how to use the weapon. Completely without emotion, he saluted both East & West Stands then threw that lance about a foot deep at midfield, then strode off with a purpose like the Unconquered Nation he repped. Way cool.

Welp, methinks the quarterback controversy is over. However, the head coach may have tipped his hand to what we have in store in 2016 at the same time. As much as we all pretend that we are at practice every day and have as much if not more knowledge of what players should be playing - especially at QB - we are all full of lizard gizzards. We get to see about 60 plays a week, and the coaches get to see about a thousand. Preseason, after witnessing about a zillion reps from our two main Oscar contenders, the head critic gave two thumbs up to the turnover machine transfer. Only when it became painfully obvious that the rental's lack of field vision was more of an issue than his pocket slippery pig routine did we make a move to Sean. Then after only two weeks, and a concussion recovery, practice info dictated that Jimbo had to go back to EG when all the Noles with their heads in between the practice fence bars just knew that Maguire was taking us the rest of the way. When the 2014 Everett was reincarnated in front of us in the first quarter, Jimbo had no choice. Back to Sean. What does this mean? It means he wants to somehow win every game this season, but the long term quarterback answer just may not be available right now. Let's go back to go forward…

In 1989, on our way out of town the wife and I were leaving Tallahassee after a painful loss to Clemson as our boys opened this season - right in the middle of what was to be the "Dynasty" - an incredible 0-2. Some idiot named Favre had beat us in the opener in Jacksonville, and now we lose at home to this bunch of losers from this basketball conference. We stopped at the BK lounge at midnight to grab some overnight driving-to-Tampa fuel, and we ran into LeRoy Butler and Dexter Carter loudly bitching to themselves in the corner over Whoppers and Oreo Shakes. They were understandably pissed about the start to the season, but the source of their anger was a surprise. They felt that some dude named Charlie should be their QB. I fancy myself somewhat of a Nole fan, but I swear they were talking about the punter, some skinny kid from Thomasville. They told us that this Ward kid was tearing them up every week in practice from the scout squad. "We need to give Charlie a chance…or this season is a bust…" they whined. Well, that Ward character was a redshirt and two more years on the bench away from ever making a mark at FSU, but the boys at practice knew what they had.

In 2012, EJ Manuel was leading the team back to an ACC Championship.  This wonderful renaissance from the lost decade happened while frustrating every Nole in the congregation with his (patented spin sacks and painful patient wait until a cadre of future NFL receivers broke open) style. We heard all season about the wunderkind from Hueytown who was just destroying our boys while leading the scout team. Well, Jimbo apparently knew what he was doing letting that Winston youngster learn the offense while the rest of the team grew up. This year, all the rumors from the fields that Bowden blessed is that another freshman QB is just impossible to contain. Deondre Francois is just biding his time and wearing a headset every Saturday while Jimbo plays gunslinger roulette in a season that absolutely no one outside of Tallahassee believed was a championship possibility. Thus my theorem that the Head Screamer is not thrilled with options A or B right now, but just wants to cross the finish tape with recruiting and momentum in tact.

All the above aside. Sean was terrific on Saturday. He stood tall in the face of a relentless blitz and just blistered some slant completions to convert huge third downs. When he actually had time - and oh lord is our right side of the offensive line a disaster - he was composed and found the correct downfield option. Memo to us, that little Kermit feller is quick. I really believe that the half foot of height he has on EG makes a huge difference in the pocket. If Ermon Lane catches the only ball thrown to him all day, we blow these Wolfpack boys out a quarter earlier than it actually took. I really think that the left side of Eberle, Are and Johnson is ready to take us wherever we want to go. Unfortunately, they have a trailer hitch dragging us in the ditch on the other flank and there may not be enough TE's on the bench to get Sean and Dalvin through Hogtown in one piece. Speaking of Dalvin, what exactly do they give him behind that garnet curtain? Every game, seemingly multiple times, he limps and crawls off the field under the arms of our "training" staff. He goes behind the magical curtain and Kazam! emerges just minutes later healed like he was touched by traveling preacher. Playing only eight and a half games, he breaks the all time single season rushing record by the formerly greatest RB in FSU history. Goodness, what may happen next year when our line are not a bunch of bumbling idiots and he is healthy for 12 games. The downtown athletic club may just give him 2 awards while apologizing for not paying enough attention in 2015.

Good Gawd almighty Derwin James. Jacoby Brissett does not like #3 at all this morning. He has bruises where he did not think it was possible after our young freshman phenom decleated and flipped him not once but twice. The second piledriver simply changed the game. Out of nowhere, Doak had energy. Our energizer bunny walk-on then had a tackle for a loss, and the offense took the baton and rolled. Jimbo mentioned post game how James is not making as many mistakes now. Ok, good. I am looking forward to the day when this kid actually knows what is going on around him. DeMarcus continues to be a walking advertisement for the Brad Lawing Fan Club. How can one kid make this kind of mercurial leap in a season? From utterly average to a dominant leader. I'll take it. This week's Jalen moment came late in the game when he blitzed off the edge. Harkening back to an earlier play when he blindsided Brissett about five yards forward just after the pass was made, this time he was directly in his vision. The veteran QB did not even look downfield. He saw the #8 train coming at him, and just panicked like a barefoot schoolgirl who steps on hot sidewalk. We hit this poor sonofagun like he never left Gainesville. I think Terrence Smith actually left a tomahawk on his chin after a 4th quarter blast. Not a single team this season has been able to run in the 4th quarter. Even GT gave up and went airborne to win. Wow, I hope we can keep all these boys next season.

I may have been delusional, but I think I saw an actual punt return this week. Maybe not, it was hot and all these noon games have taken a toll on me, but I think it happened. However, to continue our special teams short bus routine, we gave up another fake punt conversion and this one counted. Heck, we were on a base protect defense on the play and since we have not tried to block a punt since…ummm…i have no recollection…how can we give up a fake two weeks running?  Maybe we can hire Frank Beamer as our consultant next season.

I know most of you will ignore next week, and with the game not on National TV,  take the weekend to mow the lawn, wash the house and clean your long forgotten gutters. I take the opposite tact. Nothing is more relaxing than a game where you know the outcome and can enjoy a relaxing day at Doak. So, come on up to Tally. Plenty of good seats - and probably even cheap hotel rooms - available.