First and foremost, congratulations and thank you to Stanford University on behalf of every Florida State University fan ever. You Ivy League kids are “ok” in our book.
Now that the formalities are out of the way…
Hey, Oregon, gimmick offense much? Sorry boys, you’re fun to watch but you keep getting punched in the face every time you play a team with the least bit of physicality. If you had that much trouble with Stanford what do you think Nick Saban’s boys at Alabama would have done to you?
Silver lining for Oregon: better they lost on a Thursday night, than being embarrassed in front of the world in the Championship game against ‘Bama.
Now that Oregon is out of the way, bring on the SEC.
Courtesy of washingtonpost.com
Alabama played Louisiana State University on Saturday night in a game that’s always hard fought. It’s impossible to know what other fans are hoping for, but every Seminoles fan in the nation was hoping for an Alabama win last night. And here’s why.
I know I am getting ahead of myself, and anything can happen between now and January, but let’s say FSU does run the table, wouldn’t the Seminoles rather play the best team in the country to prove their dominance?
As a fan, I’d rather see FSU play Alabama as opposed to playing Ohio State. Because if Alabama would have lost Saturday night, then it’s likely Ohio State would have vaulted directly into the title game.
I understand Ohio State has not lost a game since Urban Meyer took over for Jim Tressel, but the Big-10 is a weak conference, possibly even weaker than the ACC, and that says something.
Ohio State’s toughest test this season came against a Wisconsin team that is currently ranked 21st in the nation. Florida State has beaten two Top 10 teams and ‘Bama has beaten the Top 10 Texas A&M and a very good LSU last night. So, it would prove nothing for FSU to play Ohio State as far as showing how good this current Florida team is.
Courtesy of cleveland.com
The only joy that the Seminoles can find in playing Ohio State, would be FSU pummeling Meyer the way Meyer pummeled FSU when he, Tim Tebow, and their University of Florida Gators were peeling off championships. Now that would be fun to watch!…
But again, it’s not the same because Meyer’s current Ohio State is not in the same class as those title winning Gators teams. But Saban’s Alabama team is as good as that Gators teams, and may even be better.
Luckily that scenario looks to have been avoided and the matchup of the No. 1 vs. No. 2 teams is on the horizon. But can the Seminoles beat this dynasty Alabama team?
The best thing working in Florida State’s favor is there is a blueprint on how to beat Alabama or come close to it. That blueprint is named Johnny Manziel.
Texas A&M and Johnny Football have stood up to Alabama two seasons in a row and have won one of those meetings. Those matchups between A&M and Alabama have shown Saban’s team is mortal.
If you can create matchup problems with tall and fast receivers, and have a quarterback who can make plays with his feet, then ‘Bama is very beatable. Florida State possesses both those elements, and a very good running game as well.
Jameis Winston is essentially Johnny Football with a bigger body. Winston can make plays with his feet when necessary and has done so on numerous occasions this season. Winston is a pass first and run-only-when-necessary quarterback, but just knowing he can run makes him a tough cover for any team.
Florida State also has another aspect to their team that the Aggies are not known for: defense.
Florida State’s front seven is among the best in the country. Under Jimbo Fisher, the defensive line has been able to apply pressure to the opposing quarterback, forcing him to rush and make a mistake.
The Seminoles also have a very good secondary lead by Lamarcus Joyner who always seems to be in the right place at the right time when the defense needs a clutch play. This team is stacked on both sides of the ball.
The matchup the country wants to see is Alabama vs. Florida State; it’s the best match-up there is in college football right now. The SEC has dominated for 7 years straight, it’s time for a change; and FSU can be at the forefront of that change.
So, now the Seminoles have to keep focused for the next three weeks and continue to play the way they’ve been playing. Florida State is on the verge of perfection and a potential Heisman winning quarterback.
FSU is back, and it’s been a long time since any of us Florida State fans have been able to say that. And it feels great.
See you in Pasadena. GO NOLES!!!!!!!!
