FLORIDA STATE - 2005 - # 6
# 1 > Remember when ACC football was routinely dismissed by many as "Florida State and the Eight Dwarfs?" Alas, for the Seminoles and coach Bobby Bowden, those days are gone, never to return. That's what happens when you add Miami, Virginia Tech and now Boston College to a conference previously notable for its lack of football heavyweights. Even before the ACC expanded, however, Florida State's decline had begun. From 1992, its first season in the ACC, through 2000, FSU didn't lose more than two games in any season. In 2001, they lost four games and, for the first time, failed to capture at least a share of the ACC crown.
# 2 > They regained the title in 2002 but lost__gasp!__five games. The Seminoles repeated as ACC champion in 03 but dropped three games and again didn't contend for the national title. In 04, the Noles ( 9-3, 6-2 ) could not even console themselves with another ACC championship, as Virginia Tech made switching leagues look easy and grabbed the title. That the FSU program is not the juggernaut it once was is beyond dispute. Only a fool, however, would suggest the Seminoles no longer are formidable, especially at Doak Campbell Stadium. They're still capable dazzling performances__see the 36-3 rout of then-_ranked Virginia last season__and still rank among the nation's elite teams. From a team that closed the 2004 season by beating West Virginia 30-18 in the Gator Bowl, Florida State lost major, major talent.
3. The Seminoles annually reload, but they're rebuilding, too. Eight FSU players were chosen in this years NFL. Draft, all in the first six rounds. Among those Bowden must replace are two first-team All-ACC selections__offensive tackle Alex Barron and defensive tackle Travis Johnson__and three second-team picks; wide receiver Chauncey Stovall, defensive end Chauncey Davis and cornerback Bryant McFadden. Also drafted were safety Jerome Carter, defensive end Eric Moore and offensive tackle Ray Willis. Still, don't shed too many tears for Florida State. Bowden and his staff landed a recruiting class loaded with blue-chip prospects, as usual, and FSU's roster includes countless players who will one day draw NFL paychecks. As he heads into his 30th season in Tallahassee, Bowden back of defense, along with senior punter Chris Hall. What the living legend doesn't have is a quarterback who's established himself as one of the nation's elite at his position. The graduated Chris Rix appeared to be a special talent as a freshman, but he never again came close to realizing his potential in a career marked by poor decisions.
4 - Junior Wyatt Sexton, who started seven games in 2004, emerged from spring practice as the No. 1 QB. But if Sexton stumbles, talented redshirt freshmen Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford are waiting eagerly for their turns. Sexton completed 139 of 252 passes for 1,661 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in 10 games last season. An on-again, off-again starter, Sexton watched Rix lead FSU to victory in the Gator Bowl. The play-calling and schemes of offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden__one of Bobby's sons__have been sharply criticized by FSU fans in recent years. The players, however, were encouraged by changes implemented during spring practice. "I think we're going to be more dynamic and flexible," says Sexton, whose father, Billy, coaches FSU's running backs. "We're going to do a lot of different things from a lot of different sets." A rash of injuries kept several starting offensive linemen on the sideline during spring practice, including center David Castillo, tackle Cory Niblock, and guard Matt Meinrod.
5. - For the Seminoles to achieve their goals in 2005, the line must hold, so Bobby Bowden is praying his injured players get well this summer. He also hope youngsters such as sophomore tackle David Overmyer, who impressed in the Gator Bowl, continue to improve under new line coach Mark McHale. If the blocking is there, tailbacks Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker, arguably the nation's top tandem at that position, will do the rest. Washington''s rushing average of 95.1 yards per game led the ACC, and he was named second-team all-conference. He also garnered MVP honors at the Gator Bowl. Booker's average of 73.9 ranked sixth in the ACC. Washington is a senior, while Booker is a junior. Florida State lost three of its top four receivers from 2004, but with wideouts such as senior Willie Reid, junior Chris Davis, sophomore De'Cody Fagg and freshmen Greg Carr and Kenny O Neal on his roster, and elder Bowden isn't too worried. Davis had four catches for 95 yards in a spring game dominated by the Seminoles defense.
{ 6 }. - "We lost some good receivers, but Florida State will always have some good young ones coming up," the head coach says. "I think Chris Davis is ready to live up to his potential. Willie Reid is ready to live up to his potential. Willie Reid is as good as any of them if we can just keep him healthy." Reid also stars on special teams. In 2004, he broke Deion Sanders school record for punt-return yards in a season, running 38 back for 522 yards. Washington and junior conerback Antonio Cromartie are game-breaking kickoff returners. With many of its offensive linemen on the mend, and questions remaining at quarterback, FSU many need its defense to carry the team, at least early in the season. Andrew's changes should be equal to the task. A season ago, the Noles ranked third nationally in running defense ( 83.1 yards per game ) and fourth in scoring defense ( 14. ppg ), and they look tough again.
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