Things Going Well for 'Noles...For Now

The last few days have  been nothing but sunshine for Florida State. 

First the football team trounced Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl 42-13, the largest margin in bowl history for the 'Noles.

 It was a total team effort, so much in fact that Lou Groza winner Graham Gano was named MVP despite not kicking a field goal. His first three punts had Tiger Wood's type ball control, each landing inside the 3 yard line.

The defense scored on fumble returns of 75 and 51 yards.

The offense overcame a slow first half to score 21 2nd quarter points. Ponder threw 2 touchdown passes despite looking a little uneasy in the pocket. Greg Carr caught his 29th career TD with a spectacular one handed grab in the end zone

Antone Smith scored again, which is the main reason FSU won. They're 9-0 when Smith rushes for a touchdown this season. He didn't lead the team in rushing though, Ty Jones was FSU's leading rusher with 4 carrier for 55 yards including a 14 yard touchdown run. expectations were high for Jones coming into the season, but he was slowed by an ankle injury and a complication with his diabetes that caused him to lose close to 25 pounds. With a healthy Jones next year to go along with Jermaine Thomas and Chris Thompson FSU should have a very formidable back field.

Then on Sunday FSU knocked off Western Kentucky who was one of March's Cinderella's last year. Toney Douglas scored 27 points and was named ACC player of the week today. The win was impressive becaue Florida State turned the ball over just 8 times, bouncing back nicely from the ugly game last week against Pitt.

That night the Lady "Noles beat LSU in Baton Rouge.

If it seems like things are going too well for FSU, that's because they are. Hanging over the athletic department is a big black cloud called the NCAA. Any day now the NCAA is expected to deliver it's decision on what FSU's punishment will be for it's role in last year's academic scandal that left the Seminoles depleted for the Music City bowl and the first two games of this season. 

FSU can almost certainly expect the loss of some scholarships and perhaps some of Bobby Bowden's 382 career wins. So enjoy the ride now 'Nole fans because the Hammer is coming from the NCAA. 

Tidbit: Since changing the name to Champs Bowl from the Tangerine Bowl the ACC is 5-0.

Kitchen Ready for Home Debut

JUCO transfer Derwin Kitchen will make his home debut for the men's basketball team tonight against Tennessee Tech at 7 on FSN-Florida. Kitchen played on Saturday against Georgia State in Atlanta. He played just 6 minutes, but coach Leonard Hamilton felt comfortable enough with him to insert him in the final 15 seconds of the game. Kitchen pulled down a rebound with 4 seconds left with FSU leading by 3 and was fouled immediately. He had missed his only field goal attempt earlier in the game, but he calmly stepped to the line and knocked down both free throws for his first points as a Seminole.

Kitchen was granted eligibility the day before the the Georgia State game. It may have been because of his grades, but personally I think it's because he shaved his dreads. Maybe Corey Surrency should follow Kitchen's lead and shave his dreads to try to earn his 4th year of eligibility, now that FSU will not apply for a 4th year on behalf of Surrency and perhaps he will be granted the 4th season despite the fact that FSU no longer seems to really want him.

Chris Singleton was named ACC rookie of the week last week for his performance against Georgia State.

Georgia Noles..I mean Florida State Noles take on Georgia State in Hoops

The Florida State men's basketball team will travel to Atlanta, Georgia to take on the Georgia State Panthers this afternoon at 4 pm. While technically it is an away game for FSU, for four members of the FSU squad it will feel more like a home game than a game at the Donald L. Tucker Center (or is it the Leon County Civic Center? I have no idea. The name changes each game I think). Sophmore guard Jordan Demercy is from Norcross, Georgia and played for Norcross High. Freshman guards Chris Singleton and Pierre Jordan both played for Dunwoody High School in Atlanta. Senior Point guard Toney Douglas is also from the Atlanta area, he played for Jonesboro High. His teammate while at Jonesboro was his brother Harry Douglas, who now plays wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons. Maybe Harry will be able to see his brother play, but I'm guessing not since Tampa Bay is coming to Atlanta on Sunday for what is going to be a critical NFC South match up. The 'Noles team is fresh off a two point upset over a Florida team that really had no buisness being in the top 25 anway. With a victory this afternoon the Seminoles would improve to 9-1 on the season, their best start since 0

'03-04.

Gano Wins the Groza Award.

Florida State Kicker Graham Gano was awarded the Lou Groza Award tonight during the College Football Awards. Gano is 24 of 26 on field goal attempts this season. The most impressive feat Gano has achieved this season is handling all 3 kicking duties. Not only was  he the top placekicker in the nation but he also averaged 41.1 yards per punt and has 6 touch backs on the season. To add to his resume against Boston College Gano ran for 24 yards on a fake punt. The 24 yards made him Florida State's leading rusher for the day.

Holder Shaun Powell told the Tallahasse Democrat earlier in the season that if Gano won the award he was going to attend the ceremony with him so he could hold the trophy. Unfortunately I didn't see Powell on the TV broadcast, but he and Gano are roommates so I'm sure Graham will let him hold the trophy whenever he wants to.

If Powell is still in the dumps about not going to Orlando with Gano for the Award Ceremony, maybe Gano will give him some of his Best Buy money when they return to Orlando later this month for the Champs Sports Bowl.