Nole of the Week

Matt Diaz is this week's winner. First Diaz beat the Tigers all by himself going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Then he continued his dominance over Johan Santana. Diaz is batting .395 this spring with a team high 12 RBIs. Despite the Braves signing Garret Anderson, Diaz has assured himself some quality at-bats this season.

Diaz is not the only former Nole enjoying spring training success. 

Baseball Team Battles Back

After starting the season by dropping three of their first four ACC games,  No. 24 Florida State bounced back to take two of three from the 19th ranked Clemson Tigers.

FSU fell late last night in the 11th inning behind a little bit of controversy. In the bottom of the 9th it looked like Stuart Tapley had won the game for the Seminoles with a walk off homer, only to have it ruled a foul ball.

After battling back last night to no avail FSU was forced to battle again today trailing 4-3 in the 9th. Jason Stihdam knocked in the tying run with a sacrifice fly on a foul ball. Mike McGee then stepped to the plate with two outs and two runners on. McGee was the starting pitcher for FSU and went 6 innings giving up only 3 runs, he also had already homered earlier in the day. When Mike Martin was asked if he wanted to keep McGee in the game as a DH he just smiled and said yes we do. It proved to be the right call in the ninth as McGee sent one over the right field fence bouncing towards the circus tent.

In Saturday's first scrimmage of the spring the focus seemed to be mainly on the running game with Ty Jones getting the bulk of the carries after Jermaine Thomas had to leave early with a hip pointer. Jones had around 50 yards and one touchdown (stats unofficial just what I could keep myself). Marcus Simms also ran the ball hard and dominated the goal line and red zone drills.

Avis Comack had a nice end around for a 10 yard TD and Jarmon Fortson had the big play of the day with a 41 yard reception.

Women's basketball will look to advance to the sweet 16 for the second time in school history tomorrow night against Arizona State at 7:00 pm.

Dance Off

Just like that it's over. 61-59 Wisconsin sends FSU home from the dance unsatisfied and disappointed.

It was right there for them to take but Wisconsin held FSU to just 21 second half points. Toney Douglas scored 26 points in his final game as a Seminole.

There are plenty of positives to this season though, while the departure of Douglas and Uche Echefu will hurt, the rest of the team should remain intact. FSU's young team gelled extremely well this season and made huge strides. Xavier Gibson is a prime example of that, at the beginning of the season Gibson looked lost and easily pushed around but tonight Gibson showed his improvement contributing six points including a big time put back dunk. This team has a lot of potential and will only get better with the addition of Michael Snaer.

FSU baseball finally broke out of it's ACC play slump with a 5-2 win over Clemson. Freshmen Pitcher Sean Gilmartin(4-1) bounced back nicely from his first loss of the season against UVA to take the win on six ad third with eight strikeouts and just one run.

Stuart Tapley made a couple of nice defensive plays. Rafael Lopez hit his third homerun of the season. Tommy Oravetz continued to climb up the record books for Florida State by getting hit by a pitch for the 33rd time in his career moving him into 5th place.

The football team practice for 24 periods today in Doak. Christian Ponder looked pretty good until things went to 11 on 11. The defense broke up a couple of passes including one by Korey Mangum in the corner to save a TD. Patrick Robinson also had a big hit on a swing pass. The team will be scrimmaging a 12:30 tomorrow in Doak, and they're more than anxious. "

"We have been in shells the last couple days. The offense has been giving us a little lip saying we need to get ready for tomorrow. We will crank it up a little bit tomorrow when we get in full pads. We are just trying to get better every day. Coach Andrews said we need to get 2% better everyday but we need to crank it up to five." Said Linebacker Kendall Smith.

You're Lucky I'm Even Writing This Blog

The Orlando Sentinel wants FSU fans to realize how lucky they are that their paper even still covers that Mickey Mouse operation Bobby Bowden is running in Tallahassee. Dave Whitley admits that the OS does favor its coverage of the Orange and Blue, but not because of a hidden bias he carries for the UF, but because UF generates more revenue for the paper. 

I do agree with the points Whitley made about Florida's football team being more in demand right now because of their recent accomplishments, but to suggest that FSU really deserves no coverage from the OS is a bit far fetched as were a few of his other points about other media outlets.

He claimed that when Bowden leaves practice he is met by only around four media members, well I have never once seen Dave Whitley at an FSU practice, but I have seen at least five or six writers from Warchant and The Osceola combined, two from Noleinsider, two or more from the Tallahassee Democrat, one or two from his own paper, plus TV media and usually about two FSView writers. That's a few more than four.

He also claimed that only two papers are covering tomorrows first round game for the basketball team. Not only is this not true, but it goes against his argument that UF gets more coverage because it's a more exciting program, UF is playing Miami tomorrow in a second round NIT match-up.

Here are the links from the "Two" papers covering tomorrow's game. Tallahassee Democrat, Orlando Sentinel, Miami Herald, St. Pete Times, and the Times-Union. I also know that The Osceola has a writer in the Potato capitol. That is more than two right?

I don't think you guys understand how lucky you are that I write a blog about a team that is in the NCAA tournament and still has top 25 football team, I should be blogging about ridiculous plaques around the country.

Any way back to our normal blog. FSU is finally back in the tourney tomorrow and Toney Douglas is ready to show the rest of the country he's ready. More than his scoring and lock down defense this year, Douglas is most proud of his legacy of a being a leader on a team that made the tournament. In the past few years FSU's teams have been just as talented, but not a close nit a group. It was seemed there were too many Chiefs and not enough Indians, well this season Toney is the Chief and he has some talented Indians playing great basketball. It won't be long until 23 is hanging from the rafters in the Tucker Center.

Despite the number of errors the 'Noles made against Florida Tuesday, Mike Martin will keep the defensive changes he made in place this weekend against Clemson.

Bowden Responds to NCAA

You couldn't blame Bobby for not wanting to say anything until after TK commented on the issue of NCAA sanctions. He was probably fuming at the NCAA for its unprecedented ruling to vacate wins despite coaches not knowing the players were ineligible. 

Well, when Bowden did respond after practice he was annoyed, at the ruling yes, but more so at the fact that the appeal was made out to be all about his pursuit of the all time wins record.

Bowden's statement on the NCAA sanctions:

“My reaction to the NCAA sanctions is that it was too stiff and I think that (FSU President) Dr. Wetherell is right in making that appeal. The thing about it to me, this thing ain’t about me. That is really all I hear from commentators is ‘Bobby Bowden this’ and ‘Bobby Bowden’. It is about all of our coaches and our teams, you know. I think everybody is putting everything on my wins, which is just part of it. The big thing, the whole crux of it to me men, does the punishment fit the crime? Does the punishment fit the crime? I think that’s the thing, that’s the thing we gotta find the answer to right there.”

As usual Bowden takes the classy route. Here is a copy of the letter TK sent to the NCAA. 

TK may be keeping the post office in business all by himself this week. He had to write another letter apologizing to Samford University after referring to them as a Dip Shit school or uhhh.....I mean other institution. Mike Bianchi's bad mouthing of Bowden is what got TK all fired up and ready to throw down in the first place.

Back to the field... Wide Receiver Correy Surrency participated in his first full practice of the spring today. He is eligible to practice while his appeal is being heard. While he said that he wants to come back more than any other option, he did say that a few NFL teams have inquired with Jimbo Fisher about a possible workout if things don't work out.

Ochuko Jenije has been having a great spring so far. In three days of practice he has 3 picks, he is hoping to fill Tony Carter's shoes opposite of Patrick Robinson. 

FSU baseball has had a rough start to this season, losing again in the 9th against Florida. But don't fret help is on the way next year. Things will not get much better as Clemson comes to town this weekend.

Well what do you think of the new layout? Suggestions always welcome!

One is the Loneliest Number

So remember yesterday when I said there was nothing really to report from practice except Ej Manuel hit his hand on a helmet? Well it turns out EJ had a compound dislocation of his index finger on his right hand which he had to have surgery on this morning. Due to the four stitches from the surgery EJ will miss the rest of spring practice.

With D'Vo playing baseball and mulling a possible position change, and now with EJ out that leaves Christian Ponder as the Seminoles lone scholarship QB for the rest of the spring. Walk on QB Corey Eddinger from Wakulla will move up to No. 2 on the depth chart. Eddinger doesn't even have picture listed next to his name on Seminoles.com, but he's listed as 6 ft and 179 pounds (I'm pretty sure the defense is foaming at the mouth after realizing they are going after this guy all spring).

Hopefully Ponder can steer clear of trouble the rest of the way this spring.

FSU officially announced it plans to appeal the NCAA's decision to vacate wins today.

Spring Practice Day 1

Spring football practice began today not a whole lot too report. Ej Manuel left early after banging his hand on a helmet more on that when I find out more. 

Here are the number changes for this season:

Taiwan Easterling changes from 8

2 to 8
Nick Moody changes from 46 to 10
Kendall Smith changes from 41 to 29

Vince Williams changes

 from 46 to 11

Terrance Parks changes from 27 to 4

If still around D'Vo will go from 10 to 6

The highlight of practice came when Coach Bowden was asked if he filled out a March Madness bracket to which he responded with something along the lines of 'I would have to ask Rick Neuheisel how to do that.' Classic Bobby. He said he doesn't plan to comment on vacating wins until after TK Wetherell's press conference tomorrow.

Before Spring practice today was FSU's pro day. Most of the focus was on projected top five pick Everette Brown who was very impressive. 

A few former players returned to work out including DeCody Fagg and Xavier Lee. Lee was working out as a wide receiver which was unique to see because he was catching passes from Drew Weatherford. Lee wasn't overly impressive physically but he showed above average hands. He said that as of now he has a mini camp invite with Tampa Bay.

Weatherford looked very sharp, as did Tony Carter who looks to have beefed up, and Antone Smith who ran an unofficial 4.26 (second fastest of the day behind Michael Ray Garvin's 4.22).

Todderick Verdell was dressed like a traffic cop. Which probably made Preston Parker slightly nervous as he was on hand to take in the action and watch his former teammates. He said he didn't know where he would transfer to next season yet.

One of the more interesting things I noticed was something that I had never really thought about. It wasn't just NFL scouts there watching there were at least three Canadian Football League scouts there. While many of the players working out have no shot at making an NFL roster the CFL is a very real possibility. Xavier Lee said that some CFL teams have even talked to him about possibly playing QB.