Tallahassee, Fla- Seminole fans left Doak S. Campbell stadium
on Saturday night disappointed, frustrated and whatever other words you want add. Wake Forest kicker Same Swank and
the Demon Deacon defense defeated FSU 12-3. Drew Weatherford please stand up, you are needed on the field.
The fact is Seminole fans were tricked into believing that the offense was
better than it really was. After two straight weeks of explosive, high powered offense against inferior opponents the
truth was revealed on Saturday night against No. 18 Wake Forest (3-0).
FSU (2-1) head coach Bobby Bowden told reporters in his post game press conference
that his team has some work to be done.
"We're not where I hoped we were," Bowden said. Coach Bowden did however
give credit to the defense for keeping it close. "Now our defense played about as good as theirs. If our defense
hadn't been playing good tonight that score would have been awful."
The defense gave the Seminoles a chance to win this game time and time again.
The defense managed to keep the Demon Deacons out of the endzone all night long only allowing four field goals.
One thing is for sure. Mickey Andrews had the defense ready to play.
The offense was basically at full strength with Preston Parker back in the line up, but someone forgot to tell Jimbo Fisher
that his number one and two quarterbacks do not have nearly enough experience, not even enough to beat Wake Forest.
Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank hit 4 out 7 field goals. Swank made field goals from
48, 29, 49 and 31 yards. By missing three field goals from point blank range Swank left the door open for Florida State
to take the lead on numerous occasions, but the Seminole offense never took advantage. In fact the offense drove into
Wake Forest territory only to turn the ball over seven times, including two fumbles and five interceptions.
Seminole fans learned one thing on Saturday and that is Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey
Richardson are not ready to play quarterback in the ACC. They are simply not experienced enough. That left some
fans muttering the all to familiar name of Drew Weatherford.
Weatherford is the most experienced quarterback on the team with over 7,400 yards
passing and 39 touchdowns in his Seminole career. He can lead this team and give them the experience at quarterback
that they need. The receiving core needs a quarterback that can get the playmakers the ball. That did not happen
tonight.
Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher made the call to go with Ponder as starting quarterback
days before the opening game and Richardson as his backup. The huge question is what did Weatherford a senior do to
lose is job and would he be better fit at quarterback in game situations?
Preston Parker returned tonight and was game with three reception for 34 yards, but
did not get the ball nearly enough. When in the redzone Greg Carr was not targeted at all.
The Seminoles still have to face Colorado, Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and
Florida this season. This is not a time to have a quarterback out there learning. Drew Weatherford gives this
team the best chance to win football games.
With this latest loss Bobby Bowden falls one win behind Joe Paterno in all time wins.
Paterno earned is 376 win on Saturday against Temple. This team has a lot of work to do and their schedule just became
a lot harder with this unexpected setback. Paging Drew Weatherford. Drew Weatherford you needed on the field immediately.
Sept. 21, 2008
