FSU Likely Out Of National Championship Picture
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – The wins for Florida State the past few years have been big, including a thumping of Clemson earlier this year. But what have driven Seminoles fans crazy have been the mind-blowing losses against teams where FSU is the heavy favorite.
It happened again last weekend when Florida State traveled to play North Carolina State. The Wolfpack were coming off a last-second loss to the University of Miami that saw its defense give up more than 500 yards of offense. It seemed that FSU was ready to mow down NC State and BC ahead of a matchup against Miami on October 20.
Instead, once again Florida State had inexplicable play-calling and a once rock-solid defense allowed NC State to march down the field and knock the Seminoles off the top of the ACC and out of a shot at the national championship.
FSU is out of the championship picture because of the loss and because of West Virginia. The Mountaineers backed out of a game with FSU this season and forced the Seminoles to schedule a second Football Championship Subdivision school this year.
So, even though in years past FSU may have been able to overcome a loss and get back into the national championship race; it's not likely to happen this season.
Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has started to feel a little heat for the performance of the Noles as well. Each season FSU looks like its back and ready to dominate again like it did for a two decades in the 1980's and 1990's. Then comes the game FSU shouldn't lose, yet manages to find a way to do just that.
FSU was in position to take a nine point lead against NC State last Saturday if the Noles attempted a 51-yard field goal, which is in range of kicker Dustin Hopkins. FSU decided to punt and watched as the defense allowed NC State to come storming back.
"Could he have made the field goal, yeah," Fisher said. "It had nothing to do with that." It's "a technique issue. Offense and defense. There's no one guy. They're costly."
Fisher's has proven himself to be one of the best recruiters in the nation and arguably the best in the Sunshine State. But, the wins haven't piled up on the field like they used to for FSU. Fisher is 13-7 against ACC opponents including five losses in games FSU was favored by double-digits.
The Seminoles don't have time to hang their heads. The team will see Boston College come to Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday and then in two weeks will come to Miami to battle the Hurricanes at Sun Life Stadium.
For FSU, Fisher isn't panicking and instead taking a look at the big picture.
"It's all about 12 games, it's about one win, one loss," Fisher said. "What's the odds that you're gonna lose one during a season? That's part of it and you have to deal with it."
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
