An optimist turned pessimist.

by MNeilson on Jan 11, 2009 5:03 PM EST

This is just an opinion peace. Too scatterbrained to organize stats, etc. I don't want to write (although I comment without much substance often) without substance, but just wanted to share my thoughts.

I have always considered myself to be an optimist. I constantly hold out hope for good things to happen, and await them. I feel like in life if you think negatively, often results of things come out negative. If you think positive, good things happen. It's all about attitude and perspective. There has been very few times where I go into a movie with a preconcieved notion of it being BAD and it shocking me. The reverse is true. Mostly I just try to keep an open mind.

However, somehow, FSU (football) has defied all logic. I have always gone into seasons thinking the best. ACC Championship. Maybe this is the year we compete on a national level. Heisman. Butkus. Bobby! Mickey!

Consistently, for the last 8 years I have been let down. It started with Rix. I mean, the guy had all of the tools. Now, whether he didn't work hard enough, or Jeff didn't coach him correctly is a story that we have long moved on from. However, he was a bust. He didn't win us games. He made a thousand mistakes. Etc.

Then came Xavier Lee. Oh my gosh was this guy a baller in high school. As soon as he declared for Florida State I made this OUTLANDISH (in hinesight) prediction to all of my FSU fan friends that he would win the Heisman by the time he left Florida State. The guy barely saw the field, and when he did, boy did he dissapoint.

Since the on-set of the ACC Championship game we have only won one (only made it to one) out of 4. We loose to the Wake Forests, Boston Colleges, NC St.'s, Marylands of this world. What ever happened to dominance? Bobby and Mickey (Thanks FSUncensored and MattD for progressing me along in my growth to see this). I mean, has anyone been pleasently surprised yet by anything? Ponder....maybe, but did he really overachieve? ehhh. He was mediocre. We have had some stand out defenses, but we have failed to stop misdirection in the last 8 years because teams have figured us out, without us adjusting to offenses.

Recruit after Recruit after Recruit dissapoint. Some players are jackasses, others injury plauged and others never develop. However you can't just put all of this on the players. They aren't the consistency. It is recruiting class after recruiting class. The only consistency is the coaching staff. The lowest common demoninator is a philosphy I learned in 5th grade math. It's always the simplest answer, and that answer is that we need coaching change. Will I be optimistic next year? Probably not. This optimist has been dissapointed so many times in the last 8 years, that I don't trust in what I used to.

Am I grateful for Bobby and Mickey? Absolutely! They did a lot of great things for Florida State and brought a program from the pits of college football to national prestige. They dominated the 90's. They were relevant. However, I just can't trust them any more. Don't get TOO excited about McDaniel, Downs, McCallister, etc. With the track record we have, they will just dissapoint you. Allow them to surprise you if they may, but don't set your hopes too high.

Just a piece of advice from a perennially dissapointed optimist.

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Look at the good side, at least Tebow is coming back next year!

/sarcasm

by thirdcoastnole on Jan 11, 2009 5:29 PM EST reply actions

I would love for us to go on a roll next year

And score a upset of UF and get into a BCS bowl. but then, what would that do to the program longterm if that causes any leverage to oust Bowden to disappear for another 2-3 years.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by Jonathan Loesche on Jan 11, 2009 7:15 PM EST reply actions

I mean, I would be ok with that

even if it doesn’t ‘push’ Bobby out. Although at this point, I dont think there is much that will. Since loosing hasn’t worked, maybe winning will.

by MNeilson on Jan 12, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

If that happened BB would leave because then he was a great coach.

Its going to be ok UNFNOLE. I think people need to look at a few things. Im not saying that the QB have sucked over the last few years because they were not the top guys like the 90’s. but I dont think its all there falt. The O-line has had its problems. and the coaches just are not teaching them anymore. We have a good O-line coach and a great OC. I think we will see a much improved Off nexy year. If you stop looking at the bright side things will never change. you will set high standers. Let look at this season what the hell was so bad with it. Everyone is pissy because we went 9-4. Are you kidding me. Who thought FSU would be 9-4 and win there bowl game back in Aug-Sept. No one not even most of the people on this site. Well FSU did and now everyone wants them to just be #1 in the US and win the NC. Thats not going to happen nexy year or the year after that. Right now we dont need to win every game just the ACC ones. We need to win the ACCCG right now and then the Orange Bowl. Thats where we need to start. We are getting better and if you cant see that then somethings wrong with not just you but everyone. Right now FSU is ranked #21 in the nation. only VT is ranked higher and next year we can and will beat them. Obama is the new Pres, we are not going to have a playoff for a while, and BB and MA are back of at least one more year. That what it is and we need to show the team that we still love them and we want them to be the best they can.

by Desman on Jan 13, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

But how do you tell yourself that

these guys are going to produce when they consistently haven’t? Sure it’s not all their fault, but great quarterbacks elevate the level of play for their whole team (even offensive lineman). Ponder is the closest thing to that we have seen. I am pissy we wen’t 9-4, weren’t in the ACC game, and lost to Wake, BC, GT and especially upset that we can’t even compete on the same field as Florida. It’s not that we had a ‘down’ year, its that have had 8 consecutive down years. We get too hopeful about things, and are let down.

I hope I am not coming across as if I don’t “love” the noles. I wouldn’t be so dissapointed if I didn’t. “It is what it is” is not good enough and that settling for mediocrity.

by MNeilson on Jan 13, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

I understand but

what record did you think we would have a the begennig of the season. most though another 7-6 season. yes it sucks that we cant beat UF but right now we cant worry about beating UF that wont do a thing for FSU football. Right now the most importen thing is to win the ACC – Atlantic. the next is the ACC and then the OB. after we get to the point we can do that we should worry about beating UF and the NC. FSU screwed itself when we had Jeff as the OC and keeping BB and MA is not helping eather. We have to start from the bottom basicly and work our way back up. let say we beat UF next year but still lose the ACC – Atlantic side, is that really an improvemt. NO its not because we will still be ranked out of the top 20. this is going to take time and its not going to be a fast bam FSU is back in the top 10 every year.

by Desman on Jan 13, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree that it wouldn't do a thing for FSU football.

This fan base NEEDS to be energized. Nothing takes the hope out of the fans and brings them back to reality as getting are tails WHIPPED against Florida. Correct me if I am wrong, but it was our only sellout of the season, and we couldn’t even pretend to hang. I agree with you that there a lot of things that need to happen in order for us to be legit again, but I can tell you that starting to win against Florida would be a HUGE step in that direction.

I thought we would be about 9-4 or 8-5 honestly. But is that an improvement? Slightly, but not much. I think we all just want to see that we are heading in the right direciton. Right now we are stagnant.

by MNeilson on Jan 13, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

This is exactly why I don't follow recruiting anymore.

In the 90’s I lived and breathed it. I worked with the prez of the national booster organization, and each year he would bring Bill McGrotha of the Sentinal up to his house in Tally to give us the scoop on recruiting before much of the information hit the newstands. But by 2002, I realized this program was in decline and the coaching was so stale it didn’t matter who we recuited— they wouldn’t be developedand thier talent couldn’t compensate for mediocre coaching anymore.

Same situation today. Our defensive approach is a travesty. MA teaches intensity and aggression over scheme, position and discipline. Our D is frequently confused, and it doesn’t matter who we put in the game; they will be exploited.

by tired nole on Jan 13, 2009 2:00 PM EST reply actions