who said FSU would have a losing season this year.

I’d say we’d have to go 9-3 and win the ACCG for us to hit 10. Beating UF is just a game that is due for the Noles.

I think we have about a 12.5 % chance at 10 wins

and like 22% chance of beating UF

so….

Seriously until we see how FSU defense is playing and Brantley at UF it’s really a shot in the dark.

and if given the chance, Jimbo is going to step on their throat given FSU and his past against the Gators.

I think we can get 10… if the defense plays well and Ponder stays healthy, I think it’s doable.

Our team could be extremely scary if the defense gets some quality wins, starts playing with swagger, and doesn’t let up. Motivation is key with these guys, if they get a fire lit under their ass and learn the system quickly we could see some fun stuff on the defensive side of the ball, along side our already exciting offense.

ESPN undermining our “Operation Realistic Expectations”

All this FSU talk just has me worked up to do some good ole fashioned drinking at one of Tallahassee’s finest establishments.

Just so all the HS kids can see it. I think/hope they mean 10 wins including an ACCCG win and BCS bowl win. But I fear winning the ACC might work against us. If the Orange Bowl has an early pick this year they could match FSU up with a powerful at large instead of us getting to whip up on the BE champ. If we do manage to pull off a 10 win season the love from the press would be insane. Next year’s class of recruits would be insane.

Which means we’ll have to beat at least one of OU, UM, or UF I believe. Thinking about it in those terms confirms that our schedule is murder

I understand all the obstacles in the way to get to where we are going. And I understand that this is a different game now than before. But let me go back to a generation before you saw your first CFB game.

Ever heard of the Super Sophs? It was tOSU in 1968. I think 18 of the starters were sophomores. One of the best teams I ever saw Beat OJ’s supposedly invincable Trojans in the Rose Bowl.

The signicance? They only lost 2 regular season over their 3 years as starters. And here’s the bonus feel good Koolaid part…Freshmen weren’t eligible then. They were all first year starters.

I’m keeping both my hopes AND expectations high and I’ll try to temper the disappointment should it arrive. You know I’m in it for the long haul Four losses won’t affect my support. Look back at my feelings about support and Boosters.

Let’s all jump on the bandwagon and get Doak rocking so it feels more like a CFB stadium than Wimbledon.

I don’t fear disappointment. I fear that limiting expectations allows reasons to fail.

including the quotes/questions here:

Jordan (Fayetteville)


if you had to pick 4 teams to come over to the SEC IF there is a expansion…who would they be?
Bruce
  (4:10 PM)


I’d heard from someone at Texas that UT would be leery of the SEC because of academic issues across the board. I asked why that is a bigger issue than most people think and was told that you’re talking about presidents making decisions and concerns for level playing fields.. If Texas (and they’d be bringing A&M in tow) are not receptive, I think FSU, Miami, Clemson and G-Tech.
Bruce
  (4:11 PM)


I’m sure UF would try to block FSU and Miami, but it would benefit the rest of the SEC in terms of TV appeal and both are very accessible in terms of travel issue and would help the league’s standing academically too.

anthony g. (cleveland ohio)


who is your heisman front-runner as of right now?
Bruce
  (4:16 PM)


I have a few that come immediately to mind: Quizz Rogers, Dion Lewis, Mark Ingram, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Case Keenum and Kellen Moore. And I’m sure I’m leaving off five others.

David (Tallahassee)


Do you think Christian Ponder has a chance at winning the Heisman?
Bruce
  (4:18 PM)


I do. I think the ACC is going to be much better in 2010.

Making the case against an undefeated BSU in the BCS championship game (using FSU as and eg. of a team that could leapfrog them due to strength of schedule):

Matt (NY)


So Bruce, you are saying that Boise State going 12-0 wouldnt make the BCS Title Game? why is that?
Bruce
  (4:32 PM)


They’d have a shot but they wouldn’t trump say an unbeaten Bama or Ohio State or sub in FSU for example. Knowing that FSU will start out way behind BSU in the rankings.. follow this…
Bruce
  (4:33 PM)


FSU would have had to beat Oklahoma on the road, BYU, win at Miami, beat UNC and Florida, AND win a league that also has Va. Tech, the best win on BSU’s schedule. That’ll trump whatever BSU’s resume would have.

Quick mention of improved ACC:

Matt (DC)


Do you see a step back for GT this year? I think we overachieved with that shady defense of ours last year. 9-4 or 10-3 perhaps…
Bruce
  (4:56 PM)


I think a little step back because they lost some terrific players and because the rest of the ACC (UNC, FSU, Miami, VT) is improved.

I think people are underestimating what UF has coming back. Brantly will be good if only because he’s behind basically the same line Tebow stood behind. Also, they return most of their secondary. Add onto that that the SEC will be a cake walk outside of Alabama and LSU and UF should have some pretty good depth devolped by the time we play them.

But I don’t want to downplay the sports media’s general ignorance either. Rest assured that Bud and co. here at TN have far better info than Schlabach, Feldman, et al. Want to be happy with Florida State this fall? Keep your expectations realistic.

Remember these guys are in the entertainment business. 10-2 and we will all be dancing on air. I would be happy with 2-10 if the 2 wins are UM and UF!

Simon is supposed to be mean to contestants, Domino’s Pizza is supposed to be there in 30 minutes, and we’re supposed to be on top of the college football world. It might be a decade ago, but people remember that kind of dominance, and the hype for our potential will always be there…

Rod Owens was an amazing route runner last year and Ponder had unbelievable timing with both him and Reed.

I know Rodney is capable of the big play, I just hope he provides Ponder with similar comfort when the lights turn on.

we went 7-6 last yr including a howl win…given our schedule a 9-4 season (including a bowl win) would make me happy….as soon as we start believing this over-hyped crap that the espn bloggers want us to believe the sooner we start getting disappointed and then before you know it everyone will start pointing the finger at one another…lets just remember this is a process and its gonna take at least a yr before we can really start getting excited…GO NOLES!!!!

This is our best shot to beat FU. The Gates lost Strong & other coaches, Tebow & all his willing to victory, 9 players to the NFL, 13 players that had started b4 all gone, 21 TD’s that Tebow didn’t have a hand in on ST/O/D. Urbie has recruited well but that is a lot to overcome. Tebow & the defense is why they won championships. That is just too many TD’s to replace. Meanwhile FSU is on the rise. Tony Barnhardt said that he think our Oline could be tops in the nation.(142 combined starts) Hudson the top olineman in the country. Ponder Heisman candidate. Our D won’t be 100+. Great all around special teams. We have talent all over the field. This is our game.

Trying to curb my friends expectations for this coming year has almost become a daily chore.

It will take a better constructed schedule and another year (or longer) of Jimbo and crew being in town before that happens and/or the fans should expect that. I say expect 8 and hope for more. Anything higher than 8 regular season wins will be icing on the cake for me. There are just too many questions about the FSU defense and how good FSU’s opponents will be at this point.

I can understand why sports media is so high on this program, but they have to understand that an 8-4 season would be a significant improvement. FSU defense is in a position where they are learning to crawl, not walk, and especially not fly. I think for FSU to get a 10 win reg season against this kind of schedule, the defense will have to be truly leaned on from time to time. I just don’t see that happening. They will be better, just not 6-6 to 10-2 better.

i’m most excited to see how our running game improves this year – another year of experience for last year’s young guys, adding Smiley and adding Coach Gran.

Any thoughts on what we can expect in this area and the implications for CP7’s numbers?

…also can’t wait to watch G5 on PR’s, most exciting 10 seconds in sports