'Noles News 02.13.12

I think Florida State is playing the scheduling situation well. They got out of the WVU game without having to cancel it. They're going to get paid. They get to claim they went after top teams to replace WVU, thus getting to keep the "anyone, anywhere" image that worked pre-BCS, and they get to schedule a much more winnable game.

There is heavy smoke that Cameron Erving has asked to move to offensive line. Erving is already a good defensive tackle, and for FSU's coaches to allow this would show just how ridiculously deep the 'Noles are at defensive tackle. Erving does have more of an offensive lineman's build (6'5" and lanky at 300+). I am very interested to see how this turns out. Is the potential benefit to offense much bigger than the potential loss on defense? Absolutely. And remember, Erving is very young. He doesn't even turn 20 until late August! Let's see if the move happens and if it sticks. I'd say the important part to this smoke is that Erving asked to be moved, as opposed to the coaches telling him he would be moved.

FSU commit Menelik Watson trades in the hardwood for the gridiron - Luke Winn - SI.com
Awesome article

Boston College Football To Host Miami In 2012 Opener - BC Interruption
Acoording to a report in the Boston Globe: Boston College football will open the 2012 season at home against the Miami Hurricanes on Labor Day weekend. This is good for BC because Miami is breaking in a ton of new starters. It's bad because Miami doesn't have to play in the cold and the Hurricanes' depth won't be tested.

Vanderbilt coach elaborates on controversial comments on "de-commitments" … and the UGA recruit that flipped | AJC College Sports Recruiting
We asked some other coaches about Franklin’s initial comments about de-commitments being "not men of honor" and "not men of integrity." Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher: "No, I don’t buy that. They’re all young kids. They’ve all got to make tough decisions in a crucial time of their life. They may not have committed [initially] for the right reasons. [As a coach] you don’t say something like that. They are 18-year-old kids. They learn lessons as they go through the recruiting process. Recruiting can be tough and I think it’s different than it was years ago. The pressure, for instance, from social media, recruiting services, coaches … I think there’s a ton of more pressure on these kids now than there ever was before. They are 18-year olds. That’s the thing you have to remember. I would love to not have any kids de-commit. For the most part, we did this year except for one [DE Dante Fowler switched to Florida on signing day]. He’s an outstanding young man and will be a great player. That’s a choice he made, and he had to make it for his own reasons."

NCAA investigation update: Nevin Shapiro rants from prison; UM optimistic | Sports Buzz

### One UM official said he expects “one more bowl ban, maybe two at most” plus undetermined scholarship losses. But that’s speculative, because UM hasn’t been told anything on either issue. Some are hopeful of escaping further bowl bans after last year’s self-imposed one.

Miami is going to play with 80 scholarship players. They are at 90 or 91 now. That means they'll be cutting 10 guys between now and opening day. Expect them to tell the NCAA they're taking a penalty of five scholarships (85-80=5). Don't be surprised if they pass on a bowl game as well (not that they are likely to make one with the roster coming back and a daunting schedule). The playing at 80 will likely continue in 2013 and 14. The bowl ban/declining a bowl could also.

Uh Oh: Danny O'Brien, Max Garcia Transferring? - Testudo Times
Maryland's presumed starting quarterback and left tackle are both reported to be transferring. This is a fluid situation.

Pre-Snap Read: 24 transfers since Edsall took over at Maryland. And counting.
Maryland has a ton of work to do.

Big Ten pulls about-face, pushes for +1

Pre-Snap Read: Wake Offseason Review

Stock watch Losing Given is a tough blow to an offense that had its best season in years last fall, but perhaps Campanaro can step in and help Price continue his development into one of the A.C.C.’s best. Of bigger concern is the offensive line, which must replace four starters. The biggest concern, however, remains the defense. Here’s guessing that this group, which struggled so much over the second half of last fall, has turned a corner come September. There’s a tremendous amount of returning experience; only two starters must be replaced, led by strong safety Cyhl Quarles. An improved effort defensively won’t just offset Givens’ early departure — it would make the Deacons a fairly scary team in the Atlantic division, and would easily find the program back in bowl play for a second straight season.

BCF Toys - Home - Punting and Field Position
Cool stuff.

Friday Mailbag: The state of Penn St recruiting - CBSSports.com

From @cbhenn What's your pre-spring SEC East 1-7 predictions for 2012?

I have Georgia winning the East. The Dawgs have a very good, experienced D returning and a savvy QB in Aaron Murray. After that, I have South Carolina. I could see Tennessee coming in third as my surprise team. The Vols will no longer be a young team. They'll have a lot of three-year starters on what figures to be a potent offense. They will be counting on a lot of unproven guys on the D-line but my hunch is they have a shot to win nine this year. I slotted UF fourth ahead of Mizzou because they have a much deeper group of athletes on defense. After that, I have Vandy and UK rounding out the division.

If Muschamp has only ~14 or 15 wins after his first two years, 2013 will be quite interesting in Gainesville. And how lucky is Mark Richt to get that gift schedule two years in a row?

Mark Richt, UGA Closing In On Contract Extension - SB Nation Atlanta
As we said, Richt would lose the tough games, win the division because of an easy schedule, and get an extension.

With Stefon Diggs To Maryland, Ohio State And Florida Target 2013 Receiver Recruits - SBNation.com
Ohio State and Florida failed to sign a top receiver recruit in the 2012 class. Now they turn their sights to 2013 and have targeted some elite wideouts. That won't help on the field in 2012, however.

Pre-Snap Read: A College Football Blog

Only 17 staffs in college football have not had a coaching change this off-season including only 5 non-BCS programs. One was FSU.

Looking on to 2012, Defense Set to Dominate | The Key Play
Virginia Tech's defense has a shot to be great in 2012, just like FSU's. The battle in Blacksburg will be loved by defensive coordinators everywhere.

Tuesday Top 10: Best assistant moves - CBSSports.com

9. Florida goes to Boise for its new OC: Charlie Weis had a very shaky season in Gainesville as the Gators stumbled in their transition season out of the Urban Meyer offense, finishing 105th in the country in total offense. Pease moves south after working with one of the most productive QBs in college history (Kellen Moore). The 47-year-old Pease also had a lot of success in his days at Montana in the 90s and had some good moments leading an undermanned Kentucky offense in the SEC before moving to Boise.

10. Mike Locksley is back at Maryland: No doubt Locksley had a disastrous run as New Mexico's head coach, going 2-26 and being at the center of a few off-field scandals. He signs on with second-year coach Randy Edsall, who had a disastrous beginning with the Terps going 2-10 with only one win over an FBS opponent. But never underestimate the recruiting juice Locksley has, especially in that part of the country. He will get kids who would never get within sniffing distance of Edsall's program to give the Terps a long, hard look now. And the school made sure to sweeter Locksley's deal on that front. According to the Washington Post, if Maryland is ranked in the top 40 by either Rivals.com or Scout.com's recruiting rankings on National Signing Day, Locksley will earn $25,000. He'll also get an additional $20,000 if the Terrapins place in the top four of ACC teams in the Rivals.com or Scout.com's rankings on National Signing Day.

ACC pre-spring Power Rankings - ACC Blog - ESPN

1. Florida State:The Noles brought in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, including the No. 1 defensive end, the No. 1 defensive tackle and the No. 1 quarterback. Not to mention the abundance of talent they return from last season’s nine-win team. Not only will FSU be better in 2012, but it will also be deeper and more talented.

Predicting the Oklahoma Sooners' spring depth chart | February
Oh, wait, we don't have to pay attention to OU anymore!

Larry Fedora, North Carolina working smart, hard to meet goals - Andy Staples - SI.com
It will be interesting to see how UNC does after the sanctions come down. FSU won't play UNC until 2015, at the earliest.

Returning Starters And Momentum: Offense Versus Defense - Football Study Hall
A look at how experience affects college football offenses and defenses as the season progresses.

THE CURIOUS INDEX, 2/13/2012 - Every Day Should Be Saturday
News, analysis and opinion from the fan perspective.