FTC disclosure: The 2010 Tomahawk Nation Bowl Pool is sponsored by Gameday Depot. Tomahawk Nation is an affiliate.

Congratulations to Fordoyucca, who won the Tomahawk Nation 2010 Bowl Pool. He or she won an FSU Blitz Fleece Hoodie and a $30 gift certificate from Gameday Depot. Be sure to email your name, address, and size to joel@gamedaydepot.com.

The top ten of the final standings are below the jump. Head over to Fun Office Pools for the full final results. Thanks to everybody for playing.

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It was a busy weekend for the 'Noles.  Let's have a look at the news coming out of Tallahassee.

• Much recruiting news
• FSU's defense is getting bigger.  Is it big enough?
• FSU's tight ends could be a big factor this season.
• Much more, including some heavy analytics stuff.

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Yesterday on the Jeff Cameron show, the topic of now departed FSU signee Aubrey Phillips came up.  Phillips was a four-star recruit by rivals.com, and signed with the 'Noles in February.  Many had concerns about Phillips ability to play for legendary Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett.  Trickett is widely regarded as the premier offensive line coach in college football and he prefers his linemen to be athletes and in impeccable shape.  When he signed, Phillips weighed about 320lbs (he is 6'5").  He assured FSU that he wanted to play for Rick Trickett and that he would be willing to put in the work to get down to his assigned goal weight (about 300lbs) by the time he reported for summer camp.  Phillips was essentially tasked with losing 15-20lbs over the course of 22 weeks, which is not that difficult for a person of his age and size.  Instead of working to lose the weight and come into camp in even a modest approximation of physical fitness, Phillips ballooned to more than 340lbs.  That's right, instead of dropping 20, he added 20 (or as much as 30, depending on who you ask).  

Predictably, Phillips struggled when he reported to FSU...

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A lot of 'Nole stuff happened this weekend. Inside, you'll find...

• FSU secured two commitments with their Seminole Showtime camp, and many more recruits were blown away!  More coverage of the event throughout the week.
• FrankDNole, Fsued, and Rich from Chantrant.com posted the sequel to thier excellent "Best defensive players of all time piece", and the offensive one might be even tougher!
• TrueCubbie blew everyone out of the water with his preview of the 'Noles incoming basketball players!
• We had 12 new members sign up and comment over the weekend!  A big TomahawkNation.com welcome to them!
• I did a radio appearance for KXCA-ESPN 1380am sports radio (Oklahoma).  Should have the radio link for that soon.
• NoleCC @ Scalpem.com has a big 'Noles gut reaction preview!  Very reasonable.
• The 'Noles worked conditioning indoors Thursday to avoid the rain.
• Gobbler Country did a study on ACC turnover rates!
• We found a nice source for Miami Hurricane Previews
• Dinich makes multiple predictions on the ACC
• Decent previews of UNC, Miami, and USF (also, USF's kicker fell 35 feet from a Busch Gardens ride Sunday).  They've been added to the scouting page (left sidebar).

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From time to time various companies send us Florida State gear and ask us to review it.  Recently, Jeff from wholesalekeychain.com contacted us about some FSU keychains and asked us to have a look.  We were skeptical at first, because I didn't realize people bought keychains online- we used to just pick one up at a gas station if needed.  He encouraged us to check them out and suggested that we could use them for contests.  We know how much  y'all like contests, so we agreed.

[ed. note:  we were not paid for this review and told Jeff that if the keychains weren't good, he'd risk an honest review.]

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Welcome to July!  We have a lot of exciting things coming for you as there only 69 days till Florida State takes on Miami... and Hurricanes don't hit Tallahassee anymore.  We will probably have about 100 articles in the remaining offseason.  For now though, let's get caught up on some 'Nole News.

Important Dates

Jul. 18- Seminole Showtime- BE THERE FANS.
Aug. 6 - players report
Aug. 7 - first day of preseason practice
Aug. 9 - media day (which is also traditionally fan day)
Aug. 10 - first day of full contact practice

Orlando Sentinel - Easterling's recovery a positive for maligned FSU receivers
After one day of watching Easterling, Stroud isn’t doubting that he will play in the season-opener against Miami. "No question," Stroud said. "After what I saw today, there’s no question he’ll be back." His rehab is going better than anyone could have expected.  My enthusiasm is slightly tempered, but this is really encouraging.  You'll remember that our resident pediatrician and amazing writer TrueCubbie wrote:  Inside the Treatment Room:  Taiwan Easterling and his Achilles.  I suggest reading that.  

MORE INSIDE! 

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On a day that saw Florida State address its future by securing commitments from three promising recruits, the 'Noles must deal with their past as yet another member of Jeff Bowden's disastrous final recruiting class has thrust Florida State into the news for the wrong reasons.

Florida State redshirt sophomore linebacker Maurice "Smiley" Harris was arrested Monday night for 2 felonies relating to driving a stolen vehicle and a traffic violation.   No matter the nature of the charge nor his guilt or innocence, he has brought bad press to the University.

"Smiley" is another example of the failed 2007 recruiting class, a class cobbled together by Lazy recruiter and soon (in late 2006 early 2007) to be fired offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden.  Of the 20 member class, only 12 remain.  Cameron Wade and Maurice Harris are very likely to be booted from the team within the coming year because they lack talent, are lazy, and are undisciplined.  Frequent readers will remember that we called for Cam Wade's dismissal because he is not a team player, doesn't have D1 talent, and is a general drag on the program undeserving of a scholarship that could be given to someone with you know, "actual talent." FSU should not have to honor scholarships for the recruiting failures of Jeff Bowden.  They have not bought into the new demands of Jimbo Fisher and the new staff.  Of the 12 remaining players (current juniors or redshirt sophomores), only 4 are starters.  OG Rodney Hudson (recruited late in the process by FSU offensive line coach RIck Trickett- not a Jeff Bowden recruit), WR's Tiawan Easterling (recruited in the final week before signing day by Jimbo Fisher- not a Jeff Bowden recruit), Bert Reed, and LB Kendall Smith. 

Let's be clear:  Smiley is a bad player.  He is tiny and cannot play linebacker on the division one level.  He didn't get the job done in the weight room to gain the necessary size and was really a questionable recruit by the 'Noles in the first place.  He was a backup with no chance of seeing meaningful playing time.

Jeff Bowden's terrible work ethic continues to haunt FSU to this day.  His dad can't control the misfits he brought to the program, while by comparison, Fisher's kids have been considerably better behaved.

There's another problem with Harris, however, and that is that besides being a woefully undersized immature  non-contributor, he is LB Coach Chuck Amato's only South Florida recruit in his second stint with the 'Noles.  Sure, he was a member of the final Jeff Bowden class, but Amato is the "recruiter of record."  Amato is supposedly a great South Florida recruiter, but he has only one south Florida commitment in his three years back (Harris).  Cutting Harris would be an embarrassment for Amato, who has already drawn criticism for his poor linebacker coaching, allowing his backers to be consistently undisciplined.  Chuck is in charge of discipline on the team, but will he act for the greater good or will he go for the ego play?  Can he risk everyone realizing that his only South Florida recruit in three years, questionably talented at the time, has already failed?  Without his South Florida recruiting prowess or linebackers who are producing for him, Amato would be reduced to little more than a glorified maid, requiring that player's lockers be straight at all times.

Smiley is garbage and should be off the team.  Players who are marginal at best cannot embarrass the team and must be made an example of.  Double standards exist for a reason.  FSU's boosters should not tolerate this trash.  Hopefully we can all celebrate when his scholarship is rightfully given to a deserving player with talent and work ethic.