April 14, 2008

Tallahassee, FL (UWIRE) -- Another spring game has come and gone as the 'Noles moved closer toward their 2008 campaign and another chance to right the proverbial ship that was once a dominant program with Saturday's scrimmage. However, despite my best and most optimistic efforts, I left Doak on the eve of my 21st birthday with an unsettling feeling.

Mickey Andrew's defense ruled the night once again - as it has done quite often this spring - but, like last season, does that mean the defense is good or the offense isn't?

Yes, I know an injured Drew Weatherford watched from the sidelines and yes, I am still confident offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is taking the team in the right direction, but I'm coming to realize that the process that is FSU's dramatic turnaround will likely last longer than my tenure here as a student.

You grow up watching your favorite teams on the tube, as I did with Florida State, and you dream of the day you'll have the chance to see the players you admire firsthand in the majestic Doak Campbell Stadium. I've had that chance and I am very thankful for it, but so far the Seminoles I've witnessed haven't played like the ones I dreamed about watching as a kid.

Don't get me wrong, this team has a lot of potential and a lot of young talent, but it gets harder and harder with each new season to be as optimistic as I'd like to be. (See FSU's 2007-2008 basketball season).

However, it would certainly be a lot easier if I had left Saturday's scrimmage, a game that was supposed to set the tone for the upcoming season, more satisfied.

I understand what spring football is all about and the reasons our coaches choose to do it the way that they do, but wow. Saturday's scrimmage was almost tough to watch.

To the 30,000 fans in attendance - what I thought was a solid turnout - the format was confusing at best and really a poor exhibition of how hard the team has worked this spring.

I'm not one to support the "Orange and Blue," but look at Florida. Our bitter rivals treated their recruits to an actual spring game where the team held a draft and drew up even teams. Students even had a chance to race UF players and the game was broadcasted on ESPN.

I understand our current lack of depth and concern for injuries limits what our coaches can and are willing to do, but if they can do it, why can't we?

Let's get people involved and build back the hype that had me and my Power Wheels Jeep rearing to start college life at Florida State at age eight.

Having the game at night was a good idea, and the fireworks were a nice touch, but make the game more exciting for the fans. No one wants to see FSU succeed more than the core of 30,000 loyal fans that showed up Saturday and they deserve a better preview of what they'll be paying to watch this season.

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