Deja, youth happened to FSU. Not one corner for FSU had starting experience coming into this [edit]season[/edit]. Only Chris Hope (free safety) was a returning starter in defensive backs. We don't have a dominant defensive end like we had for much of the 90's. FSU for the last several years was able to apply pressure on the QB with just the front 4. Now we're like everyone else and have to blitz to get constant pressure, yet we still don't do that very often. On the whole, it's a young defense, only 3 seniors, one of which never played much until this year. Same can be said for the offense this year. Injuries, graduations, and even a death in February took away FSU's experience. This is just the first time in a long time that FSU has to rebuild instead of "reload". Honestly, we played Florida better than I thought we would have (defensively that is, Rix got kinda jumpy again, but he's just a freshman.)
Eagler, Earnest doesn't play defense, and that was what killed you. Over 250 yds rushing for Travis Stephens, the biggest was the run in the 4th quarter immediately after Chandler nailed that long 51 yarder. Turnabout is fair play on the 2 point conversion though. You beat Tennessee last year on a questionable call by the officials on Gaffney's score late in the game. This year Gaffney did get tugged on, but the officials missed it. Kinda like how Michigan fans were complaining about officiating (clock management in this case) against Mich St this year, when bad officiating had them beating Illinois 2 years in a row.
You get some good calls and you get some bad calls.
Harrington almost pulled a Clint Stoener. Defense bailed him out with the interception though.
Still isn't enough to get into the Rose Bowl though, BCS should be out soon, and I bet Oregon will be 4th behind Tenn and Nebraska.
[ 12-03-2001: Message edited by: Nifty ]
