TALLAHASSEE - Coach Bobby Bowden insists the biggest offensive question lies not on an inconsistent quarterback or an inexperienced receiving corps but with the line.
Graduation claimed tackle Brett Williams, the two-time top blocker in the ACC; guards Montrae Holland and Todd Williams; and center Antoine Mirambeau. While returning tackles Ray Willis and Alex Barron and center David Castillo earned some starts last season, guards Matt Meinrod and Bobby Meeks are untested.
"We do not have the experience we had a year ago," Bowden said. "A real big key will be staying healthy on the offensive line because I feel like we've got depth everywhere else, but not there. Boy, we lose a couple of those linemen and you're talking about freshmen, pure freshmen, stepping in there."
Touted newcomers Mario Henderson and John Frady enter the season opener Saturday at North Carolina listed No. 2 on the depth chart at split tackle and center, respectively.
Despite the relative inexperience of the group, Willis, for one, is confident and predicts it will more than hold its own, thank you.
"Matt Meinrod is a specimen," Willis said. "Bobby Meeks is one of the quickest guys on the team. David Castillo is very, very intelligent and he'll fight til the end, and (backup right guard) Eric Broe's one of the strongest guys on the team. I think we're a very athletic offensive line and maybe more than last year. We can do a lot of different things. We're not going to be the biggest offensive line, of course, but as far as being physically tough and athletically gifted, I think we're one of the better offensive lines in the country."
JOY TO THE WORLD: Soccer coach Patrick Baker will be relying on the relatively inexperienced Joy McKenzie in the most unforgiving position on the pitch, goalkeeper.
McKenzie has played in six games in her career, allowing four goals and making six saves. Yet her play in the spring and the preseason showed Baker she was ready. She is expected to start Friday against visiting Southern Cal.
"One of the biggest things she's lacked has been experience," Baker said. "She's very athletic, but a lot of the time spent in her freshman year was on technique, and then a lot of stuff in her sophomore year was confidence and decisionmaking. This spring, she was given the entire spring to be really the only goalkeeper, and we won and we didn't give up a goal. So there was an inner confidence in her and also a team confidence with her in goal that maybe we didn't have as much up until that point."
CARR IS DRIVEN: Junior middle blocker Aisha Carr, one of three returning starters for the volleyball team and the top returning offensive threat, has raised her game.
"Aisha worked very hard over the summer," coach Todd Kress said of his co-captain. "The strides she's made the last 14, 15 months have been tremendous. I think she's going to be one of the top middles, not only in the conference, but in this region."
She will have the chance to show that Friday and Saturday in the FSU Invitational, a tournament that includes one of the nation's top teams, Kansas State.
RUNNING START: The men's and women's cross country teams, led by coach Bob Braman, begin their seasons at the Appalachian State Invitational on Friday.
- Brian Landman covers Florida State athletics. He can be reached at 813 226-3347 or by e-mail at landman@sptimes.com
