Discord and discontent are in the past as players focus on togetherness and victories.
By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 5, 2005
[Times photo: Willie J. Allen Jr.]
Quarterback Drew Weatherford and Chris Davis celebrate their touchdown hookup in Saturday's win over Syracuse to go 4-0.
TALLAHASSEE - Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has recognized something different about this year's group of players, something he knew to be an encouraging sign.
"For some reason, they're on time for meetings," he said. "For some reason, nobody's late for the bus ... which means maybe they're a little bit more attentive, a little bit more focused."
More important, a little bit more together.
Every coach strives to fashion a cohesive unit, an intangible that is as vital as talented players and innovative plays for success; an element that can be beguilingly elusive.
Bowden has at times put together a "Unity Council" of team leaders with whom he would meet to discuss issues or locker room problems. Just last week, offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden empowered the offensive players by asking their input.
But every coach knows that the ultimate responsibility for team chemistry rests with his players. For better or for worse.
"It goes back to the individual," Bowden said. "It doesn't take but two individuals to destroy all of that."
So far this season, the Seminoles have played as a team.
Absent is a lightning rod for discord and discontent, a role that quarterback Chris Rix filled for four seasons. Backup quarterback Xavier Lee did express frustration with his playing time last week, but emphatically put to rest rumors he would transfer and promised to work harder and think of the team first.
Present is a sincere attitude of selflessness.
"Everybody knows his role," senior linebacker A.J. Nicholson said. "Everybody's accepted what he's supposed to do and he's going to do it the best he can."
Consider: Linebacker Ernie Sims, mentioned as a candidate for just about every defensive award, has sacrificed individual statistics for, at times, playing the decoy and allowing others to make plays.
"Of course, everybody wants to succeed personally and hopefully make it to the NFL, but the main thing is as a team to focus on winning," he said. "That's the big picture."
Consider: Tailbacks Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker have had only about eight carries each a game, but haven't moaned or groaned. They've actually endorsed using more receivers and throwing more to get as many threats on the field as possible.
"It's surprising to me, but I'm thrilled about it," said senior offensive guard Matt Meinrod, the former East Lake star. "I would want the ball and I would be complaining, but it just shows you how good of team players they are. ... That's different. In years past, you had guys who wanted the ball and were (upset) when they didn't get it."
"We're winning, man, and that's the most important part," Washington added.
In recent years, the team's best seniorshaven't always made the best leaders.
Alex Barron was a two-time consensus All-American at offensive tackle and a first-round draft pick in April. He could walk the talk, but Barron was quiet, more comfortable trying to let his game speak for him and hoping others would emulate him. Michael Boulware was like that, too. So was Greg Jones.
"Before, when a guy would mess up or came late to a meeting, nobody on the team would say anything," Washington said. "Now, you've got guys saying, "Hey man, tighten up. Let's get it.' "
He's one. So, too, is Nicholson. And senior defensive end Kamerion Wimbley. And Meinrod. And senior center David Castillo.
"We need that, vocal leaders, and we have a lot of that in our senior class," Nicholson said. "The seniors can keep everybody's eyes on the prize, but it takes the whole unit."
A turbulent offseason helped galvanize that.
Chris Bradwell, Nicholson and Sims were all arrested on misdemeanors. (Bradwell was later dismissed from the team.) Defensive tackle Clifton Dickson had to transfer to Tallahassee Community College in the summer to try to regain his academic eligibility. Quarterback Wyatt Sexton was hospitalized after police found him acting bizarrely and was later diagnosed with Lyme disease.
From outside the program, the players came off as out of control, Washington conceded. From inside, the Seminoles knew better and adopted an "us-against-the-world" mentality.
Players hang out more together, seniors and freshmen alike and offense and defense alike. In the last few years, an inconsistent, error-prone offense has forced a staunch defense to do too much in the biggest games and that caused some tension. Not now.
"When you have team unity," Sims said, "you can go far."
How far? Well, the Seminoles (4-0) are No. 4 in the AP poll and, despite an uncharacteristically low preseason poll position, are in the national championship picture entering Saturday's game against Wake Forest.
"That shows the camaraderie we have on our team," Washington said. "We're just having fun. Guys are loving it. We enjoy coming to the stadium. We don't dread it."
