Starting anew from an old spot
Drew Weatherford (yes, he's still FSU's starting QB) vows to fight past last season's problems.
By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published August 31, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford refused to let himself believe, even for an instant, that it should or would play out any other way.
Sure, he had won the starting job as a redshirt freshman. Sure, he had regained the job he lost briefly last season as a sophomore and finished with a strong second half against UCLA in the Emerald Bowl.
Still, here he was again this spring and summer in the same old battle with Xavier Lee.
"I knew since the time I committed and he committed after me that we'd have to fight for it for a long time," said Weatherford, a fourth-year junior from Land O'Lakes. "I expected this."
Still, here he is again, in the same old spot atop the depth chart. And that speaks volumes about an affable, seemingly mild-mannered guy whom many fans, at least those opining on the message boards, wanted to see on the sideline and not under center as the season begins Monday night at Clemson.
Weatherford doesn't shy away from a fight.
He enjoys and thrives on one.
"He's probably the toughest competitor we've got out here," senior defensive tackle Andre Fluellen said.
"Drew's a very hard worker and very conscientious," added new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher, the man who made the decision about who would start at that most critical spot. "And he wants to be good."
Weatherford, 22, expected more from himself last season. He had finished his redshirt freshman year on a high with strong performances against Virginia Tech and Penn State, and FSU seemed poised to regain the offensive potency that opponents once feared.
But Weatherford's statistics got worse.
So did the team's record; the Seminoles slipped to 7-6, their worst record in a generation.
"Athletically, it was the most difficult time of my life," he said.
The offensive struggles prompted much-maligned coordinator/receivers coach Jeff Bowden to resign and, once his son made that decision, coach Bobby Bowden went about overhauling his offensive staff. Although Weatherford seemingly had strengthened his grip on the job by season's end, new coaches meant he and Lee were on equal footing. Again.
Weatherford expected nothing less.
He embraced it.
The 6-foot-3 Weatherford not only got fitter he lost 5 pounds from last year and is listed at 215, but looks even trimmer, he insists he's stronger, faster and more mentally prepared than ever.
"Coach Fisher's really brought the best out of me," Weatherford said. "He's made me work even harder.
"I thought I worked hard before, but there was another level I could reach and I finally did with him."
Fisher, a hard-driving perfectionist, has liked the way Weatherford has responded to the challenge, both from Lee and his own in-your-face style. The key for him, Fisher said, is to manage the game efficiently and effectively and eliminate poor choices. Weatherford has thrown nearly as many interceptions (29) in his career as touchdowns (30).
In addition to his teaching and play-calling, Fisher will try to make things easier on his quarterback - and a retooled line - by making sure he gets the call in so the team should break its huddle with 17 seconds left on the play clock.
In the past few years, the Seminoles have been inconsistent in how much time they would leave themselves to snap the ball. That led to some burned timeouts at best, some drive-ending gaffes at worst.
"Like any of us, when you hurry out of the house, you always forget something," he said.
"When you hurry at the line of scrimmage, you get up there with eight or 10 seconds on the clock, you forget something."
Will the extra time mean a more at-ease offense and a more productive offense? Well, it can't hurt. Ultimately, however, much will hinge on Weatherford's play.
He expects it.
No surprise, he welcomes it.
"I'm sick and tired of losing," he said simply and defiantly.
Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347. Read his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/Seminoles.