Colleges

More of freshman? Next year

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - When Florida State coaches decided this week to go back to Drew Weatherford at quarterback, some folks wondered why they didn't try someone new - either D'Vontrey Richardson or Christian Ponder, both redshirt freshmen.

"You think about it," offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said, "and there could be roles for them, but you're asking a lot from guys who haven't gotten any reps."

Richardson has had all of one play this season, a run that went nowhere actually backward by a yard, and Ponder none. In practice, Weatherford and Xavier Lee have gotten most of the reps with the first team. That's not the experience level that translates into much success in games.

"You can ruin a young guy quicker than you can make him," Fisher warned.

He and coach Bobby Bowden also agree that the team can win any game left on the schedule without going to youth at quarterback, but Richardson, a pretty fair baseball player as a freshman, and Ponder could make it a four-way battle in 2008. Fisher said he could see either youngster winning the job.

"I don't think there's any doubt; I think both of them are (talented enough)," he said. "That's nothing against the two (older) guys here, but I think they really are. ... They've been here long enough and I think they deep down, the little bit of time that I've been with them, they realize they do belong here so another year under their belts coming in the spring, it'll be interesting in the spring; it really will."

Maybe, just maybe, folks will get a preview in the final weeks this season if Richardson and Ponder get onto the field for spot duty or situational plays.

NO CLOSED CAPTIONING: Fisher, who can be animated during a game, said the word he was repeatedly using with Lee and the offense during the Miami game was "focus." Said Fisher: "I don't know if you heard me on the sideline, I said it a thousand times Saturday; focus, focus, focus, focus. Just remind them over and over and over, every play, every play, every play."

NUMBERS GAME: For those of you scoring at home, Bowden's win total remains at 370, tops in major college football history, and now one ahead of Penn State's Joe Paterno. Penn State plays host to No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday.

"Don't forget," Bowden said, joking, "I've got 22 wins at a junior college I'm about to spring on them."

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING: FSU didn't want to be playing its homecoming game at 8 p.m., but school officials unsuccessfully lobbied hard to have the game moved to the afternoon. The evening start could hurt attendance and, really now, just how many people get ESPNU? Oh well.

DRESS CODE: The Seminoles will break out their specially-designed black "Unconquered" uniforms on Saturday night for the second time. The uniforms' debut came last year against Boston College, a 24-19 loss marred by FSU miscues that prompted Bowden to say that he might retire those jerseys.

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY: The women's cross-country team enters Saturday's ACC championship meet as the clear favorite, but the team has never finished better than fourth and a rainy week is expected to make the course a bit muddy.

"If you're the favorite, you'd rather be under good conditions," coach Bob Braman said. "If nothing unusual is going on, the people who are good will do their thing and (form) will hold up. It definitely levels the playing field."

The men, who have finished second the last four years, figure to be chasing North Carolina State and Virginia, the hosts for the meet.

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified October 24, 2007, 21:49:21]