Colleges

'Noles say numbers just hint at team's progress

FSU feels its overhauled coaching staff has it heading back toward national prominence.

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published November 22, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Receiver De'Cody Fagg says the Seminoles' progress has come a bit more slowly than he expected.

TALLAHASSEE - The number tells you a lot about the state of Bobby Bowden's program at Florida State:

One. That's how many more games the Seminoles have won entering Saturday night's regular-season finale at Florida compared with this point a year ago.

"I won't accept success as 7-4," Bowden said. "That ain't success to me. ... You've got to win ballgames to be a success. Now, do you like the direction we're going in? Yes, I do like the direction we're going in."

You see, one number doesn't tell you everything.

Bowden and most observers insist the Seminoles are better now than they were at this point last season and more so than one win, any one win, might indicate.

"What I've seen of late," former Miami coach and current ESPNU analyst Larry Coker said, "is that they've improved throughout the year."

For one thing, they have some impressive wins: at then-No.2 Boston College, the team that has gone on to win the ACC's Atlantic Division; against Alabama in Jacksonville; and at Colorado, a team that upset Oklahoma.

Last season's most eye-catching win? Well, there was that one in the opener against No.12 Miami. The Hurricanes, however, faded to 6-6.

"We are better than a year ago," Bowden said. "But we're still not consistent enough that you can just hang your hat on it. ... And yet we're not so far off it can't be done."

Though offense isn't the end-all, be-all for any team - you do need defense and special teams to reach and remain among the national elite - Bowden's revamping of his staff invigorated everyone associated with the program.

Under new coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher, the rushing yards are up modestly about 23 a game to 123.3 compared with FSU's 11-game total last season. Passing yards are up a bit, too (about 10 to 243.5). Points, however, are down a tick (about two to 23.9).

But the numbers don't tell you everything.

Overhauling the offense was a tougher job than some realized. The players had to adjust to new coaching styles, far more vocal and confrontational, and new schemes. The new coaches also faced an arduous task of essentially deprogramming the players; breaking bad habits and/or instilling the habits they espoused.

"It took a little longer than we expected," senior receiver De'Cody Fagg said of the transition. "The first game of the year, against Clemson, we thought we were ready to go, but as we saw, we went out and had a bunch of mistakes."

Not only did they have to correct mistakes, the Seminoles had to contend with uncertainty at quarterback as the staff went from Drew Weatherford to Xavier Lee and back to Weatherford, the former Land O'Lakes star.

"Drew, every week, is getting more comfortable in what we're doing and being more consistent in what we're doing," Fisher said. "He's managing the game better and starting to make plays to make a difference."

Last weekend against Maryland, Weatherford rolled right looking for a receiver. In the past, he might have run it or thrown the ball away. This time, he pointed to Preston Parker, who had circled out of the backfield, to cut toward the middle. He then hit him for a 21-yard play that set up the second touchdown in a 24-16 win.

"Five weeks ago, he wouldn't have done that," Fisher said.

Weatherford isn't just more relaxed, he has fed off an increasing confidence that Fisher has in him and the entire offense, noting that the play-calling has become more aggressive.

"It's nice to have that attitude and for your coaches to have that much trust in you," Weatherford said. "We continue to get better. That's been our goal; just to get better every game."

One more win, particularly against the No.12 Gators (8-3) and Heisman Trophy front-runner Tim Tebow, would give FSU even more confidence going into a bowl, most likely the Music City in Nashville against an SEC team, and give the returning players more to build on heading into 2008.

"I want to hear 9-4 instead of 8-5," Parker said.

"This is a good one to end on," Bowden said. "We'll find out a lot about ourselves this game."

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

[Last modified November 21, 2007, 21:01:55]