Filed under: Florida State, Wake Forest, ACC
3 points. 3 measly points is all Florida State could muster against a well-coached, disciplined Wake Forest squad -- a team which, by the way, fields only average talent, but utilizes it well.
Pollsters, that's why you don't bump a team into the Top 25 based on two blowout wins over FCS (Div. I-AA) schools.
Florida State came into this game with its first and likely last Top 25 ranking. Five interceptions and two fumbles later, it was all over. Wake Forest won on defense and field position, 12-3, while Florida's inept offense could barely get out of its own way despite seemingly countless opportunities to put up points in the fourth quarter.
With Jimbo Fisher obviously running the show now in Tallahassee -- Bobby Bowden wasn't even wearing a headset for most of the game, milling around by his lonesome on the sideline -- 'Nole fans have to start bracing for the strong possibility that this program isn't on the right track. The FSU offense wasn't just bad, it was terrible. To be fair, both of Florida State's quarterbacks are young and inexperienced, but the decision not to play senior Drew Weatherford had to be on the mind of FSU fans as the game progressed.
The rest of Florida State's schedule is starting to look unpleasant. Colorado, fresh off a win over West Virginia, will play the 'Noles in Jacksonville next week. The following week, FSU travels to South Florida to play Miami; that could be considered a potential or probable loss considering the Canes' upgraded defense. NC State just beat Top 15 ECU, and Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Boston College, Maryland, and of course Florida all lie in wait. It's hard to imagine the 'Noles being favored in any of those games at this point.
The Seminoles' first two games against 1-AA teams Western Carolina and Chattanooga won't count for bowl eligibility, so out of their nine remaining games, FSU must win at least five to reach .500. Does anyone really believe that this team can beat five of those opponents with their current offense?
Sports
Perhaps the most distressing thought to Seminole fans is that this loss wasn't unexpected, comes as no great surprise, and barely registered as a blip on the college football consciousness. No one expects FSU to be particularly good anymore, and it can take a long time to climb out of that hole. (Just ask Greg Robinson at Syracuse.)
FSU has the talent, but do they have the coaches?
