Organized Chaos
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FSU-Maryland impressions
November 24th, 2008, 11:34 am · 1 Comment · posted by Brad Milner
Well, Florida State finally got over that seven-win hump in grand style on Saturday.
Maryland aided the Seminoles more than anything else. As I noted in a preview story, the Terrapins have been hot and cold and coach Ralph Friedgen warned of letdowns in night games. This was another cruddy game for Maryland.
FSU forced four turnovers, returning one for a score, and the Seminoles had their way on the defensive line with six sacks. The offense again was vanilla in its production, but it didn’t need to be spectacular against a Maryland team that is now out of the Atlantic Coast Conference race.
FSU now has momentum heading into the regular-season finale against Florida this weekend. The Seminoles will need all the help they can get.
Also, Myron Rolle came to the game as a Rhodes Scholar. There’s a lot of talk about him playing in the NFL, and he no doubt could, but even Bobby Bowden made note that Rolle wasn’t making a whole lot of big plays this season. He has been a good tackler, but has really not stood out.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves for Oxford next year.
FSU needs Maryland to shake off this beating to defeat Boston College. If Maryland does so then the Seminoles will play in the ACC Championship Game. If not, then the Eagles will go.
Standout player: Everette Brown. There haven’t been many standout players on this defense, but he’s one of them. He had five tackles, 4 1/2 for loss and 3 1/2 sacks, and a forced fumble to lead the defensive front.
Inside the boxscore: Maryland was held to 252 total yards. … FSU gained 332 yards. … The Seminoles held Da’Rel Scott to 82 yards, but his worth was limited when the game got out of hand. … Christian Ponder led FSU in rushing with 81 yards to go along with his 143 passing yards.
Next up: Florida at home. The Gators are ranked No. 2 after beating the Citadel (wow, so that makes them better than Oklahoma? Whatever). FSU can ruin Florida’s season, and remember, the Seminoles beat a then-second-ranked Boston College last season on the road so anything is possible.
Once again the ‘Noles started slow, but Maryland played so badly that they didn’t go in the usual 10 point hole to start the game.
Everette Brown played great, he was even beating double team blocks against him. But so did Derek Nicholson, he of the bonehead penalty against Boston College. He was all over the field. And local kid Ben Lampkin got the solo tackle near the end of the game near the goal line when it looked like Maryland was going to score in garbage time.
I think that FSU got a big boost from Myron Rolle being awarded the Rhodes scholarship. He is evidently a real popular guy, and the pride in his accomplishment by his teammates was evident from them on the sidelines; they even gave him a gatorade dousing at the end of the game. Good thing they weren’t drinking hot chocolate. If he does play in the NFL (he wants to become a neurosurgeon) I severely doubt it will be next year. Oxford is once in a lifetime, and will open doors to where ever he wants to go; and the NFL will still be there when he finishes.
Good to see Bert Reed back in the games, he almost broke his only catch of the night for a touchdown, getting tripped up by the last guy to have a shot at him. Hope he stays out of trouble.
Florida has a lot of weapons on offense and their offensive scheme will give the Seminoles fits. But the ‘Noles have several things in their favor. They are playing at home in the Doak instead of the Swamp.
Florida may be looking past them to their SEC championship game the next week with Alabama, especially because last year they stomped FSU 45-12. And they have a couple of starters on their defensive line hurt. If Florida State is to win this game, they are going to have to run the ball, because Ponder’s rainbows and Florida’s ballhawking defensive backs (20 picks, 5 returned for TD’s) spells trouble for the ‘Noles. Let’s just hope Bobby Bowden decides to let someone else give the pep talk this week, because coming out of a hole against Florida would be terrible. I nominate Myron Rolle. Maybe he can do it in a British accent.