Whaddup ...
Brian in Boca Raton, Fla., writes:With a healthy Christian Ponder, the entire experienced offensive line returning, losing only one of our starting receivers, and getting back some experienced running backs and receivers, how explosive do you think FSU's offense will be this year and will it compare to the FSU offenses of old with Charlie Ward/Chris Weinke? Thanks for your covergae of ACC football, keep up the good work.
HD: In looking up some stats to answer your question, something a little off-topic jumped out at me: Ward set the FSU record for touchdown passes in a season with 27. By comparison, NC State's Russell Wilson threw 31 last year. Wow. Now, as for FSU's offense -- I'm looking at FSU's total offense in 2000 -- a school-record 6,588 yards. In 1993 it was 6,576, No. 2 in the record books. Last year, FSU had 5,478. Ponder and Co. needs about another 1,100 yards to match that. We're talking about 550 yards of total offense per game under Ward and Weinke. FSU averaged 421 in 2009.
Nate in Clemson writes: So. Clemson's only got one player worth mentioning in the top 25? Are we really THAT bad?
HD: Definitely not, but hey, that one player is really good.
William Wahoo in Richmond, Va., writes:I know it's a bit much to ask coming off a 3-9 season. But do you think .500 is a possibility for UVA this year with London? With Duke, MD, EMU, VMI and Richmond on the schedule. I think it's doable.
HD:Sorry, 'hoo, but I think you're going to have to wait for that. Duke is a road trip, and the Blue Devils aren't a pushover anymore. Virginia's seniors haven't won a season opener yet, so Richmond isn't a given. Plus, you only mentioned five wins. They need one more. Even if if Virginia manages those five wins -- which I think is a realistic goal -- I can't find the sixth one.
John in Coral Gables, Fla., writes:Morning HD -Is there any plausible reason for Kiffin to deny granting Seantrel Henderson his release from scholarship if he does in fact request it? If he wants to transfer to a team like my Canes, one that doesn't compete in recruiting or play USC head-to-head, why would he stand in the kids way (other than living up to his reputation :)?
HD: You mean other than he'd hate to lose a top offensive lineman and he expects Henderson to honor his commitment? Don't forget the restrictions Randy Shannon put on Robert Marve when he was looking to transfer. Coaches have their reasons for things, but if it were me, I wouldn't want anyone on my team who didn't want to be there. It will only cause problems within the locker room.
Shane in Las Vegas, Nev., writes: Heather, please help me out on this, I've been hearing different accounts, even within ESPN, about Miami's scholarship availability for Seantrel Henderson. Bruce Feldman said on CFB Live that Miami would have to Grayshirt a player but you keep saying they have one already available for him. I figured since Delmar Taylor is going to JUCO they have an opening.Thanks
HD:First, put $20 down for me somewhere that will make me Paul Johnson money. Second, all signees have to qualify academically. If somebody doesn't cut it, Henderson's got a schollie.
757hokie4life writes: Big East #1 player was RB Dion Lewis, SEC #1 player was RB Mark Ingram....Why go against the grain and not put Ryan Williams #1?
HD: ACC = defense. If I'm those bloggers I'd pick those guys, too. Kinda hard to put a Heisman winner anywhere but No. 1, no?
Brian in Boca Raton, Fla., writes:With a healthy Christian Ponder, the entire experienced offensive line returning, losing only one of our starting receivers, and getting back some experienced running backs and receivers, how explosive do you think FSU's offense will be this year and will it compare to the FSU offenses of old with Charlie Ward/Chris Weinke? Thanks for your covergae of ACC football, keep up the good work.
HD: In looking up some stats to answer your question, something a little off-topic jumped out at me: Ward set the FSU record for touchdown passes in a season with 27. By comparison, NC State's Russell Wilson threw 31 last year. Wow. Now, as for FSU's offense -- I'm looking at FSU's total offense in 2000 -- a school-record 6,588 yards. In 1993 it was 6,576, No. 2 in the record books. Last year, FSU had 5,478. Ponder and Co. needs about another 1,100 yards to match that. We're talking about 550 yards of total offense per game under Ward and Weinke. FSU averaged 421 in 2009.
Nate in Clemson writes: So. Clemson's only got one player worth mentioning in the top 25? Are we really THAT bad?
HD: Definitely not, but hey, that one player is really good.
William Wahoo in Richmond, Va., writes:I know it's a bit much to ask coming off a 3-9 season. But do you think .500 is a possibility for UVA this year with London? With Duke, MD, EMU, VMI and Richmond on the schedule. I think it's doable.
HD:Sorry, 'hoo, but I think you're going to have to wait for that. Duke is a road trip, and the Blue Devils aren't a pushover anymore. Virginia's seniors haven't won a season opener yet, so Richmond isn't a given. Plus, you only mentioned five wins. They need one more. Even if if Virginia manages those five wins -- which I think is a realistic goal -- I can't find the sixth one.
John in Coral Gables, Fla., writes:Morning HD -Is there any plausible reason for Kiffin to deny granting Seantrel Henderson his release from scholarship if he does in fact request it? If he wants to transfer to a team like my Canes, one that doesn't compete in recruiting or play USC head-to-head, why would he stand in the kids way (other than living up to his reputation :)?
HD: You mean other than he'd hate to lose a top offensive lineman and he expects Henderson to honor his commitment? Don't forget the restrictions Randy Shannon put on Robert Marve when he was looking to transfer. Coaches have their reasons for things, but if it were me, I wouldn't want anyone on my team who didn't want to be there. It will only cause problems within the locker room.
Shane in Las Vegas, Nev., writes: Heather, please help me out on this, I've been hearing different accounts, even within ESPN, about Miami's scholarship availability for Seantrel Henderson. Bruce Feldman said on CFB Live that Miami would have to Grayshirt a player but you keep saying they have one already available for him. I figured since Delmar Taylor is going to JUCO they have an opening.Thanks
HD:First, put $20 down for me somewhere that will make me Paul Johnson money. Second, all signees have to qualify academically. If somebody doesn't cut it, Henderson's got a schollie.
757hokie4life writes: Big East #1 player was RB Dion Lewis, SEC #1 player was RB Mark Ingram....Why go against the grain and not put Ryan Williams #1?
HD: ACC = defense. If I'm those bloggers I'd pick those guys, too. Kinda hard to put a Heisman winner anywhere but No. 1, no?
Heather Dinich | email
College Football- ESPN.com ACC blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Wrote for The Baltimore Sun
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
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