ESPN College Football

You've heard it before and you'll hear it again: If Florida State wants to return to be part of the nation's elite this season, the Seminoles' offensive line will have to step up.

The latest to examine FSU's protection is K.C. Joyner, also known as "The Football Scientist."

Joyner points out that, during the golden era of Bobby Bowden's teams (1987-2000), the Seminoles' formula was to score 38 points per game and hold the opposition to 15. FSU's offense, which averaged 30.6 points per game last season, fell short.

Joyner says that the talent is there at the skill positions to close the gap this season.

It starts with the fact the Seminoles racked up 8.7 yards per pass attempt (YPA) last season, a total that was tied for seventh in the FBS. To put this another way, the Florida State passing offense was tied with an Andrew Luck-led Stanford Cardinal offense in this category and finished ahead of such powerhouse passing teams as the Boise State Broncos, West Virginia Mountaineers, Arkansas Razorbacks and USC Trojans.

A repeat of this performance looks to be very possible given that this unit will return starting quarterback EJ Manuel, as well as all but one of the Seminoles who posted double-digit receptions in 2011.

Florida State will also have the services of Willie Haulstead, a talented receiver who ranked seventh in the ACC in yards per reception in 2010 but missed the 2011 season with a concussion, and Kelvin Benjamin, a 6-foot-6, 242-pound redshirt freshman wideout who was described in his ESPN recruiting profile as a "one-on-one nightmare on fades, red zone shots and underneath slants and crossing routes."

The key, of course, is the offensive line, which was tied for 112th in the nation last season in sacks allowed. But Joyner says that the run-blocking was better than last season's numbers would have indicated.

Improvements up front are obviously key, but the offense still averaged more than 30 points per game last season. Better luck and performance up front could be the key for FSU to take the next step this season.

Bobby Bowden was no stranger to off-the-field crises as a football coach. And he knows he would have to be more of a micro-manager if he were still coaching today.

The former Florida State coach spoke at Georgia's annual coaching clinic Friday. With several Bulldogs players in the news because of drug-related issues, Bowden said he sees the need for restrictive drug testing.

From DawgNation's David Ching:

"Our society needs it," Bowden said. "You need something to try to deter these boys and these girls from getting into drugs. It's all throughout society. Why are football players any worse than anybody else? Everybody else is doing the same dadgum thing, you know? So if you have something that deters them, yes we all ought to do it. But there's going to be some that fall through the cracks."

Bowden thinks a wide substance abuse-related policy — at either the conference or national level — would help.

The 82-year-old Bowden said he supports Georgia coach Mark Richt, a former 14-year assistant of his.

On with our regularly scheduled links ...

• Bobby Bowden will not attend FSU's opener, Brad Milner writes in the Panama City News Herald.
• Maryland's attempt to rebound starts in earnest, Jonas Shaffer writes in the Baltimore Sun.
• The Virginian-Pilot's Andy Bitter's position-by-position look at Virginia Tech continues with the tight ends.
• The Atlanta-Journal Constitution's Ken Sugiura shares some numbers from Georgia Tech's pro day.
• The Charleston Post and Courier's Travis Sawchik sees similarities between Brent Venables and Chad Morris.

Bobby Bowden will be returning to Florida State for the Seminoles' season-opening weekend, as the former coach will be inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 31. He will be recognized with the other inductees the next day on the field during FSU's season opener against Murray State.

The occasion will mark Bowden's first appearance at Doak Campbell Stadium since the 2009 season, his 34th and final year coaching the Seminoles. Former quarterback Danny Kanell, along with five other new members, will join Bowden in the Hall of Fame induction.

Bowden had visited the stadium's University Center in December, speaking at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club's awards dinner. The University Center overlooks the football field, named after Bowden in 2004.

UPDATE: Bowden told reporters Friday at Hombre Golf Club in Panama City Beach, Fla., that he will not be going to Florida State's opener Sept. 1 against Murray State, one day after he is to be inducted as one of seven new members of the school's athletic Hall of Fame.

“I wasn’t going to sit around and be over someone’s shoulder,” Bowden said, according to The News Herald.

Bowden was asked to join the Hall of Fame in each of the past two years and only decided to be included this year because his longtime administrative assistant, Sue Hall, will be among the inductees.

"Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny (beep) Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his ...

Well, you know how the rest of it goes ...

• Maryland offensive coordinator Gary Crowton is out, and Mike Locksley is in, according to The Baltimore Sun.
• North Carolina interim coach Everett Withers confirmed he has talked to Ohio State but said nothing is official -- except for the fact he won't be at UNC after the bowl game.
• ACC fans should be excited about the future of the quarterback position.
• There was one surprise on the Associated Press All-America second team, and it came from Virginia.
• Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris is looking to carry the momentum from the title game into the bowl game.
• Morris signed his new contract on Monday.
• Will Georgia Tech lose its wide receivers coach to Hawaii? Does GT HAVE a WR coach? Kidding, kidding ...
• The future of FSU's defense looks bright -- as long as coordinator Mark Stoops remains a part of it.
• Former FSU coach Bobby Bowden said he'll return to the university at some point in some capacity, but he doesn't know when.
• Leaving early for the NFL was never part of the plan for Miami safety Ray-Ray Armstrong.

Clark: 'Tis the season to be merry.
Mary: That's my name.
Clark: No (kidding).

• Is it still considered news when the SEVENTH player decides to transfer? Maryland defensive lineman Cody Blue is up next.
• Clemson running back Mike Bellamy is in trouble again and will be suspended for the Discover Orange Bowl.
• Unsold tickets are a hot topic these days at Virginia Tech.
• Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden returned to campus for the first time in two years.
• Bowden had plenty to say on quarterbacks and the state of the game today.
• Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris is now the nation's highest-paid coordinator.
• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is ready to end the six-game bowl losing streak.
• Miami safety Ray-Ray Armstrong will return for his senior season.
• The Belk Bowl will feature two teams that finished strong.
• UNC and Missouri both overcame challenges this season to become bowl-eligible.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher issued the following statement today in response to Bobby Bowden's announcement that he had prostate cancer in 2007:

"It was surprising to me to hear [about Coach’s Bowden’s illness] because I had no knowledge of it, but I am very glad everything turned out all right and Coach Bowden is in great health," Fisher said. "He’s an outstanding man and he’s one of my heroes. I’m very happy for him and very happy they have an outstanding spokesman for that disease."

I caught up with former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke recently for Tuesday morning's story, and got his take on a few other subjects while I had him on the phone:

You helped Florida State to three straight national title games. How much do you think people take even one for granted right now? It seems like such unrealistic expectations to think one program can dominate the way Florida State used to, but you're part of the problem because you set that standard.

“The game has changed. The one thing I continue to reiterate to people is that there’s so much more parity in college football now. I was fortunate to be part of the string that we had 14 consecutive years where we were in the top four. If you look back, there were runs by certain programs when they had success on a consistent basis: USC had a run, back in the day Nebraska was always a top team. There were a number of teams that had success consistently over a period of time but you don’t seem to see that consistency anymore. ... It’s unheard of to think that there’s a team that’s going to play in three consecutive national championship games these days.”

As a former player, what's your take on all of the transition Florida State has gone through in recent years?

“I’m excited about where they’re at right now. I know that Jimbo Fisher and his staff have done a nice job recruiting. For me, it’s always hard -- it was tough to see coach Bowden leave, but I think that there’s a new sheriff in town and he’s doing a nice job, and I’m excited about the direction he’s taking the program.”

It’s amazing to look back on your career and think you even played football. You could have just pursued baseball.

“At the age of 23 I decided I missed football too much. It was either do it at that point in time, or that opportunity may pass me up. I took a chance. I was playing AAA baseball and one step away from the big leagues and I was still a young guy. But it was more important for me to go back to school, get my degree and hopefully get a chance to play football. I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to play football. I didn’t touch a football for seven years. So when I went back, it was challenging to say the least, but it made me work that much harder knowing that I had to to even catch up to the talent level we had there. I was blessed. I had a bunch of good guys around me. It’s always fun when you win.”

I caught up with former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden this past Friday to talk with him about Chris Weinke for Tuesday morning's story, and of course, it's very hard not to ask him a few other questions while he's on the phone. I asked Bowden what's he's been up to, and he made it very clear that he's busy and "not retired."

"I've retired from coaching, but I haven't retired," he said. "I don't want to do nothing. We've got places over on the beach, and I get over there seldom. I enjoy it when I do, but it's not like I want to sit around all day."

I'd be happy to sit around all day for him, but he didn't invite me.

I asked him how much he misses coaching.

"I didn't miss it a bit," he said. "I'm 81. If I was 45, I'd really miss it, I'd want to get back in it. But at my age -- I really tried to get one more year out of them and I was unable to, because I was trying to reach some goals, but I didn't. So I haven't missed the coaching. I miss the players and I miss the association with the coaches. I look back on it and there were fond memories with the ACC. They're such a classy group of people."

Can you believe some of the things that are going on with Jim Tressel and Butch Davis?

"Well, yeah, we got hit with that if you remember," he said. "And it was inadvertent. It was something the coaches had absolutely nothing to do with, or the administration, and when we found out about it, we reported it. But they still stuck us pretty good. But yeah, hey, they've got rules, you've gotta enforce them."

I'm sure you're paying attention to Florida State, even though you didn't go to any games last year, right?

"No, I'm staying away purposely," he said. "I feel like it would be a distraction. I'm not interested in going to the game and somebody says, 'Oh, Bobby Bowden is here.' I'm not interested in that. I want to sit back and enjoy it. I follow them, everything they're doing, keep up with them. I haven't been back to campus one day since I left, but I keep up with what they're doing and I'm pulling for them."

The decision had been made: Quarterback Chris Weinke chose to sign a professional baseball contract out of high school instead of playing football for Bobby Bowden. So when Bowden told Weinke that he would save a scholarship for him should he ever decide to come back to the sport, Bowden never actually expected to hear from Weinke again.

Six years later, Bowden’s phone rang.

“We took a chance, because the question was, well, has he lost his stuff? When you bring him in, you’re knocking out a lot of other quarterbacks,” Bowden said. “There was one top quarterback in the country -- I won’t call his name -- that had already committed to Florida State, even though he was only a junior. Well after you got Weinke, that was out. We took a chance and won.”

And won big.

“Looking back, I didn’t know where it would lead me because my situation was unique when I got there,” Weinke said. “As a 24-year-old, I really had to adjust the way I was living as a professional baseball player. That lifestyle is different than being a freshman in college at the age of 24. But it’s about the people, and all successful people have great people around them. It’s without question the reason I was able to achieve success at Florida State because of the people around me.”

Weinke, who came to Florida State as a 24-year-old freshman, set 26 school records during his career, led the Seminoles to an undefeated season and the national title as a junior in 1999, and became the program’s second Heisman Trophy winner as a senior in 2000, finishing his career with a 32-3 record. He played in three consecutive national championship games and went on to play seven seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. Although his professional career ended without the fanfare his collegiate career created, Weinke still continues to have an impact on the game at every level. He was hired in 2010 as the director of the IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla. In addition to his administrative duties, Weinke is an on-the-field coach for the year-round training facility that works with players from the youth to professional levels, including former Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder.

“For me, it’s the perfect fit, being able to work with young kids all the way through NFL guys,” Weinke said. “It’s football, football, football.”

Some things never change.

Weinke, who turns 39 in July, said Florida State is still a major part of his life. How could it not be? His Heisman Trophy is sitting in his living room (finally, after a long stay at his parents’ house). He finished with 9,839 career passing yards. In 2000, he led the nation with 4,167 yards -- an average of 347.3 per game.

“It’s a huge part of my life just because, being in the football business, people understanding where I went to school,” he said, “there usually isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t talk to a player or a parent who doesn’t somehow, someway bring up Florida State.”

His story is one of the most memorable in college football, not only because of the success he had after a six-year layoff to play Triple-A baseball, but also because of the potentially career-ending neck injury he suffered as a sophomore. Weinke still threw 79 touchdown passes in his career.

To Bowden, though, Weinke’s maturity is what separated him from the majority of other players Bowden coached during his career.

“He didn’t make those boyish mistakes that a 17- or 18-year-old will make,” Bowden said. “He was a man when he came here. He was impeccable in his training and schoolwork.”

Despite his cemented place in Florida State history, Weinke only started 15 games in the NFL, and finished his humbling professional career having thrown for 3,904 yards, 15 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.

Bowden said he was a bit surprised that Weinke’s professional career didn’t flourish more, considering the success he had in college, but some of that, Bowden surmised, probably had to do with Weinke’s late start in the game.

“A lot of it is did they give him a chance?” Bowden said. “He’s 28 or 29 when he goes in. A lot of the pro teams are not willing to wait on somebody that age. It usually takes those guys two or three years to get really good. So I imagine the circumstances worked against him. He won his first dadgum game.”

Weinke said he has no regrets about not playing longer.

“I spent seven years there and enjoyed my time, but I look back now and, I may say that I would rather not still be playing just because I’m fortunate of the situation I’m in right now,” he said. “I’m still involved in the game, I’m in the teaching side of the game, and that to me is really more satisfying than when I was a player.”

RT @DannyOBrien5: Hope everyone has a great Friday!

• If John Blake knew, how did Butch Davis not know?
• A few North Carolina players owe at least $1,715 in unpaid parking fines, according to the Daily Tar Heel.
• Overall, all but 30 of them aren't paid.
• Meanwhile, UNC added a cornerback to its 2012 class.
• Former FSU coach Bobby Bowden said he thinks the Noles are back.
• It was a good week for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who landed a top quarterback in his 2012 recruiting class and came out on top in the classroom, too.
• The post-DaQuan Bowers era could make things a little difficult, though, for the current Tigers.
• Virginia's recruiting has picked up over the past few weeks.
• Former Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown isn't the only former Terp who left College Park for Randy Edsall's former home, Connecticut.

We'll bid farewell to yet another ACC coach this afternoon, when Maryland's Ralph Friedgen coaches his final game in the Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman.

• It shouldn't have ended this way for Friedgen, writes Mike Wise.
• The same players who once lamented their spot in the Military Bowl are now geared up for it to send Friedgen out with a win.
• One of the things that will be missed about Friedgen is the fact that he's a "straight shooter."
• Former Washington Times beat writer Patrick Stevens reflects on the Fridge.
• A lot went wrong for Georgia Tech this year, and coach Paul Johnson has already begun thinking of ways to try to fix it.
• BC just landed the top recruit in the state.
• Clemson is still looking for a quality slot receiver.
• Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker is focused on the future, not the past.
• NC State's effort against West Virginia wasn't bad for a team that wears adidas.
• Bad news for Miami -- quarterback Stephen Morris has been injured.
• NC State is looking for a spot in the Top 25.
• Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher meet again.
• Virginia Tech cornerback Rashad Carmichael has proved his position coach wrong.
• The Virginia Tech-Stanford matchup in the Discover Orange Bowl was the best matchup the game could've drawn. What can it do for the bowl?
• The Hokies are all business in South Florida.

"I've got houses in L.A., Paris and Vail. In each one, a 70-inch plasma screen. So I suggest you wipe that stupid smile off your face before I come over there and SMACK it off! You feeling strong, my friend? Call me elf one more time." -- Miles Finch

• There's been a coaching carousel in the ACC, and it's starting to get a little dizzying.
• Maryland is reaching out to its fans via social networks to sell tickets to its bowl game against East Carolina.
• Bowl practices are a time to experiment and develop players.
• If BC's next recruit from St. Xavier is as good as its latest product, linebacker Luke Kuechly, the Eagles just struck gold. No pressure, Steven Daniels.
• NC State running back Mustafa Greene has been an exciting rookie and will be a key component to the Pack's future success.
• Miami's players are already buying into first-year coach Al Golden.
• Despite the strong support of Virginia Tech fans, ticket sales remain a problem.
• The mother of UNC fullback Devon Ramsay said that her son's academic issue was not considered serious enough by the university to even be forwarded to the school's honor court.
• The hire of Golden was a calculated risk by Miami AD Kirby Hocutt.
• When it comes to preparing for the Chick-fil-A Bowl, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher is following Bobby Bowden's script.

There was no confusion about what Jimbo Fisher had to do in his first season replacing legendary coach Bobby Bowden -- win. Quickly.

Mission accomplished.

In his first season as a head coach -- not just at Florida State, but anywhere -- Fisher has brought the program back to national relevance with a win over rival Florida and an appearance in the ACC championship game. Not even Bowden was able to win his season opener or beat Florida on his first try. Replacing a coaching legend isn’t easy, but Fisher said some of the pressure has been lifted thanks to the immediate success. Then again, that success has re-established the standard at a program where championships were once the norm.

“I think at Florida State the bar is always high,” Fisher said. “That's what you're expected. That's one of the reasons this is such a great job. I think it takes [the pressure] off in the part they realize that our staff and the things we're doing do work and we can have success. Hopefully, that will bring in more recruits and more things.

“The bottom line is you've got to win anyway. That's the name of the game. And hopefully it will just help us move in the direction and have the confidence and the expectation to win, like our players do.”

After this year, the fans will expect it, too.

With his Oct. 16 win over Boston College, Fisher became just the second coach at FSU to be assured of a bowl appearance in his first season, along with Larry Jones. Fisher led the Noles to a 3-2 road record this year and a 6-1 mark at home, but no win was bigger than the one over Florida this past weekend. Despite the fact Florida is having a down year, it was still a sign in a shift of balance of power within the state. The No. 21 Noles are the only team in the state still ranked in the BCS standings.

“I think it's huge,” Fisher said. “I think it's huge because, you know, Florida – usually Florida is at the top of the country right in the last few years, and that's the standard we're trying to get back to and where we want to be. But it's also your archrival. So you have to keep up with the guy who's your neighbor and your rival. That's how you measure Florida State, not only with the ACC and your divisional championships and all that within the conference, but you have two great state rivals in Florida and Miami. So you have to keep up with them because the Florida State fan base, that's what you're measured by.”

And in just one season, Fisher has stacked up. To those within the program, it came as no surprise.

“Being around him for the three years prior to taking over, we knew what he demanded from this team and what he demanded from me personally,” said quarterback Christian Ponder. “He’s got high expectations and he’s going to make sure the team reaches those expectations. He did a great job preparing us all year and pushing us to get to where we are.”

Stuffed ...

• Florida State's seniors have experienced just about everything -- academic scandal, retirement of Bobby Bowden -- but never a win over rival Florida.
• If Miami quarterback Jacory Harris doesn't start against South Florida this weekend, coach Randy Shannon can expect a call from Harris' father.
• Virginia Tech tight end Andre Smith and offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring's "five-year marriage" is coming to a close.
• Despite the dwindling statistics and production from Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker, the staff insists he has not regressed.
• Georgia Tech hasn't forgotten what it's like to have a dose of its own medicine.
• NC State defensive coordinator Mike Archer doesn't seem to mind that the credit for the defensive turnaround is going to the arrival of Jon Tenuta.
• Virginia coach Mike London almost joined Frank Beamer's staff.
• If there's a silver lining to North Carolina's off-field troubles this fall, it would be the growth of the players who were called upon to lead who might not otherwise have gotten the playing time.
• BC's Ifeanyi Momah has turned into one of Chase Rettig's favorite targets, but don't be surprised if he lines up on defense again at Syracuse.
• Maryland secondary coach Kevin Lempa helped the Terps lure in a prep school DB.