Nothing going right for ‘Noles
Bobby Bowden is in the fight of his coaching life, but Florida State and its furious boosters have more problems than just their embattled 79-year-old coach.
The Seminoles, who started the season ranked 18th, are 2-3 (0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) and are not within a Florida turnpike of the top 25.
While the boosters aren’t happy about the present and want Bowden out, they can’t be crazy about the future, either. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, below, is Bowden’s replacement in waiting, and the Seminoles’ offense is a big reason Bowden is on the hot seat.
It’s 40th nationally with 403.4 yards a game, and its rushing offense is 89th at 118.0. Take out the 54-28 win over BYU, which seems like a misprint, and FSU is averaging only 273 yards per game and has rushed for all of 107 ypg.
It’s not quarterback Christian Ponder’s fault. He has thrown well. But he had two touchdown passes dropped against Miami, TD passes in back-to-back weeks that were nullified by holding penalties, and another receiver who fumbled at the 2.
On second-and-goal at the Boston College 1 on Saturday, with FSU down 14-3, Lonnie Pryor was stuffed twice for no gain, then Ponder lost 9 yards. Next up: No. 22 Georgia Tech (4-1).
John Henderson, The Denver Post
