EJ Manuel:

I know he was shook up early on and for good reason. The first snap Manuel took in the most hostile environment in the nation was from his own two yard line. He made a few bad passes and let it float too much at times, but he also showed a lot of heart as he continued to bounce back after taking several hits and led the Seminoles on a few good drives.

He threw two perfect passes back to back to sophomore Jarmon Fortson setting up and scoring Florida State’s only touchdown of the game. He also showed the ability to scramble a little against one of the fastest defenses in the nation. With another year to sit behind Christian Ponder and learn, he should come out in 2011 more than ready to take over the Florida State offense.

Jarmon Fortson:

Fortson has struggled at times this season but as stated above, he did make two remarkable catches and found the endzone allowing Florida State to score their first touchdown in three games against the Gators. The sophomore showed outstanding athletic ability on both catches and will be a force for Florida State for two more seasons.

Nigel Bradham:

Probably the most improved player on Florida State’s defense from the start to finish of the season. Bradham had 12 tackles against the Gators and showed remarkable speed for a linebacker as he ran down UF speedster Jeff Demps from behind. Bradham is only a sophomore and will only get better with time. He very well could be Florida State’s next great linebacker.

Greg Reid:

Reid was used sparingly for some reason which I do not understand at all. He did once again show how dynamic he is though as he returned a kickoff for 37 yards following Florida’s first touchdown. Of all the freshmen, he has definitely been the best one of the group.

The list goes on and on as Florida State could very well have the most talent that has contributed as either freshmen or sophomores this season. Once all of the coaching staff changes take place and there is ONE man in charge, this team could be very, very good.

Talk about the odds being stacked against you. Florida State has the worst defense they have had in about 30 years and Florida has a team full of playmakers.

The Seminole’s strength is their offense, but they are without their starting quarterback, without their best lineman and without their tight end that was having an All-American season before his season-ending injury.

Florida State must go into the Swamp on Tim Tebow’s senior day and find a way to keep up on the scoreboard. How can they do it?

Establish a running game:

Jermaine Thomas, Ty Jones, Lonnie Pryor and the entire offensive line must show up in order for Florida State to win this weekend. Florida State must find a way to move the ball on the ground which will let them kill the clock while scoring points. If the Seminoles can control the clock, they will keep Tim Tebow on the sidelines which will be Florida State’s best defense.

Get to Tebow:

Florida State must get to Tebow early and often. The defensive line must find a way to get penetration and not allow Tebow to sit in the pocket and pick the Seminole secondary apart. Tebow has shown that when he is pressured, he has the tendency to make bad throws as he did against Mississippi State throwing two touchdowns to the wrong team.

Force Florida punts:

If the Florida State defense can find a way to force the Gators into 4^th down situations making them punt to the Seminoles, the Tribe will have a chance. FSU has one of the best weapons in college football in Greg Reid and if he is given the opportunity to return a few punts, there is a good chance he finds the endzone or at the very least sets up EJ Manuel and the Seminole offense with good field position.

Three easy keys to victory. So FSU just needs to do that and they will win.

We all know it isn’t that easy, especially when you are a 25 point underdog but anything is possible. This is a rivalry game and we all know all bets are off for those.

Now, do I think Florida State can win? Absolutely. Do I think they WILL win? Probably not.

For the 28^th consecutive season, the Florida State Seminoles will be heading to a bowl game. It may not be a BCS bowl, or even a New Year’s Day bowl, but the fact is Florida State will be bowling this postseason. That is the longest streak in the nation and considering all the youth the Seminoles have been playing with, it looks like that streak will only grow in length in the coming years.

It was senior day in Tallahassee, but three freshmen stole the show for the ’Noles.

E.J. Manuel:

Manuel, making just his second career start had a rough game most of the way. The redshirt freshman threw three interceptions throughout the game and completed 17 of his 27 passes. But when it mattered most, Manuel did what he had to as he led the Seminoles downfield on the game winning drive. Manuel used both his legs and his arm on the final drive as he showed poise leading the Tribe to bowl-eligibility.

AP Photo/ Phil Coale

Lonnie Pryor:

Pryor only ran the ball two times on Saturday, but made the most of both carries. On his first, an option-pitch from Manuel, Pryor found the edge and took off 50 yards for the score. His next carry would come with just 32 seconds left and the Seminoles down by four. Pryor lowered his shoulder and willed his way into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown.

AP Photo/ Phil Coale

Greg Reid:

Greg Reid came into Saturday’s game ranked second nationally in punt returns and put his skill set on full display against Maryland. The freshman from Valdosta, Georgia returned three punts for a stunning 88 yards Saturday including the biggest return of his career.

The Seminoles were down by four and awaiting a punt from the Terps. Maryland’s freshman punter Nick Ferrara was supposed to kick it out of bounds, but just missed allowing Reid to get his hands on the ball. He then returned it 48 yards before being tripped up by a teammate but set the Seminoles up with great field position for their game-winning drive.

The future is clearly bright at Florida State.

On another note, longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews coached his final home game at FSU and went out with a win. Following the game, senior linebacker Dekoda Watson led a group of Seminoles who carried Andrews off the field.

When asked about it after the game, Andrews delivered a classic Mickey line when he replied, “If they had played as hard as they need to during the game, they wouldn’t have had the energy to carry an old man like that”.

AP Photo/ Phil Coale

It was one week into my freshman year at FSU and my friends and I had no idea how were supposed to get tickets to our upcoming home game against Troy. After asking around, we finally figured it out and eventually ended up getting tickets to the game.

I remember the Friday night before was like Christmas Eve. I had been to several Florida State football games before as a life-long Seminole fan, but this would be my first as a student sitting in the rowdy student section.

I woke up Saturday bright and early that gameday morning. Some friends and I decided to paint out faces garnet and gold for the game and then we hit the tailgating scene. Everywhere we looked on campus was nothing but a sea of garnet and gold. Florida State fans everywhere doing the Warchant ready to head inside the best stadium in college football and watch our ’Noles take it to an under-matched opponent.

A little later, it was finally time to head to Doak and watch the pregame festivities. We filed into the student section and watched the Marching Chiefs perform the fight song and spell out NOLES on the field. Then, Chief Osceola rode out onto the field on Renegade and planted the flaming spear right in front of Troy’s bench as all 83,000 fans went crazy watching the best pregame tradition in all of college football.

Then, the game. Florida State was just five days removed from beating Miami in the Orange Bowl on Labor Day night and it showed as they struggled with the Trojans. The Seminoles were in the top 10 of both polls at the time of the game and the season was about to come to an abrupt halt as we trailed unranked Troy in the fourth quarter.

The Seminoles then scored two late touchdowns to cap the come-from-behind victory and save the season for the time beings. This is where the story really gets good…

The game was over and we were walking to the exit when I noticed a group of students standing by the tunnel cheering. I went over to see what was going on and noticed legendary coach Bobby Bowden walking over following the victory. I stood back and cheered loudly for him and out of nowhere, he tipped his hat to us and then tossed it up in the stands.

The group immediately in front of me mistimed their jump and Bowden’s hat bounced back and landed in the isle. I then dove after it like it was a loose ball in the final four and ended up coming out of the pile with it. My friends and I rushed out in excitement and as we were walking back to our dorms about half a mile from Doak, and then examined the hat. It was then when we noticed that Coach Bowden had signed the hat under the bill.

I couldn’t think of any better way to end my final home game as a student at FSU. A great day with tailgating, watching the Seminoles win with 83,000 of my closest friends and coming out with the best souvenir that no amount of money could have bought that day.

Some of my closest friends and oh yeah, Bobby Bowden's hat.

This Saturday will be bitter-sweet. It will be my final home game as a student and I will witness history as it will also be Mickey Andrews’ last home game at FSU. Coach Andrews is a huge reason as to why I followed Florida State throughout all of my youth and I will find it special that we will both share this game as our last as a coach and student.

I’m sure I will get emotional this weekend as football has been a HUGE part of my time at Florida State. I have been to all 25 homes games at FSU during my time in Tallahassee as a student and Saturday will be my 26^th and final one. Even though the Seminoles have been down by FSU standards the past four years, I consider myself extremely lucky to have been a part of some so special as watching Florida State football put it all on the line every weekend as a student of the university.

Florida State has played in a bowl game each of the last 27 seasons, a streak that is currently the longest in the nation. That speaks volumes to the product Florida State has fielded over the past three decades. Not since 1981 has a Florida State team been golfing during the bowl season. Even in the Seminoles worst season’s over the past 27 years, they have never finished with a losing record which would keep them out of a bowl game.

The second longest bowl streak in the nation doesn’t even stand at 20. The Florida Gators, who have played in 18 consecutive bowl games, last missed the post-season in 1990. At least the Seminoles still have that claim over the Gates.

For that streak to stretch to 28 straight postseason’s, the Seminoles will likely need to win this weekend, as a win in Gainesville on Tim Tebow’s senior day in two weeks seems unlikely.

Maryland comes into Tallahassee this weekend as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s worst team with a record of 2-8. Maryland did beat Clemson, but has losses to East Tennessee State, Duke and Virginia which shows how bad this team really is.

Sophomore Jamarr Robinson will start for the Terps as they come in without their usual starter Chris Turner this weekend. Robinson startled last weekend against Virginia Tech and had a horrid day passing the football completing just 12 of his 32 pass attempts. He did do damage on the ground however racking up 129 rush yards on 24 carries.

Mobile quarterbacks have been a thorn in Florida State’s side for years now as they all seem to have big days against the Seminoles. Robinson should be no different as he will be expected to scramble around for a good amount of yardage, but his lack of passing ability will hinder Maryland’s success on offense. Da’Rel Scott is expected to play this weekend and will add to Maryland’s rushing attack, but it won’t be enough.

Florida State’s defense will struggle at times, but being Mickey Andrew’s last game ever game at Doak Campbell Stadium, the Seminole defense will rise to the occasion and hold Maryland’s offense in check for the majority of the game which is all they will need to.

Maryland ranks 10^th or worse in the ACC in four defensive categories. Florida State’s has the best overall offense in the conference besides Georgia Tech’s gimmicky option attack. Even with quarterback Christian Ponder out, EJ Manuel was able to fill in as the Tribe’s offense didn’t miss a beat as they moved the ball up and down the field in route of Wake Forest.

In my opinion, this game gets ugly. Jermaine Thomas will rush for over 100 yards for the fourth straight game, EJ Manuel has another big day further building confidence heading into the Swamp next weekend and the Seminoles dismantle the Terps on senior day.

Florida State is favored by 16.5 heading into the weekend and as hard as this team is to read, I expect them to cover that spread and win to the tune of a 45-24 score when it’s all said and done.

Mickey Andrews leaves Doak a winner and the nations longest bowl streak is in tact for at least one more season. Even when times are down, it’s still great to be a Seminole!

EJ Manuel is going to be a very good player.

He will not take the starting job from Christian Ponder next season, but against Wake Forest, Manuel proved that he will be a very solid back up and should be more than ready to take over the starting role in two years following Ponder’s graduation.

In his first career start, Manuel completed 15 of his 20 pass attempts and for 220 yards and one touchdown. He threw just one bad pass as he was picked off late in the first half, but overall, played near flawless football. He also added in 45 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown.

If Manuel can duplicate his performance this weekend when the Seminoles play host to Maryland, Florida State will do what very few thought was possible heading into Winston-Salem; make it to the post-season.

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Jermaine Thomas is for real.

Last season against Georgia Tech, Jermaine Thomas had a breakout performance as he ran the ball just nine times for 130 yards. Ever since, Seminole Nation has been waiting for Thomas to show that ability again, but it hadn’t happened until three weeks ago against N.C. State. Against Wake Forest, Thomas eclipsed the 100 yard mark for the third straight week and showed why he is ready to be Florida State’s feature running back for the rest of his career. He ran the ball 25 times for 149 yards and a touchdown making sure to establish a solid rushing attack taking pressure off of first-time starter at quarterback, EJ Manuel.

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Greg Reid is still Florida State’s biggest playmaker.

All season long, Seminole fans have been teased by freshman Greg Reid on his kick returns as he has broken several long returns, but none for a touchdown. Well Saturday afternoon, that all ended as Reid fielded a punt off a bounce, hit a hole, made Wake Forest’s punter miss a tackle on a nice stutter move and brought it all the way back for six. Reid is the type of player who excites everyone every time he touches the ball and Seminole fans have three more years to enjoy him in Garnet and Gold.

Florida State can still make a bowl.

The Seminoles are now just one win away from keeping the nations longest bowl streak alive. The Seminoles best chance at keeping that streak alive will come this weekend when they play host to Maryland. The Terps are by far, the worse team in the ACC this season. The following week, Florida State must travel to the number 1 team in the nation, Florida in one of the toughest stadiums to play in America making a win this weekend seem almost necessary.

Stay tuned all week for more power rankings, a preview of the Maryland game and a few extras!

Florida State redshirt freshman EJ Manuel could not be put in a tougher situation as he is slated to make his first career start this weekend due to usual starter Christian Ponder being sidelined for the remainder of the season with a separated shoulder.

A lot of streaks are on the line this Saturday in Winston-Salem when the Demon Deacons play host to the Florida State Seminoles and the Tribe will look to Manuel to lead them to victory.

Going bowling?

Florida State still needs to win two of their next three games in order to become bowl eligible. Currently, Florida State has the longest streak of bowl game appearances in the nation at 27 consecutive years. The Seminoles must find a way to beat Wake Forest and Maryland, because a win at Florida on Tim Tebow’s senior day seems unlikely right now.

QB’s to go 4-0 versus the ’Noles?

Riley Skinner is in a position to do what no quarterback has ever done against Florida State; play them four times and win every meeting. Never in history has a quarterback started against FSU four times and won every game. Manuel will need to play well to stop his counterpart, Skinner from being the first to accomplish this feat.

ACC team snags four consecutive wins versus the ’Noles?

Since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, Florida State has never lost four consecutive games to a fellow ACC school. Wake Forest has defeated the Seminoles each of the last three seasons and will look to defeat Florida State for the fourth consecutive time after losing their first 14 meetings against the Seminoles while in the ACC.

As you can see, there is a lot on the line this weekend and although Manuel says he is not feeling any pressure, he most likely is. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of leading the Tribe to victory on Tobacco Road.

Manuel is a 6-5, 215 pound quarterback that was ranked as the second best signal-caller in high school by Scout.com during his senior season at Bayside High in Virginia. He was recruited by every major university one can think of including Alabama, LSU, Penn State and Miami, but in the end chose to sign with Jimbo Fisher and Florida State.

The former five-star standout has been on Florida State’s campus for over a year now and has been working under the best quarterback coach in the nation, Jimbo Fisher. Fisher and Manuel’s receivers both claim that he has come leaps and bounds since his arrival as a true freshman, when most thought he would compete for the starting job immediately.

Here is an excerpt from Manuel’s Scout.com profile as a high school senior.

“Despite his athletic ability, Manuel is a pocket passer who just happens to have the ability to evade the rush and make a play. When that happens he can tuck it and run and throw on the run. He can also stand tall in the pocket and pick you apart. Manuel will hang on to the ball, deliver an accurate pass and take the big hit. When he has time to set his feet he can throw with great velocity. He can make all the passes and throw with touch.”

The only attribute Manuel is currently lacking that could hinder him this weekend in his lack of experience at the college level. The Virginia Beach native has only attempted four passes this season in limited action. Nearly every game Florida State has played in this season has come down to the wire limiting Manuel’s chances of seeing any playing time.

Over recent years, several raw quarterbacks have come in and had success against Florida State, so I see no reason why Manuel can’t go into Winston-Salem and have a breakout performance in his first career start against Wake Forest.

Will Manuel keep Florida State’s bowl hopes alive?

I think so. Florida State’s rushing game has come on the past two weeks as Jermaine Thomas has eclipsed the 100 yard mark in both games. A solid rushing attack against Wake, a team that has had trouble stopping the run all season is very possible and should take some pressure off of Manuel early.

Another good sign for Florida State is that their defense showed signs of life against Clemson last weekend. They forced several punts and turnovers which is something they have not done all year long. If they can slow down Skinner and Co. just a little, then EJ will be put in a position to lead the Tribe to victory.

Lastly, Jimbo Fisher is considered one of the greatest offensive minds in football and will do everything in his power to put Manuel in positions he is comfortable with. Manuel was Fisher’s first recruit while he was at Florida State and knows his strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. He will make sure to call plays that suit Manuel’s abilities and put him in position to be successful.

Prediction:

Manuel plays well enough and manages the game as he leads the Seminoles to the upset on the road.

Florida State 28, Wake Forest 27

Bonus prediction:

EJ Manuel: 16-22, 225 yards, 1 TD

First of all, I would like to start this blog out by extending a huge thank you to all Clemson fans. I have been to several college football games and encountered fans from several different universities including Florida, Miami, Alabama, Arkansas and Colorado just to name a few. Of all of those, Alabama fans were all very friendly to me but my best encounter, by far would have to be with the fans of Clemson.

First of all, the people who hosted us had only met one person in my group but welcomed us to stay with them with open arms. They showed us around the city and we had a great time. I did not meet any (ok, maybe one or two) Clemson fans who I did not like. Everyone was great before the game, and after the Tigers ran us off the field in the fourth quarter.

That brings me to the next part of this blog, the game.

Florida State came out firing on all cylinders jumping to an early 17-6 lead. Shortly after the Seminoles second touchdown, the small Florida State section in the corner of the upper bowl was taking over the entire stadium. It was great to be a Seminole at that point in the game.

Then the fourth quarter came with the Seminoles leading 24-21 following a Jermaine Thomas touchdown late in the third. At that point of the game, I just knew Florida State was going to get their first win in Death Valley for the first time since 2001. I was the good luck charm and the streak was finally about to come to an end.

Then reality hit. Clemson scored three fourth quarter touchdowns while shutting out the Seminoles. Christian Ponder was picked off for the third and fourth times of the game and the defense was helpless after playing halfway decent throughout the first three quarters.

Florida State surrendered a fourth quarter lead instead of taking one as they had in their two previous games. AsFlorida State watched their lead slip away and lose the game, they also lost all hopes of winning the Atlantic division which means a fourth straight year without an ACC Championship. That means this year, in my senior year at FloridaState, I will be a part of the first ever graduating class that does not watch Florida State win the ACC.

But wait, it gets worse…

The one consistent bright spot on the team this year, Christian Ponder not only had the worst game of his career throwing four interceptions, he may also be lost for the remainder of the season. After DeAndre McDaniel, a Tallahassee native, intercepted Ponder late in the game, he returned the ball and Ponder, being the competitor that he is, went for a big hit on McDaniel. Unfortunately, that hit separated Ponder’s throwing shoulder and there are rumors flying around Tallahassee that he may need season ending surgery which could be devastating Florida State’s chances at making a bowl game this season.

Redshirt freshman EJ Manuel will now be forced to step in and make his first career start against a team that has beatenFlorida State three times in a row. Manuel will become the fourth different quarterback to start in this stretch as the previous three victims are Drew Weatherford (2006), Xavier Lee (2007) and Christian Ponder last season in 2008.

I’ll touch more on that in my blog this week when I preview Florida State’s match up against the Deacs.