It’s practically time for BC’s first recreation of the season. On Monday, they’ll have a shot of beating Florida State and handing the Seminoles their second lack of the 12 months. Large thanks to Perry Kostidakis of Tomahawk Nation for answering a couple of of our questions on FSU!
Final weekend was tough for Florida State followers. Dropping abroad as a top-10 group to an unranked convention opponent in a primetime recreation is actually not the best way you guys needed to begin 2024. What are the emotions across the fanbase like proper now?
PK: Saturday felt like a crash to earth, since FSU hadn’t misplaced an everyday season recreation since beating Georgia Tech again in 2022. The grieving course of has gone its common route — denial (no manner that FSU simply blew a recreation on a nationwide stage after this complete previous 12 months), anger (THEY ONLY HAD ONE POSSESSION IN THE FOURTH?!), bargaining (okay, so not less than if Miami or UF look terrible subsequent week, it’ll be okay), despair (I can not imagine I predicted 11-1), and acceptance (welp).
The purpose the fanbase is at now’s whether or not Saturday was the default or a slip-up. It’s apparent that Georgia Tech is best than anticipated, nevertheless it stays to be seen if FSU is worse than believed. Was the inefficiency on each offense and protection a results of a well-planned and well-executed Yellow Jackets strategy, or will it’s an extended 12 months for a Seminoles squad unable to make any kind of impression within the trenches? Proper now, it appears like primarily column A, with a sprinkle of column B.
I perceive that there’s already been some speak amongst FSU followers about changing DJU. Do you assume most individuals wish to see him stay the starter and do you assume he’ll stay the starter all 12 months?
PK: I do assume that he’s going to stay in place as QB1, barring an entire meltdown or play that truly hurts his group. He wasn’t significantly gorgeous within the loss, however actually he didn’t do something that actively harm the group’s probabilities at profitable — and when Norvell let the offense unfastened, they did handle to get a landing. The difficulty was a scarcity of sustained drives, introduced on by a disappointing efficiency within the run recreation (an space the place FSU was presupposed to excel and lean on in 2024).
In case you have been to single out one facet of the Seminoles’ recreation that they do higher than anybody else, what wouldn’t it be and why?
PK: Actually, at this level, I’d must say particular groups. It sounds miserable, and it kinda is, however FSU may even have among the best kicker-punter mixtures in faculty soccer. Alex Mastromanno legitimately can win video games by flipping the sector, and Ryan Fitzgerald has elevated himself to a clutch kicker able to hitting 50-plus yarders routinely.
Which gamers are your x-factor for the FSU-BC recreation?
PK: On the Eagles’ aspect, it’s Thomas Castellanos. He was an absolute terror final 12 months and, after seeing how a lot FSU struggled in retaining include towards GT, he’s going to be a nightmare.
For FSU, I’m going with Pat Payton — the defensive finish was pinpointed as one of many key components of Florida State’s protection this 12 months, however didn’t make a significant impression within the season-opener alongside his teammates within the trenches. If he’s capable of get going and push the remainder of the road together with him, the distinction in assault will likely be large.
How would you outline a profitable season for the Seminoles after the best way it began?
PK: Most FSU followers have tried to deal with the loss — and a possible follow-up to Boston School — by pinpointing the 1989 season. After an 0-2 begin FSU ran the desk to complete 10-2, profitable the Fiesta Bowl and ending No. 3. Whereas what a group 35 years in the past did isn’t precisely the soundest science, within the new period of the School Soccer Playoff, your season isn’t over till you actually mess it up. Norvell’s groups have proven a capability to shake off disappointments and switch seasons round. Any fantasies of pummeling by the ACC with a BIG-style offense have just about faltered away, however a 10-2, 9-3 season continues to be successful particularly if it is sufficient to push the Seminoles into the dance.