FSU Number Three In Latest Baseball America Poll

1. Vanderbilt 21-1

2. South Carolina 17-3

3. Florida State 23-0

4. Oregon State 20-3

5. Virginia 19-4

6. Clemson 14-4

7. North Carolina 18-3

8. Rice 17-7

9. Arkansas 16-5

10. Texas 19-7

2007 Look Ahead: Running Backs

With the loss of Lorenzo Booker to graduation, the Noles in 2007 will have one back with experience, Junior Antone Smith. Smith had almost 500 yards rushing and 5 TDs in the 2006 season. He averaged 41.5 yards a game with 5.2 yards a carry average. Smith also had 174 receiving yards in 2006. He was a highly heralded back out of high school who has to pick up the slack and hopefully make an impact for the Noles in 2007.

The only other running back that had any playing time in 2006 besides Booker and Smith was freshmen Marcus Sims. Sims, the largest of the backs at 6' and 211, played in 5 games and had a total of 16 yards rushing with no TDs. Sims was one of the top prospects in the state coming out of high school. He is the brother of Ernie Sims, an All-ACC linebacker for FSU from 2003-05.

Another heralded back out of high school is Jamaal Edwards. Edwards has not played much for the Noles and was redshirted in 2005. Edwards has had his playing time limited by injuries and did not play in 2006 but Buster Davis says that Edwards can be the one to watch this upcoming season if he can get some carries. As he says, Edwards has it all.

It will be interesting to see what will shake out in spring practice and who will be the leading runner among these three talented backs. The Noles are also attempting to sign at least two running backs for the Feb. 7 signing date and as of now do not have a commitment from any running back.

The 2006 season was a disappointing season for the running game and hopefully the addition of new offensive lines coach Rick Trickett will help the Noles develop a running game by opening up holes on the offensive line.

Two stats exemplify how bad the running game was in 2006. FSU was dead last in the ACC in 2006 in rush offense, The Noles were also ranked seventh in the ACC in 2006 in third down conversions.So for the Noles and the running game, the only place to go is up. Also long time running backs coach Billy Sexton has left and former Nole great Dexter Carter is now the running backs coach.

Another Sweep!

Florida State (23-0, 3-0 ACC) scored a combined 10 runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings as the Seminoles broke open a tie ball game to down Wake Forest (11-10, 2-4 ACC) 11-1 Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium. With the sweep over the Demon Deacons, the Seminoles have now opened league play by sweeping its opponents 11 times since joining the ACC in 1992. Junior Ryan Strauss settled down after a shaky start and pitched seven innings allowing just one run on five hits for his fifth win of the season.

Noles Meet Miss State In Starkville

Al Thornton has played his last game in Tallahassee. The Noles must now travel to play at Mississippi State in the third round of the MasterCard NIT in a game to be played on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Humphrey Coliseum on the MSU campus. The Seminoles advanced to the third round with victories over Toledo (77-61 on March 13) and Michigan (87-66 on March 15) while the Bulldogs defeated Mississippi Valley State (82-63, March 13) and Bradley (101-72 on March 17). The winner of Tuesday's game will advance to the semifinals of the NIT in a game to be played at Madison Square Garden on March 27.

The game between the Seminoles and the Bulldogs will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Noles Stay Perfect As They Defeat Wake 4-3

Danny Rosen pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve Florida State's 4-3 win over Wake Forest on Saturday.

Michael Hyde pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to improve to 7-0. He allowed four hits and walked one while striking out five.

It was Garnet and Green day at the game instead of the standard Garnet and Gold at Dick Howser Stadium. Many fans wore green T-shirts for St. Patrick's day that have the interlocking FS inside a white shamrock. The Seminoles wore green caps with their white home uniforms.

2007 Look Ahead: Defense

The defense will be starting new players in Spring practice due to injuries. Kevin McNeil, who was the projected starter at left end, is out with a broken foot following a car accident. Walk-on Eli Charles will work in the No. 1 spot. At defensive tackle, Letroy Guion and Justin Mincey will hold down the fort this spring while Emmanuel Dunbar (back) and Paul Griffin (knee) watch from the sideline.

As stated previously, the biggest change on defense will be at the linebackers position due to the departure of Timmons and Davis.

The most stable area on defense will be the secondary since every scholarship player is back from last season.Despite the lack of seniors, Mickey Andrews' unit will have lots of game experience. Seven players in the secondary have started multiple games in their careers, and two others, Darius McClure and Patrick Robinson, logged extensive minutes on the field last season. The key for the secondary is to get better than they were last year.

"Technology Has Forced It"

"Technology has forced it. A school that has somebody with all of the technology available will get a year ahead of you recruiting. They don't only know the seniors, they also know the juniors and the sophomores. We have been behind in that area. We will catch up now."
Bobby Bowden regarding the hiring of Bob LaCivita as Football Director Of Player Personnel

Noles Take Win Over Wake

Florida State opened conference play on Friday evening with a thrilling 7-6 extra inning victory over Wake Forest (11-8, 2-2 ACC) at Dick Howser Stadium. Junior Jack Rye registered the game-winning hit with two outs in the bottom of the 11th to keep the Seminoles (21-0, 1-0 ACC) perfect on the season. Florida State once again came through with some clutch hitting as all seven runs were scored with two outs in an inning. Jimmy Marshall pitched a scoreless 11th to earn his first win of the year.

Noles Hold First Practice

The Florida State football team took the practice field for the first time Friday since a season-ending Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA. The Seminoles worked for 28 periods in shorts and for the first time the team was actually on the practice field with the five new coaches that were hired this off-season.

"It was a good start," said head coach Bobby Bowden. "The kids were very excited. They hustled and did some good things. It was like I told them it is just a start, a beginning. The key will be to try to get better everyday."

It was the first practice for new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, offensive line coach Rick Trickett, receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey and running backs coach Dexter Carter. It was also the first practice for Chuck Amato as an FSU coach since Florida State's 1999 National Championship.

"It was definitely different," said running back Antone Smith of the first day. "There are still a lot of things we have to improve in but hopefully in the end we will be better."

"It is fun to get out on the field and coach," said Fisher. "That is what we love to do and that is what the kids love to do, come and play. All the off-season stuff is necessary and we have to do it but when you get out on the field that's their sanctuary. It felt really good."

Fisher brought a new pace to the Seminole practice as the 28 periods were conducted at a very high tempo.

"It is a much faster pace," said quarterback Drew Weatherford who split reps with the first team with Xavier Lee. "Coaches just expect a lot out of us. They have been very successful at other places. They know what it takes to win. They are just trying to implement what they have done with other teams."

"That tempo usually goes back to the coach," said Bowden. "It suits me. You can't get it too up tempo for me."

The excitement surrounding the Seminoles' first practice with the new staff wasn't just limited to the players. It was a homecoming for Amato, Carter and Dawsey and a chance for Fisher and Trickett to begin their FSU careers coaching for a legend.

"I forgot. I didn't realize until the end he was there," said Fisher of coaching under Bowden's watchful eye. "Cause we get started and I wasn't used to that. I will have to remember from now on. It is a good feeling to have the winningest coach in college football standing there looking at you. When you make a mistake he can help you so you can help the kids."

"I have got complete confidence in what they are doing," said Bowden of the new coaches. "I'll watch and I'll criticize if I see something that I think needs to be changed. I feel good confidence."

Noles Open ACC Play

Florida State opens conference play for the first time in 2007 as they welcome the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to Dick Howser Stadium Friday evening. The Seminoles hold the all-time advantage in the series with a record of 61-17. Florida State has won 15 of the last 16 games at home against the Deacs, while maintaining a mark of 36-9 in Tallahassee. . In the last meeting in Tallahassee, FSU took two of three from the Demon Deacons, while Wake snapped FSU's 15-game home winning streak against them with a 13-10 victory in the series finale. Last season, the two teams split the first two games of the series in Winston-Salem, while game three was cancelled due to inclement weather. Game two of last year's series was an epic 20 inning game won by Florida State 4-3. It was the longest game recorded in ACC history and tied for the third longest contest in NCAA history. The 61 victories are the second most against an ACC opponent (Miami 131) and the .782 winning percentage is fifth highest among ACC opponents (Boston College 1.000, Maryland .941, Virginia Tech .833 and Virginia .784).
____
Friday, March 16, 2007, 6:05 PM First Pitch, TV - FSN
Florida State Starter: Bryan Henry, rhp, 5-0, 2.04 ERA
Wake Forest Starter: Brad Kledzik, rhp, 2-1, 4.57 ERA
____
Florida State has faired well in opening ACC play posting an all-time record of 37-5 since joining the ACC back in 1992. The Seminoles have never lost a series to open league play, a string of 15 consecutive series victories. FSU has swept the opening series 10 times and has currently won 14 straight conference games to open league play with the Seminoles' last loss coming to Virginia in game one back on March 15, 2002. Florida State has opened league play against Wake just once before, in 1995 with FSU taking two of three from the Deacs. FSU has faced Virginia the most (5) to open the league schedule.

Wake Forest Scouting Report

Wake enters the weekend 11-7 overall and 2-1 in conference play. The Deacs took two of three from Virginia last weekend but were swept in a mid-week series by Ball State.
___
Four Demon Deacons are currently riding hitting streaks of five games or more. Allan Dykstra leads Wake Forest with an eight-game hitting streak, while Willy Fox is at seven games. Dykstra and Evan Ocheltree have each had a team-best nine-game hitting streak earlier this season. Ocheltree had his streak snapped Wednesday against Ball State.
___
Second baseman Andy Goff remains doubtful with a hyper-extended elbow. The junior injured his throwing elbow turning a double play in the final inning of Wake Forest's 16-11 loss to UNC Wilmington on Sunday, March 4. Goff did not play in either of the mid-week games, as Nathan Frazier filled in at second.

2007 Look Ahead: Linebackers

188. That is the number of combined tackles that departed linebackers Buster Davis and Lawrence Timmons had for the Noles in 2006. New linebackers coach Chuck Amato will have to find new talent to fill the huge void left by these two great linebackers. Linebacker Geno Hayes who had 59 tackles in 2006 will look to help fill that void.

The defense is not bare however. A Mickey Andrews defense always has played a lot of players so FSU has a number of quality linebackers that will compete for starting time. Surgeries will keep linebackers Marcus Ball and Derek Nicholson, out of contact for Spring practice.

“It's exciting to know that you've got a number players returning that have played in key, big ballgames,” said Andrews, who on Friday begins his 24th spring practice as FSU's defensive coordinator. “We had some success last year but not at the level we would want.

If I know Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato, FSU will not have a fall off in this area for 2007.