Hello Again,
I know we rarely come to you in first person here at Noled Out, but the first ACC loss for Florida State in over three years seems reason enough to do so. My name is Mike Ferguson and I’m the editor at Noled Out. Whether you love us, hate us, find us insightful, or annoying, we’re glad that you’ve taken the time to read.
I’ve noticed a lot of FSU fans are upset with the Seminoles’ recent 22-16 loss at Georgia Tech and with good reason. Not only did FSU have its potential winning kick blocked and returned 78 yards the other way for the winning score, but the Seminoles squandered multiple opportunities in the red zone and allowed big plays defensively at the most inopportune times like late in the first half and on fourth down in the final quarter.
Saturday’s game was obviously an incredibly heartbreaking way to lose, but I think I handled it much better than I would have five, six or seven years ago. While I must admit that the loss hit me more the next morning, I vowed after the 2013 season that I would not take Florida State football greatness for granted. The fact that watching FSU lose in general has become devastating to so many means that winning and winning virtually every game is again the norm for the Seminole faithful.
Growing up as what I like to call a “spoiled Seminole child of the 90s”, 2-loss seasons were hell. We shrugged off ACC titles as minute accomplishments that failed to rise to the level of consolation prize with national championships being the ultimate and attainable goal every year.
After winning two national championships and finishing in the top 5 every year from 1987-2000 came what FSU fans unaffectionately refer to as the “Lost Decade”. That’s the 9-year span from 2001-2009 where the Seminoles never lost fewer than three games and lost at least five on nine occasions.
Whereas losing more than twice had previously been unfathomable, being mediocre was simply what the Seminoles had become. From 2006-2009, FSU finished 7-6 three times. Losing 30-0 at home to Wake Forest in 2006 and 17-7 to South Florida in 2009 were clear low points, but the pain from three straight beatdowns to Florida from 2007-2009 was minimal.
After finishing a combined 39-3 over the last three years with three straight conference crowns and a national championship, most feel confident in claiming that Florida State is back for good. While the 3-game stretch of Miami, Louisville and Georgia Tech turned out not to be the gauntlet it was seen as prior to the season and losing to a previously 2-5 team is unacceptable for any FSU team, the good news is that many of the expectations we had for this team prior to the season are alive and well.
The Seminoles are likely out of a playoff race that few expected them to be a part of with Saturday’s loss, but FSU still could get to 10 wins for a fourth straight season and remains in control of its own destiny in the ACC. After besting Miami earlier this month, Florida State also has a chance to beat both the Hurricanes and Gators in the same season for the third straight year.
While I can’t speak for anyone else, I can say that I was thrilled with watching this program win 10 games for the first time in seven years back in 2010 — Jimbo Fisher’s first season as head coach. I was more thrilled watching it win its first ACC title since 2005 three years ago. FSU stands a decent chance to either or both of those things this season — a season we’ve overwhelmingly regarded as a rebuilding year.
The simple fact of the matter is that the accomplishments we hope for during a rebuilding year are ones other programs would call a banner year. Just as we “spoiled Seminole children of the 90s” were not that long ago, today’s FSU football fans are spoiled. Let’s hope we all stay that way.
Thanks again for reading,
Mike Ferguson
Editor of Noled Out
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
