Update: This has been picked up by Sports Illustrated, via Andy Staples, and The Sporting News, via Chris Littman

Here's the Clemson reaction, courtesy Shakin' The Southland

With all the attention given to the Brandon Spikes eye gouge incident last week against Georgia, why has this cheap shot not received any attention?  Start to watch at the 0:04 mark, Andre Branch (#40) grabs #79 (David Spurlock) by the helmet, snaps his neck back, holds his head and sticks his fingers into Spurlock's facemask, an obvious eye gouge.   Then Branch gets up, talks trash to the justifiably angry Spurlock, points to the sky, and dances around.  Spurlock shows a ton of restraint by not going after Branch for this classless cheap shot.

If you are at work and can't watch video clips, here is a screenshot (click to enlarge):

The ACC should take action and suspend this "athlete."    Someone is going to lose their sight as a result of these cowardly and completely non-football related acts.  I wonder what Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney thinks of this?  I wonder what the ACC office thinks about this?

This is a new feature.  We will look at what Florida State's coaching staff said following last week's game and then read into it entirely too much.  Oh, and we have fun graphs that will make you lose your appetite (so if you have great lunch plans, don't read this until you get back).  A big thanks to those readers who graciously transcribed the press conferences.

Here's the video of Bowden's post-game comments.  If you can't watch it because your work disables or disallows video, I transcribed the relevant portions for you.  When you get angry about FSU losing ballgames, watch this video and tell yourself FSU is paying this old man $2.5 Million to lead and coach its football team.  What does this man do for his $2.5 Million?

Spiller was the difference in the ballgame.  Spiller was the one guy who made the biggest difference in my opinion.  

This is a theme.  He says things before he thinks, then if they sound good to him, he repeats them.  This works well if you're not on camera.  

Our problem was turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.  I was concerned last week when our quarterback was not able to practice he didn't practice.  Wasn't throwin'.  And when I was interviewed yesterday by ABC or whoever, uh, the guys, uh, at interviewed me, (Todd) Blackledge and them.  I told them one thing I was concerned about was will I would he lose his timing from not throwin' much so.  

Interesting, considering Clemson had drives of 80, 76, 73, 72, 73 and 48 yards.  They had 218 yards in the first half on 33 plays (6.7 per snap) and 275 in the 2nd half on 31 plays (8.9 per snap).  For the game, they had 493 yards on 64 plays, which is a ridiculous 7.7 yards per play allowed by the Florida State defense.  And the trend continues as FSU has again allowed another team to post their best offensive game of the season:

I took the liberty of adding them to our handy chart (click to enlarge).

Clemson left 8 points on the board by way of 2 missed field goals and 3 missed extra points (it's 8 and not 9 because a 2-point conversion made up for one of the missed extra points).  

Here's what you have to remember.  Every team Florida State has played, has posted their best offensive game of the year, against Florida State.  Miami's best offensive game was FSU.  BYU's?  FSU.  USF?  FSU.  BC?  FSU.  GT?  FSU.  UNC?  FSU.  NCST?  FSU.  Clemson?  FSU

Okay, back to Bowden...

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More photos » by Richard Shiro - AP

3 days ago: Florida State's quarterback Christian Ponder (7) gets taken down by Clemson's Jamie Cumble (8) during the first half of their NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)

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Our sources inform us that Florida State Quarterback Christian Ponder is done for the year.  He apparently played in last night's Clemson game with multiple broken ribs, which clearly affected his throwing.  After making a tackle on Clemson's Deandre McDaniel, Ponder suffered a Level 3 Shoulder Separation.  Our resident physician detailed shoulder separations here.  Read that link for an explanation on shoulder separations, but here's a tidbit on grade 3 separations:

Grade III: The AC and Coracoclavicular ligaments are both torn. The end of the clavicle is raised 5mm. 

In general, Grade III and higher separations require surgery. Depending on the type of individual, some Grade III injuries may be managed medically. Surgery typically involves an open procedure (meaning not arthroscopic) to repair the damaged ligaments and structures. This can either be done with various devices screwed across the joint. Patients will remain in a sling for approximately 2 weeks, after which rehab will begin. If a non-absorbent screw is used, it will be removed 6 weeks after the original surgery.

Ponder was having a great season.  He ends the year as the ACC's top rated passer.  Ponder was considered a 2nd or 3rd round draft choice, however this injury means he will definitely return for his senior season.  

As for Florida State's bowl hopes, they are in serious jeopardy.  Florida State will start redshirt freshman E.J. Manuel, one of the top quarterback recruits in the 2008 class.  Florida State plays at Wake Forest this weekend, before returning home for Maryland and then ending the season in the Swamp against the Florida Gators.

Follow the rules and no pictures in this thread.