My guess is we'll see most, if not all, of them. There's a lot of new blood.

Suspensions include Preston Parker, Dekoda Watson, Caz Piurowski, Patrick Robinson, Paul Griffin, Marcus Sims, Neefy Moffett and a couple more I'm not really sure about.

Injuries include: Aaron Gresham, Tavares Pressley and Dionte Allen

There was also a deal with Corey Surrency's eligibility but that has been partially worked out for now.

If you were wondering, Weatherford is listed as the third string quarterback.

To help you navigate through the first couple of games we will bold new starters and italicize freshman and newcomers to the team and bold and italicize newcomers that are starters.

QUARTERBACKS
7 Christian Ponder
10 D'Vontrey Richardson

RUNNING BACKS
6 Antone Smith
33 Carlton "Ty" Jones

FULLBACKS
42 Seddrick Holloway
32 Joe Surratt

FLANKER
18 Greg Carr
80 Jarmon Fortson

SPLIT END
86 Rod Owens
1 Corey Surrency

TIGHT END
19 Josh Dobbie
88 Bo Reliford

RIGHT TACKLE
68 Zebrie Sanders
67 Andrew Datko

LEFT TACKLE
74 Joe Tonga
70 Antwane Greenlee

RIGHT GUARD
62 Rodney Hudson
73 Rhonne Sanderson

LEFT GUARD
75 Will Furlong
79 David Spurlock

CENTER
60 Ryan McMahon
63 A.J Ganguzza

DEFENSIVE END
97 Benjamin Lampkin
98 Markus White

DEFENSIVE END
99 Everette Brown
95 Kevin McNeil

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
90 Moses McCray
93 Everett Dawkins

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
56 Kendrick Stewart
58 John Jones

SAM LINEBACKER
31 Toddrick Verdell
13 Nigel Bradham

MIKE LINEBACKER
41 Kendall Smith
19 Kenny Ingram

WILL LINEBACKER
30 Derek Nicholson
46 Vince Williams

FIELD CORNERBACK
4 Tony Carter
15 Ochuko Jenije

BOUNDARY CORNERBACK
22 Korey Mangum
29 Michael Ray Garvin

STRONG SAFETY
3 Myron Rolle
23 Roosevelt Lawson

FREE SAFETY
20 Jamie Robinson
24 Darius McClure

KICKER
31 Zach Hobby

PUNTER
45 Shaun Powell

KICK RETURNER
29 Michael Ray Garvin

PUNT RETURNER
4 Tony Carter

...It's a tough pill to swallow for Drew Weatherford. In football you can do everything right in terms of being a teammate and preparing for the game, but in the end, it always comes down to what happens on the field.

This isn't a time to feel sorry for Weatherford, he had 33 starts to work the kinks out and to show that he could make big plays and lead the offense to the end zone on a consistent basis. As Jimbo Fisher said it's not about one guy but 100 guys and who gives them the best chance to win.

Any speculation that Bobby Bowden would stand in the way was proven to be wrong and is the next step in the handover of this program to Fisher. Anyone who spoke to the head coach in waiting over the last three months knew that he was excited about seeing Ponder go after the starting job. They knew he was excited about the potential of bringing in a guy a little more mobile, a little more accurate and a little more of a playmaking.

Funny thing is D'Vontrey Richardson almost threw a wrench into that plan. This isn't a bad thing because Richardson will play and he'll play quite a bit. The difference is he proved to be even more capable than originally thought to retain a lot of the offense. He went from being a situation player to a major player in one week of practice.

But like I said, he'll have some packages and some formations that would put him in a position to contribute. It's hard to say where Drew stands. There aren't any "Drew packages" and he'll only play in a blow out or if Ponder is injured or completely ineffective.

For three years Weatherford had to "just be Drew" and he could survive any temporary benching or setbacks that came up. He could always stay ahead of more talented, less prepared players like Xavier Lee. But when two young guns pushed him to the point of where he needed to be more than Drew, he wasn't able to do it.

...It will be Christian Ponder.

More on this later.

...at Approx. 7 p.m. tonight post practice.

I will be at a Devil Rays game unfortunately so I say go to Warchant for the most recent updates and use this as an open QB thread.

...So far there's been no official selection for the starting quarterback despite the speculation that redshirt sophomore D'Vontrey Richardson might have elevated himself from third string to starter and the revelation by Bobby Bowden that the coaches are at least exploring the option of playing multiple quarterbacks.

So here's what I think I know based on some TN operatives around the area.

* The battle was set up for Christian Ponder to win. But while he's had some bright moments he just hasn't jumped in and grabbed the job like the coaches expected he would.

* Weatherford, much like Ponder, has been up and down during practices. He had a scrimmage a week ago that he was 1-for-7 on and I heard that many of the plays called eliminated the check down so he was forced to make precise downfield throws and he struggled.

* Richardson doesn't do everything right but he can throw and more importantly he can generate additional time with his mobility which is something this offensive line needs as they are very young.

I've heard a lot of things. Most lean toward Ponder or Richardson starting. If FSU had a tough opener they would probably stick to Weatherford, but with Western Carolina and Chattanooga on the first two weeks of the schedule this is a much easier time to break in a quarterback.

Two other reasons why Weatherford might be the odd man out.

-- Antone Smith was named the offensive team captain for the season. Why would Smith get the nod over a lifelong starter at QB who is constantly lauded for his leadership?

-- And this statement by Jimbo Fisher:

"I've told Drew before, if my kids grow up to have the qualities you have as a person I'll be tickled to death. Whether he wins that job or not, and I'm not saying one way or another, unfortunately as a coach you can't look at it that way. There are (over) a hundred other guys and you have to do what's best for them and what I think is best for our team. When you are making the decision it's not personal between D'Vontrey, Christian and Drew, it's a decision based on the other 120 guys on the team."

Thoughts?

...FSU already has almost 20 commitments in the 2009 class and many of them started their own season over the weekend.

* Willie Haulstead (Titusville) caught five passes for 86 yards and also gained 25 yards on two rushes in a victory over Colonial. [Florida Today]

* Lonnie Pryor (Okeechobee) gained 91 yards on seven carries in just one half. He scored on a 67-yard touchdown, the only touchdown his team scored. [TC Palm]

* There were several FSU commits in the Florida High/Madison County game. Running back Chris Thompson (Madison County) scored two touchdowns, including an 80-yard run. Defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel (Madison County) had a tackle for loss and Brandon Jenkins (Florida High) had a tackle for loss and a sack. [Tallahassee Democrat]

* Another receiver commit Xavier Rhodes (Miami Norland) had a 99 yards touchdown on a kickoff return. [Miami Herald]

...It took him almost a month to be cleared for practice and just three days for top running back prospect Tavares Pressley to be done for the season with a torn ACL.

One of my operatives say he didn't get hit or anything, just a bad cut.

Luckily FSU has a couple of good backs as Carlton "Ty" Jones looks like the truth and maybe Marcus Sims can get going this year.

Between this and Emmanuel Dunbar, I don't think FSU can afford too many more practices before game week.

...The Seminole will most likely play their home opener unranked in either poll.

The Coaches are taking a wait & see approach apparently.

The Crocs are ranked 5th and USF comes in at No. 21. FSU did, however, finish in the top five of "Also Receiving Votes" which is more than I can say for Miami.

...on the recruiting trail this week.

First Demonte McAllister committed. He had been an FSU lean for a while but this is a player that Pete Carroll calls "the best three technique prospect in the nation". That's USC head coach Pete Carroll, not some hyperbole from his high school coach.

The Seminoles then received four commitments in a 36-hour span over the weekend -- all from the South Florida area. They have 18 verbals on the season and the coaches can now focus on the season knowing that 85% of the class is complete.

....No real surprises as Rodney Hudson, Everette Brown, Myron Rolle and Graham Gano were the four Seminoles chosen for the Preseason All-ACC team.

Clemson's Cullen Harper was named the preseason Player of the Year.

Really?

Hmmm.

I'm a big fan of Hudson but am I the only guy who thinks Ryan McMahon is the best offensive lineman FSU has right now?

....just ask him!

St. Pete Times ran a story saying the redshirt senior has never been more confident and more ready to rule the earth with his arm.

"I think this team needs a quarterback who's going to be the guy," Weatherford said. "The guy who everyone's going to rally behind and look to lead and be there the whole year; be the guy from the first snap to the last snap and know that he's going to be there and we're going to stick with that guy. That's where a great team starts, and I have confidence that I'm the guy."

Well that's makes one person.

Meanwhile the ACC Media picks FSU to finish third. My guess is they didn't get the message.

...is up and available here. Obviously we've already hit on the running back and quarterback positions.

Noteworthy that Christian Ponder (7) and Greg Carr (18) appear to be the only two notable players who have changed numbers this season.

Corey Surrency will be starting at one of the wide receiver positions in my opinion. Parker is out for the first two games as his punishment stemming from his arrest during the offseason. It looks like Richard Goodman is going to take a medical redshirt this season so you can cross him off the depth chart.

Caz will miss the first three games of the season with a suspension. Jonathan Hannah will not be a member of the team and Charlie Graham has yet to complete his duties at TCC to return to the program. So that leaves 2008 signees Bo Reliford and Jabaris Little there. Little has some developing to do so Reliford will start. Now Bo is a DYNAMITE athlete but he needs to get a little stronger. As it is he's going to bring an element to the tight end position that Caz doesn't have -- speed, athleticism and playmaking.

As you can see there's no juniors or seniors anywhere on the offensive line. With Evan Bellamy's blood clot injury forcing him to miss the season, Rodney Hudson moves back to guard and true freshman Zebrie Sanders moves to first-team tackle. Now that may not last because the coaches believe true freshman David Spurlock is good enough to start at guard which would move Hudson back to tackle, where he excelled at in the Music City Bowl.

At defensive end there's no reason that Markus White won't move up to first team quickly. Kevin McNeil might have to take a redshirt this season due to the academic scandal and his increased role in it and Neefy Moffett is more suited for situational play. Everette Brown is solid on the other end but with Brian Coulter out of the picture and off to Mizzou, I'm not crazy about the depth here.

On the other hand, I don't think the depth at DT is as bad as once thought. Sure they will need better seasons from Kendrick Stewart and Emmanuel Dunbar but I think both players are capable.

At linebacker I don't see Toddrick Verdell holding off Nigel Bradham for very long, let's be honest. Everyone and his mother thinks Dekoda Watson will be the breakout star on defense and there's enough depth with Kendall Smith, Ricardo Wright and Vince Williams that if Derek Nicholson is a step slow recovering from his injury I don't think there will be too big of a dropoff.

I would put FSU's secondary up against anyone's with Carter, Patrick Robinson and Rolle. Now if McClure or Jamie Robinson can step up at free safety than that's a pretty good starting group. The reserves, however, concern me greatly.

Thoughts? Concerns? Insults?

Ok, training camp is in a few short weeks and I need to get myself in gear as we prepare for the start of another exciting season.

The running game is going to be the key to success for the Seminoles this year. The offensive line is still a work in progress but they will be better and tougher this year so the running backs have to produce.

Overview: The running game at FSU has been, at best, disappointing since around 2003. Most of that can be blamed on the troubles up front but to be fair the running backs, Lorenzo Booker and now senior Antone Smith, haven’t helped much. Smith’s production in 2007 can be broken down into two different seasons – the first half where he didn’t get much outside of two 40+ runs against Clemson and Colorado respectively and the second half of the season when Smith gained over a 100 yards in three of his final six games, most notably a 17 carry, 156-yard performance in the Music City Bowl against Kentucky.

The only other returning rusher with any sort of statistics is Preston Parker and we’ll get to him in the receivers portion.

2008 Signees: Tavares Pressley, a JuCo All-American from El Camino Community College by way of Desoto County, Florida, was the big signing for Jimbo Fisher’s offense. Late in the year Fisher was able to add 6-foot, 218-pounder Carlton Jones from Tampa Middleton and highly-versatile Jacksonville prep star Jermaine Thomas. All three players bring something completely different to the table.

(Note: FSU also signed Georgia prospect Debrale Smiley but he did not qualify for the fall season).

Starting Experience: Smith has over a dozen starts and Parker started two games at the position last season.

Playing Experience: Seddrick Holloway is the fullback and is utilized for blocking mostly, occasionally he’s good at it. Smith’s touchdown against Alabama was thanks to a terrific lead block from Holloway. Marcus Sims has also received occasional touches but been hampered by injuries.

Spring: With Smith taking it easy during the spring it gave redshirt freshman Brandon Paul the opportunity to play in the backfield a bit. Results for Paul were mixed as his speed and burst are a nice change of pace but there are questions about his ability to take the pounding that a running back takes and his ability to run in between the tackles. So Paul remains a player without a position (psst…play him at cornerback).

What to Look For: I believe Smith is primed for a 1,000-yard season if he’s healthy, if he isn’t watch for Pressley (if he makes it on campus, which he should by the end of the month) to be the next guy in line with Sims being used primarily for short yardage and either Jones or Thomas taking a redshirt although Thomas could be moved to receiver or find his way on the field as a third-down back. Many people believe that Pressley will assume the reins from Smith at some point during the season, but if Smith holds to the form he showed in the second half of the season I don’t see it happening. Nonetheless the running back competition will be among the most interested and heated during training camp.

...Good story from the Tallahassee Democrat on Walter Dix after he qualified for the 100 and 200-meter events at the Olympics.

His patience has paid off. He could have left for the money after his junior year, he came back instead, won another title for the school and got his degree.

He had the major shoe/apparel companies pining at him before the trials and he shunned them to wear his Garnet & Gold singlet one last time. The result -- a win in the 200 meter and more money!

I know I'll be up early in the AM to watch him go for the gold next month.

....I hope this is not a trend..

ESPN.com's Heather Dinich reports that offensive lineman Evan Bellamy will miss the 2008 season with a blood clot in his leg.

Bellamy was hospitalized for the clot late last week. This will open up the spot for an incoming freshman, most likely Andrew Datko or Zebrie Sanders, to walk in and take a spot with the starting five.

We've hit the two month mark before the start of the football season. Training camp starts in a few weeks and all but a chosen few players have enrolled and already reported for offseason player workouts.

The incoming freshmen already have a slogan ("It Starts Here!") and Warchant is even selling the shirts.

So today's multi-part preview starts with the most important position on the field -- quarterback and FSU finally has a couple of good options.

Overview: Drew Weatherford and his 31 starts lasted a couple of days in spring before going down with a knee injury and opening the door for another pre-season competition. Christian Ponder, however, might be the toughest competition Weatherford has faced during his four-plus years in the program. Ponder's work ethic and academic accomplishments are the stuff of legends. He has already received his bachelor's degree and will start graduate school this fall. He took advantage of his spring to show how far he has progressed and the potential he has should he enter the season as starter. He also has one big fan -- Jimbo Fisher. So is this the end of the Weatherford era at FSU? Many fans feel like Weatherford will get the starting nod because of Bobby Bowden's conservative ways and the fact that he's always been enamored by the quarterback despite his lack of consistency on the field. Others, who believe that Fisher is calling the shots, feel there is little doubt that Ponder will start the opening game. D'Vontrey Richardson, who was the first quarterback to go "live" during spring in ten years, should see the field in situational downs as long as his eligibility issues are cleared up.

2008 Signee: E.J. Manuel was a top five quarterback prospect. The recruit from Virginia Beach says he doesn't want to declare a redshirt right away, he's just trying to compete and see what happens. Most expect, however, he will be redshirting if possible.

Starting Experience: Weatherford is the only one of the four quarterbacks that has started. He has 31 starts to his credit but he's also, quite possibly, the most undecorated quarterback FSU has had in the modern era with no appearances on an ACC team with the exception of being named to the All-ACC Freshman team in 2005. His 0-6 record against Florida and Clemson hasn't helped his legacy either.

Playing Experience: Ponder's debut came in a hostile environment against Virginia Tech. However, the redshirt freshman, showed an incredible amount of poise, leading the Seminoles back from a 20-6 deficit into a 21-20 advantage before the momentum shifted again. Despite the loss, many were impressed with Ponder's showing given the situation. Richardson made his debut against Alabama running in a "Wildcat" formation and later appeared in the Virginia Tech game and in the Music City Bowl at several positions.

What to Look For: Another open competition. As much as Bowden is supposedly enamored with Drew, his influence isn't enough to get a green light from Jimbo Fisher. Fisher, the head coach-in-waiting, has to make a splash this season and win ball games. I think he believes Weatherford is very servicable, but moreso as a mature backup to Ponder. Keep an eye on the first two weeks of camp and if Fisher hasn't named a starter yet, expect to see Ponder trotting out with the offense on opening week.

My vacation is over and it's time to start discussion for the football season..tomorrow.

As for today....WHITNEY!

...Whether it's FSU and Miami, we'll see at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

Elih Villaneuva , a Miami native, will get the start today and it's one he really covets.

Meanwhile this is the seventh elimination game FSU has played during this CWS and of course they are 6-0 so far, scoring 99 runs in the process.

You can go on the FSU official athletic site  to listen to the live audio if you are at work.

All the Tallahassee Democrat  is offering inning-by-inning score updates via text.

Enjoy. Go NOLES!

...for the first time since 2000 as the Seminoles rallied from a 1-0 deficit to smoke da Shockers over two straight.

Here's some FSU Omaha Wallpaper  courtesy of Warchant.

Buster Posey continues cleaning up the season awards after being named Rivals.com Player of the Year.

FSU is in a Bracket with Miami, Georgia and Stanford. You can visit Hall of Canes  and my good friend Walter Villa for an update on the Canes.

The Seminoles will take on Stanford in the first game of the CWS on Saturday at 2 p.m.  Matt Fairel (12-2) vs. Jeremy Bleich (3-2) is your pitching matchup -- a battle of lefties.

...Remember Lorenzo Booker? Well he hasn't forgotten Florida State and is still complaining about his time in Tallahassee...It's the usual song and dance....yadda he loved being a Seminole....yadda he wasn't used right....yadda there was no accountability....We've heard it all before and I believe it's mostly true but it's in the past and I wish players would leave it there.

“Jeff Bowden would consistently come into meetings and tell us it was all our fault, all our fault,” said Booker, who turns 24 later this month and, with 2,389 yards, is the seventh-leading rusher in FSU history. “He told one coach, ‘I just call plays off the top of my head.’ Who does that? This isn’t ‘Madden.’ You’ve got to actually put a game plan together. There was just no accountability, and a person who doesn’t have accountability can’t teach another person to have it. "

Full article is here .

My take on this is simple: I don't want to hear about it. Jeff Bowden never deserved the job, he was a disaster and a failure while he was at FSU. Many of the fans, myself included, were outraged or at least very skeptical of the hiring from the beginning.

Booker, while never the All-American we thought he would be at FSU, was a classy kid. He was robbed by teammates (literally) and dealt with a terrible offensive staff of coaches but he kept quiet about that stuff until now. I wish him the best in the NFL and I'm sure he wants FSU to succeed until the new regime.

So I forgive him for this one outburst and I hope it's the only one we hear from him.  

Pitching Matchup:

Florida State - RHP, Elih Villanueva (7-2) vs. Wichita State - LHP, Rob Musgrave (11-1)

Buster Posey was drafted fifth  overall by the San Francisco Giants.

Wichita State had four players chosen on the first day of the MLB Draft. If you need to know anything about the Shockers is that their pitching is ALWAYS top notch. So if you are expecting another 74-run output, this might not be the weekend. But if the Noles can notch 6-7 runs, I expect to see them in Omaha.

Get out to Dick Howser Stadium if you can stand the heat and support the Garnet & Gold!

It's a winner-take-all battle tonight at Dick Howser Stadium as FSU will face Tulane for the second time in 24 hours.

To say the Noles are hot like fire on offense would be an insult to the baseball team because fire doesn't describe 58 runs on 64 hits over three games. That's just borderline ridiculous.

The game is tonight at 7 p.m. on SUN Sports for the right to advance to the Super Regional to face Wichita State. If the Seminoles win they will host the Shockers in the Super Regionals.

GO NOLES!

Tulane defeated Bucknell this evening putting them at 2-0 in the region and one victory away from a region championship.

FSU will face Bucknell in an elimination game Sunday afternoon and the winner will face Tulane in the evening.

FSU will be the away team against Bucknell tomorrow.

If Tulane can't wrap things up Friday the winner-take-all game will be Monday night.

...this is the losers bracket match and the loser will be eliminated from the post season.

This game is LIVE on SUN Sports (or FSN Florida) at 1 p.m.

Pitching Matchup: FSU Matt Fairel (10-2 3.32 ERA) vs. UF Patrick Keating (8-1 3.47 ERA)

Go Noles!!!

Sorry guys but you are SOL for Friday's games but Saturday on, Sun Sports will be taking care of you.

*******

Sun Sports will be televising any and all NCAA regional baseball games
that include FSU and/or UF starting this Saturday (5/31) thru Monday
(6/2).

The maximum number of games that we could potentially do is 5 (the
minimum is 2) depending on eliminations etc... As Sun Sports will not
know exactly which games we are airing until late the previous night
please check our website for the very latest updates.

Game times will be as follows...

Saturday (5/31)

1:00 pm and 7:00pm

Sunday (6/1)

1:00 pm and 7:00pm

Monday (6/2)

7:00pm

...for the College World Series Tournament.

FRIDAY
Game 1: No. 2 Florida vs. No. 3 Tulane, 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 4 Bucknell, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.
MONDAY
Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., If necessary

Obviously tickets for the Bucknell game will be easier to come by than Saturday's contest against Tulane or Florida. If FSU and Florida play on Saturday I expect it to be a standing room only crowd.

Buster Posey was named Collegiate Player of the Year as well. Not a surprise but a big congrats to him. More importantly he was just the second FSU student-athlete EVER to be named the Academic All-American of the Year  in baseball. That's awesome.

...And I'm appreciative but a 92 on offense and 99 on defense? I know the EA Sports offices are located in Orlando and I'm sure a fellow grad has spiked the Seminoles' ratings a tad.

But seriously?

EA Sports NCAA 09 Team-by-Team ratings

...Xavier Lee left FSU because he didn't want to play tight end.

Xavier Lee signs a free agent contract  with the Baltimore Ravens to play...tight end.

"Xavier has a chance to be a quarterback, but you look at that body, he can play a lot of things," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Lee. "We just want to look at him and see what we've got. Plus we need help at tight end."

Not surprising in the end and FSU fans shouldn't feel so stiffed. For one thing, he didn't want to be here. For another thing he didn't trust the coaches and for good reason the coaches didn't trust him. For a third thing, FSU isn't known as a place that develops tight ends. So even if he played tight end here, he would have probably been in the same place a year later.

I wish the kid luck and I wish he could've have done more during his time in Tallahassee.

...Preston Parker settled his legal disputes  today and for his punishment he received the following:

1) A two-game suspension, which happens to be the preseason this year.

2) Additional 50 hours of community service.

3) He must move into a supervised dorm.

4) Must attend weekly study hall.

5) Must attend sessions with athletic compliance each week.

6) Must mentor at-risk students in the Leon County school system.

7) Must subject himself to bi-weekly drug testing.

Well he should consider himself lucky. And I will say if you planned on inviting Parker to any get togethers this summer and/or fall, just forget about it because he will have no free time.

This is it for Parker. If he so happens to trip over a guy who got tazed by a cop outside of Bullwinkle's he'll be booted from the squad. But as of now, he prepares for Wake Forest.

Charlie Graham OWNED it in community college this semester and should be welcomed back to the team  with open arms come summer camp.

Now I don't know what Graham's deal was with the "academic scandal" so he might miss a couple of games anyway, but there's no doubt what Graham is coming back to do.

"I'm coming to get my spot," said Graham. "I'm not coming just to be on the team."

Meanwhile even better news, it appears that Preston Parker's charges will be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor which means his punishment will be to miss the two preseason games and run a whole lot of as Bobby Bowden put it "do something for a couple of games."

In other words, look forward to having him back for Wake Forest.