1) Was the Maryland game an aberration or an example that the Seminoles can hang with Florida?
I don’t think it was an aberration but I’m not so sure it was an example, either, that FSU can hang with Florida. What the Maryland game showed was how good the Seminoles can be when they don’t make mistakes and when they play to their capability in all aspects of the game. That was the ‘Noles most complete game of the season and FSU dominated in all three aspects – on offense, on defense and on special teams. Now whether they can hang with Florida remains to be seen. But the Seminoles should enter this game with a lot of confidence because now they know how good they can be when they play up to their ability. I think people are far more confident FSU can hang with Florida now than they were before seeing what FSU did to Maryland.
2) What's the biggest key for FSU to gain some momentum early?
The best way for Florida State to gain some early momentum would be to go on a long first-quarter scoring drive that eats a lot of clock. One of the keys for the Seminoles will be to keep the Gators’ offense off the field. Best way for FSU to do that would be to establish the run and slowly grind its way down the field. The Seminoles have proven capable this season of going on those kinds of drives and they need to put one together early against Florida. The nightmare scenario for FSU would be for the Gators to get out to an early two touchdown lead. Florida has led 21-0 after the first quarter in each of its past three games, and if the Gators lead 21-0 after a quarter on Saturday, it’s going to be difficult for FSU to catch up.
3) You have to win one game -- do you have Urban or Bobby coach it?
Man. You must be trying to get me in trouble with my readers. Certainly, Urban is a more hands-on head coach, while Bobby has taken a kind of CEO role during the past decade or so. FSU fans probably don’t want to hear this, but it’d be difficult to pick any coach anywhere over Meyer. He has the Gators playing at another level right now and, with the way he’s recruiting, it’s difficult to envision Florida suffering a drop-off anytime soon. That said – Urban has a long, long, long ways to go before he even comes close to matching Bowden’s career accomplishments.
4) Is Christian Ponder good enough to win this game?
In a word: Yes. Ponder took a big step forward in the Maryland game. His passing numbers weren’t huge – he threw for less than 150 yards – but he completed 19-of-24 passes and he ran for more than 80 yards. It might have been his most complete game of the season. And the best part about that game? He didn’t make a single mistake that hurt his team. He’ll have to have another flawless performance on Saturday for FSU to have a chance but, yes, he’s capable of doing that and he’s good enough to lead the Seminoles to an upset.
5) Which FSU defensive players do you expect to play a crucial role in FSU's success Saturday?
Any such list has to start with junior defensive end Everette Brown. He had 3.5 sacks against Maryland – the third time in five weeks that he has had at least three sacks, and he’s become one of the best defensive ends in school history. That’s saying something, considering the line of defensive ends who have come through FSU. In addition to Brown, fellow ends Neefy Moffett and Markus White need to get some pressure on the Gators’ offense. Against Maryland, coaches moved Brown to the interior of the line and they played a lineup that also featured White and Moffett. They could do that again this week, and that would give FSU a lot of speed and skill on the defensive front. As for others, the FSU linebackers must all have big games. They have played well as a unit this season – for the most part – but Dekoda Watson and Derek Nicholson must have big games in order for FSU to be successful against the spread.
