Florida State University NCAA News Archives

Marquette loses for the first time,while the Badger women go to 6 and 1... ORLANDO, Fla - Florida State didna t quit, and the result was a tournament title.

Florida State guard Rodney Hudson has been awarded the 2009 Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the most outstanding blocker in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

It was perhaps the most amazing tackle, 45 yards down field, that a Florida State linebacker has ever had.

Tim Tebow accounted for five touchdowns in his final home game, as No. 1 Florida rolled to a 37-10 drubbing of Florida State to complete a flawless regular season.

It hasn't been the year any Florida State player, coach or fan was hoping it would be, but the 2009 football season has still had plenty of memorable moments.

Florida State's seniors have been through many wars with Florida. But for several Seminoles, Saturday's rivalry game will be their first.

The top-ranked Florida Gators seek a flawless regular season, as they close things out this weekend in Gainesville with their annual showdown with Sunshine State rival Florida State.

Chris Singleton scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Florida State Seminoles to a 60-51 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide as part of the Old Spice Classic Solomon Alabi added 10 points for the Seminoles , who will play Marquette in the championship game on Sunday.

Broadcasts : TV - " CBS; Radio - " 540 AM ; Online: www.gatorzone.com. Weather: No rain chance, 67 high, 44 low Quick Slant : This game will be carried by emotions.

Not more than 24 hours after Florida State earned bowl eligibility with its 29-26 victory against Maryland, some notes, quotes, thoughts and observations, not necessarily in that order: Let's start this thing off with the way yesterday's game started off: With a couple of nice tributes.

Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 9:06 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 9:06 p.m. GAINESVILLE After watching tape of Florida State's offense this week, Florida's defensive players are having a hard time understanding the Seminoles' record.

Coach Leonard Hamilton's Seminoles will take on Iona tonight at 9 p.m. in Orlando as a part of the Old Spice Classic.

They were flying fast and furious Monday. From every direction. If there has been one constant for the past four Florida State-Florida game weeks, it's questions about You Know Who during the weekly FSU press conferences.

The Florida State football players' ears got as much of a workout Tuesday as the rest of their bodies.

Two of Florida State's top performers this season almost wound up playing at Florida.

Well, that was short-lived. Wea TMre talking, that is, about the optimism surrounding the Florida State basketball program.

Florida took a 20-point lead in the first half and fought off a Florida State charge as the Gators snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 68-52 men's basketball victory Tuesday night.

That will be Florida State coach Bobby Bowden 's three-word mantra to his players, and fans, this week as the Seminoles prepare for Saturday's game in Gainesville against No.

Two days later, Jimbo Fisher still seemed emotional talking about it. Yes, the Florida State Seminoles have struggled to a 6-5 season to this point and had to come from behind late in the fourth quarter to defeat a 2-9 Maryland team Saturday.

Throughout a season that already seemed long and frustrating even a few weeks into it, the Florida State defense has lacked game-changing plays, the ability to make key stops and, at times, competence.

When you annually sneak up on big-time teams and upset them, the surprise factor starts to wear away.

Greg Reid darted 48 yards with a punt return in the closing minutes, setting up Lonnie Pryor's 3-yard run with 32 seconds left that gave Florida State a 29-26 victory over Maryland.

Greg Reid has made several big plays for Florida State this season, but none more important than Saturday.

Leonard Hamilton wanted to give Chris Singleton a double-double on his 20th birthday, but the sophomore forward just wanted to win.

Time: Today at noon. n Site: Doak Campbell Stadium n Online: Live game blog on NoleSports.com. n TV: FOX.

It was probably the best special-teams performance of the season for the Florida State Seminoles.

After 26 years of chewing out, cussing, spitting, stomping and ultimately developing some of the best defenses in the country at Florida State, Mickey Andrews will coach at Doak Walker Stadium for the last time on Saturday.

Florida State is hoping to become bowl eligible for the 28th straight season against Maryland on Saturday in a game that will be mostly about new quarterbacks and old coaches.

For Florida State 's EJ Manuel, the question has changed. Last week, folks wondered how the redshirt freshman QB would perform in his first start in place of injured star Christian Ponder.

Bobby Bowden wants one more year at FSU. I've never met her, but I've always been told that Ann Bowden is the real fighter in the family.

TALLAHASSEE - Forget the passing numbers. When it comes to Maryland starting quarterback Jamarr Robinson, they're not the ones that really concern Florida State coach Bobby Bowden.

Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is filled with catch-phrases he dispenses freely in an effort to connect with his players.

It hasn't been done around here since 1996, when a little guy wearing No. 28 was dancing around defenders on a weekly basis.

If Ole Miss had featured Dexter McCluster more early on, it might have beaten South Carolina and Alabama.

FSU men vs. Stetson When/where: 7, Donald R. Tucker Center, Tallahassee Radio: 1040-AM Records: Florida State 1-0, Stetson 1-1 Notable: The Seminoles, coming off an 87-61 victory over Jacksonville on Monday, play their last home game until Dec.

He has won two national championships and more games than all but one other major college coach.

Herea s the story . Jermaine Thomas entered this season with aspirations of becoming the first Florida State running back since 1996 to run for 1,000 yards.

Guard Rodney Hudson, a pre-season All-ACC pick and All-America candidate, may not play Saturday against Maryland because of a sprained knee ligament.

By BRENT KALLESTAD Solomon Alabi's 17 points led a balanced Florida State offense in an 87-61 win over Jacksonville on Monday night in the season opener for both teams.The 7-foot-1 Alabi helped the Seminoles take advantage of their height in the rout.Five Seminoles finished in double figures with highly-recruited freshman Michael Snaer adding 14 ...

Can the 'Noles hold on to their 34-21 lead? Let's find out together. A little bit of the option working for the Noles.

It may have been one of Florida State coach Bobby Bowden's biggest wins. Perhaps not one of great significance to the rest of the college football world, but very important to the octogenarian coach who hopes to coach one final season here in 2010.

A veteran of so many opening nights through the years, Florida State men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton isn't exactly nervous at the thought of his Seminoles playing host to Jacksonville tonight.

Florida State vs. Ja cksonville When/where: 7; Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee TV: Sun Sports Records: Season opener for both teams Notable: The Seminoles are facing the Dolphins in their opener for the second straight season and third time overall under coach Leonard Hamilton.

At Winston-Salem, N.C., Jermaine Thomas rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown, E.J. Manuel was effective in his first career start quarterback, and Florida State kept its bowl hopes alive with a 41-28 victory over Wake Forest .

Greg Reid had come close before. He had a 63-yard punt return against South Florida.

It was the kind of hit that can fire up an entire team. And in this case, an entire stadium.

Kendric Burney returned one of his three interceptions for a 77-yard touchdown and his third pick resulted in a bizarre fourth-quarter score that helped North Carolina beat No.

This Tim Linafelt live from the press box at Clemson Memorial Stadium It's a very orange scene here as the Tigers and their fans are dressed all in orange.

It's like that age-old question about the tree and the forest. If a cornerback plays well, but doesn't make any interception, does it count? Does it make a sound? Does it get noticed at all? That's what Florida State senior cornerback Patrick Robinson has been experiencing all season long.

As senior Riley Skinner plays his final home game for Wake Forest Saturday, Florida State freshman E.J. Manuel makes his first start.

EJ Manuel on Saturday will make his debut as Florida Statea TMs starting quarterback.

Florida State's chances of a 33rd consecutive winning season and a 28th straight bowl game now rest on the shoulders of the untested E.J. Manuel.

It starts with the biggest guy on the floor. It has to. The reason the Florida State Seminoles are getting more preseason attention than they ever have in the Leonard Hamilton era is because of a talented, soft-spoken, gigantic presence named Solomon Alabi.

This is not the time to play cautious and Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher vows he won't with new starting quarterback E.J. Manuel.

It's not like Florida State's football schedules are printed each year with an asterisk by this game.

Game Info Kickoff: 7:45 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Broadcasts: TV a ' ESPN; Radio a ' 1080-AM Weather: 0% rain chance, about 55 Quick Slant Dona TMt look now but Florida State, left for dead after starting 0-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, can get right back in the thick of the ACCa TMs Atlantic Division race if it can beat Clemson on ...

They were exhibition games after all, so they were bound to be a little sloppy. The offense wasn't going to be in mid-season form because obviously it's not the middle of the season.

With a date Saturday against a Clemson team that leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in pass defense, FSU was pleased to see two key offensive players working at full speed Thursday.

Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said the strongest quality quarterbacks Christian Ponder and EJ Manuel share is their accountability.

Thursday afternoon, Florida State put the finishing touches on their game plan for this weekend.

The 79-year-old Bowden can show the game hasn't sped past him while Swinney, 39, gets to show he isn't in way over his head as both can take control of the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division when they play Saturday night.

Xavier Gibson also had 13 points for the winners while Georgetown's Eddie Gray led all scorers with 19 points.

Bobby Bowden joins today a group of five college football coaches who were still coaching at the age of 80.

Heralded recruit EJ Manuel will get his first start Saturday at Wake Forest. The redshirt freshman from Virginia Beach, Va.

CLEMSON, S.C. - Gone are any chances of winning the ACC Atlantic Division, playing in the ACC title game or making a BCS bowl.

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder will miss Saturday's game against Wake Forest with a separated right throwing shoulder suffered in Saturday's loss to Clemson .

Saturday night marked the final trip to Clemson's ``Death Valley'' for Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, and it almost certainly was the last for head coach Bobby Bowden.

A month ago, few would have expected Clemson's game Saturday against Florida State could be one of the more interesting games of the weekend.

For all of Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder's football and academic accolades, Clemson linebacker Brandon Maye has given him a new nickname - "Jimmy Neutron," the boy genius cartoon character.

Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, as expected for the past few months, said Tuesday that he will retire after this season.

For the final time this week, Christian Ponder had to answer questions about his ribs.

After splitting their last eight meetings since 2000, the Seminoles will look to pick up their first win in Death Valley in eight years this Saturday against the Tigers.

One of Clemson's best defensive players will probably not be available for their showdown with the Florida State Seminoles.

Florida State junior quarterback Christian Ponder on Wednesday was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, given to college football's player of the year.

Bobby Bowden didn't mince his words when asked on the ACC weekly teleconference who will name Mickey Andrews' replacement.

LET'S LOOK AHEAD: Florida State on Saturday will travel to Clemson's Memorial Stadium , where the Seminoles haven't won since 2001.

That's just the way Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews wanted it.

Clemson leads the ACC by a wide margin in both pass defense and interceptions and allowed just 27 yards through the air in its 49-3 win over Coastal Carolina on Saturday.

Just days after playing through a rib contusion he suffered during the first half Florida State 's 45-42 victory against N.C. State on Saturday, QB Christian Ponder said on Monday he was feeling better than he thought he would be.

Florida State veteran defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said he will address his coaching future on Tuesday.

TALLAHASSEE -- Seniority apparently doesn't mean much for Florida State football players when it comes to securing game tickets from teammates.

TALLAHASSEE -- It's the kind of play that wins football games. And it came from a kid who desperately needed to make one.

TALLAHASSEE -- There was that one play when an already hurting Christian Ponder was rocked by North Carolina State cornerback C.J. Wilson.

Published: Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. Quarterback Christian Ponder has bruised ribs and could miss Florida State's game Saturday at Clemson.

Mickey Andrews was dissecting yet another game of big plays allowed by his defense, but also the key ones it made when he excused himself from his post-game press conference.