Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1047749
46 NOV. 12, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI HOW THE MIGHTY HAS FALLEN In the five seasons from 2012‑16 under head coach Jimbo Fisher, Flor‑ ida State ranked among the "Final Four" Football Bowl Subdivision programs in the nation with Ala‑ bama, Ohio State and Clemson. The Seminoles were 59‑9 (.868 win‑ ning percentage), highlighted by the 2013 national title, followed by a Col‑ lege Football Playoff berth in 2014. The recruiting juggernaut re‑ mained in place with Florida State's Rivals class rankings consistently among the top five: No. 4 (2014), No. 3 (2015), No. 2 (2016), No. 5 (2017) and No. 10 (2018). And then, dysfunction infiltrated the ranks in 2017 and carried over into 2018. It is not always about tal‑ ent, but what is in the infrastructure and in between the ears as well. The 2017 opening game show‑ down between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State was projected in many circles as a prelude to a poten‑ tial CFP warm‑up. Instead, it was the beginning of derailment when star quarterback Deondre Francois was lost for the season with a torn patel‑ lar tendon against the Crimson Tide in the 24‑7 defeat. The rest of the campaign quickly went south, and the Seminoles dropped to 3‑6 at one point — the program's worst start since 1976 — with the nadir reached in a crushing 35‑3 defeat at Boston College. Tumult continued when Fisher re‑ signed to accept the same position at Texas A&M, luring Notre Dame defen‑ sive coordinator Mike Elko with him. A debated NCAA decision ul‑ timately allowed the Seminoles to attend their 36th consecutive bowl game — an NCAA record — at 6‑6 despite one of the victories coming against Football Championship Sub‑ division (FCS) foe Delaware State. Under new head coach Willie Tag‑ gart, the bowl streak with a 4‑4 start is in jeopardy because of games re‑ maining against Notre Dame, Boston College and Florida. In addition to Fisher, there were numerous other departures, espe‑ cially on defense. No 2018 Irish foe lost more to the NFL than the Semi‑ noles, which took huge hits on de‑ fense with the departure of seven starters. Safety Derwin Jones was picked in the first round, and the line lost tackle Derek Nnadi and end Josh Sweat. Former five‑star corner recruit Tarvarus McFadden was not even chosen. However, the primary problems in 2018 have centered on offense. OFFENSIVE OFFENSE Head coach Willie Taggart's fast‑ paced tempo has not translated well to the Seminoles' attack. It was ane‑ mic during early blowout losses to ACC brethren Virginia Tech (24‑3) and Syracuse (30‑7) — but the red flag especially came when trailing FCS foe Samford 26‑21 with five min‑ utes remaining in the contest before rallying to win. Signs of a turnaround were dis‑ played while building a 27‑7 lead at Miami Oct. 6, only to lose 28‑27. Just when it appeared the Seminoles were coming around, though, the 59‑10 annihilation at home to Clemson Oct. 27 — including 16 FSU penalties for 134 yards — brought their situa‑ tion back to reality. In the preseason, Blue & Gold Illus- trated football analyst Bryan Driskell listed the Florida State backfield, which includes quarterbacks, the best the Irish will face in 2018. The one‑two running back punch of Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick is NFL caliber — but the line blocking for the duo has been in tatters via defec‑ tions, injuries, position changes (es‑ GAME PREVIEW: FLORIDA STATE Top STorylineS Head coach Willie Taggert could face the dubious distinction of having Florida State's NCAA-record streak of 36 consecutive bowl games snapped in his first year in charge if he cannot lead his team to at least two victories in its final four contests. PHOTO BY ROSS OBLEY/FSU SPORTS INFORMATION