Pro Players Realty Tallahassee Sports Blog

Years: 1989-93

Position: Quarterback

The Buzz: The Thomasville, Ga., native became a top prospect in football and basketball. Ward went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the New York Knicks.

Stats: Ward set a school record with 3,371 total yards in 1993, which still ranks second in school history. He holds the FSU record for highest career completion percentage (62.3 percent).

Honors: He became the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 1993 and only the second college football player to win the Sullivan Award, given to the nation’s top amateur athlete.

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len Stanley’s recruiting odyssey seems to be coming to an end.

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Jimbo Fisher greeted the media at the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff for the first time as Florida State head coach Monday, and the first real issue that hit him? The arrest of FSU linebacker Nigel Carr, who was charged by Tallahassee police Sunday on two counts of auto burglary, criminal mischief, credit card theft and fraud. The police report, according to The Associated Press, said items taken from a vehicle were found in a trash bin at Carr’s apartment complex and led to the arrest.

Carr, a junior, was freed on a $15,750 bond after being jailed on five separate criminal allegations, including the two felony charges.

Carr also was arrested shortly before midnight on July 22, according to a police report, and charged with possession of marijuana. The report reflected that he pleaded with police not to take him to jail.

“No, no,” Carr said, according to the police report. “I can’t go to jail.” A police officer then issued a notice to appear because Carr had no previous record and was cooperative, the report said.

“The decisions you make, make you,” Fisher said Monday. “But we have to continue to educate. In his case, we have a school policy. If it’s a felony, he’ll be suspended. Then we’ll let the judicial system run its course to find out what else we can do. It is a reminder that you can be right 364 days a year, but it only takes one incident.

“Now we’ll wait and see how the whole thing pans out. I’m not here to pass judgment. I don’t know enough about the whole situation yet.”

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Florida State linebacker Nigel Carr is facing a suspension after he was arrested by Tallahassee police Sunday on two counts of auto burglary, criminal mischief, credit card theft and fraud.

Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher, who is in North Carolina for the annual Atlantic Coast Conference football kickoff gala, says the university’s policy is to suspend athletes facing felony charges.

Carr was named the Seminoles most dependable linebacker in spring practice and was slated to begin the season as their starting strong side linebacker.

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Florida State University’s Athletics Hall of Fame will grow by eight members Sept. 3, during an annual induction ceremony in Tallahassee.

FSU will welcome football stars Corey Simon and Peter Warrick, former defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, multisport star Karyn Palgut, golf great Bobby Cochran, track and field star Tonya Carter and long-time team physicians Tom Haney and Doug Henderson as the Moore-Stone Award winners.

Former football coach Bobby Bowden was voted into the class as well but has requested that his induction be postponed until 2011.

A limited number of $75 tickets for the 2010 induction ceremony are available for purchase to the public by calling (850) 556-0433 or via e-mail at fsuhalloffame@gmail.com. The ceremony will be at the University Center Club with a social hour beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner and the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m.

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t’s always tough to replace a legend.

That’s what Jimbo Fisher has been hearing every since he stepped onto the Florida State campus in 2007 and was anointed the coach in waiting to replace Bobby Bowden. He didn’t think he would find out so soon. Bowden’s retirement in the offseason forced Fisher to become the face of Florida State football.

Now the expectations of the Seminole Nation are squarely on his shoulders. After decades of being a premiere program in the country, fans have watched as FSU played to mediocrity. Three out of the past four seasons ended in 7-6 records with the only bright spot being 2008 (9-4).

Fisher wanted to change the culture and one of the first things he did was shake up his coaching staff. Gone were familiar faces like defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who followed his mentor’s lead and retired. In his place is former Arizona DC Mark Stoops. Fisher, who was offensive coordinator under Bowden, promoted James Coley to the new OC.

While there are new faces in the assistant coaches ranks, five total, there are plenty of familiar ones on the field.
Florida State returns 43 players including 15 starters.

The biggest returnee is Christian Ponder, who flourished under Fisher’s offensive scheme until separating his shoulder against Clemson, effectively ending his 2009-10 season. Ponder  threw for 2,717 yards and 14 touchdowns in limited action and could be the reason Florida State returns to prominence.

The offensive line is intact and that should benefit running backs Jermaine Thomas and Chris Thompson, who will try to take some pressure off of Ponder.

The biggest question mark on offensive will be the wide receivers with no real playmakers. Bert Reed was second on the team last season with 60 catches.

The biggest concern for Fisher and the ‘Noles will be the defense.

Florida State’s defense was horrible to say the least last season. The unit ranked near the bottom of the country in total defense (108) and gave up more than 400-yards per game to opponents.

Stoops has changed the defensive scheme and hopes to add zone coverage to the mix. He will have some experience on his side as linebackers Nigel Bradham (93 tackles) and Kendall Smith (85 tackles) are back along with DE Markus White (38 tackles) and Everett Dawkins (14).

The secondary was hardest hit by graduation and will require lots of work. Cornerback Ochuko Jenije and Greg Reid will help with coverage but it could be a growing process.

Florida State fans will give Jimbo Fisher some time to grow into the job and that’s good because it will take a few years for the Seminoles crack into the top 10 consistently.

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By all indications, Fisher is a quick learner who has done a good job throughout his career of excelling quickly. He swiftly rose through the coaching ranks to become the offensive coordinator at LSU in 2000. That first season in Baton Rouge, the Tigers’ offense finished in the 50’s nationally under Fisher’s guidance. The next season – still largely without players Fisher had a hand in recruiting – LSU finished No. 11 nationally in total offense. Fisher guided a similar offensive turnaround at Florida State. But it did take time. Just like it will take time for him to achieve what he wants in his new role.

The questions about Fisher’s transition into head coach don’t have much to do with coaching. It’s obvious the man can coach. But how well will he handle all the extracurricular stuff that goes with the job? Fisher put on a nice show during his inaugural booster tour around the state. The response from fans and boosters was positive – and not just because a lot of people long wanted Fisher to take over for Bobby Bowden as the program declined. Aside from that, Fisher proved to be a persuasive, engaging speaker. He has people believing again. Still, in addition to the coaching and public relations parts of the job, there are plenty of other roles Fisher must play.

And, in some of them, no one can have any idea how Fisher will do. Dealing on a regular basis with the media. Being the day-in, day-out public face of the program. Disciplining players who run afoul with the law. Managing an entire staff of assistant coaches. Fisher has been the golden man since he arrived at Florida State in 2007. He has been seen as a kind of savior of the program since then. And in three seasons since, he admirably turned around the Seminoles’ offense. Along the way, he has largely been immune from criticism while disappointed fans, boosters and, yes, trustees, focused their ire on Bowden. But now Fisher is The Man and he will have to deal with all The Stuff that comes with it – good and bad. So how will it work out in his first year? Let’s see.

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Years: 1984-87

Position: Linebacker

The Buzz: McGowan came out of Winter Park High and was one of the best linebackers in Seminoles history before the Minnesota Vikings took him in the ninth round of the 1988 NFL draft.

Stats: McGowan ranks fourth on FSU’s all-time list with 446 career tackles and eighth with 32 career tackles for loss. He forced six fumbles for the Seminoles.

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Honors: He was a first-team All-American in 1987 after being an honorable mention choice the previous two years.

Great moment: McGowan became the first FSU player to win the Butkus Award in 1987.

Quote: “McGowan doesn’t stagger you with tangibles, size and speed, but he has great instincts. He makes good decisions in traffic. Some people can’t do that.” — former FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, in 1987

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ESPNU 150 offensive tackle Bobby Hart has committed to the Seminoles, giving Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher his sixth ESPNU 150 recruit in the Class of 2011. Hart was rated the No. 6 offensive tackle nationally. He reportedly had over 30 offers, including from half of the ACC.

“It feels like a big burden is off my back knowing where I’m going to college. The last visit is what sealed the deal for me. Everything felt good, felt right. Coach (Eddie) Gran is a great recruiter and person, but coach (Rick) Trickett made everything feel right,” he told ESPN affiliate Web site NoleInsider.com.

“When I told Jimbo he was screaming and he told me I’d have an equal opportunity to start like everyone else. The only visit I’m going to take is FSU, I’m 100 percent done.”

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