COMMENTARY

Seminoles in line to win another title

Still sleepy from a night of celebration, Florida State Coach Jimbo Fisher held up the Waterford crystal football trophy presented to the national championship winner last Tuesday at the Newport Beach Marriott in Southern California.

Who needs more than a few hours of sleep when you’ve finally earned this moment?

It’s a moment that was the culmination of months of hard work, sacrifices - on and off the field - and poise in the face of distractions during what can only be described as a special season for the Seminoles.

Yet even before the glitter dried on the “Welcome Home National Champs” banner in Tallahassee, Fisher’s thoughts shifted to the future.

“It’s time for another one,” said Fisher.

In order to accomplish the goal, Fisher said everyone involved in the program - from the players to the coaches to the ball boys - must stay hungry and avoid letting complacency overtake them. It’s a familiar challenge, one Fisher witnessed first-hand as an assistant coach at LSU after the Tigers won the title in 2003.

His experience dealing with success is the reason I believe FSU can repeat as champions next season.

That’s not much of a stretch when you consider the Seminoles return 14 starters from a record-setting squad led by quarterback Jameis Winston. Experience will only benefit Winston, who will start the season with the expectations of the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite and possibly the top pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

Florida State’s offensive line returns four starters who account for more than 100 career starts among them while players such as Nick O’Leary, Rashad Greene and Karlos Williams return to bring explosive potential to the offense. Throw in some younger players like Kermit Whitfield and Jesus Wilson and FSU’s potential for success expands exponentially.

In fact, Florida State’s success next season will be a credit to this past season. Fisher and his staff did a masterful job of integrating youth and talent into the program. A handful of freshmen received starts this season, including Winston, kicker Robert Aguayo and safeties Jalen Ramsey and Nate Andrews.

Whitfield also made key contributions in the return game. It’s safe to say his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the national championship game made him a household name heading into 2014.

The defense returns seven starters, including defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., linebacker Terrance Smith and cornerbacks Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams. With safeties Ramsey and Andrews back, FSU will boast one of the best secondaries in college football.

And you can’t talk about Florida State’s future without mentioning recruiting. The Seminoles are headed toward another top-five recruiting class in 2014 led by five-star running back Dalvin Cook out of Miami Central High.

Then there is the College Football Playoff set to begin in 2014.

The four-team playoff means there is slightly more room for error. FSU needs to finish among the top four teams in the country rather than the top two to have a shot at winning another title.

The playoff selection committee will be weighing a team’s strength of schedule, which should be no problem for Florida State.

The Seminoles’ schedule in 2014 features matchups with Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Florida, Miami, Clemson and Louisville.

Fisher’s top goal for FSU extends beyond the 2013 season.

“We’re not interested in being a great team,” he said. “We’re interested in being a great program and we want to be around for a long time.”

Sports, Pages 18 on 01/14/2014

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