FSU Football '08 predictions

So here's my predictions for this year's Florida State University Seminoles football team. Despite how bad these results may look and how sarcastic I can be, ya'll know that I am a TRUE fan and will route for my team until the end. However, having a buffer that is the state of Georgia (or Alabama) and SEC media for the past 9 years, I've been a bit more realistic about my views on my favorite team and no longer see the world through garnet and gold colored glasses. Enjoy!

Game 1: W. Carolina [ 19 ] at FSU [ 41 ]

First game jitters means a sloppy first 2 quarters, but the 'Noles will be up by a few TD's by halftime. The defense gives up 2 touchdowns in the opener. Finally a less-than stressful first game in recent memory, finally some offense (albeit points on the scoreboard resulting from turnovers), but hey it's the Catamounts! No AppState threat in this one (watch out LSU!). FSU 1-0.

Game 2: UTC [ 14 ] at FSU [ 29 ]

Why only 29 points against the Moccasins of Chattanooga (no, they're not called the "Choo-Choo's!")? Three reasons: 1) the offense will try too hard to put together a perfect game after last week's sloppy performance, 2) a less-than capacity crowd of about 70,000-ish sleep through this one as the players keep wondering why they can't have a game day atmosphere like UF no matter who the opponent (and by that, I mean those rednecks in Gainesville make a lot of noise when they are annually visited by likes of McNeese State, Bossier City Louisiana Community College, Watkins College of Design, and Full Sail Technical Institute of Orlando), and 3) the offense will be pressured to put up more than 41 points - we all know how the 'Noles have dealt with pressure the past 8 years. Yawn, FSU 2-0.

  

Game 3: Wake Forest [ 24 ] at FSU [ 28 ]

Even though the Deac's looked good against Baylor tonight, I just can't pick them to beat Florida State in Tallahassee and go 3-0 against them since 2006. The defense plays inspired and out of their heads - maybe gets a score or two. Offense still has a lot of work to do. Wake will have a great season, may even win the ACC. The 'Noles steal one and sneaks a peak into the Top 25. FSU 3-0 (1-0).

Game 4: Colorado [ 13 ] vs. FSU [ 21 ] (in Jacksonville, FL)

Despite the big game hype, the 'Noles seem to do well in these type of games. For the second week in a row the defense plays out of its mind and scores a crucial touchdown to bail out the offense. For the second year in a row another sloppy and BORING game in Jacksonville and FSU scores 21 points to win. Another season of mediocrity starts to set in for Seminole fans as they are staring down the rest of a tough 2008 schedule. Pollsters keep the team around the 23-25 ranking or drop them from the Top-25 all together. FSU 4-0 (1-0).

Game 5: FSU [ 14 ] at Miami, FL [ 20 ]

Yep. A fourth quarter drive to an eventual go ahead score ends with a turnover in the red zone...we know this story all too well and it just keeps playing over and over...and it won't stop in 2008! Seminoles can't avenge last season's shocker (is it really a shocker when it's Miami?!) and once again can't get it done against the Hurricanes. The 'Canes are 2-0 against the 'Noles at Joe Robbie Stadium...um...Pro Player Stadium...um...Pro Player Park...um...Dolphins Stadium...whatever. By the way, just saw some highlights of Miami's win against Charleston Southern and, yes, the field and stadium actually looks worse than the Orange Bowl. FSU 4-1 (1-1).

Game 6: FSU [ 17 ] at NC State [ 28 ]

Last time FSU went to Raleigh on Thursday night they lost on a 4th quarter comeback by the Wolfpack. It happens again. No matter how bad NC State looked tonight against South Carolina (even though "The Jerk" was throwing downfield late in the 4th while pitching a shutout - some things never change) this will prove to be the low point of Florida State's season. I will, of course, be laughing every time ESPN shows Chuck-the-Chest on TV so that will help to lessen the blow. FSU 4-2 (1-2).

Game 7: Virginia Tech [ 36 ] at FSU [ 21 ]

Offense only gets 2 touchdowns - one of them late. ESPN and newspapers are really starting to buzz now about this being Bowden's last year. Talks of salvaging the season to keep the bowl streak intact are resurfacing as priority. Oh, and this may be the Hokies' first win in Tallahassee in forever...at least a very long time...I really don't want to research that! FSU 4-3 (1-3).

Game 8: FSU [ 31 ] at Georgia Tech [ 14 ]

Tech STILL cannot beat Florida State. It's a game until mid-late in the 3rd quarter but FSU opens it up at the end like they usually do in Atlanta. Right about now it's looking like the Emerald Bowl, Music City Bowl, or some other crappy bowl the ACC is tied to. Scalp 'em! FSU 5-3 (2-3).

Game 9: Clemson [ 34 ] at FSU [28 ]

Clemson's good this year and they get their second straight win in Tallahassee and an unbelievable fourth in a row over Florida State as they push to stay atop the ACC standings. I'm picking them to lose to Alabama this Saturday, by the way. "Ala-Freakin-Bama!" It's a good game as the Bowden Bowl buzz is dominated by dear 'ol dad on his way out as head ball coach of the Seminoles. Question: Will Tommy Bowden still have job security now that he can't use the "I've at least won Bowden Bowl" excuse? FSU 5-4 (2-4).

Game 10: Boston College [ 18 ] at FSU [ 24 ]

The 'Noles scrape out a gritty and, yes, sloppy win against Boston College. At this point the team is averaging about 25 points per game, one of the worst in the country (again). The defense keeps the club in ball games and will ultimately keep Florida State bowl eligible. I also think this should be the game where they break out the all-blacks to avenge their debut loss in the them two years ago at home to the Eagles. You have to admit they are pretty freakin' sweet! Definitely the best thing to come from FSU football in the past 3 years. Notice: we're talking about uniforms here...not national championships. FSU 6-4 (3-4).

Game 11: FSU [ 19 ] at Maryland [ 16 ] OT

Slopfest continues as the 'Noles eek out a victory in overtime at Maryland to pull to .500 in conference play. Actually, this will be one of the teams bright spots of the season: win a conference game in overtime on the road, and some young new kicker will start to gain some confidence, and talks of this being Bowden's last year slow down for a week. Oh wait UF is next, so scratch that. Media coverage of "Bowden's last chance to beat Florida" will make everyone puke by Thursday of the next week. FSU 7-4 (4-4).

Game 12: Florida [ 38 ] at FSU [ 16 ]

Good news: Florida State gets their first TD's against the Gators since 2006. Bad news: Tim Tebow throws for 2, catches 1 from Percy Harvin, and runs for two more himself. Good news: It's not on CBS so we don't have to listen to Verne Lundquist and that other guy have an orgasm on air over Tim Tebow. Bad news: In addition to a 5-TD day, Tim Tebow dons an indian head dress and directs the Marching Chiefs in the traditional post game performance of "Hymn To The Garnet and the Gold." Why not conduct the UF band? Because they don't have one! Happy Thanksgiving. FSU 7-5 (4-4). 

Bowl Game: FSU [ 33 ] vs. Vanderbilt [ 21 ] Music City Bowl, Nashville, TN

Interesting story lines: Vandy makes their first bowl trip (after a 6-6 season) since the wheel was invented and they have the luxury of playing it in their home town. FSU makes their second straight Music City Bowl appearance and finally win one after losing to Kentucky AND the officiating crew last year. This is Coach Bobby Bowden's last game of his career and he goes out a winner against a perennial loser who will again end up with a losing record at 6-7. Florida State will once again finish the season out of the Top-25 and will look forward to a new era under Jimbo Fisher. In 2009 FSU will host Maine (I don't even know their mascot!) and go to BYU. Yes indeed, it will be a new era... FSU 8-5 (4-4).    

Ala-Freakin-Bama!

Before I really get into this [ k-Blog ] post I have to get a few things off of my chest: 1) mentally, when I started [ k-Blog ] I didn't want it to become something that I would start strong and then let fizzle (much like my working out!). I feel that I have already done this, so, here's a new [ k-Blog ] post! 2) speaking of working out - after writing a book-of-a-blog-post last week about exercising I have to admit that I haven't been faithful. I have played a little basketball and went jogging once - but it has yet to become a daily routine (sigh) 3) I'm NO LONGER selling my car, nor am I moving back to Nashville... Welcome back to [ k-Blog ]!

"Ala-Freakin-Bama"

Jay Speight and I have been friends for quite some time now. I've been able to see him grow both as a musician and a songwriter. Jay has always been super talented and he just keeps getting better and better. Every once in a while however a great artist will tend to sell out, write something for intentional mass appeal, a no holds barred sacrifice of meticulous attention to originality and Jay has created such a thing...and I FREAKIN LOVE IT!!! Check out a short video I took from my Palm Treo of some behind the scenes footage from the "Ala-Freakin-Bama" video shoot in Hunstville (my Treo has been dropped several times now...audio quality is not the best):

Please check out Jay's current website and buy some official Ala-Freakin-Bama T-Shirts! It's a great song that is about to take the Southeast (and soon the nation!) by storm. We'll be shooting more footage this Friday night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlanta, GA as we'll be rockin' "Ala-Freakin-Bama" with several hundred crazed Roll Tide fans who are coming off a less-than stellar basketball season, no College World Series appearance, and should we even mention the 7-6 football season under Coach Nick Saban last year? These people are going to be foaming at the mouth as they are getting geared up (and liquored up...a day early, mind you) for a chance to knock off a Clemson team who is favored to win their division in the ACC. It's gonna get rowdy! :-) 

I'm selling my car?

Well, at least I think I am? I've posted it online to see how it goes - I'm in the market for something smaller overall... Check the Craigslist posting - 

click HERE.

If you know of anyone in the market - please forward this along...thanks! The car is in tip-top shape, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. I'm seriously just looking to save a little gas mileage and think I might have found the car from a private seller to do just that!

Camp Kirkland approves!

Check the email below - note he is ".........very excited........" and you should be too!

Personal fitness - it's at least worth $40.23

I have, ashamedly, been in a season of life where personal fitness has not been a priority. I think about it every day - whether I'm motivated by close friends who maintain a healthy lifestyle...or worse when I feel sluggish, tired, or like a lump of mashed potatoes (you remember the bland, chunky kind you used to get in grade school cafeteria?!).

I've tried "dieting." Doesn't really work. I've done "starting that daily workout routine next Monday" bit - doesn't really work. True - I do need to watch what I eat and make more disciplined choices in terms of food. However, I do think diets are not the answer - at least in the short term. If your eating habits have been like mine since November 2003 (yeah, that's when I started full-time touring), I've found that it's almost impossible to immediately couple a stringent diet with a newly found enthusiasm for working out. The shelf life of that routine for me lasts about 10 days on average. 

There are some people who can do it. My good friend Troy pretty much flipped the switch, immediately got into a routine, and participated in and finished a Triathlon recently. I am SUPER impressed by what he and his brother are doing. Check out their blog by clicking HERE. I'm not speculating it was easy for Troy. I know for a fact that he too has gone in and out of various diets and methods in the past. He is, however, very athletic - which obviously helps. I have not been so gifted! I like sports and have played them almost all of my life. My biggest problem is that I have not ever tuned my body or my lifestyle to be "athletic." Being a drummer, I completely buy into the importance of muscle memory. While I can play an occasional game of tennis or football and have fun - it's just that...very occasional. 

Furthermore the biggest hurdle is MENTAL. Like Troy, I've just got to flip that switch. Today I decided to at least start that process. My neighborhood commons turned one of our two tennis courts into a half-court basketball area with a sweet new goal (pic - left). Since I technically helped pay for it - I figured "why not use it?!" So I went to Target and purchased a Spalding NBA Street basketball and 2 inflating needles for $15.23. 

Oh, the other $25.00 was for a new access key to our pool and court areas - I

accidentally left the old one in my previously owned, totaled, and probably now sold off into a million pieces '99 Subaru Forester L (pic of the day it died). 

Unlike my friends the Brothers Collins - I am NOT a baller. In fact, if I'm on the court and see a group of 15-16 y/o punks who CAN ball heading my way, I will quickly start walking (or dribbling) the other way! But rather than trying to keep a schedule of rigorous workouts and downing powders or cardboard-ish Healthy Choices - moderation will be my lifestyle. I think if I can eat in moderation and at least do one physical activity per day (like shooting hoops, jogging, doing crunches or push-ups, swimming laps, etc.) for at least 4-6 weeks straight I will start to begin kicking up the dust on that path to health.  Then, once my body has at least started to get in tune, I can consider looking at FINE tuning with dieting and workout schedules. This is at least what I think - am I crazy?

So here's some personal goals for this initial period: 1) Discipline: food choices and daily activities (eat in moderation & cut out excessive breads & sweets), 2) Flexibility: I'm a stiff white boy - I want to learn how to stretch effectively and begin to loosen those tight muscles, 3) Weight: I'd like to lose 5-10 pounds in this initial period - why not?!

The 4-6 week period could last longer - thinking that I don't want to put parameters, limits, or a box around this. I wan to push myself, of course, but this time I want to try the gradual process. I don't know what the next level for me "looks" or "feels" like, but I'll know when I'm there and will be ready for the next step. Stay tuned to [ k-Blog ] - I'll keep you posted!

A Panera Bread haiku

Car getting serviced

Walked to Panera next door

Breakfast sandwich - good.

First post

Greetings,

So this is my first blog site - appropriately called [ k-Blog ]. "Why the unusual brackets?" I can't answer that now - but stay tuned to my blog...and my life...and you just might learn some things!

I have no idea what is in store for [ k-Blog ], but I do know that I will no doubt end up using this site when I'm supposed to be doing something really, really important. And out of that, I hope that I will publish some golden nuggets about nothing in particular so that you too can spend your valuable time on [ k-Blog ] when you've absolutely got something much better to do.