It's an important game for Mickey, but he won't even be on the sideline

Good old Mickey. While Nole fans could always grouse and disagree on the offense, they counted on Andrews' defense to keep it close.

But since midseason, FSU's fire-breathing D.C. finds himself in a place as unfamiliar as a quantum mechanics lecture: the hot seat.

Suddenly the Garnet & Gold nation sees defense as the team's Achilles heel. Worse, they mutter that the art of stopping opponents has passed Mickey by. That he stubbornly clings to his favorite man coverage. And the way he telegraphs blitzes is the football equivalent of putting a "Kick Me" sign on your back.

Our friends at Tomahawk Nation have been especially tough on M.A., beginning with the Georgia Tech shame game, and cranking it up to a deafening Number 11 after the B.C. debacle.

Now if it's true that Maryland's offense is a kissin' cousin to Boston College's attack, at least Mickey has a chance to get it right Saturday night.

But first he faces another hurdle. Tonight.

If Miami's D-coordinator slams the door on Georgia Tech's wicked triple option -- something Andrews couldn't do -- it adds fuel to the fire that Mickey's ready for a rocking chair at the Old Coach's Home.

Seminole faithful who still believe in the man might say a prayer that he'll vanquish opponents and vindicate himself. Otherwise, they could soon be praying to St. Jude -- the patron saint of lost causes.