ChantRant

The Boosters' message to fans about an indoor practice facility: Be patient

It's amazing how many FSU fans are eager for the football team to have an indoor practice facility. First, so players don't miss valuable practice time on rainy days in the early part of the season. Second, it's an expectation and a recruiting tool for top level programs. And, hey, the competition have 'em (UNC and Clemson, for example).

So we checked in again with Jerry Kutz, V.P. of Marketing for Seminole Boosters, for a forecast of when the Noles will have an indoor home of their own. Here's part one of that interview:

Jerry, when can FSU realistically expect an indoor practice facility?

Kutz: "It's a priority for Jimbo and something he definitely wants. We're optimistic that we're going to get it done. We've presented plans for the facility to several people. And we've had some donors who can make million dollar-type gifts -- that is, if we build it, they'll pledge it. But we're going to have to find a ten million dollar lead gift to kick it off. Or several five million dollar lead gifts. So it's just a matter of a couple of people stepping up. But we're definitely asking them. And Jimbo is actively involved in the fund raising. Of course, we're doing all this in the teeth of a horrible economy.

"Now, a project like this is enormously expensive. Plus, it doesn't generate any revenue to help pay for itself. Like when we built the stadium, the ticket revenue pays the cost of the bond issue. So it's a revenue producing facility. Skyboxes are the same way. You get a bond issue and then you go sign long-term leases that pay for the bond issue."

Will it help to retire current obligations like the payout to Jeff Bowden?

Noles Leave Carolina Feeling Blue

by Bill from Tampa

If there was ever a time to beat a Tar Heel team in Chapel Hill that was nowhere near its championship year last season, this was the time.

Florida State did not waste that opportunity, never trailing in the game, giving Leonard Hamilton his first win at North Carolina as the Seminole head coach by the score of 77-67.

Led by Chris Singleton’s 19 points, the Seminoles built a twenty three point lead at 59-36 with 15:36 to play after Devidas Dulkys (17 points) hit his fifth three pointer of the game from above the key.

The Tar Heels managed to slowly chip away at the lead getting the margin down to nine at 75-66. But only twenty eight seconds remained leaving Carolina with far too little time to overtake the Seminoles.

Beyond the Booster drive, some FSU fans are taking things into their own hands

In part two of our recent Booster update with Jerry Kutz, the organization's V.P. of Marketing, we learned how some fans are doing more than just joining. Also, Jerry got into the real impact of what your Booster dollars do every year for Florida State sports.

Jerry, you mentioned volunteerism among Boosters is up. What kind of volunteers?

Kutz: "Guys like Jamie Warren in Panama City. That guy's probably signed up 500 new people. Right after the coaching change in December, he probably signed up 75 to 100 people right then. And in January I think he's signed up about 50 more. And then he's inspired other FSU fans like him around the state. We've got a guy in Tampa doing it, and another in Atlanta named Brian who started doing it. I think he's signed up 42. Brian and his wife created their own system -- a real simple step-by-step way to recruit people. And we've made it our model. So for anybody who emails me, we'll send them this little kit.

"Basically, Brian and his wife started by marking everybody in their address book who liked Florida State: around 52 people. So they emailed them all. I think they said eight of them replied that they're already Boosters. So they emailed the remaining 44 urging them to become Boosters. They were hoping to get five, but almost immediately they got eight. So they were encouraged and started calling people. They answered a lot of questions about why the Boosters need money when the school gets so much from things like bowl games. "

People tend to forget that Booster contributions don't just go to football.

Kutz: "The Boosters need to raise $10 million every year just to balance the athletic budget and pay for all men's and women's sports. Of course, that's true at every university. Especially with the gender equity issue. There are only two sports that truly make money of the 19 at Florida State. And that's football and men's basketball."

What about baseball?

Talking about that thing that people are afraid to talk about concerning FSU Football

An Oregon running back is jailed for choking his girlfriend and throwing her to the ground. Two UTEP players plead guilty to robbery. An SMU player is suspended after being arrested on a rape charge. And Urban Meyer boots another of his Top One-Per Center's, this time for illegal use of the hands against two women.

Yes, boys will be boys. But isn't it refreshing that they're some other school's boys, instead of names that appear on the backs of garnet jerseys.

And doesn't it give your Seminole Spirit a lift to know it's not by luck or coincidence? That it's all part of a plan. A process. And changes from the top down, including:

Recruiting for more than how many stars a kid has. Jimbo said it best in his first week as head coach: "We’ll win games with talent. We’ll win championships with character." You've gotta believe the days of FSU going after problem children like Willy Williams are long gone.

Demanding the best, on and off the field. Fisher has set the bar higher for both play and deportment.

Seminole Booster membership drive update: Big upswing but a long way to go

"People who like change jump on quick," says Jerry Kutz, Seminole Booster V.P. of Marketing and Communications. So Kutz certainly likes what he sees so far in early Booster commitments. But as someone who's a veteran of beating the drum and hoping for a good response, he's not even close to saying "Mission Accomplished." Not until six months from now, when he has a clear picture of the collective mood of the Seminole nation, reflected in ticket sales and Booster pledges.

Here's a current snapshot of the Booster situation from our Friday update with Kutz.

"Right now everything is positive. Our numbers are up but we're only one month into the renewal cycle. Last year on January 25th we had about 1,100 of our 13,000-plus members renewed. And as of January 25th this year we had 2,100. That's an 80 percent increase. But the reality is that any time you have change, the people who like the change jump on quick. But we're not going to know the full story until we get to August. Having said that, there are a lot of people who are ready for change and are excited. Volunteerism is up, which is a good indicator. So there's a good vibe out there. A lot of positive energy.

"But I think we're going to be up (in August). And in part because we're going to spend a lot more this year on marketing. You always market when there's something new. Last year we didn't market near as much. Last year we dropped our first big mail piece at the end of January. This year we'll be mailing something different and very sophisticated that will be somewhat personalized. We're putting a bunch of time and money into it. It'll be a combination ticket and Booster package, so everything you need will be in this one mailing."

FSU Baseball by the Numbers

Another opening day, another opportunity for Florida State to finally hoist an NCAA National Championship trophy at Rosenblatt Stadium's home plate.

Likely? Uh, well we could grumble about late season meltdowns and even question coaching philosophies. But in the spirit of a clean slate new season when anything's possible, we'll take the high road.

Besides, it's hard not to feel good about FSU Baseball when you look at the following numbers. At least most of the numbers:

1579 - Mike Martin’s career wins.

.745 - Martin’s all-time W-L percentage.

504 - Games won during the 2000-2009 decade.

174 - Losses during the decade

1 - Number of tie games during the decade (7-7 vs. Miami in 2003; game called in the 10th so FSU could catch a scheduled flight).

2 - College World Series wins 2000 - 2009.

4 - CWS losses during the decade.

2 - NCAA Super Regional tourneys won during the decade.

6 - 14 - NCAA Super Regional W-L record during 2000 - 2009.

6 - All-time single game HR record: Marshall McDougall vs. Maryland, 1999.

24 - Single game strikeout record, set by Tony Avitable in 1966.

42 - Single season HR record set by Jeff Ledbetter, 1982.

97 - Career HR’s: Jeff Ledbetter, 1979-82.

20 - Single Season pitching wins: Mike Loynd, 1986.

.427 - Career best batting average: John Ford-Griffin, 1999-2001

520 - Career Strikeouts: Richie Lewis, 1985-87.

6,789 - Howser Stadium attendance record: vs. Miami, 2008.

Cavs cave to Florida State, 69-50.

Leonard Hamilton could afford to be jovial after the game. In jest Hamilton called it a game of 50, referring to the 50% from the floor, 50% from the arc and particularly noting the 50% from the free throw line the ‘Noles shot for the game.

Meanwhile Hamilton’s defense throttled the Virginia Cavaliers 69-50 for the largest margin of victory in Charlottesville for the Seminoles since joining the ACC.

Maintaining a high level of intensity all game, FSU’s defense held Virginia to just 37%, including 28% from the three point line, backing up Sunday night’s performance with yet another dominating effort on the defensive side of the court.

 Of note was the defensive job in holding the league’s fourth leading scorer, Sylven Landesberg (17.8 ppg), to just four points. 

Calling it a team effort Hamilton praised the efforts of several of his players.

“We had a lot of heroes tonight,“ Hamilton said. “Ryan (Reid) and Chris (Singleton) did a very good defensive job on their two leading scorers. I thought Luke (Loucks) and Derwin (Kitchen) gave us very good leadership tonight.”

As good as the defense played, the offense was just as excellent. The Seminoles put four players in double figures with Singleton leading the way with 12 points, Loucks adding 11, and Reid and Gibson each scoring 10.

Add to that the 30 points contributed by the Seminole bench and it was an all around scoring by committee, just the way Hamilton likes it.

People who know him best believe Bjoern was born to play defensive end

Number four in our series on the New Noles.

And one of those who know and believe is his coach at Salisbury School. Chris Adamson told us how Seminole signee Bjoern Werner landed at his New England prep school, why he signed with FSU, and a whole lot more about this very promising tackling machine from Germany.

So, Coach, how in the world did a kid from a European soccer culture become a hot college football prospect in America?

Adamson: "He'd been playing football in Germany, and was known as one of the top three or four young players in the country. USA Football (the group that put on the USA vs. the World game) had a program where they identified international players and helped them get to schools in America. Prep schools are able to take these guys because they don't have the restrictions on transfer students. Bjoern had three or four options, but felt Salisbury School was the best one for him."

How long did he play for you at Salisbury?

Adamson: "We had him for two years, his sophomore and senior years. After his sophomore year he was pretty homesick, so he went back to Germany for his junior year. But about halfway through that year he realized he'd probably made a mistake and wanted to come back and pursue the possibility of playing college football. So he came back for his senior year -- this past year -- and it's been great."

So playing college football became his goal?

Noles clip Eagles wings as defense shines

Defense was the name of the game in the second half for the Seminoles.

In what was possibly the best defensive effort in any half this season, Florida State slapped a suffocating defense on Boston College, holding the Eagles to a season low 17 points on six baskets over the final twenty minutes in beating BC 62-47.

To show just how dominating FSU’s defense was, Rakim Sanders’ basket brought the Eagles to within two points with more than fifteen minutes remaining. The Eagles would score just one more basket until Evan Ravenel scored two baskets in the final thirty eight seconds.

Leading the way on defense for the Seminoles was Solomon Alabi setting a career high in blocked shots with seven.

On the second half defense, “Solomon’s presence inside was a big difference for us,” Leonard Hamilton said after the game.

“We played solid man to man defense and rebounded well. We had guys talking and communicating.”

Chris Singleton (12 points) was active on the defensive side of the floor as well, contributing five steals as part the Eagles’ 19 total turnovers.

Also of note was Ryan Reid’s effort on Joe Trapani. The Eagles’ leading scorer accumulated 14 points by halftime, but the FSU senior forward put the clamps on, holding Trapani to one three point basket in the second half.

Does Will Tye have what it takes to be a starting tight end in Jimbo's offense?

Number Three in our series on The New Noles

Interesting story about how FSU recruiting coordinator James Coley found his way to Salisbury School in New England. But we'll save that for later. Today's story is how FSU recruit Will Tye ended up there, at what's described as an "elite boarding academy in the Connecticut Berkshires."And just because Tye became an Up-East prep school star, can he project to lining up someday soon in Jimbo Fisher's offense?

For some answers, we spoke to the man who knows Tye best (football-wise), Chris Adamson, the head coach at Salisbury.

Tell us about Will and his time at your school.

Adamson: "We just had him for one year. He played a little more straight wide receiver for us than he did tight end. We had the luxury of having some pretty good tight ends, and Will is athletic enough to play wide receiver, so we split him out most of the time. But he'll be a very good tight end. He just turned 18 and is a big athletic kid who presents a problem for opponents."

Where was he before he came to Salisbury?

Adamson: "Will is from from here in Connecticut and had been at Xavier High School, a Catholic school down in Middletown. He'd been diagnosed with a learning disability and repeated his sophomore year when he transfered from his public school to Xavier. But the state recently changed the rule allowing for a fifth year of eligibility. So he was able to petition and be eligible to play in our league, and we were able to get him here."

But football wasn't his first love, right?