2008 Florida State Seminoles football team

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2008 Florida State Seminoles football
ACC Atlantic Division co-champion
Champs Sports Bowl champion
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 23
APNo. 21
Record9–4 (5–3 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJimbo Fisher (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorMickey Andrews (25th season)
Base defense4–3
CaptainDrew Weatherford
Home stadiumDoak Campbell Stadium
(Capacity: 82,300)
Seasons
← 2007
2009 →
2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Atlantic Division
Boston College xy   5 3     9 5  
No. 21 Florida State x   5 3     9 4  
Maryland   4 4     8 5  
Wake Forest   4 4     8 5  
Clemson   4 4     7 6  
NC State   4 4     6 7  
Coastal Division
No. 15 Virginia Tech xy$   5 3     10 4  
No. 22 Georgia Tech x   5 3     9 4  
North Carolina   0 4     0 5  
Miami (FL)   4 4     7 6  
Virginia   3 5     5 7  
Duke   1 7     4 8  

Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bobby Bowden and played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. It was Florida State's 17th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Seminoles were without as many as 12 scholarship players for the first three games of the season because of suspensions carrying over from the previous season for violating team rules, although it has not been disclosed how many of those were involved with an academic cheating scandal at the school.[1][2] Junior wide receiver Preston Parker was suspended for the first two games of the season, after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges.[3]

Rankings[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP[citation needed]24241624202321
Coaches[citation needed]25231624192423
Harris[citation needed]Not released23182420RV23Not released
BCS[citation needed]Not released251522192024Not released

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 66:00 p.m.Western Carolina*SUN PPVW 69–073,024
September 133:45 p.m.Chattanooga*
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ESPNUW 46–771,596
September 207:00 p.m.No. 18 Wake ForestNo. 25
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ESPN2L 3–1279,235
September 273:30 p.m.vs. Colorado*ABCW 39–2146,716
October 43:30 p.m.at Miami (FL)ABC/ESPN2W 41–3965,786
October 167:30 pmat NC StateESPNW 26–1756,643
October 253:30 pmVirginia TechNo. 23
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ABCW 30–2081,876
November 13:30 p.m.at Georgia TechNo. 16ABCL 28–3153,528
November 83:30 p.m.ClemsonNo. 24
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)
ABCW 41–2777,013
November 158:00 p.m.Boston CollegedaggerNo. 19
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ABCL 17–2779,792
November 227:45 p.m.at No. 22 MarylandESPNW 37–351,620
November 293:30 p.m.No. 2 Florida*No. 24
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)
ABC/ESPN2L 15–4583,237
December 274:30 p.m.vs. Wisconsin*ESPNW 42–1352,692
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Recruits[edit]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date
A.J. Alexander
ATH
Altoona, Pennsylvania Altoona HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 4.4 Jan 28, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
Travis Arnold
DB
Madison, Florida Madison HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 4.6 Jul 20, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 76
Nigel Bradham
LB
Crawfordville, Florida Wakulla HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 230 lb (100 kg) 4.6 Apr 15, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 82
Nigel Carr
LB
Jacksonville, Florida First Coast HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 4.5 Apr 15, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 82
Avis Commack
WR
Jacksonville, Florida First Coast HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 4.5 May 24, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Andrew Datko
OL
Fort Lauderdale, Florida St. Thomas Aquinas HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 5.3 Oct 29, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Everett Dawkins
DE
Duncan, South Carolina Byrnes HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 142 lb (64 kg) 4.7 Nov 17, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
Garrett Faircloth
OL
Jacksonville, Florida Bolles HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 260 lb (120 kg) N/A Jan 24, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 76
Jarmon Fortson
ATH
Columbus, Georgia Carver HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 4.6 Feb 6, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
Josh Gehres
WR
Tallahassee, Florida Lincoln HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 4.5 Jan 28, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 73
Anthony Hill
DT
Pensacola, Florida Pensacola HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 300 lb (140 kg) 4.9 Feb 16, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Ed Imeokparia
ATH
Blairstown, New Jersey Blair Academy HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 4.4 Feb 6, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 76
Carlton Jones
RB
Tampa, Florida Middleton HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 215 lb (98 kg) N/A Feb 6, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 40
Jabaris Little
TE
Tallahassee, Florida Lincoln HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 240 lb (110 kg) 4.6 May 23, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 75
Kyle Long
OL
Charlottesville, Virginia St. Anne's-Belfield HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 280 lb (130 kg) 5.0 May 5, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 81
E.J. Manuel
QB
Virginia Beach, Virginia Bayside HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 4.6 Jun 27, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 82
Anthony McCloud
DT
Thomasville, Georgia Thomas County Central HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 295 lb (134 kg) N/A Feb 6, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 40
Moses McCray
DT
Tampa, Florida Hillsborough HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 268 lb (122 kg) 4.9 May 2, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
Nick Moody
LB
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Roman Catholic HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 4.5 Apr 17, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 77
Terrance Parks
DB
Fairburn, Georgia Creekside HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 4.4 Jul 19, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 83
Tavares Pressley
RB
Torrance, California El Camino College 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 4.4 Nov 27, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Bo Reliford
TE
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Dillard HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 4.8 May 30, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 40
Zebrie Sanders
OL
Clayton, Ohio Northmont HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 273 lb (124 kg) 5.3 Jan 20, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 79
Rhonne Sanderson
OL
Tampa, Florida Plant HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 280 lb (130 kg) N/A Jan 29, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 75
Debrale Smiley
RB
Thomasville, Georgia Thomas County Central HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 4.7 Feb 6, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 40
Blake Snider
OL
Heflin, AL Cleburne County HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 282 lb (128 kg) N/A Feb 4, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:2/5 stars   Rivals:2/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 40
David Spurlock
OL
Murfreesboro, Tennessee Riverdale HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 280 lb (130 kg) N/A Dec 9, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
Toshmon Stevens
DE
Crescent City, Florida Crescent City HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 4.6 Jul 31, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 76
Corey Surrency
WR
Torrance, California El Camino College 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 4.5 Oct 21, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Jermaine Thomas
RB
Jacksonville, Florida First Coast HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 4.4 Apr 23, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 83
Joe Tonga
OL
Walnut, California Mt. San Antonio College 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 304 lb (138 kg) 5.4 Aug 4, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Markus White
DE
El Dorado, Kansas Butler Community College 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 4.5 Dec 10, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: N/A
Vincent Williams
LB
Davenport, Florida Ridge HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 4.8 Apr 18, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 78
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Florida State 2008 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  • "2008 Florida State Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  • "2008 Player Commitments – Florida State". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  • "2008 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011.

Game capsules[edit]

Western Carolina[edit]

Pregame Line: Lines are not released when an FCS team plays an FBS team.

1 2 3 4 Total
Western Carolina 0 0 0 0 0
Florida State 7 21 27 14 69

The start of the game was delayed almost an hour and a half due to lightning in the area, and then almost another hour during the 1st quarter. The first player to touch the ball for FSU, to start the 2008 season, was Tony Carter who promptly returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown and the game's first score. Sophomore Christian Ponder started his first game at quarterback. Ponder completed 11 of 17 passes for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. At the start of the second drive in the second half (when FSU was up 35–0), sophomore D'Vontrey Richardson came into the game. Richardson went 5 for 6 through the air with one touchdown and also had two rushing touchdowns, one for over 50 yards. With several players serving suspensions due to the school wide "academic scandal" (several students and athletes were caught sharing answers in an online music class), the Seminoles had 28 freshman play in the game. Two of those freshman had touchdowns in the victory over the Catamounts.[4]

Chattanooga[edit]

Pregame Line: Lines are not released when an FCS team plays an FBS team.

1 2 3 4 Total
Tennessee-Ch 7 0 0 0 7
Florida State 21 9 9 7 46

In his second start as a collegiate athlete, Christian Ponder threw for 183 yards and three first-half touchdowns before being relieved by D'vontrey Richardson in the 3rd quarter. Richardson threw for 117 yards with one touchdown. Richardson also had a 55-yard rushing touchdown, the longest scoring run for a quarterback in the school's history. The previous record was held by Richardson himself, set in the previous week with a 52-yard touchdown run. Junior Wide Receiver, Corey Surrency, led Florida State in receiving with 87 yards and two touchdowns on just three receptions. Florida State's defense allowed their first score of the season after a 62-yard passing touchdown thrown by Chattanooga quarterback Tony Pastore. This was also the first score by Chattanooga against Florida State all-time, dating back to 1984, the only previous meeting between the two schools in which the Seminoles won in a shutout by 37 points.[5]

#18 Wake Forest[edit]

Pregame Line: Florida State −4

1 2 3 4 Total
#18 Wake Forest 3 0 6 3 12
#25 Florida State 0 0 3 0 3

Defense, kicking game help No. 18 Wake Forest clip No. 24 (AP Poll) Florida State

Colorado[edit]

Pregame Line: Florida State −6

1 2 3 4 Total
Colorado 7 0 0 14 21
Florida State 7 12 6 14 39

This game was played in Jacksonville, Florida, with Florida State as the home team. This was Bobby Bowden's 500th Career Game.

Bowden gets Florida State past Colorado in 500th game

@ Miami[edit]

Pregame Line: Miami −2.5

1 2 3 4 Total
Florida State 7 17 10 7 41
Miami 0 3 19 17 39

FSU dumps Miami behind Smith's career-best four TDs

@ N.C. State[edit]

Pregame Line: Pick 'em

1 2 3 4 Total
Florida State 0 6 7 13 26
N.C. State 3 7 0 7 17

Florida State rides Ponder, Smith past N.C. State

Virginia Tech[edit]

Pregame Line: Florida State −6

1 2 3 4 Total
Virginia Tech 10 3 0 7 20
#25 Florida State 0 10 14 6 30

Carr sets up two TDs in third quarter as No. 25 FSU rallies

@ Georgia Tech[edit]

Pregame Line: Georgia Tech −1.5

1 2 3 4 Total
#15 Florida State 10 10 0 8 28
Georgia Tech 3 21 7 0 31

Georgia Tech snaps 0–12 skid against Florida State

Clemson[edit]

Pregame Line: Florida State −7

1 2 3 4 Total
Clemson 10 7 3 7 27
#22 Florida State 10 10 7 14 41

FSU bowl eligible for 27th straight season on Bowden's birthday

Boston College[edit]

Pregame Line: Florida State −7

1 2 3 4 Total
Boston College 14 0 10 3 27
#19 Florida State 0 10 0 7 17

One day prior to the game, Florida State suspended Wide Receivers Taiwan Easterling, Bert Reed, Corey Surrency, Cameron Wade and Richard Goodman for their roles in an on-campus altercation with members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at Florida State's student union.[6][7]

Boston College upends No. 19 Florida State day after five wideouts suspended

@ #25 Maryland[edit]

Pregame Line: Maryland −1

1 2 3 4 Total
Florida State 0 21 3 13 37
#25 Maryland 0 0 3 0 3

Myron Rolle, Florida State's starting safety, was interviewed in Birmingham, Alabama, at noon for the Rhodes Scholarship. At 5:00, he received the call that he was accepted. He flew in a private jet to Washington, D.C., and had a police escort take him to the game in College Park, Maryland. He arrived at the stadium around 8:30pm (with 11:55 left in the 2nd quarter). He dressed out in the locker room and walked onto the field to the roar of the Florida State visitor section with 6:23 left in the 2nd quarter. After stretching out, he made his game debut with 1:30 left in the 1st half. At the end of the game, his teammates showered him with a bucket of ice water in 26 degree weather, an act usually reserved for the head coach. He is the first Florida State player to ever have the "ice water shower".

Maryland picked apart by unranked Florida State

#4 Florida[edit]

Pregame Line: Florida −16.5

1 2 3 4 Total
#4 Florida 14 14 10 7 45
#20 Florida State 3 6 6 0 15

Florida wins 8th straight while continuing dominance in intrastate rivalry

Champs Sports Bowl vs. Wisconsin[edit]

Pregame Line:

1 2 3 4 Total
Wisconsin 0 3 3 7 13
Florida State 0 14 14 14 42

Ponder powers Seminoles' offense, defense routs Badgers

Rankings[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP3130282441353429241624203123292821
Coaches30312825323028231624192924292823
HarrisNot released3030292318242028232928Not released
BCSNot released251522192024Not released

Statistics[edit]

Team[edit]

Team Opp
Scoring  157  40
  Points per Game  39.25  10
First Downs  24  12
  Rushing  11  3
  Passing  12  6
  Penalty  1  3
Total Offense  561  176
  Avg per Play  9.8  3.0
  Avg per Game  561  176
Fumbles-Lost  2–0  3–1
Penalties-Yards  8–58  6–37
  Avg per Game  58  37
Team Opp
Punts-Yards  2–93  8–272
  Avg per Punt  46.5  34
Time of Possession/Game  27:44  32:16
3rd Down Conversions  3  3
4th Down Conversions  0  0
Touchdowns Scored  10  0
Field Goals-Attempts-Long  0–1–0  0–1–0
PAT-Attempts  9–10  0–0
Attendance  73024  0
  Games/Avg per Game  1/73024  0/0

Scores by quarter[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Florida State 62 95 83 83 323
Opponents 43 41 35 55 174

Projected 2008 depth chart[edit]

Offensive
  • QB – Christian Ponder so
  • TB – Antone Smith sr
  • FB – Seddrick Holloway jr
  • WR – Preston Parker jr
  • WR – Greg Carr sr
  • TE – Jonathan Hannah jr
  • LT – Rodney Hudson so
  • LG – Evan Bellamy so
  • C – Ryan McMahon so
  • RG – Will Furlong fr
  • RT – Antwane Greenlee fr
Defense
  • DE – Neefy Moffett sr
  • DE – Everette Brown jr
  • DT – Budd Thacker jr
  • DT – Paul Griffin sr
  • LB – Derek Nicholson sr
  • LB – Kendall Smith so
  • LB – Toddrick Verdell jr
  • CB – Tony Carter sr
  • CB – Michael Ray Garvin sr
  • S – Myron Rolle jr
  • S – Darius McClure sr
Special Teams
  • K – Zack Hubby so
  • P – Shawn Powell fr
  • K,P – Graham Gano was expected to start at both positions, but had a knee injury during two a days. He is expected back by the Colorado game.

References[edit]