We Win As A Team We Lose As A Team

It has been a rough almost 48 hrs. Sitting at my perch here at Biscottis. Wearing my jeans black shirt and hat. Just sitting here trying not to lose it (having just seen a house on my way here decked out in Oregon crap that's never had Oregon crap on it before #Bandwagoner.) My beloved Seminoles, who had won 29 games in a row, lost to the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl. I was crushed. Crushed on a level that has never been seen in my fandom. I can't imagine how the players felt. Playing on one of the largest stages in football, turning the ball over 5 times, and not being perfect anymore.  

Not being perfect anymore.  That has to be a difficult pill to swallow. I can't imagine how it feels. Unfortunately, that thought did not keep itself on the field. When the Seminoles and their staff returned to Tallahassee last night, amid much fanfare, after they signed autographs and returned to their cars, they found a surprise. Some of their tires had been slashed and their cars had been keyed. Keep in my mind, they can't accept money from anyone to fix it. It's up to them or their insurance (Lord only knows if they have it or what their deductibles are). How stupid is that?! People, I HATE to lose. I'm not the one playing. I can't imagine how they feel and on top of that, having their cars vandalized.  

EVERYONE needs to get a hold of themselves. Let me define everyone: 

1. Johnny-Come-Lately fans (fans that made themselves fans in the last 29 games). Truth be told. We don't need you. A group of you probably did the vandalizing.  

2. Haters of the Seminoles. For example, Gators, Canes, Clempsun, Auburn, Roll Tide. Did I miss anyone? Just because we beat you (except Alabama-we never played you) and Oregon beat us, doesn't make you an Oregon Duck. 

3.Oregon players chanting "No means No". Number one that's a sacred chant. We are able to use it because we get permission through the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Number 2 your school has been recognized as having a HUGE sexual assault problem. Like 10% of the female students. So, you aren't funny. And you WON'T be disciplined but that's ok. #Karma. 

4. All those people out there whether they are Bible class teachers or fans of other teams that want to judge Jameis Winston.(He's from Alabama so he started out your problem) Have you read anything!? Let's start talking a bunch of crap about Mariota or Braxton Miller or Blake Sims or Treon Harris, oh wait... You would defend your player too. 

You come at my team, you come at me. We win together, we lose together. 

I will neither confirm nor deny the mascara streaked cheeks. #TheresNoCryingInFootball

MDK In The House

We MUST protect this house

Not vicious or malicious, just the lovely and delicious

UNCONQUERED: FSU LOGO DRAMA

The current logo until next Saturday. Regal in all it's glory. Not to mention, 3 National Championships. 

As if their wasn't enough drama in my life, a Wal-Mart employee screwed up and put out new FSU merchandise before it was time. And time meaning the Garnet and Gold game next Saturday. The FSU fans have completely lost it. Here's the new logo

Yes. It looks like Elvis. Yes it has teeth. I'm not really thrilled with the white stuff at the hairline. But I'm not losing my cool over it. Don't get me wrong. I'm not happy about it. I'd rather have 

Red lightning. Or

Jameis Squin5ton. But you know, to me it's not about what I want. 

The original logo is actually

I'm pretty sure I don't want that one^^^^^. 

The reasons they are giving for the overhaul are that the current logo is difficult to reproduce and embroider. I think that's valid personally. I once went into a sports store and pondered the reason why there were 475 Gator items and 20 FSU items. I was told it was due to licensing. I assumed it was because of the sensitivity of the Native American image because FSU has come under immense pressure to change it. Only by the approval of the Seminole Tribe have we not had to change it. But now that this has come up, I have taken a second look at the logo and wondered how easy it is to reproduce particularly the feather part that says Florida State. The feather also has colored ridges. So my guess is that made it difficult. Could they have made less noticeable changes and left it mostly intact? Probably.  But they didn't. And to be quite frank, that's nothing to lose your stuff over. It's pretty funny with these players,18,19, and 20 year old kids, start to act more adult than the fans. They proclaim the helmet doesn't make them, but they make the helmet etc. I'm reading Facebook comments from fans saying "if they don't change it, I'm canceling my season tickets.  Seriously?! Are you telling me ALL those Bobby Bowden games, all of these National Championships, all of these Heisman Trophy Winners, all of these hard times, all of these good times, the Sod Cemetary, the Choke at Doak, none of this matters?! 

GET A HOLD OF YOURSELVES! WE ARE SEMINOLES! WE ARE UNCONQUERED!! We are bigger than this. This isn't some Jerry Sandusky/Joe Paterno problem. This is a logo. A matter of opinion. We are still Seminoles and we are still UNCONQUERED.  Now grow up and get your season tickets back before I buy them out from underneath you. And I'll smile doing it. 

MDK In The House

We Must Protect This House

UNCONQUERED

Seminole For Life

My Bad: An Apology To Jimbo Fisher

I purposefully did not blog about FSU last season because with every win, every touchdown really, FSU was closer to the National Championship. They didn't need me jinxing it for them. There's always trash talk but when the "situation gets real" and your team is going to the big game, it's time to get serious. It's time to wear your colors continuously through the big game and before and  afterwards to make sure EVERYONE knows which side you are on and that you are victorious.


Sometimes the victorious feeling causes introspection. The victory also brings out lots of information, that other times, would seem to be irrelevant.
The other day, I clicked a link that was a story about Bobby Bowden, the BCS, New Playoff System, And Jimbo Fisher. Something I read really made me pause.








Bowden has known Fisher since he was a child and kept watch over the young player and coach at Samford under Terry Bowden.
(From News Herald)


Whattttt???!! Why is this a revelation to me??! Shouldn't I have known this?! What kind of a fan am I??!! So, Bobby and Jimbo go way back. And Bobby has been watching out for Jimbo? And Bobby's sons? This calls into question the whole Jimbo kicked Bobby to the curb. So was it truly the AD Randy Spetman who Forced Bobby into retirement?! All this time I thought Jimbo was imposing his authority/ego on everyone by getting Bobby forced into retirement.


Well, now it's time to do the unthinkable. The thing I never thought I could or should do.


Dear Jimbo,


Although I have been critical in the past. I was wrong. I have felt, since standing in the Gator Bowl watching Bobby take his final bow and plunging the spear mid field, that you were responsible for ending an era. An era that has cemented my fanhood in a team that not even Tim Tebow fanaticism could shake loose. A team that readily in the late 80's and early 90's had no trouble going wide left or wide right, but always straight in my heart. Bobby Bowden was always someone that I thought would always be there. Someone who I "looked up to" in a way. You know, kinda like the way Penn State looked up to Joe Pa except for that child molestation thing. January 1, 2010 brought about a sad time for me. Would you bring winning back to FSU? Would we be a force to be reckoned with? Or would you stay for a few years and then decide the task at hand was too large and find greener pastures? Why would I care? Because I live in Jacksonville (Gainesville North) and I'm sick of the Gators. I wanted someone whose heart and soul's desire was to bring FSU back into prominence and I felt as if you ushered my hero to the door. Little did I know, probably Bobby engineered this thing, not his ousting, the only way an icon can: by putting someone in his place who he had groomed but not overtly, publicly.
With all that said, I have to apologize for doubting you and your intentions of moving the FSU-UF game. I realize that although this game is a tradition, it might not benefit us to play that game so close to the ACC championship game. I also have to credit you for putting Jameis Winston in and getting to the National Championship game. A decision that probably a lot of coaches wouldn't have made. The easy choice was Coker and if that back fired mid season putting Winston in. I'm glad you had the forethought to make the right choice.
The biggest apology yet: Being your own Offensive Coordinator. You took a huge gamble letting James Coley go to the U. I have to apologize for all the criticism I heaped upon you. I also have to apologize for calling into your call in show and running you up the figurative flag pole for losing to NC State. I didn't know your intentions. I didn't realize you were Legacy without being Legacy.
But I have to say, no thanks to Chad Scott, a fill-in at 1010XL, the biggest surprise of all was that you didn't take the job in Texas. Everyone thought you would because Texas was more prestigious than FSU. In the great words of Deion Sanders, Hold On Playa. They thought you would leave because of your son's illness because MD Anderson would be closer. Little did they know, MD Anderson isn't your son's hospital, Amplatz in Minnesota is your son's hospital. Thank you for staying. Thank you for staying for crazy fans like me who just want to win and wear Garnet and Gold.


As a side note, I think it's really cool that you have 3 TVs in your office so your kids can play video games while you watch film and fulfill all the obligations of being a big time coach without missing time with your kids. When I see you, your kids aren't far behind. And let's not forget the First Lady of FSU Football, your wife. She seems pretty awesome too!!!


Thanks for sticking with us crazy fans. We hope to continue success.


MDK In The House




We Must Protect This House




Not Vicious or Malicious, Just the Lovely and Delicious

Coach'em Up

I've started several blogs, only to not finish them. Maybe my heart is not in it during the off season (like there is an off season ;-) ). It's not as if I haven't held vigil on jaguars.com waiting for the next player to re-sign or a new free agent to come to town. It's not as if I haven't been riled up about something. It's not as if I haven't threatened to do to Tallahassee what Sherman did to Atlanta. So today we'll talk about a few things. I don't hate on my own team. So, if you are looking for that, you've come to the wrong place.

Finally, there is a rebuilding process going on with the Jacksonville Jaguars that I can tolerate= modest free agency+building through the draft. FINALLY. Finally we can do things the right way. Instead of going off half cocked=signing every obscure player from a small school (which usually costs us twice as much time getting them to the level of the NFL)+dealing HUGE free agency contracts just to have players "take a vacation" in sunny, no state income tax Florida. See my blog "Is A Big Splash In Free Agency Necessary". I'm excited about the draft. But unlike many others, I have really tried to fix my attitude to this belief- This is All New Folks. We didn't just hire a new coach. We have a new owner, Shad Khan, a new coach, Gus Bradley, a new GM (YAY!! and no for sale signs were placed!!), David Caldwell, new everything. Free Agent players signing are excited. Why shouldn't we be? Why shouldn't we be excited for a new coach who wants to make everything a competition? Who has reached out to the players even before he was allowed to talk football with them? I have to trust the new system in place. And why not??!! I love my team!!!!

Speaking of coaches.....Jimbo Fisher needs some coaching up. About what you ask? I won't number them because there are many. Jimbo, don't start throwing your weight around too much. You didn't beat Florida last year and you know what that means? Your BEE-hind is on the hot seat. As well as Randy Spetman's BEE-hind. Not only for not beating Florida EVERY year but for unceremoniously taking Bobby out of the equation and for not making sure he is forever part of the game at Florida State. Do we really want to end up like Penn State? Not making it right by our legend? The man you pushed aside? Yeah. We are crazy at Florida State. We don't care about the ACC championship. We care about beating Florida EVERY year. Not just the year the game is played in Tally. Please Jimbo. Please do not waste Jameis Winston from Hueytown, Alabama. He is the best Quarterback we have.  But please, let the best man win. Now, Jimbo, you lost 7 of 9 assistants. 1 of them was only employed a month. That's sad. I'm a little afraid of what that really means. Does that mean you are a head case and are hard to work for/occupy the same space with? Jimbo, this play calling thing is WAY out of hand. What's it going to take for you to give it up to someone else? And now you really probably can't because the best person to give that to is in Miami. My favorite part of that saga, Jimbo, is that you  want opinions and directions/ "input" from offensive coaches DURING the game. WHHATTT????!!! Jimbo, FSU is a FOOTBALL DYNASTY. We do not operate in this manner you speak of. Let me repeat: FSU is a Football Dynasty. FSU has spent more weeks at #1 than any other team. We did that with a legend, Bobby Bowden.  Jimbo, it is not merely enough to win the ACC Championship at Florida State. If  Florida State won a National Championship, I'm not sure that would be enough either. We want to be feared. We want to be lauded. We want to be revered. We deserve to be. We are Florida State. And we are Unconquered.


MDK In The House.

We MUST Protect This House

Stay Calm, Wear Black

My 3 Cents, Jaguars and Otherwise

Well. Change has been in the wind lately for the Jacksonville Jaguars. For me, it's as if the franchise is brand new to a certain point. The owner is new, by a year, the General Manager is new (YAAAAYYY), the head coach is new, new logo, and new uniforms. I believe it is/will be an exciting time for the Jaguars. I'm optimistic. However, that doesn't mean I expect them to go 16-0 next year. This year will more than likely be an evaluation of sorts. I expect the GM and HC to get a scheme down. My definition of scheme is somewhat vague. But, I believe that each NFL franchise has a way of doing things, a scheme: the players that are picked, the plays called, the coaches' philosophies. I don't think necessarily that any NFL player can be put on any team and they will be successful. I guess scheme also goes hand in hand with Identity. What will our Identity be? I don't know. But I can tell you I feel confident in the people making the decisions. Confident, in a way that I haven't been confident, in quite some time.

This is exciting for me personally because if you've read my blog you know that I'm from Jacksonville originally. I remember as a girl/teenager in the 80's all the talk about getting an NFL team. I leave in 1991 and 1993 the announcement comes. At the time living in Atlanta, I wasn't all that interested and to be quite frank, it wasn't big news there. Upon my return to Jacksonville in 2003, it took me until 2005 to "get it". So this is completely new for me and I'm excited. Naysayers AKA Haters beware.

And then there's FSU. *SIGH* They only seem to be going backwards. Lost to NC State, lost to Florida, won the ACC Championship??!!!! C'mon man!! You HAVE to beat Florida. HAVE TO. Now Jimbo has lost 6 of 9 assistants. The last being the offensive coordinator, James Coley. I kinda feel bad for the guy. Jimbo refused to relinquish play calling duties to him, which he promised he would within 5 yrs of becoming the head coach, so Coley takes a job with Miami. MIAMI??!! So Jimbo will start all over again. He loses a lot of scouting. And this is taking the shape of a perfect storm. Jimbo will once again be calling plays (probably all of them from the looks of it)-disaster. Jimbo's scouting abilities in regards to assistants-disaster.  Coach Trickett's son is the Quarterback this year barring any unforseen dark horses-disaster (unless Jameis Winston is ready). AND not selling out games again this year-disaster. And I won't even go into penalties. Don't look for me to relinquish the #RG (rebound girlfriend) status from behind his name anytime soon. He might need to be reminded that he's no Bobby.