My Final Words On Jimbo Fisher: Men Do What They Have To Do, Boys Do What They Want To Do

In my head I have been working on this post since Friday, December 1, 2017 at 1:29 p.m. Like most things I want to remember, or not as the case may be, I screenshotted the banners on my phone as they announced Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M. I am not going to lie. I cried in the car as I drove down the road (READ: I WAS A MESS). We had ONE coach for 35 years (Bobby). Then Jimbo for 8 seasons. We don't change coaches like we change underwear. This wasn't supposed to be our fate as Seminole fans. We don't worry season after season if our coach will remain (although we have the last few years). We became numb to the repeated off season banter about Jimbo Fisher being courted by team so-and-so. We had been lulled to sleep with his "I will not comment about coaching jobs". We had a false sense of security because he had turned down so many other opportunities. But some how this year was different, as I read articles and listened to pod casts about in fighting between coaches, coaches leaving away games separately from the team. And after Jimbo was long gone we hear reports (fake or not) that he hadn't recruited in months. And probably the most disconcerting was text message after text message coming into my phone throughout November, my friends (mostly non-FSU fans) telling me about how they hear Jimbo is gone for sure after the season is over.  And yet, here we are in this place. Maybe I should say in this place where my Dad texts me to ask if I am still all in with FSU. Does the sun come up in the east everyday? Does a bear go potty in the woods? Nothing has changed besides who is the head coach. My loyalty and enthusiasm is still where it should be residing. I'm still that girl in 1992 with a FSU shirt (2 years before a National Championship).

After listening to the post game press conference with Coach Haggins and a few of the players, I decided it was time to say my peace.  And as I flipped open my laptop and log onto this site, I realize the last blog post I had made was a post in July 2016 about a YouTube video with all of these locker room speeches Jimbo had made to the team at one point or another. All those notable quotes laid out on my blog. As I read them, I kept wondering, were they really meant when they were spoken? I mean, was any of the Jimbo Fisher era real? Was the sentiment behind it real? "It got personal" Oh, you think? "You make the helmet, the helmet doesn't make you." I don't know if that's really true in this case. And I can quote you 75 million reasons why that might not be true. "That is not fair, MDK." Oh yeah it is. You know why it is fair? Because I'm pretty sure none of us really truly know why he left. There's been rumors: PERSONAL REASONS HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL (which cover a MYRIAD of reasons), he wanted this or that and the administration would not give it to him, the fans were too hard on him (*insert eye roll* He has not seen anything yet in regards to fans. A&M like to death threat their coaches when they don't win enough. See Kevin Sumlin's wife, Also see Tammy From Auburn), With all Due Respect, Monk Bonasorte (RIP) was the buffer between Jimbo and the administration, AD and Boosters and now their was no one to adequately fill that roll, he became frustrated and left (okaaay), and he wanted to be back in the SEC (*Insert Eye Roll*).

Ultimately, none of the reasons matter, nor will they change the outcome. I can say for a certainty that I have no desire to see Jimbo Fisher on the opposite sideline vs. FSU. Ever. I wish him well. I am grateful for everything he did for FSU. But watching him build his team, interact with A&M fans and give interviews is like watching your newly departed boyfriend court a new girl. It is awkward. And for someone who cried in the car, it is just too painful. I have taken steps to reduce the amount of A&M news in my feed. I wish him well, but I just can't watch.

Even now, I can't even fully describe his leaving without getting choked up. That's ridiculous right? Probably I just don't like changes. And once things get rolling, (the bowl game was a great 1st step today) I will feel better about this situation. Maybe.

I leave with more questions than answers. Especially after reading my previous blog. I will leave you with one final thought, if men do what they have to do and boys do what they want to do, which are you Jimbo, a man or a boy?

MDK In The House

We Must Protect This House

My Favorite Jimbo Fisher Quotes

In honor of Jimbo Fisher's "Car Wash Day" at ESPN (where the coaches interview at all the different ESPN Shows). I decided to dust off this list of Jimbo Fisher quotes I've been holding on to for some time. (Incidentally, Jimbo is one of the only coaches in the NCAA who DOESN'T have a Twitter account)

What's so exciting about Jimbo Fisher quotes?! Are you kidding?! The man is pure gold. One day I happened upon a 14 minute YouTube video of Jimbo Fisher giving pre game and half time speeches. So I made note of some of my favorite:

-Big rock in the road. You don't go around it. You don't hope it will move. YOU remove it.

-Emotion and wanting to win are important but execution is critical.

-You have to TAKE everything you get. No one will give you anything.

-Love is the reason for the fight.

-Everything is about us. How we play, what we do, how we think, how we feel. From the first play to the last play. The reckoning.

-Love is the reason you play. The people you love and your teammates. When it is all said and done. That's what you remember.

-2 guys in the ring. One guy wins.

-This country ain't seen Florida State Football. They about to tonight.

-The game don't care who wins it. You determine what happen

-It ain't about the show, it's about the go.

-You make the helmet. The helmet doesn't make you.

-The play don't care who makes it.

-Show me a guy without expectation and I'll show you a guy that hasn't achieved anything and doesn't expect anything from himself.

-It got personal.

-It's our house. It's our stadium. We are Florida State.

And more recently, Jimbo was speaking to kids at his football camp and said this:

-Men do what they have to do. Boys do what they want to do.

These quotes aren't earth shattering. But they are thought provoking and have fueled a large amount of success at Florida State and at the next level, the NFL.

MDK In The House

Late Football Season Hodge Podge

As this football season comes to a close, several things have transpired. I could write a book on each one, but I don't have that much time or space.

1. How did FSU lose to the University of Houston??!! How??! How was that possible? 

2. So, let me get this right... you warn 2 teams (Steelers and Bengals) that there should be no funny business during their playoff game. So what happens?! A bunch of nonsense involving the Bengals players and the Steelers coaches. My solution? In a perfect world, the Steelers shouldn't be in the playoffs. There, I said it. Should. Not. Be. There. And neither should the Bengals. They were both warned about their actions. But I'm really wondering what they were threatened with for punishment. Fines are great and the money goes to charity but Come On Man. Want to know how to stop the nonsense? Make them lose draft picks. And not 6 round draft picks. The behavior all the way around was shameful. Marvin Lewis and Mike Tomlin need to take a serious look in the mirror. Get a hold of yourselves Gentlemen. Get control of your coaches and players.

3. NFL league office, I have a question for you: What is a catch???!!! When former and current players calling a game/giving commentary can't tell you why a catch isn't a catch it's time to get a hold of yourselves and BE CLEAR ABOUT IT. Also, if you are serious about launching and head injuries, then be stiffer with penalties.

4. To the "poor" female Bengals fan, Girl, I'm sorry for your pain. I'm sorry it has begun to be in vogue to show football fans shocked and sad that their football team is about to lose a close game. It's been VERY prevalent on ESPN Saturday college football games. And now, a NFL fan whose team is in the playoffs, her team does some REALLY dumb things at the end of the game, somebody puts a camera on her. Nobody REALLY feels her pain. Everybody instead making fun of her for being sad about her team losing. I can't say for certain but I'm pretty sure her husband didn't buy her that shirt (for those that are new here, that implies that this girl is in charge of her fan hood, she needs no man to tell her which team (or colors) to cheer for, she wasn't bored on a Saturday night and showed up to a Bengals Playoff game). And maybe or maybe not (more like quite probably) I would have done the same. But thanks to her, I now know I need to cover my face when I use emotion at a football game.

5. Why did FSU lose to Houston??!! WHYYYY???!!

6. Dear FSU fans, There will NEVER be another FSU team assembled like the 2013 and 2014 FSU football team. EVER. Statistically those players who have gone to the NFL from those 2 years have done incredible things. So let's not be disappointed Sean Maguire and Everett Golson were not Jameis Winston. Bobo Wilson is NOT Kelvin Benjamin. Yet. So, let's thank Jimbo Fisher for accomplishing this crazy feat among football and giving us 2 incredible seasons!! And hope he strives for more incredible things!!!

7. ESPN has a major bias against FSU. I promise you haven't heard this reason yet. I made a sign for the Peach Bowl. It had ESPN on it, in glitter no less and I received no airtime. I even had my young nephews wielding the signs. So, my message to ESPN is grow up. You are steadily losing viewers and having to cut jobs. Figure out a way to make FSU fans happy. BTW, one of your biggest personalities, Sam Ponder, is married to a former FSU Quarterback and named their daughter Bowden St. Claire (they call her Scout. She's an Instagram star). So there's that.

8. Why did FSU lose to Houston? #TrapGame

Stay Tuned.

MDK In The House

We MUST protect this house

Consider Bobby (Bowden) for Sainthood

In football, the next month or 2 is called "The Dead Zone". In my boredom, I decided since ESPNU is showing bowl games from January, I would DVR the most important ones, the Fiesta bowl (Blake Bortles), and the National Championship (FSU). In the last few days, I've watched the National Championship 3 or 4 times and I was thinking about the other important FSU games I had on DVD. 

Several years ago, the greatest end to a coaching career happened in Jacksonville, Florida. Bobby Bowden, longtime head coach of the FSU Seminoles, coached his last game on January 1, 2010. I was in attendance with a very homemade sign. I remembered before I left the house to DVR the game just in case my sign made it. I was so happy to see my coach in action one last time.  Many times I meant to watch the game on DVR. But I didn't. I was sad, unsure of Jimbo. I knew if I watched it, then surely it must be true: it was his final game.

About a year or so after the game was played, my cable provider, AT&T Uverse, had to come out and fix something. Well, they end up taking the main box. The box that had all my saved games: Bobby's last game, David Garrard Hail Mary and Scobee's 59 yd field goal.  I was so upset. Distraught even. After a week or two and a few very choice, angry, and stern words with U-Verse ( and oh by the way the box wasn't broken. It was something else..... They had taken my box unnecessarily.), I got on the internet and started searching for Bobby's final game.  Found and ordered. Then I searched for the 2 FSU National Championship games. Found and ordered.  

Fast forward to today. Today, I decided to watch Bobby Bowden's last game. It seemed like the natural thing to do.  Now that I have, it only seems right.  I was at Doak Campbell last year for Bobby's return. It was Jimbo's team now and watching the National Championship game from January solidified that.  (You can read more about that in the post "My Apology To Jimbo Fisher") as I was casually watching it and inboxing a friend on Facebook, I looked up to the TV to see this:

IT WAS MY SIGN!!!!

I'm sure to most of you, this isn't news. But for this Bobby fan, there were some damp eyes and great memories revisited. 

Bobby I Love You!!

MDK In The House

We Must Protect This House

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.

Let Me Get This Right....

This hopefully will become a regular segment on this blog. Words where no words can explain what idiotic things people do.

Let me get this right:

Jimbo Fisher: "Yeah we lost but it was the Quarterback's fault. Not the fact that I'm a control freak and won't get an Offensive Coordinator." Oh, and it was Muschamp's turn at the Beach House/Condo. Reminds me of that Bowden Bowl Crap.

Jaguars: Let's give up on Mike Thomas, the only Jaguar player with ANYTHING in the Hall Of Fame (Hail Mary Jersey and gloves) and trade him to the Detroit Lions whom we played the next week. Wait for it, for a draft pick in 2014. Sooo desperate to get rid of him, Gene Smith takes a draft pick a year and a half from now. With any luck, Gene won't be here to make the pick.

Texans: The team is so GREAT that 2 wks. in a row they've been in overtime twice. Once with a 1-9 team and the second week with a team struggling to get into the playoffs. They aren't as great as their press.

NFL Refs: There seems to be an awful lot of plays that go a certain way in games where there's a "GOLDEN TEAM" =Texans, Colts. Let's even things out a little more. Shall we?

Colts: Looks like Tom Brady showed you last week that he's still in charge of the AFC and he isn't ready to give it up. So...


MDK in the House

We must protect this house.

Day 48-Stay Calm, Wear Black

No 24 hrs Needed

This week has been an all new football low for me personally. Last weeks loss to the Bengals felt all encompassing. Little did I know that 6 short days later, my ORIGINAL team, FSU, would disappoint in a way never imagined by myself or the twitter world apparently. Tonights game was one of THE most disappointing FSU games I have personally ever witnessed. I don't care what anyone says. Jimbo Fisher forced Bobby Bowden out. Jimbo "thought" he was ready to run a major college football franchise. Let's be honest folks, it's a franchise. Jimbo thought he would walk right in and turn it around. And to a certain extent he did. We have won several matchups with Florida but only because they were lesser teams. That's not Florida State. We go in as the underdog and outplay other teams. That used to be our M.O.. Now we lose to unranked NC State because we can. E.J., God Bless You. You are not Charlie Ward. I'm not even sure you are a team leader. And you know what else I know? Jimbo you can't be an offensive coordinator AND head coach. Other coaches can. YOU CANNOT. It has been proven many times but tonight is the straw that broke the camel's back. You have lost the FSU faithful. You won't be able to sell out Doak. I live in Jacksonville. But I no longer call it Jacksonville. I call it Gainesville North. I'm Sick of it. SICK. Sick. Sick. Sick.

What's going to have to happen to restore FSU to it's proper place? I mean we haven't even had a scandal. What will have to happen to bring glory back to Florida State? GET RID OF FISHER. SOON. And get us a real coach with a REAL offensive coordinator.

Did anyone happen to notice that this week, FSU lost 2 4-star recruits??!! Anybody?! I want to know why!!!!

But you know what, at least I ain't crying about it like Tim Tebow would. There's no crying in football. But there certainly is anger and frustration.

MDK in the House

We must protect this house

Is a Big Splash In Free Agency Necessary? And Miscellaneous

 Some of you may have been wondering why I have been silent on the Jaguars for awhile. Well, I'm just trying to give them some breathing room. They have a new coach and a new owner. I don't like to start hating until I've seen something. This whole thing is almost brand new for me. So, I'm going to give them plenty of slack. And to all of you fans out there that are mad there was no BIG splash in free agency. I give you this analogy (or metaphor or whatever it's called) Ever watch diving in the Olympics? The person with the least splash usually scores higher. It's not just about splash. Style points are given as well. So all you haters listen up. It's not about the BIG splash.
Miscellaneous:
 Jimbo. Jimbo. Jimbo. Jimbo Fisher. Dude, you knew this was coming. I would like for him to DO several things in this off season. Please work on your 4th quarter time management skills. They leave little to be desired (UVA game). Please accomplish something when you start yelling and screaming at officials. You are starting to look like Will Muschamp. Just because you vacation together that does not excuse the fact you are acting like a Gator and nullifying your contract with FSU fans. Please train E.J. Manuel to look like he belongs in the HALLOWED halls of Florida State Football (I.E.- Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke both Heisman Trophy winners). I still wish you would consider hiring an Offensive Coordinator. You continue to prove you can't do it alone. The last thing you can do for me Jimbo, please let us live up to the hype so I don't have to hear the trash talking from the Gators. We've beat them 2 years in a row, that should be enough. With UF, it's never enough.
  From the beginning with Bobby Petrino. Let's start with his contract with Louisville. He began coaching at Louisville in 2003. By July 2006 they offered a contract of 10 years, 25.6 million dollars, which he accepted. In January 2007, he accepted a head coaching position with the Atlanta Falcons. December 2007, in the proverbial middle of the night and several games left in the NFL season, Petrino takes a job at Arkansas. Fast forward to last month. Petrino gets Jessica Dorrell hired and then they have a motorcycle accident. He lies and says he was alone. None of this is really that earth shattering if you look at his whole body of work.  He left the Falcons without a proper goodbye to players that struggled all year without Michael Vick. Be a man for heaven's sake. Do the right thing for once. How does his wife and kids stand him? I guess only time will tell.

MDK in the House

Unusual homework needed for Jaguars success

Everybody knows the usual things a team should do to win: have a good defense, have a good offense, have a good special teams, have a good coach and coaching staff, and have a loud and loyal fan base.
I submit to you all the seemingly unusual homework the Jaguars need to complete to win.
1. Please allow the team to haze Blaine Gabbert. Why would you abandon a preseason ritual like that? What no one wants to say I will say. They did not haze Blaine Gabbert because Jack Del Rio didn't want Blaine to get hurt emotionally or physically because he knew he was going to have him starting soon. So you ask, what kind of hazing are we talking about? Shaving Gabbert's head or make them sing a ridiculous song to everyone on the team during a preseason dinner. Not hazing him has set him apart from the other players and they all know he'll get "special" treatment.
2. Which brings me to my next point. Gabbert needs to cut his hair. It's too long. He needs to focus on football not his hair. He's always playing with it. ICK. He's not a girl for crying out loud. If I saw him asleep somewhere, I would put his hair in pig tails and put some lip gloss on him. CUT HIS HAIR. Whether Gabbert likes it or not he's a man in the NFL now and unless he's gonna dred it up, he needs to cut it.
3. I am personally taking donations for this one. I am getting money together to get a 50 gallon drum of pine sap sent to Everbank Stadium . It's uses are: to the Gloves, to the front of the Jerseys, and to the anterior Chest Pads. Why? Because I am tired of dropped passes and balls that hit the pads bouncing out of the hands. Also, when you tip a ball on defense there would be no doubt because it would stick to the tip of your glove (AHEM, Browns game).
4. I believe that for the Quarterback, the Receivers, and the Tight Ends to be on the same page, they need to have slumber parties, freeze each others undies, get pedicures together, get couples massages and go shopping together. If they are going to look like a bunch of girls on the field they should act like them off the field. Hey. I love them. But they need to mesh. They need to know what the other one is thinking and anticipate what the other one will do next. All joking aside, they need to spend more time together.They have lost this because of change in quarterback with short notice and dumb lockout that lasted too long. Oh, and one of those rules that changed with the new CBA: The players get one fewer practice per week. That spells disaster to a team with a rookie quarterback, short off season, crazy free agency, and an offense that already needed a long time to gel, mesh, or whatever. I guess whoever said "Practice makes perfect" didn't know what they were talking about, right JDR (insert eye roll)? Do something together off field for success on field. The players don't HAVE to, but if they needed to do that to win, would they?
To the average person, I'm sure all of this is ridiculous. I realize that fact. However, when your team keeps losing you have to have a unique perspective to keep from wearing a brown bag over your head to the next game. I would never do that, but there are some crazies out there who would.

Side note: Is there some sort of class needed to be attended by coaches to learn the whole clock management thing? I have several I need to sign up: JDR, Dirk Koetter, Jimbo Fisher, Jimbo Fisher ( yeah I put him in 2x because he's the head coach AND offensive coordinator for FSU), and of course Les Miles.

MDK in the HOUSE

Mark Stoops: Let me help you to the bus...

I am apologizing now for my vehemence. It was a particularly stressful 4th quarter:
Mark Stoops. I've had about enough of you in your short tenure at FSU.  For several reasons, going in chronological order, you and your brother having a love fest at the end of both Oklahoma vs. FSU games. Your brother even tells you "I love you". After he beats the daylights out of you. How does that feel? From a fan's perspective, let me just tell you, we hate it. I don't care if your brother loves you or not. I WANT TO BEAT OKLAHOMA and every other team out there. That's why I hate  these in-family rivalries. I'd call it something else but I'm DESPERATELY trying to keep it clean.
Are you telling me Mark Stoops that you can't keep these penalties down to a minimum? Or is this your idea of a minimum? Clemson, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, all riddled with penalties. Are you teaching this guys to block or just hold, or just "personal foul" and hope no one sees?
Now I beg you to listen for the first 23 seconds of this Billy Dean country song below:
http://youtu.be/77oUfGrX-Zo
In an attempt to plead my case to Mark Stoops, I change the words of the song with the words below.
"Gonna hold who needs holdin', block who needs blockin', face mask those who need face maskin' though it means an extra 15 yards, personal foul who needs foulin',  fight what needs fightin', and hope players don't get thrown out the game."
Are you telling me you can't keep Virginia (I mean come on it's freakin' Virginia) from scoring in the 4th quarter? That was a defensive abomination. You need to get a hold of yourself.
Jimbo, let me share with you a few words from the former coach of the Miami Hurricanes, Jimmy Johnson. When asked about Bobby Bowden, on a piece done about Bowden's coaching career and the wide right-wide left scenario, Jimmy Johnson says if Bowden was so great he would have already beat me and he wouldn't need just a field goal in the last seconds of a game to do it. Guess what Jimbo? Same goes for you (Virginia? really?). And by the way, you might want to rethink some of those passing plays in the 4th quarter.
Next week is the FSU vs. Florida game. I really hope Mark Stoops can start to get his act together. It would be terribly embarrassing to lose to a crappy Gator team. Jimbo, your #RD (real deal) status is in serious jeopardy. You HAVE to beat Florida, especially if I actually go to Gainesville for this game. I hate Gainesville.
ACC. Please regain control of the pop warner refs you put out there to call college football games. You should be ashamed. You should want to get it right with FSU after all of the gaffes that have been committed this season.
It's nights like these when I reminisce about the old games. I guess this one wasn't so different.

MDK in the House

Back to Football

As corny as it is to say, for me it's time to get back to football. I've been on a self imposed hiatus the last several weeks: the whole David Garrard thing, a fantastic getaway weekend, the passing of my dog, and 4 freakin interceptions in the Jets-Jaguars game (bonus-1 cracked tooth).

I'm going to introduce you to a concept of mine called "Rebound Girlfriend" or #RG. What is #RG? Let me set it up for you. Bobby Bowden, the legend, was the best coach Florida State had or probably ever will have. In a sense, like a "girlfriend" (boyfriend) that we love but suddenly is not there anymore. The next person to fill this position is called the rebound girlfriend. Because in lots of scenarios the successor is short lived and not well liked, because the original girlfriend was so beloved. You get the idea.

Bobby Bowden- Original Girlfriend
Jimbo Fisher- 2010 Season-Rebound Girlfriend

David Garrard- Original Girlfriend
Luke McCown- Rebound Girlfriend
Blaine Gabbert- Girlfriend waiting-in-the-wings (now Rebound Girlfriend)

Jack Del Rio- Girlfriend we-can't-get-rid-of.  Bless His Heart.

The burning question of how or if Jimbo Fisher has shed the Rebound Girlfriend status, can be answered with the 2010 Florida-Florida State game. All there is to say is 31-7 Noles. Because of that win, I rescinded Jimbo's Rebound Girlfriend status. In other words, you have to "show me". I don't want talk or fancy orange pants that get there own ESPN segment (Eric Dooley-we don't care about your pants, we want you to beat Florida). I want action. I got it. Beating Florida for the 1st time in 6 years was epic. 

The first Jaguar game of the season, Luke McCown looked good with his "Quick Release". "Quick Releases" are great and all but with "Quick Releases" come "Quick Responsibilities" if you will. Brett Favre had a quick release and he threw a bunch of touchdowns and interceptions. However, the second game for Luke McCown would be enlightening. You hate to judge a man on one game, but 4 interceptions is overwhelming. Throwing the ball to the opponent is a sure fire way to keep yourself the Rebound Girlfriend.

This week, the Jaguars named Blaine Gabbert the starter against the Carolina Panthers. The Blaine Gabbert era has arrived. Blaine Gabbert played college football at Missouri. Hopefully he'll understand why he'll have to "show me" before he sheds his Rebound Girlfriend status. Don't worry. I plan to cut him plenty of slack.

SN: Football is brutal as we all know. However, if you hand out NASTY fines in the NFL for helmet to helmet contact then the NCAA  should take a second look on the hit that knocked Kenny Shaw out of the OU-FSU game last week. Just a 15 yard penalty? AHEM.. Tom Wort and Javon Harris.. you boys got off easy.. this time.

MDK in the House

A Letter to Jimbo Fisher

Dear Jimbo,
Today I am writing with a heavy heart. On my daily email from Bleacher Report, there was an article in the Orlando Sentinel about The OPEN MIKE interview where you stated you didn't think the FSU vs. UF rivalry should be played as the last regular season game. With all do respect Jimbo, let me explain a few things to you.
1. As a lifetime FSU fan, through wide rights, wide lefts, and dead-ons (mostly by Janikowski), I think you should know your place. Your main objective should be to Beat UF. Everything else comes second. Do not goof with it's position at the end of the season.
2. You do not understand this rivalry. This rivalry has had National Championship implications many times.
3. Lifetime FSU fans don't give a stew about ACC championship game. We do, but we care more about FSU vs. UF.
4. Until you beat Florida last year, I called you  REBOUND GIRLFRIEND (#RG). I gave you respect after that calling you the REAL DEAL (#RD).(Don't make me take it back)
5. We don't care about your Friendship with Muschamp or the Brawl for the Beach House. We relish the days of "Late Hits" and visor throws. We like Good Old Fashioned Hate with UF (special thanks to Georgia Tech for allowing usage of GOFH)
6. Finally, this game is different than all the other ones. There's a buildup. "What's gonna happen?" "Who's gonna win?" We trust you to take us there and we believe you can win. If you move the game, it becomes irrelevant.
So sit down and be quiet. Coach. Coach. Coach. And let us cheer you on to victory in late November against UF. God Bless you and your family. Go Noles!!

MDK In The HOUSE

P.S. every UF fan knows CHOKE AT DOAK  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choke_at_Doak

Chad Kelly and FSU

My VERY good friend, LEEANGELA GARATE, called me the other day while she was in Tallahassee, and asked me what I knew about Chad Kelly. She said he was all the talk on Tallahassee Talk Radio and he was related to someone famous. Today, I decided to BING Chad Kelly. WOW. Impressive. Most Impressive. There was a Youtube video of him playing High School Quarterback (Link added below). The story goes that his buddy posted this video on Facebook and it started getting some interesting attention. He was already getting attention from small schools like Western Michigan. Then Jimbo Fisher, head coach of the FSU Seminoles, saw the video. Jimbo wants to recruit him to FSU to play quarterback. Guess who his uncle is? Jim Kelly, Hall Of Fame Quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. Hopefully, it runs in the family!!

SN-Jim Kelly played with Mark Richt at the "U"niversity of Miami.

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