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

An Apology to Peyton Manning

I know what you are thinking. An apology to Peyton Manning? What on earth for? Perhaps I should begin by reminding you that I'm a die hard Florida State and Jacksonville Jaguar fan. For years I have blamed my football ills on Peyton Manning. Ills? What ills? Like the last minute throw together wins he has put together in Everbank Stadium since I've been a season ticket holder. Ugh. Except of course for the 59 yard Josh Scobee field goal in the last second to beat the Indianapolis Colts this past season.  GLORIOUS. I digress... For some reason I have recalled the details of the FSU National Championship Game in Tempe, Arizona at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in this manner: Peyton Manning caused us to lose the National Championship. It was his fault. As is everything else (God Bless Him). Until I was reading the book "Grateful" by Ryan Sprague. With great embarassment, I realized it was Tee Martin who was the quarterback that fateful day. No matter, FSU won a National Championship the next year. With all the remorse out of the way... I ask:
How many National Championships did Peyton Manning win? None.
How many times did he beat Florida? None.
I feel bad, but not that bad.

MDK In The House