From Andy Staples, camped out at the ACC spring meetings, comes this Jimbo gem:
Jimbo Fisher: "Sometimes you might hand it to a knucklehead. You might throw it to a knucklehead. But you never snap it to a knucklehead."—
Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) May 14, 2013
If anyone needs us we’ll be stitching this on a pillow.
Heavy lies the head that wears the FSU cap. (Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports)
So, about Matthew Thomas’ request for a release from his Florida State scholarship: It turns out that, as Thomas intimated last week, the ‘Noles are not super eager to let a five-star linebacker, the latest in a long line of Miami’s Booker T. Washington High football products, get out before he even gets there. From the Tallahassee Democrat: “During a break at the ACC spring meetings here Tuesday morning, FSU athletic director Randy Spetman told the Democrat that the school was surprised by Thomas’ request and has no intention of releasing him from his LOI.”
Thomas explained last week that he signed with FSU at the behest of his mother. Ranked as the nation’s second-best linebacker in the class of 2013 by Rivals.com, Thomas would prefer to attend Georgia or USC.
Jimbo Fisher’s Seminoles, if they’re still Jimbo Fisher’s Seminoles, will meet Willie Taggart’s Bulls, if they’re still Willie Taggart’s Bulls, in two years. (AP)
From the Future College Football Department: South Florida and Florida State have booked a two-year home-and-home series, to be played in Tallahassee in 2015 and Tampa in 2016. The teams have met twice before, with the Bulls knocking off the ‘Noles on the road in 2009 and FSU returning the favor last season.
Touted linebacker Matthew Thomas has asked for a release from his FSU scholarship. (Steve Mitchell/USA Today Sports)
By Zac Ellis
One of Florida State’s most prized recruits in the class of 2013 might never set foot on campus. Five-star linebacker Matthew Thomas has asked Seminoles coaches for a release from his scholarship, the Miami Herald reports.
The nation’s No. 2 linebacker according to Rivals.com, Thomas told the Herald he informed Florida State coaches that he doesn’t plan to report to campus in the fall. Thomas said he wasn’t fully committed to signing with the Seminoles when originally announced his decision in February.
“I’ve told them it’s nothing personal. I just didn’t make the decision I really wanted to on Signing Day,” said Thomas, who picked the Seminoles over USC, Georgia and Miami.
“What happened was on Signing Day I wasn’t sure who I wanted to sign with. I had issues with different schools. But when I told my mom I didn’t want to sign with anybody and wait and give it a few days she said I couldn’t do that. She said, ‘FSU is a good school –- pick them. It’s close to home.’ I wasn’t agreeing with it. But I felt like I was being disrespectful to her if I didn’t sign. So I made her happy.”
After a strong spring, Jameis Winston (5) seems set to be FSU’s quarterback of the future. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
By Zac Ellis
The official start of the college football season may still be more than three months away, but the first glimpses of each team come every year during spring practice. Spring isn’t always an accurate barometer for what to expect in the fall, but there were still a handful of noteworthy developments over the last two months nonetheless. A redshirt freshman quarterback raised a few eyebrows with his play in Tallahassee. A couple of new coaches kicked off their debut campaigns in the SEC. And off the field, the long-awaited College Football Playoff finally started to take shape.
Here are 10 lessons we learned from spring football across the country:
Ex-FSU QB Clint Trickett has announced his Tudor’s Biscuit World transfer to West Virginia. (Cliff Welch/Icon SMI)
It's official, I will finish my academic/athletic career at WVU. This is a dream come true to be playin for the state I love. #CountryRoads—
Clint Trickett (@ClintTrickett9) May 01, 2013
By Zac Ellis
Clint Trickett has found a new home. The former Florida State quarterback, who opted to transfer from the Seminoles last month, will join West Virginia. Trickett confirmed the news on his Twitter account Wednesday morning.
Ex-FSU quarterback Clint Trickett will reportedly take an official visit to WVU this weekend. (Mark Goldman/Icon SMI)
By Zac Ellis
The Florida State quarterback situation appeared to be taking shape following backup Clint Trickett’s Wednesday transfer announcement. Now, the former Seminole could be close to clarifying his own future.
Mitch Vingle of the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia reports the Mountaineers could be at the top of Trickett’s list of preferred schools, alongside South Florida. Vingle said the former Seminole is likely to choose between the two programs, but will visit West Virginia and could be on campus in time for the team’s spring game on Saturday. CBS’ Bruce Feldman has since reported that Trickett will in fact be on campus this weekend for an official visit. Trickett would compete with returnees Paul Millard and Ford Childress to replace departed starter Geno Smith. According to Vingle, Trickett’s father Rick is a West Virginia native and coached with the Mountaineers.
Trickett threw for 947 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions in his FSU career, including 272 yards in eight appearances last season while backing up starter E.J. Manuel. But redshirt freshman Jameis Winston has impressed in Tallahassee this spring and is the clubhouse leader for the starting job, even though coach Jimbo Fisher won’t make anything official.
Clint Trickett has been granted release from his scholarship and will transfer from FSU. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
By Zac Ellis
Quarterback Clint Trickett has been granted release from his scholarship and will leave Florida State following graduation in May, the school announced on Wednesday.
“After a long meeting with Clint, he expressed he’d like to explore another playing opportunity, and I’ve signed off on his wish,” coach Jimbo Fisher said in a statement. “Clint has not only been a great player for our program, but a great young man and ambassador for Florida State who will graduate in a few weeks. He’s been a part of this program for a long time and we wish nothing but the best for him in his future endeavors.”
Throughout this spring, Trickett, a redshirt junior, has been part of a quarterback competition to replace departed starter E.J. Manuel in Tallahassee. Though Trickett served as Manuel’s backup last season, throwing for 272 yards and no touchdowns in eight appearances, redshirt freshman Jameis Winston has been the clubhouse leader for the starting job thanks to an impressive spring. Winston went 12-of-15 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend’s spring game.
Trickett threw for 947 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions in his FSU career. His next destination is yet to be determined.
Johnny Manziel pointing to his cheering section full of A-list celebrities, presumably. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
By Zac Ellis
Another week of spring practice is in the books, and there was no shortage of recent storylines. Here are some news and notes from last week’s biggest developments:
• Texas A&M: If any doubts existed about the possibility of a sophomore slump for Johnny Manziel, last season’s Heisman winner put them to rest in Texas A&M’s spring game. Manziel passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday to help his maroon team toppled the white squad, 43-23. Though he rushed only three times for 18 yards, he still managed to complete 24-of-30 passing attempts — an encouraging sign for Aggies fans fretting over the loss of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to Texas Tech. A stellar spring game doesn’t always translate to successful season, but at least Manziel was picking apart an SEC defense, right?
ANDERSON: Power rankings: Assorted spring football weekend newsbits
• South Carolina: Last week’s news about Jadeveon Clowney’s strained neck all but cemented Clowney’s decision to miss the Gamecocks’ spring game on Saturday. But the defensive end still managed to find his way onto the field. Clowney came off the sidelines without a helmet or pads and caught a pass from quarterback Connor Mitch before tumbling to the ground and, eventually, into the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown. Steve Spurrier isn’t likely to move Clowney to wide receiver anytime soon, but the crowd of 35,218 in Columbia liked what they saw from their star. The black team rolled the garnet squad, 44-30.
Notre Dame last played FSU in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, an 18-14 ‘Noles’ win. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
By Zac Ellis
Notre Dame’s schedule for the 2014 season — its first as a partial member of the ACC — just got a little bit tougher. WarChant.com is reporting that Notre Dame has added Florida State to its 2014 slate. The Irish will play five ACC members that season, and they have already locked in three opponents: Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Florida State. To date, there is no plan for the Seminoles to visit the Irish in South Bend in 2015. Notre Dame and Florida State last played in the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, an 18-14 Seminoles’ victory.
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