“Bring it on” seems to be the rally cry of the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles towards all the haters that they have picked up this year based on the continuing soap opera surrounding their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Seminoles are fully aware of their status as the most hated team in the land and seem to be using that as fuel for a repeat run at the National Championship. Florida State is 12-0 heading into this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game against Georgia Tech.
Even the College Football Playoff committee has gotten in on the campaign against the ‘Noles, dropping the nation’s only undefeated team to No. 4 with Tuesay night’s latest rankings.
Can't believe #FSU is No. 4. Not right. Ugly wins, but only unblemished team in the country. We celebrated Notre Dame's close wins in 2012
— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) December 3, 2014
A Disgusted Nation
Winston and his antics have been the focal point of Florida State. From the allegations of sexual misconduct that will not go away, to the lifting of lobster from a store without paying for it, to his profane rant at the student union that went viral, Winston has become the lightning rod of the program.
Fans who have never in their life rooted for Notre Dame or Miami found themselves their biggest fans for the one game that they played against the Seminoles this year. College football fans not only became disgusted with Winston but also with Jimbo Fisher because of the perception that he coddles his star quarterback.
Epitome of Resilience
Florida State had numerous close calls this year with near death experiences against Oklahoma State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Louisville, Miami, Boston College, and Florida. But Winston and the Seminoles did earn grudging respect for the way that they would stare defeat in the eye and laugh in its face. As erratic as Winston has been this season the fact is that he has been at his best when it matters most.
Fishy Fisher
Head coach Jimbo Fisher has a well-deserved reputation for re-igniting the glory and passion of Florida State football after Bobby Bowden was forced to leave after staying too long and allowing the program to grow stale on his watch. Fisher has a career record of 57-10 and broke the Southeastern Conference stranglehold on the national championship when his Seminoles, led on a late comeback drive by Winston, defeated Auburn for the BCS title last January.
But Fisher also seems to be tone deaf in regards to the perception of his program with the public. Fisher would argue that he treats his players like his own sons and that he would have no players if he kicked off everyone that broke rules.
With one more win against Georgia Tech the Seminoles, Fisher, and Winston will be in the first ever Final Four Playoff.
