Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 38 Syracuse 20

Jameis Winston Finally Looks like Jameis Winston

Leave it to Jameis Winston to wait until the negative publicity swirling around him comes to a head before turning in his best performance of the season. Friday couldn’t have been much more of a distraction for Winston. His morning started with the school releasing its own timeline of events in regard to the sexual allegations against him. Then Fox Sports and the New York Times released reports detailing ways FSU and law enforcement agencies in Tallahassee have skirted around the investigation. And finally, reports surfaced that Winston had been informed he was going to face a student code of conduct hearing at FSU in the coming weeks.

Another player — regardless of innocence or guilt — likely would have had a day like Friday and gotten a feeling that his entire world is crashing around him.

Winston, on the other hand, woke up and just went to work. The redshirt sophomore sliced up Syracuse’s secondary like it was last year, going 30/36 for 317 yards and three touchdowns.

From the opening gun, Winston was on the mark. Finding receivers in stride and showing great touch where necessary — but also taking what the Orange defense gave him when needed.

Winston’s best throw of the day was his third touchdown pass when he showed perfect ball placement as he dropped his pass right over the middle of the Orange defense to Jesus Wilson. It wasn’t a throw that required a ton of arm strength, it just required touch and a dash of confidence. Winston has plenty of both to spare.

After the game, Fisher and Winston both seemed unfazed by the newest developments in the investigation. Saying they knew this was coming all along.

“When you know the circumstances and you were part of it, he understands the truth and he knows what happens, he plays ball. He can eliminate those things,” said Fisher, “Those situations ahead? He feels very comfortable about.”