FSU Football Can Do Better Than West Virginia For Neutral Site Game
By Jason Parker
With talks that FSU football could play West Virginia to open the 2020 season in Atlanta, we explain why the ‘Noles can do better than that opponent.
For the third time in a four season period, FSU football will start the season at a neutral site against a team from a Power Five conference. In 2014, it was Oklahoma State inside AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. In just over a month, it will be in Orlando against Ole Miss while 2017 will start against Alabama up the road in Atlanta.
According to reports, that trend could be continuing in the year 2020 as a neutral site game seems ready to be confirmed also for the capital of the Peach State. Just who will the ‘Noles be playing in this game? Why, none other than…the West Virginia Mountaineers.
That’s right, FSU football fans. After playing some of the best teams in the game, a contract is reportedly being ironed out with a school that has gone 26-25 since joining the Big 12 before the 2012 season. On the positive side, they are coming off their best record in that span…8-5 with a win in the Cactus Bowl.
At the risk of sounding elitist now that FSU football is back – we’re better than this.
I know there is the story line about the fact Jimbo Fisher (along with offensive line coach Rick Trickett) is a native of the Mountaineer State and it would be fun to beat up on the team he probably grew up cheering for. Plus, it would add to the narrative that the teams can only play in Jacksonville (with their three previous meetings coming in what was once called the Gator Bowl, including the finale for legendary head coach Bobby Bowden).
Even with that, there is no reason that FSU football, just three seasons removed from being national champs and potentially a serious contender in 2016, should be playing a school with three conference championships entering their 125th season of playing college football (yes, i know they have only been in conference since 1991, but you get my point).
In a perfect world, FSU football would schedule games with either teams they haven’t played or someone that is a great traditional power. We would all love for it to be a home and home series, but the Seminoles’ administration seems determined to play more neutral site games in the future (ironic to play more games away from Doak Campbell after its new upgrades).
If that’s the case, why not play Penn State in either Washington D.C. or Baltimore? How about UCLA or USC in Dallas or Houston (you know, somewhere in the middle)? Maybe Texas or Texas A&M in New Orleans?
If they don’t like that, you can always play a school like Ohio State or Michigan in one of the four major cities in Florida (Miami, Tampa, Orlando or Jacksonville). If possible, stick with the SEC theme and schedule a game against LSU, Tennessee or Georgia either in a city like Atlanta or Orlando.
I know that it is easier said than done and people like FSU’s “vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics” (otherwise known as Athletics Director) Stan Wilcox have to work with the cities and schools who are willing to listen. That being said, if FSU football is back to being a top program, out schedule should reflect that.
With West Virginia likely not becoming a national title contender anytime soon, they don’t fit that criteria to be someone FSU football should be trying to play. Besides, they cancelled a 2012 and 2013 series with the Seminoles when they joined the Big 12, so why should we give them the privilege of playing the ‘Noles…they haven’t earned it.