FSU Football: Jimbo using alleged ACC toughness as excuse for season

FSU football barely escaped Durham with a second win for the 2017 season this weekend – but don’t tell the head coach they should be disappointed.

In the moments following FSU football getting their second win of the season thanks to a  fourth quarter touchdown to defeat Duke – yes, you read that right – head coach Jimbo Fisher met with the media and again started the spin mode that has been in place with every game of a rocky 2017 season.

He didn’t go all in on the mistakes made by several players – and possibly by some assistant coaches, but we won’t go there – but instead went out of his way to put a bow on the team as they enter the second half of the season with a  2-3 record.

It was at one point in the press conference when, according to the Tallahassee Democrat – Fisher actually went out of his way to talk about how the competitiveness of the ACC these days is the reason why FSU football is having to fight more and not having many dominating wins:

"“I don’t mean this in a bad way, but this ain’t the ACC of 20 years ago,” Fisher said.“…This has turned into one heck of a football league. I mean a heck of a football league. Coaching, facilities … I’m telling you, when you start investing people want to come. It builds it up…”“It’s a heck of a league, guys. This ain’t the old 40-0 (days). It ain’t happening, partner. It ain’t happening.”"

Now, there is no doubt that the ACC has gotten much better than it was when FSU football joined in 1992 and won the first nine league crowns in what was Florida State and the eight dwarfs. That being said, Fisher actually went out of his way to in essence say that Duke, Wake Forest and Boston College among others have the same athletic talents and coaching intelligence as schools like Florida State, Clemson and Miami.

Nope, not buying that for a second. That is nothing more than Jimbo Fisher making an excuse for a 2017 season where the Seminoles will likely be labeled as the most overrated team based on what was predicted in the preseason.

The argument helping Fisher will be games this week where Syracuse beat Clemson (after QB Kelly Bryant left the game) and Boston College upset Louisville – to which my argument would be that upsets happen and if those games were played 100 times, the Tigers and Cardinals win at least 90 of them.

I’m not expecting 77-14 games like FSU football had over conference foes back in the 90’s and into the early 2000’s – but you’re telling me that the Seminoles are only seven points better than the Blue Devils and Demon Deacons? Nope, not buying it.

Duke running back Shaun Watson is not better than Cam Akers and Jacques Patrick, safety Alonso Saxton is not better than Derwin James and defensive end Tre Hornbuckle is not better than Josh Sweat or Brian Burns. Yes, every school has their share of talent, but teams like Duke and Wake Forest aren’t within seven points talent wise of the Seminoles.

Next: James Blackman, Cam Akers give hope for future

I get that Fisher is trying to stay positive and doing all he can to avoid blaming those associated with the team for the rough start – but using the “growing competitiveness” as an excuse, especially when talking about Duke for example, is beyond a stretch.