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FSU Football: Similarities between 2009 and 2017 seasons are too real

By Jason Parker

CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 22: Florida State Seminoles Head Coach Bobby Bowden, (R) and Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher watch the pregame action prior to the start of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on October 22, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 22: Florida State Seminoles Head Coach Bobby Bowden, (R) and Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher watch the pregame action prior to the start of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on October 22, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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FSU football is dealing with their worst start to a season under head coach Jimbo Fisher – and the worst start since the end of the last decade.

Six games through the season, FSU football sits at 2-4 and in real jeopardy of having their first losing season since 1976 and missing their first bowl game since the 1981 season. Fans are getting angry, the country is laughing and people are calling for the heads of many assistant coaches as well as the head coach, who brought the school national title glory.

You may think I’m talking about this year’s Seminoles team based on what has taken place so far, but we’re actually speaking about the 2009 Noles team – and the fact that both teams are virtually the same should give fans of Florida State a little bit of hope and a whole lot more questions they will be asking.

Now, there were of course a couple differences – the main one being that the 2009 FSU football team could score for days on offense and not stop a cold on defense while the 2017 team seems to have the opposite problem.

Both years saw more emphasis on the run game toward the end as the starting quarterback at the start of the year – Christian Ponder in 2009, Deondre Francois this season – are not the ones ending the campaign.

That season, fans were up in arms wanting the firing of assistant coaches that included longtime names such as Chuck Amato and even defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews. At the same time, offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was given a pass since he was the coach in waiting and seemed to have the support of many involved.

In the end, legendary head coach Bobby Bowden was essential forced to announce his “retirement” to make way for Fisher. Now, the Seminoles are stuck in a situation where they need to win four of their last five games (which could become six of they reschedule the game with Louisiana Monroe) if they want both streaks to extend.

The seventh game of the 2009 season? A comeback weeknight win on the road at North Carolina. Friday, the Seminoles hit the road for an ACC tilt against Boston College.

If history does repeat itself, the Noles could just luck out and get to six wins as they did during that season – a come from behind win in the home finale against Maryland. It seems wild, but FSU football nation was ecstatic at being 6-5 at that point – and you can be willing to bet that many in garnet and gold will be feeling the same way should they get to that point in 2017.

Next: FSU, Bowden deserve wins back from NCAA

The main question is what will it mean for 2018? There were plenty of changes that came with Fisher taking over for Bowden and, while we aren’t calling for a new head coach, it would beg the question: is that what it will take for changes to come regarding assistants?

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