Chop Chat
Fansided

FSU Football: Virginia Tech could be a statement game for Noles

By Kelvin Hunt

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Mascots Osceola and Renegade of the Florida State Seminoles are seen on the field prior to the Camping World Kickoff game against the Mississippi Rebels at Camping World Stadium on September 5, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Mascots Osceola and Renegade of the Florida State Seminoles are seen on the field prior to the Camping World Kickoff game against the Mississippi Rebels at Camping World Stadium on September 5, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

FSU football will have a chance to remind everyone the Noles haven’t fell off because of last season.

FSU football will enter full preparation mode for its opening week showdown with conference foe Virginia Tech.

It’s a game the Noles are favored to win, but most media seem to believe there’s a huge gap between FSU and the likes of Clemson and other highly ranked teams.

The perception is due to FSU’s lackluster 2017 season. There’s no question a casual onlooker could look at last season’s overall record and conclude the program could be heading in the wrong direction.

However, those in the know understand the FSU roster is still arguably the most talented overall in the ACC and a quarterback away from contending for the conference championship.

Florida State Seminoles Football
Florida State Seminoles Football /

Florida State Seminoles Football

One national media member seems to understand you can’t look at the 2017 season and make such assumptions.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit spoke about the upcoming Virginia Tech/FSU game on a national conference call Friday and believes it’s an opportunity for the Noles to make a statement:

“I personally feel that a lot of people have almost forgotten about Florida State this year,” he said.

“There’s such an anticipation of Clemson once again and even Miami that you talk to your average fan on a national level, and people are not expecting much of anything from Florida State. I think it’s a real opportunity for them to showcase their team and their talents on national TV on a Monday night. If they win and they look good doing it, they’ll go in the blink of an eye from a team that’s kind of been overlooked to a team that all of a sudden everybody’s worried about after 60 minutes of football.”

Thoughts

I couldn’t agree more with the assessment and have been saying as much since last season because it was an outlier.

No question 99 percent of teams who have to start a true freshman that didn’t early enroll in the second game of the season isn’t going to play at 100 percent capacity.

The Noles have great experience at quarterback and arguably the most talented backfield in the nation. The offensive line has shown they are capable run blockers the past few seasons and the wide receivers are arguably the most talented group in the last decade.

FSU returns a formidable defensive line and a talented secondary on defense and a solid special teams unit.

Virginia Tech is ranked No. 20 in the preseason with the Noles checking in at No. 19. A primetime matchup between two ranked teams is an excellent opportunity for the Noles to announce last season was a fluke.

If they beat Virginia Tech they should enter its showdown with Miami undefeated in what could be a matchup of top 10 teams on October 6th.

dark. Next. Does FSU Have The Three Toughest Game Stretch In 2018?

A win there and the Noles would have its annual showdown with Clemson two weeks later in what would likely decide the ACC championship just as it has the past half decade.

HT: Orlando Sentinel for transcription

Home/FSU Football