The Florida State Seminoles reeled in another stellar recruiting class yesterday, which will undoubtedly do the trick in helping to jumpstart the ever popular FSU hype machine that goes hand in hand with the program from year to year. The challenge for Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State Seminoles is to live up to that hype, as they rebound from a disappointing 2011. Keep in mind, Florida State has won 19 football games over the past two seasons and the last time they met that mark over a two year span was in 2003-2004. That isn't mentioned to say that 19 wins over two seasons is the mark to which FSU aspires to be, as it obviously is not. It is mentioned to help keep perspective on just how far the Noles had fallen and where they are in the process of rebuilding.
Because the sting of disappointment from 2011 is so strong, there are many both locally and nationally who struggle buying into the idea that Florida State is in fact headed in the right direction. This past season was supposed to be the year in which the hype was legitimate, and make no mistakes folks, I bought into it as well. Now, I will not delve into all the ups and downs of 2011 or how luck and injury play a major role in the outcome of a season, because Florida State fans have no desire to hear those excuses anymore. After three straight classes of top five caliber recruiting classes, the Florida State Seminoles had better start playing like a top five caliber football team.
Whether the general public chooses to or is able to recognize it or not, there has been major progress made in every phase of rebuilding a college football program at Florida State. The question that I have been asked on more than one occasion is whether or not Jimbo Fisher's ceiling is much higher than 9 to 10 wins in a single season. After losses of an unexpected nature to teams like Wake Forest and Virginia, there's a growing belief among a contingency of the fanbase that FSU is somehow magically doomed to lose two to three conference games per year in a disastrous and inexplicable way. I have two immediate thoughts in response to this notion: First, it's too early to assume that Fisher has reached his ceiling as a head coach. He has only held the position, actually running a program from top to bottom for two seasons. Mistakes are being made, lessons are being learned and like it or not, that is exactly what you sign up for when you hire brand new head coach. Secondly, the more appropriate question to ask is, when? When will Jimbo Fisher and the Noles break away from the stigma of being underachievers and have the type of season that preseason polls, articles and hype actually expect of them? The hope is that 2012 will be the year. Until the season officially kicks off, buckle up and get ready for another off-season of hype, buzz and anticipation.
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