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FSU's Weatherford: No Worries

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2007

Updated: 11/08/2007 01:39 am

He pulled through a Jimmy John's sandwich shop in Tallahassee the other day, told the squawk box what he wanted and pulled up. The window opened.

"Wow, you played so great!"

"It was some girl," Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford said. "This week is the most I've ever been congratulated in my life. It's been ridiculous. I really didn't expect it."

For a few days, it's been like legend time at Land O' Lakes High, where Weatherford made his star.

Last Saturday, Drew Weatherford was back, all the way back, supremely confident, supremely comfortable, and winning.

He threw for 354 yards and two touchdowns to lead FSU back into this season with an upset at No. 2 Boston College. Weatherford merely outplayed BC quarterback and then-Heisman candidate Matt Ryan. They met on the field when it was over.

Weatherford told Ryan good luck in the NFL.

"He told me I played a heck of a game," Weatherford said. "and to hold onto my spot."

Stop The Revolving Door

The spot, starting quarterback, is Weatherford's again, and might be for good. Xavier Lee, who replaced Weatherford and starred against Alabama, has let FSU down again, on the field and off it.

Lee can create more than Weatherford, but he's not nearly as reliable, not nearly the leader Weatherford is for teammates. I'm not sure the end of Lee's two-game suspension will be a new beginning for him.

The revolving door needs to stop, no matter what happens Saturday in Blacksburg against No. 11 Virginia Tech.

It's more than reliability and leadership.

Weatherford, a redshirt junior, has looked as good the last two weeks as he did as a Seminoles redshirt freshman - heck, as a Land O' Lakes senior.

"Everything has just kind of slowed down the last couple of games," Weatherford said.

He has cut down on thinking too much. The pressure has fallen away, and his game has surged after replacing Lee for the Duke game..

"His decision-making in the Boston College game was very good," FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. "The reasons he went places, with what he did, were excellent.

"I'm confident right now," Weatherford said. "It's kind of funny, but a lot of my confidence came from sitting on the bench, odd as it sounds.

"I've always worked hard and taken the game very seriously, but it got to the point where I was taking the fun out of the game, looking into it a little too much rather than going out, reacting and playing. Sitting there on the bench, watching the game unfold, understanding what kind of plays I can and can't make, really just made me relax."

He laughed.

"Also, the worst had already happened. I'd already been benched. I can't worry about that stuff anymore, looking over my shoulder, I can't worry about coaches taking me out and putting Xavier in."

Like the Wake Forest loss, when Weatherford replaced Lee - for one series, three plays.

"Xavier and I were scratching our heads over that," Weatherford said.

Scratch one scratched head.

"This is the best I've felt in a while."

Relax, Have A Good Time

"You have to relax and have fun playing this game," Fisher said. "I think there comes a point, once that pressure hits, and you put so much on yourself, you go, you know, I'm going to play ball ... quit worrying about the outcome of it, about losing or making a mistake, worry about making plays and having fun."

"I never doubted I had the capability," Weatherford said. "There have been circumstances when I've questioned whether I was going to get another opportunity. It's been trying, no doubt about it."

Wow, you played a great game!

"I keep on getting congratulated," Weatherford said.

"They don't understand that if I don't go out and play well at Virginia Tech, I'm going to be right back where I was."

Xavier Lee blew his chance. It's Drew Weatherford's turn, and if he keeps it up, it'll be his turn for keeps.

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