TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Fennelly: FSU's Lee Reminds Everyone He Belongs

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2007

JACKSONVILLE - Bet you smart alecks out there are wondering how Xavier Lee got the test answers.

Enough already - he passed.

You couldn't rain on this parade.

X marked the spot where it began.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, after an immensely satisfying 369th win, bubbled like someone who knows he can golf with his Birmingham buddies this summer and do the laughing. Bobby 21, Bama 14.

'I can't remember the last time we had a win like this,' Bowden said.

Xavier Lee remembered that he belonged.

He was ready to leave Tallahassee after last season. The whispers in his ear said he'd never get his chance. When new coordinator Jimbo Fisher promised a fair shake, Lee thought, 'You don't know what you're talking about.'

This morning, after a week of bad news, they're talking about Xavier Lee leaving the bench to Taser the FSU offense to three second-half scores. The Noles should slip back into the rankings. By the way, our heart goes out to Nick Saban. He's one of the good guys.

Meanwhile, back at the truth ...

Meet your new starting quarterback.

At least he should be. Again.

'I just took advantage,' Xavier Lee said.

Provides A Big Lift

We don't know how long it will last.

It lasted three Lee starts last season, until his interceptions in that nightmare against Wake Forest - but he was the answer Saturday after Fisher - oh, yeah, and Bobby - replaced Drew Weatherford in the second quarter.

'I just think we needed a jump-start,' Jimbo said.

More like defibrillation.

This offense had been doornail dead and it seemed perfectly ready to waste a wonderful Saturday of FSU defense. The first half, one of the more dreadful scoreless ties you'll ever see, demanded change.

X marked the spot.

Lee marched the Seminoles downfield, bang, bang, bang, for a touchdown to start the second half. He finished with 224 yards passing and two touchdowns and ran for 59 yards and, one glaring pick aside, owned the show.

Leebow! Leebow!

Suddenly, Weatherford's play-safe ways were out. It's not all his fault. This FSU offense just doesn't have much talent. But when Lee came in, it was no longer offense in a 10-yard box. He stretched the field and the imagination, beginning with Jimbo's and ending with Bowden's.

'I thought tonight he began to use that potential in a positive way,' said Bowden, who admitted, 'He did better than I thought he would.'

No one questions Lee's dual-threat talents. But his intensity, or lack of it, has always been a source of anxiety. Not Saturday.

'Lots of guys can run and throw the ball long,' Fisher said, 'But tonight Xavier was a quarterback.'

'He made better decisions,' Bowden said. 'He didn't make but one bad one.'

Yes, we've seen this before. Lee was great in his first start last season, 'but we lost,' Bowden noted. Two starts later, against Wake, he was gone and Weatherford was back for good.

A guess: We haven't seen the last of Weatherford.

But what if we haven't seen the best of Xavier Lee?

'I'm more focused on what I have to do,' he said.

A Defining Playmaker

The Seminoles should ride him for as long as they can. Fisher didn't commit to a permanent change, and Weatherford might be the safer choice for the rough-and-tumble road ahead.

But if this season is to be more than the annual race to edge past .500 and keep Bobby ahead of Joe Pa, it's time to think outside the box and let Lee operate out there until he shows he can't. You need a defining playmaker. In baseball, someone has to hit the homers. In basketball, someone has to shoot the J's. Right now, FSU needs an igniter.

X marked the spot Saturday.

'He was the spark,' Fisher said.

For a flickering moment, Saturday reminded us of the old FSU. Why, there was even linebacker Geno Hayes, reasonably fresh from being Tasered and arrested, making plays after sitting out a whole quarter. Yeah, that ought to teach him a lesson.

Back to Saturday's test.

And the correct answer. Again. For now.

X marks the spot.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT