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Preparation Is Key For Noles

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Steve Ellis/Tallahassee Democrat

Published: August 6, 2008

With a setting sun as their backdrop, a trio of Seminoles squeezed in what was left of their summer preparation on Tuesday. This would be a last opportunity to hone their skills in the tranquility of a Tallahassee evening that will be replaced by the din of preseason practice on Thursday.

Florida State's football team reports today to prepare for a season full of challenges, including improving upon consecutive 7-6 seasons. Nine players who have starting experience will be serving suspensions when the Seminoles open the season Sept. 6 at Western Carolina.

Yet FSU's veteran players are excited - confident in their preparation and the influx of talent that has joined them.

"Everyone's excited. Everybody's ready to play," said quarterback Christian Ponder, who will be given a chance to challenge former Land O' Lakes standout Drew Weatherford for the starting job. "Everyone can't wait until the first game to prove that we're coming back."

Ponder, who used the offseason to get stronger - he now bench presses 375 pounds - while also studying film, represents the kind of physical improvement and mental preparation FSU coaches expect from this group. Tight end Caz Piurowski, a Land O' Lakes graduate, improved his bench press by 40 pounds and dropped his body fat from 18 to 14.8 percent.

"We're in better shape than I've ever seen us," Piurowski said. "Especially faster. I think everybody has made great improvements."

The group reporting today won't include tight ends Charlie Graham and Matt Dunham and defensive lineman Justin Mincey. Graham, who started at tight end a year ago, is finishing final exams at Tallahassee Community College this week and cannot rejoin his teammates until he completes his associate of arts requirements. Dunham and Mincey also have academic concerns.

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