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FSU Notebook: QB Ponder Knows What's At Stake

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 15, 2008

TALLAHASSEE Redshirt sophomore Christian Ponder, who is trying to unseat incumbent Drew Weatherford as the starting quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles, understands just how important tonight's preseason scrimmage will be in his pursuit of the No. 1 spot.

"That's the closest thing to a game-like situation," Ponder said. "So I definitely think that's what [offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher] is going to base most of his decision off of."

The Seminoles have practiced nine times so far this month, and according to Fisher the quarterback race (which also includes redshirt sophomore D'Vontrey Richardson) is still very much open heading into the scrimmage.

With three weeks to go until the season opener, the starting spot hasn't been won yet by any means - which is why what happens tonight inside Doak Campbell Stadium is so important for the three QB candidates.

"There's definitely a lot more pressure than in practice," Ponder said. "In practice, in 7-on-7 you don't have all the rush and stuff. In 11-on-11 you only do a couple of plays. So coming out in the scrimmage, it's going to prepare us more."

That goes for the entire team.

Even for a player like senior CB Tony Carter, who has already locked up a starting spot heading into 2008.

"The scrimmage means a lot," said Carter, a three-year starter for the Seminoles. "Obviously people are fighting for a starting position and working their way up the depth chart. But even for a starter, someone like myself who has been playing for a while, you can go out and get better and build your confidence up for the season."
When veteran defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews was asked what he would be looking for tonight from his unit, his answer was pretty direct.

"If we don't tackle well, we aren't very good," he said. "The main thing is doing your job and being disciplined, the main thing that is keeping us from being a good defense is we're not very desperate, we're not mean enough, we're not tackling good enough and there's not good effort. If you do those four things you play good defense."

The regular scrimmage begins at 6 p.m. In the morning there will be a special-teams scrimmage as well. Returning starting P Graham Gano is currently in a battle for the place-kicking job with redshirt sophomore Zach Hobby.

"It's going really well," Gano said. "Zach is not an easy guy to try and beat. He's doing really well. … I think overall we've only missed a few kicks during two-a-days."

None of those kicks have been in Doak Campbell Stadium, however.

"Anytime you get to go in there and kick it's a little extra motivation to do well," Hobby said. "You don't get many opportunities to kick in such a sweet stadium. So every time you go in there, you thank God. I wouldn't say [there is] pressure as much as you want to do well because you're kicking in there."

THE HEAT WAS ON: After a week of pretty mild temperatures - thanks to constant rain showers and overcast skies - the sun was back out Friday. And it wasn't just hot, it was that sticky, sweaty, Tallahassee-in-the-middle-of-August hot.

The decision to move the workout to the turf field only enhanced the oven-like environment.

"We had rain and it was kind of cool so we came out here to get better turf to work on, but the downside is it is a little hotter over here than on the practice field," Andrews said. "They have better footing, but they have the heat coming at them both ways."

Said a smiling Carter, "It's real hot, but these are the days you need. These are the days you remember when you're done with the season. These are the days you look back on."

WHITE BACK: Junior college transfer Markus White was back out on the practice field, in pads, Friday after suffering a seizure some time before Thursday's morning practice. He was held out of contact for both the morning and afternoon sessions Thursday, but was cleared to participate in Friday's workout.

As for fellow JuCo transfer Tavares Pressley, there is still no definite word on the running back's status. He is on campus, but due to academic issues he has yet to be cleared to officially join the team.

Corey Clark

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