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End Of The Road For FSU Senior

Tribune photo by COLIN HACKLEY

Gano made 24 of 26 field goals, including five from 50 yards or more, and was No. 1 in scoring among kickers nationally.

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By STEVE ELLIS

The Tallahassee Democrat

Published: December 26, 2008

ORLANDO - Two weeks before the 2008 season began, Drew Weatherford and Graham Gano were facing different endings to their Florida State careers.

Weatherford, a former standout at Land O' Lakes High in a tight competition with redshirt sophomores Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson, seemed certain to get the nod at quarterback since he had 33 starts. Coach Bobby Bowden seemingly would go as he always does in such situations - with the seasoned veteran.

Gano, on the brink of becoming the first Seminole to handle punts, kickoffs and field goals, had just torn cartilage in his right knee during a freakish play in preseason practice. It looked like surgery would force Gano to miss up to 6-8 weeks and at least four games.

But offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, not Bowden, made the final call on the starting quarterback and went with youth in picking Ponder. And Gano responded quickly to rehabilitation and three games into the season made a 52-yard field goal against Wake Forest.

Gano was initially "bummed out" when he learned the seriousness of the injury. But in hindsight, he said he benefitted from the injury because he no longer was trying to kill the football.

"I think it made me a better kicker," Gano said of the injury. "It helped me focus on the fundamentals."

Gano enters Saturday's Champs Sports Bowl against Wisconsin as the Lou Groza Award winner, an honor given to the nation's top kicker. Weatherford, who will watch from the sideline unless Ponder gets injured or in trouble as he did against Florida, will not be the senior that FSU will miss the most.

That would be Gano.

"He's probably the most valuable guy we got right now," Bowden said. "If you had to pick one of them you hated to lose the most, he would be a pretty good place to start."

Gano's points were the difference in victories against Miami, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech. He made 24 of 26 field goals, including five from 50 yards or more, and was No. 1 in scoring among kickers nationally.

Gano still has another college game following the Champs Sports Bowl. He's been invited to the East-West Shrine Game.

But this is it for Weatherford, who earlier in the season expressed his disappointment in the decision to go with youth - believing he was the better choice over Ponder or Richardson. But Weatherford apparently will take the high road as he departs FSU. There has been no criticism of Ponder, who threw more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (12) and completed 55.4 percent of his passes.

Weatherford was upbeat about his Seminoles experience following a practice this week.

"It was my dream to come here for a long, long time growing up as a kid," Weatherford said. "I still don't take it back. I would do it all over again. It's been a really fun ride and I learned a lot through all of it.

"Whether it was up and down, I think it has really helped me and shaped me as a person and build my person and character. I think this season is going to help me in the long run - things that I have learned about myself and how things work that will help me in this sport and also most importantly in life."

Weatherford has not been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but is optimistic about getting drafted and having an opportunity to play at the next level. But FSU's No. 3 all-time leading passer already has a backup plan in case pro football doesn't work out.

"It's kind of funny, my major was in finance and real estate, two really tough markets right now," Weatherford said. "I'm really glad I got it. It's a great education at Florida State. I've learned a ton and I think I'm going to be in a good situation once athletics is done for me."

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