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Thomas Waiting In The Wings

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2008

TALLAHASSEE Jermaine Thomas figured that even after rushing for 152 yards in his first two games it might be a good idea to stick close to FSU running backs coach Dexter Carter during the Wake Forest game.

The return of Preston Parker meant that there was a chance the freshman might get lost in the shuffling of backs.

"I was kind of next to coach Carter," Thomas said, "kind of aggravating him and being next to him wherever he goes and just hopefully waiting on him to call my number to go in there."

It never happened.

But Parker and starting tailback Antone Smith didn't get many carries either. They combined for just 11 carries against Wake Forest while the two quarterbacks, either through designed plays or scrambling, ran 13 times.

Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has said he needs to stick with the ground game - meaning his running backs - a bit more this week against Colorado in Jacksonville.

"It's good if you can, but sometimes the game don't dictate that," Coach Bobby Bowden said. "We had so many third and 20s and third and 25 (against Wake Forest). I think if we had good field position you would have seen a lot more running. We do want to run more."

Coaches are hopeful that freshman Ty Jones will be back from injury. But with tailback/fullback Marcus Sims unable to play until the Miami game and Parker possibly seeing more action at receiver, the plan is to get Thomas into the mix when FSU plays in his hometown on Saturday.

That was the idea going into last week's game.

"We didn't do that," Bowden said. "You've got a tight ball game, you're behind by three, you're kind of scared to substitute and stuff like that. We've got a plan this week where I say it won't happen again.

"I shouldn't say never but we don't plan for that to happen again."

With family and friends present in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, that is exactly what the First Coast graduate wants to hear from his coaches. Saturday was the first time since his flag football days that he could remember watching the entire game from the sidelines.

"Jimbo always talks to you and always encourages you," Thomas said. "He told me to keep my head up, keep going out there and working hard. Coach Carter told me the same thing. Keep doing what you're doing. Your chance will come."

All the tailbacks can only hope that is the case on Saturday.

FSU threw 36 times against Wake Forest.

"We got in a position where we had to throw more," Carter said. "We got the talent back there but we've got great receivers and quarterbacks that can throw the ball.

"So we're going to have that niche to make it happen. We got a plan to make it happen, to get a good mix."

Steve Ellis

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