No Controversy Here: FSUs Ponder Alone Under Center

Sports Betting News - September 2nd, 2009 - Written by John

The general mood here is that most Seminole fans aren't completely against the idea of pretending the the '06-'07 seasons never happened.

No, having wins wiped away by the NCAA isn't what I mean. Leaving Bobby Bowden miserably short of Joe Paterno on the all-time wins list is something no one wants--including JoPa himself.

But those two seasons were no flowers. Florida State struggled to stay at .500 during those two season and almost handed Bowden his first losing season since his first year on the job 1976. Florida State message boards erupted with calls for a mutiny over the coaching staff, sparking a clearing house of sorts in the front office. Several of the Seminoles' assistant coaches were either released or resigned, including Bowden's son, and offensive coordinator, Jeff. About the only one who didn't go was Bobby.

Among the replacements was LSU Offensive Coordinator, Jimbo Fisher, fresh off a Sugar Bowl win over Brady Quinn and Notre Dame. He was added to take over the offense and, eventually, inherit the head coaching position Bowden hoped to leave by choice. Part of the reason Fisher was brought in was because of his ability to develop young quarterbacks. In 2006, he was the signal caller in the Tigers' win over Notre Dame. That off-season, his quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, was selected first overall in the NFL Draft.

Seminole Nation would settle for Team MVP.

This will be the first season since the Chris Wienke era that there aren't rumblings of a quarterback controversy. During Chris Rix's tenure (which in retrospect wasn't all that bad), he and Wyatt Sexton battled for the starting job before Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee failed to separate themselves from the pack in '06-'07. Christian Ponder, as a freshman, did and earned the starting job as a sophomore last year. Now, with Weatherford graduated and Lee two years removed, it is clearly Ponder's team. He guided the Seminoles' to nine wins last year, including a high-scoring games against Miami and Wisconsin.

"This is the first time since I've been here that we haven't had a so-called quarterback controversy," tight end Caz Piurowski told the Palm Beach Post. "I think that not only helps him, but it helps the rest of the team, because everyone can just look to him. They're not worrying about who's going to be our leader."

Ponder threw for more than 2,000 yards last season but learned a lot of lessons in his four losses, including a dismal performance against Wake Forest, where he and D'Vontrey Richardson combined to throw six interceptions before serving up another three picks against Boston College during the Blackout game.

"I'd throw an interception and it kind of would ruin the rest of the game for me," Ponder told The Post.

But Ponder rebounded beautifully in the Champs Sports Bowl against Wisconsin, guiding the 'Noles to their second-highest point total (42) and Ponder threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

Ponder has had an up-and-down spring, showing a spark one day and fizzling out the next. In the final scrimmage before opening against Miami on Labor Day, Ponder went 6-for-11 for 65 yards and a TD, completing five of his last seven throws. Three weeks ago, Ponder had one of his best spring performance, going 15-for-20 for 287 yards and four touchdowns. Other days he will go without any scores.

Yes, Fisher has a potential superstar waiting in the wings in E.J. Manuel, but with an injured throwing hand over the spring, had to sit out a majority of the practices and the Garnet and Gold game. Ponder comfortably sits atop the depth chart just released on Monday without having to look over his shoulder, allowing him to finally relax, breathe, and, hopefully, allow Seminole fans to erase their recent forgettable memories.

To discuss this and other Sports Betting stories like it, be sure to check out our new forum at:
https://www.usaplayers.com/forums/college-football-news/