In the Moment

You ever feel like you were just meant to be in a place at an exact moment?

A cool February night, before this whole Coronavirus mess started, was one of those times for me.

I had a late bridge run that evening in preparation for the Gate River Run in March. I finished the workout, and I found myself at the Nocatee paddle launch at the west bank of the Intracoastal. Normally, I’d have just turned around and headed back to the Jeep for my cool down mile.

Something  felt different, though. I felt compelled to take a walk over to the water. Maybe it was the cool, gentle breeze that had kept me refreshed during my two trips up and over the bridge. Or that I wanted to listen to the current as it meandered by the rocks at the water’s edge.

As I approached the launch area, I noticed a chair that a visitor had left, possibly by a local for the next fishing excursion. Or maybe it was just there for quiet moments such as this. I took a seat.

I relaxed, leaning back and taking in the stars that had found their way from behind the clouds. It was the perfect temperature for a post run breather; although I was cooling down, I was still comfortable just sitting there. I watched the lights of the restaurant across the water reflect from the ripples of the current, enjoying the quiet and wondering how long it will be before this kind of night gives way to the more familiar humid and bug filled ones.

Suddenly, I heard a noise coming from the water. My mind immediately assumed a boater had tossed a cast net, as it seemed too loud to be a fish jumping, but I hadn’t seen a vessel on the water, and the sound was too close to be from someone on the opposite bank. I then heard another splash just upstream from where I heard the first one, and saw the unmistakable fin of a dolphin.

I didn’t have my phone to take a picture or video (not that it would look very clear, anyway - iPhones are horrible at that), so I stood there, gazing in its direction, hoping that it would hang around the launch area. It, of course, was oblivious to my presence, and had somewhere else to go. So, with a spraying blast from its blowhole, it bid me farewell and continued on its journey. I stood there, watching and listening for any others that might be the vicinity, but all I heard was the sound of water lapping the shoreline.

I was pretty giddy about my fortunate encounter, and the jog back to the Jeep was tempered only by my realization that my headlamp battery had died, and I had to make my way through the blackness with the soft green glow of my blinking safety lights and the occasional headlights of passing cars. I couldn’t wait to get back home and share my lucky encounter with the kids. I paused for a moment before turning the key in the ignition, grinning to nobody in particular, before turning out of the parking lot and heading back to the house.

The way I see it, I’d like to think my finned friend was a reminder that we shouldn’t turn down those chances to stop what we’re doing, have a seat, and simply take in what Mother Nature has to offer.

Even at night.

Sole Searching: Just Finish

There he is.

A figure in a familiar bright orange running shirt stood waiting on the Butler Boulevard ramp, scanning the oncoming crowd of runners. I'd been hoping to see him about half a mile earlier, but I had forgotten to turn my GPS tracker on for the RaceJoy app so he'd know where I'd be....the first of a few things that went wrong the morning of my first marathon.

I was glad he was there. I was in trouble.

The marathon was The Donna, the popular breast cancer fundraising event, and it had already been won about thirty minutes earlier. I didn't know this at the time, but one of our PRS Running Club elites, Marc Burget, had placed first overall, finishing into the arms of his wife Christina. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in January, and was about to go through her second round of chemotherapy. (It Was The Donna. It was Valentine's Day. He won. The story of THAT win couldn't have been scripted any better in Hollywood).

The waiting figure was Kuldeep, one of my PRS running buddies who had agreed to join me and my training partner Bryce for the last four miles of the race in an effort to help us hit our goal of a sub 3:25 finish. Yeah....it was my first marathon at the age of 44, and I had hopes of qualifying for Boston.

The course, however, had other plans.

I was a little over three hours and 22+ miles into the run, and I had hit The Wall. The one I'd been warned about by every marathon runner I had talked to. The Wall I foolishly believed I had trained sufficiently to overcome. I mean, I had completed a 20-miler a few weeks ago with a 7:56 average pace in very windy conditions; even windier than the gusts I was currently battling. And I had felt GOOD after that run. I had this!

But I should have known better. The marathon course has a way of conning you into believing your early splits are an indication of how you're going to finish, and the adrenaline that tags along on race day is its "now you see me, now you don't" accomplice. To further complicate matters, Bryce had to drop out somewhere around mile 7 or so due to a leg injury that had been slowing him down in the weeks leading up to the race. I won't lie; losing him devastated me mentally. We had run several long runs together in preparation for this, and we were going to push each other for that sub 3:25. My worries about how he was doing and the prospect of running 15 miles without my partner obviously weighed on my mind. I never felt like I was able to get into a groove, and my splits had been getting slower after mile 14.

To add injury to the insult of my ever slowing pace, something was wrong with my left arch. (After giving it thought, I recall I had stepped awkwardly into a dip in the road early on; however, the foot never really bothered me until around mile 21 or so. The toll of the race distance must've finally caught up to me). I felt pain in every step.

Just. Finish.

So, there I was, struggling to maintain anything close to the 7:45 pace I had felt so sure I could average for 26.2 miles. My confidence had left me; that completely disappeared when the 3:30 Galloway pacer left me behind some miles back. (OK, she didn't leave me behind....I just couldn't keep up with her and her two runners anymore, even with the walking breaks....she, to her credit, encouraged me to try to stick with them. I just couldn't). Until the point that Kuldeep joined me, the only things that were giving me motivation were the breast cancer cause I was running for and the droves of supporters cheering us on along the course. An intervention was needed, and stat.

"What do you want to do?" Kuldeep asked as he pulled alongside me. He could tell I was struggling, and was peering at me through his sunglasses, trying to gauge how best to help his friend he'd nicknamed "FlyU."

I fought back tears of frustration. I wanted to look strong for everyone I was running this race for, and I didn't want the waterworks to flow until I was finished. I needed to find a way to muster whatever resolve I had left.

Just. Finish.

"Just keep me moving. All I want to do is keep moving forward." My words were shaky, and I hoped he could help me keep it together for the final three and a half miles. I wasn't really sure I could.

"You've got this," he encouraged. "Stay with me, and just let me know if you need me to slow down the pace."

And so I followed him. At this point of the course, the marathoners and half marathoners had already rejoined, so we ran on the right side of Butler Boulevard, passing scores of half marathoners walking their way to the finish. As we passed, many of them offered their own words of encouragement. I did my very best to acknowledge them all with a wave or a weak "thanks."

Kuldeep deserves a lot of credit here for helping me along. He played music in his phone. (I remember "Eye of the Tiger," but I can't recall the other songs.) He talked to me about his watch. He reminded me about the time I gave him advice on how I use my breathing patterns to focus during runs....anything he could do to pass the time away as we headed to the finish. He even allowed me to stop and walk when my foot bothered me. For all this, I'm eternally grateful. Having my PRS brother by my side made all the difference in the world.

As we passed the 25 mile marker, I made the decision that I was going to finish the rest of the race without stopping. I had gotten this far, and I owed it to Christina Burget and every other breast cancer battler to forget my own aches and pains and cross that finish line with every ounce of energy I had left. There was no reason I shouldn't keep my legs moving.

Just. Finish.

After what seemed like an eternity, Kuldeep guided me off the Butler Bridge and onto San Pablo Boulevard, where the Mayo Clinic and the end of my first marathon experience awaited. I saw the finish line in the distance, and simply focused on reaching it as quickly as I could.

As I neared the finish line, I vaguely remember Kuldeep yelling something to me before he broke to the left to finish with his half marathon counterparts (his official time was 3:38, but he has a good story to tell about it, I hope). The energy of the crowd was powerful; they practically willed me into my fastest pace of the day (albeit for only about 50 yards) as I crossed the mats. I later found out that friends were in that crowd, cheering for me even though I didn't know it at the time. Very cool.

I knew my wife and oldest daughter would be there waiting for me; what I didn't know is that a good friend, who knew it was my first marathon, made it possible for them to be waiting inside the chute so that they could greet me with cheers and hugs of their own. I finally succumbed to the emotion of the effort and accomplishment. I wrapped my arms around my daughter, buried my face in her neck and let the tears come. I didn't care. I just wanted to cry.

A lighter moment here: at some point, my daughter, clearly ready for me to stop shedding tears, jokingly told me to "man up, Daddy!" God, I love that kid.

I looked around and saw other PRS members were in the crowd shouting at me to come over. It was Janelle and Robin, two "Mandarin Road Runners," as we like to call ourselves during our weekly PRS runs. I ran to them, where I was greeted with big hugs and more tears (yes, I'm a cryer....no shame in that).

I'll tell ya, physically and mentally, that last five miles or so was the toughest section of a run I've ever done. Tougher than the end my first half marathon in 2013. Tougher than the end of the super hot and humid Savannah Rock-n-Roll Half last year. For a brief moment, though, how my body felt was insignificant. I had both families - home and running - by my side, helping me celebrate a moment that a year ago I barely considered as a running goal. What a special moment....it will be etched in my memory forever.

The initial round of hugs and tears complete (yes, there would be more), and with a bottle of water in hand, I promptly dropped into one of the many waiting wheelchairs and began icing my foot. I was still in pain, and knew I potentially had an injury that would keep me out for awhile, but I had a big smile on my face.

I was a marathoner. And it was time for a beer.

(photo compliments of Lindsey Williams of the PRS Running Club)

(I wanted to voice my gratitude to some very special people: Paul McRae for his coaching and faith in my ability; Bryce Desy for his hours and miles as my marathon training partner; Kuldeep Naik for being my rock for those final miles; members of the PRS Running Club for their support before, during and after the race; Jerry Jones for the booming "RUN, FRANK, RUN!!" out on the course; Roberto Lacayo for his gracious hospitality; and my wife Melanie, for humoring my running habit and being there at the finish line. I love you all!!!)

Sole Searching - My First Marathon

My wife likes to remind me of the fact that I’ve said in the past that I would never run a marathon.

Well, at least not on purpose. It’s a lot of effort to train for a marathon. Give someone training for one a few minutes, and we’re happy to tell you all about it.

However, at some point in the last year, I changed my mind. I’m not sure when the exact moment was; something tells me it was during one of those long, humid summer morning runs. You know, the kind of run in Florida in which hallucinations occur around mile seven or eight? Yeah, one of those. That’s the only way to explain how this resolution was made. I’m guessing I probably also made the mistake decision to tell my coach, Paul McRae. Anyone that knows Paul also knows that if you give him the opportunity to make you run more miles, he’s going to take it every time. Every. Darn. Time.

So, now I find myself just hours away from my first marathon, the 26.2 With Donna, and I’m searching for the right words to express what I’m feeling. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m relatively calm. I think that comes with the confidence of hundreds of training miles and success at some half marathon races. Paul has kept me on track (pun intended) with a schedule since late summer. I’ve tried to run five times a week as much as possible, and push myself to meet the goals of each training session. As with any achievement in life, creating a plan, sticking to it, and giving yourself goals to reach and exceed are requirements of a successful formula. I also have a great, supportive group of running buddies (you know who you are!).

That said, there’s something else about this whole marathon training business. It’s not easy preparing for it, and I’m not ashamed to say I’m ready for the preparations to be over with. Running 30+ and 40+ miles a week around business travel, kids’ activities, and life in general takes discipline, sacrifice, and sometimes, creativity. Most of my runs were completed between the hours of 5 and 6 AM. I practically gave up beer. Did you hear that, people? I gave up beer (gasp!) for the opportunity to punish myself even more for three-and-a-half hours! I’d be so tired some nights, I’d fall asleep mid-conversation with my wife. Then there’s the sore legs, black/lost/disgusting looking toenails, and remembering to replace your shoes more often than you think you should. Oh, and did I mention the 20 mile long runs? Yes, that’s plural. Apparently, you stop at 20 miles so you don’t get too close to running a marathon by accident. Well, that’s until you actually mean to do it.

Training for a marathon has its costs. Time. Money. And, sometimes, pain and misery. But we run on anyway. That leads me to my inspiration for this, my first marathon. For all that I’ve put into this so far, it all pales in comparison to the effort and strength that it takes to battle cancer. So, I’ll simply give my all, knowing that someone I know is fighting that battle, and every step I take is hopefully one step closer to a cure.

See you at the finish line.

#cancersucks

#finish4christina

#prsrunclub

Dear FSU: A Lesson in Economics

There's nothing like cleaning bathrooms to put one in the right frame of mind to write about something that's bothering you.

For me, that something is the FSU logo. I know it's been discussed ad nauseam, but it still burns me. I wrote a letter (well, email) to the FSU Athletic Department this afternoon with my thoughts about how this whole logo change process went down.

After I sent the email (text below), I started cleaning the bathrooms. I want that logo flushed down the toilet, and that thought reminded me I had chores to do. So.....the natural progression led to using toilet bowl cleaner and wiping down sinks. As I was doing all these things, I continued to ponder the obvious $10 million dollar question: WHY did the FSU Athletic Department DO this? I get the lame excuse about how it's difficult for the vendors to embroider the logo, but the last time I checked, didn't consumer demand dictate what producers of goods put on the shelves?

By the looks of the rapid and frustrated response by the FSU fan base, I'd say there was very little demand by the consumer for a change, let alone the abomination that was created by Nike and the rest of the creative team assigned to the project. I never took Economics in college, but I do know that demand drives supply. It seems FSU and apparently Nike forgot there are two sides to that equation. I can't think of any fellow fans that demanded a change to the logo. FSU just decided to make the change, knowing it was riding the wave of positive energy created by a National Title and a Heisman Trophy.

What it failed to realize is that the FSU fan base is very proud of TRADITION. And our logo is part of that tradition. Even if a change was inevitable in today's branding business, a change to an iconic symbol of our University should have had our input and approval. It's very disappointing that FSU ignored its consumers, fan base, and alumni, and felt its business partners were more important.

To me, that's pretty crappy. Which reminds me I still have a toilet to clean.....

Please write to the FSU Athletic Department at fsuathletics@fsu.edu and let them know your thoughts. Below is the text from my email today:

To Whom it May Concern:

I've been associated with the University for 25 years, and have proudly worn the FSU logo as a symbol for my love of the University and its athletic programs. I've traveled to San Francisco and Dallas, Miami and Atlanta, Tampa and Orlando, among other cities, to support the 'Noles throughout the years....not to mention buying season tickets for football.

I'm not opposed to change, so I don't want this to be a criticism of the desire to make change to the logo. However, the way in which the change has occurred and lack of input from most of Seminole Nation (the fan base) paints a black eye to the entire process. The amount of negative publicity surrounding the logo change could have been avoided. It could have been avoided with input from the fan base. Choices. Voting. Anything would have been better than finding out because a vendor shipped t-shirts to a Walmart store.

Walmart is how we found out? The jokes sometimes write themselves.To make it worse, the logo is a caricature of the original. He has big hair. Perfect teeth. He looks like he's laughing hysterically at a joke we don't get. But now, we're going to be the joke. And, we, the fan base, are not happy about it.

I understand the relationship with Nike has been a good one. Truth be told, I've been happy with many of my Nike purchases over the years. But it is just plain wrong to allow a company whose only interest is profits control the creative process for a significant event in the proud history of FSU athletics. This change should have included those affected most, not those who stand to make the most profit.

There is still time to reverse course, although I'm not holding my breath this will happen. I know you are counting on the positive path we're currently on due to a national title, and the prospect of another one in 2014, for the ability to weather this storm of controversy. However, know this: I will NEVER purchase an item with the updated logo. I will find other merchandise to spend my hard earned dollars on when buying FSU items. And I know others will follow suit.

The only good to come out of this is now I can say that I own vintage FSU gear, but I am not happy about this fact.

Signed,

Frank Samu

Florida State University Class of 1995

How Soon is Now?

I have a weird relationship with churches.

Being an atheist, there are typically only two occasions I visit churches: weddings and funerals. Fortunately, I've attended more of the former than the latter, but today was different. In fact, now that I think about it, in the last couple of years the scale has begun to even out, which I guess might be a sign of where I am in life.

What's interesting about my visits to churches is that they offer me time to think: for weddings, pondering what lies ahead in life; for funerals, reflecting on what has happened in life thus far. And this goes for those I've come to celebrate and myself, because I don't think you can get away from doing that in churches (which might be a reason they hold such allure as places of peace, tranquility and reflection to begin with).

Today's ceremony was beautiful - the surroundings, the music, and the overwhelming show of support for my friend who lost her husband and the father to her two kids - but, the reality is that it really wasn't supposed to happen....not to a guy that's in his early 40's, right? With years of life and fatherhood left before him? It got me thinking....you know, because that's what funerals do to you. One can't help but think "how is she going to make it without her husband?" or "it's so sad that his daughter will only have pictures and videos and stories to know Daddy as she's growing up."

Or, "that could be me."

I walked away from the ceremony today with a fresh perspective. It's been brewing for the last few weeks, but was nailed home this afternoon. The perspective? I need to quit talking about how I need to do this, how I need to find time to get together with so-and-so, and start doing it. Sure, life is complicated, and there are feelings that need to be set aside in order for some of these things to happen. But, when the day comes when it's my time - whether I'm ready for it or not - I don't want anyone sitting there reflecting "it's a shame that we never got together" or "Frank never did take that kayaking trip he always talked about."

It's time to make sure I am living life to its fullest. And making time for those that I love.

How soon is now?

I'm watching the Clemson game....

.....for the fourth time in as many days.

And it doesn't get old. I could watch the second half of this football game every day for the rest of the season and I wouldn't care. It was a very exciting game, full of offense from both teams. I may be biased, but it was the best game of the weekend by far.

Sure, sitting in Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday night had its tense moments. The Seminoles were playing from behind for two and a half quarters. It was apparent that the Tigers came to town to show the home team and the rest of the country that it was worthy of the top ten ranking and wouldn't back down from the mountain of a challenge they were facing.

But, alas, the Clemson offensive juggernaut found out what most of Seminole Nation already knew: there are few teams that have the offensive depth and talent to hang with this defensive squad and the coaching staff that guides them. Not only that, but I will take it one step further. With all the talk of the depth and talent on the defensive side of the ball, after four games it is apparent that this offense is scary good. EJ is healthy. The offensive line is (still) healthy. The running game features two possessed running backs. We are four games into the season and we have already matched the rushing TD total from 2011. Manuel is in the Heisman talk, and I feel he has answered any questions about his ability to be the leader of a championship caliber team. He was Charlie Ward-esque in his leadership of the team, and he answered every Clemson punch with a counterpunch of his own.

I've been watching FSU football for 23 years, and this unit matches, in terms of speed and athleticism, those great teams of the 90's. Jimbo Fisher has made his mark on this football team, and it's hard not to look at the Noles and feel that you're watching an SEC-type squad. They answered the first big challenge of the year, and an almost perfect game by the Tigers, in spectacular fashion. Jimbo's team overcame penalties, missed FG's, and two double digit deficits and pulled away in relative ease.

Since my editor (ahem, wife) tells me that I need to keep these blogs shorter, I'll stop here. I still am not ready to put the Seminoles in the BCS title game yet, but I liked what I saw Saturday night. We're 1/3 of the way through the season, still undefeated, and based on the remaining schedule, there are two games that pose the largest challenges. I still worry about that Thursday night game in Blacksburg, but even that matchup looks to be a very winnable game.

I'm ready for that plane flight to Tampa and 2012 Revenge Game #3 on Saturday. If you're going to be there, let's have a beer and celebrate win number five!

It's FSU Game Day, Y'all!

It's September.

And those of us rabid college football fans, it means one thing. The fastest, most fun four months of the year.

Here in the South, there's Momma, there's church, and there's College Football Season, sometimes not necessarily in that order. College football brings people together (and even forces some apart) like none other this time of the year, and that's the fun of it. Rival school jokes and other shenanigans began yesterday at work, and we don't even play the Lizards for another three months!

My passion for college football, and FSU football in particular, began in a night October game in 1989 win against the Miami Hurricanes, and I haven't looked back to the NFL since. Sure, I follow the Dolphins, my longtime favorite NFL team, and the Jaguars, the hometown team, but that's just so I can carry on conversations with those that prefer the pro game. There's just a different feel at a college football game. Higher energy level in the stadium. More pageantry. The tailgating is more fun. Lee Corso's costumes. Erin Andrews (with apologies to my wife...had to throw that in there).

You know my take on the season. Even though we're playing lower division foe Murray State, I still woke up this morning early with knots in my stomach. Murray State, you say? A team the Noles will beat by five TD's? Yep, that Murray State. This is just what college football does to me. And I love it.

I'm ready. The car was prepped last night. Window flags...check. Drinks and cooler....check. Satellite radio on college football station....check. This will be my first of seven trips to see the Noles play, and hopefully, beat, worthy and not-so-worthy opponents. Whatever the outcome, win or lose, I will have fun. In the end, it's only football. There are fans that aren't fortunate enough to see their team in person because their situation doesn't allow it, so I always keep the "fun" aspect of college football in mind.

This could be a special season for FSU, and I am ready to enjoy every minute of it. Time permitting, I will blog after every game with my thoughts and observations, as well as provide links to stories about the games Seminole fans might be interested in. I look forward to celebrating a successful season with my FSU brethren. You can follow me this football season on Twitter at @noleman95. Hope to see you out there!

Go Noles!

 

Photo courtesy of Stephen M. Dowell, Orlando Sentinel

Seminole Football: It's a Season of Twos

Now that the reality of the FSU football season is only three days away, it's time for me to take a closer look at the next four months or so ahead of us. When I think of what this FSU team can accomplish in 2012, I get really excited. The Seminoles have a defensive front four (well, really eight or so) that stands to be one of, if not the best, unit in college football this season. The offensive line, while young, is bigger and healthier than it was a year ago. There's talent at running back and, more importantly, at wide receiver. A fifth year senior QB is taking the snaps. Finally, the schedule is favorable.

I will point out now that I am NOT in the crowd that has FSU playing in the BCS title game. An undefeated regular season is likely the only result that will give the Seminoles a spot in that game, as history and the SEC BCS record shows. Based on consecutive four loss seasons, I am not ready to put FSU at 13-0 and in the national title game. I do, however, feel that Jimbo Fisher and his staff have the right mix of talent and leadership to go along with that favorable schedule to put this team "back" on the national stage as a team to be reckoned with. IF this team isn't hit with the injury bug that plagued last year's squad, IF the offensive line indeed can hold its own and create time for Manuel and holes for the running game, IF the defense can avoid the mental lapses in some critical games, the 2012 version of the Seminoles will find themselves in the ACC title game and the Orange Bowl, at the very least. Unfortulately for some of my Seminole faithful, the reality is that only a truly magical season will end up in Miami on January 7th instead of January 1st.

Now, onto the schedule and my predictions for the year.....

Frank, you ask, what's up with the "season of twos?" Well, my answer is this: looking at the schedule, I see the schedule as a series of seven two game seasons. I know you're supposed to look at one game at a time, but hear me out; reviewing the following dyads and ultimately how they play out will determine the outcome of the season. So, here goes......

First two games: Murray State and Savannah State. These two FCS opponents are really just a tune up, a way for the Seminoles to hit someone other than each other. The only goals here for Jimbo and the team is to get out of these games unscathed by injury and get some playing time for reserves.

FSU 2-0.

Second two games: Wake Forest and Clemson. These are the first two ACC matchups, and Seminole Nation doesn't need to be reminded that these two games last year derailed FSU from the ACC title hunt. Losses by identical scores of 35-30 by Seminoles teams playing with key offensive players out due to injury, combined with defensive lapses, gave FSU a three game losing streak and being booted from the Top 25 polls. Look for FSU to have these games circled on the calendar. I feel Wake Forest will be a blowout victory for the Noles, and the Clemson game will end up in a 2-0 ACC start for FSU. The Seminoles defense will put their pride on the line in these two games, and look to reverse the trend of losing to these two pesky foes. Clemson might be the only team in the conference with a better group of receivers than FSU, but it won't be enough this year. Our defense will be wreaking havoc in that backfield, and they won't have an opportunity to get the ball thrown to them. FSU wins this game.

FSU 4-0

Third set of games: USF and NC State. FSU's first two road games of the season match them up against a USF team that beat them in Tallahassee three years ago in Christian Ponder's junior season (and a much less talented Seminoles squad), as well as a Wolfpack team the FSU handled comfortably at home last year in Tallahassee. USF is a team FSU has some payback to give, and the Bulls just don't have the depth on both sides of the ball to pull a victory off. The NC State game has me worried a bit, but I still feel that the 'Noles will, as long as injuries haven't become an issue, win this game comfortably. FSU starts ACC play 3-0.

FSU 6-0

Fourth set of games: Boston College and Miami. FSU returns to Tallahassee October 13th to face the  Golden Eagles undefeated and looking to maintain momentum. The Seminoles won last year in Chestnut Hill 38-7, combining a four turnover performance by the defense with a balanced offensive attack. I don't see this ending favorably for the Eagles in another FSU romp. The following week, the 'Noles travel to South Florida to face annual nemesis Miami. In last year's contest, the 'Canes, even with an early monumental statistical lead, couldn't capitalize in the first half. On the FSU side of the ball, they needed a punt return late in the first half by Greg Reid and three Dustin Hopkins field goals to win in Tallahassee by a score of 23-19. The FSU defense allowed two late TD drives in the fourth quarter, but Hopkins' 38 yard FG at the 11:07 mark of the fourth had put the game in FSU's control. This is a rivalry game, and if Al Golden finds a way to have the Hurricanes in decent ACC position by the time this game rolls around, FSU had better pull out all the stops. This game is going to be close, but FSU will come out the victor for the third year in a row, and halfway to another state title.

FSU 8-0

Fifth set of games: Duke and Virginia Tech. Against the Blue Devils, the Seminoles will play their ninth straight game and sixth ACC contest. At this point of the season, the hype and expectations will be off the charts. FSU has never lost to the Blue Devils (in fact, they're the only ACC team that hasn't found a way to beat FSU in football), and I don't expect that trend to change. The Seminoles win this one going away, and if they find themselves with any injury issues, the Duke game is a good week to let those heal. They have a bye week the following weekend before their Thursday night ESPN game in Blacksburg against the Virginia Tech Hokies. For me, the Tech game is the most important of the regular season. FSU will have the national spotlight, it's on the road against a quality ACC opponent. The Hokies have dominated the ACC for the past seven years, including wins over FSU in the 2007 regular season and the 2010 ACC title game. Although the 'Noles will have 11 days and a Duke game to prepare for this, Virginia Tech is the flag bearer of the conference right now. The game is at night on their turf, and they will not go quietly. This is where I feel recent history bites FSU. With all that is at stake on this game, I don't have the confidence that Manuel and the offense will be able to pull off a victory. Virginia Tech wins Part One (hint) at home in a close, hard fought game. The Seminoles lose their first, and only, ACC game of the year, and have nine days to regroup before facing Maryland on the road. Oh, and this also means the national title hopes are over. There's no way a one loss FSU team gets the nod over a one loss SEC team. Just isn't happening.

FSU 9-1

Sixth set of games: Maryland and Florida. Folks, we don't fear the turtle anymore. The Terps were already outgunned in this game, and with the season-ending injury to their starting QB C.J. Brown, it only got worse. FSU scored 41 points in this game last year, and with the Gators looming a week later, Jimbo will want his team focused on an appearance in the ACC championship game. I predict another runaway victory over Maryland and moving on to the home finale against the arch enemy. As a 'Nole, last year's UF game was a fun one to watch. It was also a painful one to watch. The Seminoles offense couldn't garner 100 yards of offense, and needed the complete ineptness of the UF QB's to pull out the victory in Gainesville. That said, a win is a win against the Evil Empire in Hogtown. This year, the Gator defense is every bit as good as it was in 2011, and since the UF QB situation is still unsettled and none of the UF receivers are stepping up their game, we could very well see a repeat of last year's game in Tallahassee. As much as I hate to say it, scoring points on the UF defense is going to be a tall order. I still feel that defenses aside, FSU has the better offensive talent, and is playing this game at home. The Seminoles pull out the victory by ten points, and finish the season at...

FSU 11-1

Final set of games: ACC title game and Orange Bowl. FSU and Virginia Tech will face off again in the ACC title game in December, with FSU pulling out the victory on the neutral field and a BCS Orange Bowl berth on the line. It will be another close game, but the Seminoles will find a way to win the second matchup. In the Orange Bowl, the ACC Champ FSU will face the Louisville Cardinals. No disrespect to Louisville, but FSU crushes them by 30 on their way to a one-loss season, top five ranking, and the loss of Mark Stoops to a head coaching gig somewhere in 2013. But, hey, that's for another blog.....

Final record: FSU 13-1

There you have it, folks! My garnet and gold colored view of the 2012 FSU football season! Go Noles!

Everyone needs a GG

After the afternoon we just had, I just felt the need to give a shout out to my mother-in-law, GG. (GG's real name is not being disclosed due to privacy reasons) I've (well, actually, most of our friends with kids) determined that everyone needs a GG. In case you were wondering, GG gets her name due to the fact that she is also a great grandmother. I've often told her that she is my FAVORITE mother-in-law, which she appreciates even though she is the ONLY mother-in-law I've ever had. Luckily for me, I get the love right back.

Gotta admit...I am spoiled. This isn't your typical son-in-law/mother-in-law relationship. She is like a mother to me. She cooks for us. A lot. She babysits the kids. A lot. She knows football. FSU football, in particular. She subscribes to Sports Illustrated. Oh, and did I mention she's in her 70's? Even though she has her own place, she still comes over to our house quite a bit. Honestly, I don't know what we'd do without her. She's been a constant part of our daughters' lives since their births. DQ1 and DQ2 (that's Drama Queens 1 and 2, for short) adore their GG. If she came to us tomorrow and wanted to sell the condo and move in with us, I wouldn't hesitate to welcome her as a permanent resident in the justbeingfrank household.

Don't get me wrong, though. She has her faults. Like, the "what happens at GG's stays at GG's" arrangement we deal with when the girls spend the night at her place. Also, she has no problem giving them ice cream after dinner, and then jetting off to her condo, leaving us with sugar laden, hyperactive children at bedtime. I guess that comes with the territory, though. Grandparents earned that right after putting up with us for 18 years. In case you were wondering, this isn't a one way street. I wouldn't feel right about that. For example, just last week, I was at the airport at 2 AM (THANKS, UNITED!) to pick her up on her way back from a trip. I, too, love spoiling her whenever I can.

I know this won't last forever. I know eventually the role of caretaker will be passed on to my wife and I, and we will gladly return the favor. Until then, we will let GG do what she loves to do the most - take care of the ones she loves. She wouldn't have it any other way.

GG, if you find time to read this, I hope you know how much I love you and what you mean to me. You have been the role model for how I'll take care of my kids-in-law one day. Don't ever change.

Love,

Your Favorite Son-in-Law

FSU to the Big XII: an average Joe's perspective

Well, dear audience (if you're even still out there!), I've fallen off the blog wagon for awhile. So, I felt that what better way to get back to the business of blogging than to chime on on this firestorm of a controversy about whether FSU should join the Big XII?

So, here we go......FSU trustees, contributors and fans have hit an ACC mid-life crisis, and our conference relationship, which seemed just perfect when we were seemingly winning ACC titles and playing for national titles every year, has soured. The ACC is run by Tobacco Road, cares more about basketball then football, and doesn't know how to bargain for a lucrative TV contract. Throw in the "lost decade" of FSU football, characterized by the decline of The Legend That Is Bobby Bowden, no FSU BCS bowl appearances since 2006, and a $2.4 million athletic budget shortfall, and you have the ingredients for a jaded spouse looking elsewhere for partner that can light a long lost spark. For FSU, that new flame is looking more and more like the Big XII.

Huh?

Sorry, Mr. Haggard (FSU Chairman of the Board of Trustees), but you haven't sold this Nole that trading the current spouse, no matter how saggy and wrinkled she might look, for that hot babe from the Midwest is in FSU's best interest. Sure, the monetary prospects might be better (a new Big XII TV deal might net FSU $2.9MM more annually than the contract the ACC just signed, as well as give FSU options for 3rd tier games they don't have with the ACC contract), the football competition better, and inclusion into a college football playoff scenario (assuming FSU actually CAN win a Big XII title, which is an entirely different discussion) more likely, but there are other things to consider.

This is where my Average Joe voice has his say. I don't pretend to know anything more than what I read online and gather from my "sources" on Twitter. My case is from an average fan's perspective, and one that wonders if leaving the ACC, at least right now, for the Big XII really makes sense.

The conference: the Big XII is a football first conference, what FSU is looking for. The ACC has never been a football conference (something FSU knew walking into it when we joined in the early 90's). Even though the Big XII was on shaky ground during realignment activities the last year or so, as long as Texas and Oklahoma say that there's a Big XII, there will be a Big XII. With the addition of West Virginia, it kept its football first mentality intact. The addition of FSU would cement it as the second best conference (SEC, of course), so it'd be a no brainer for the Big XII. However, word of caution, Nole Nation. Remember, I just said the Big XII would clearly be the second best conference in football. Considering FSU hasn't won an ACC title in seven, count them, SEVEN years, and since the ACC is well.....the ACC, we shouldn't expect the road to a mythical national title to get any easier. It becomes HARDER. I point back to the fact that if FSU was still ruling the roost on the ACC football farm, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. And I haven't even mentioned how we've done against the Sooners.....

The environment: a major source of angst among the FSU faithful is the perception that the ACC is anti-FSU. They hate FSU, a result of years of the Noles running roughshod through the football conference and winning national titles at the expense of their teams. The officials are biased against FSU in all sports, not just football (although I would make the argument ACC officials are just incompetent, regardless of participant). The ACC doesn't know how to make money like the other conference in the region, the SEC (but, then again, who the hell can make the money the SEC makes?). It's FSU against the schools of North Carolina and a basketball-first mentality (case in point - the conference is adding Pitt and Syracuse. Not necessarily football powerhouses). What environment does the Big XII offer? It's called Texas. If we feel like we're taking a back seat to Tobacco Road in the ACC, wait till we have to deal with Texas. There's a reason we have the saying "Don't mess with Texas." Remember what I said about Texas the reason the Big XII is still together? What Texas wants, Texas gets. FSU will need to understand they'll still be playing second fiddle to somebody else in the conference.

The fans. Ah, yes, the fans. I've already seen Twitter responses of fans that have stated a move to the Big XII eliminates any travel plans for away games. Away trips to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas are too expensive, can't be driven to by car, and in this fan's humble opinion, just isn't a fit for FSU from a regional perspective. Proximity is a large factor in rivalries, and our footprint in the Southwest is marginal, at best. FSU is a Southeastern school. Not a Southwestern school. I can't do a lot of smack talking in my hometown of Jacksonville, FL with OU and UT fans. They're around, but there just aren't enough of them to make it fun. Moreover, a move to the Big XII eliminates the ability for many FSU fans to travel to away games, and limits the fostering of new rivalries. Sure, the occasional trip to Norman or Austin is exciting, but reality is that we likely won't play them every year, and our regular Big XII opponents aren't going to generate the excitement we think they would. I have season tickets. I've seen the decrease of fan support at Doak. I know it's getting better, but to start over with OK State, Baylor, Kansas, Iowa State, Kansas State and West Virginia as regular opponents for my weekly trips to Tallahassee? Doesn't exactly fire me up. OK State and UWV might generate some buzz on a regular basis.....I guess. Unless the Big XII guarantees me OU or TX every other year as home game, I'm not sold my home football weekends being a significant upgrade over what the ACC has to offer.

FSU's responsibility: I would be remiss if I didn't touch on the lack of football success in Tallahassee in recent years. No ACC titles in seven years is a black eye for FSU football. We are expected to compete for the title every year, not worry about beating Wake Forest. But, that's where we are. The preseason buzz the last couple years still led to relative disappointment at the end of the season, as well as two losses to Oklahoma, one of the Big XII's best teams. We need to dominate the ACC again before we think we're really worthy of jumping into someone else's conference and competing for their title. I feel Jimbo has the ship headed in the right direction, but 2012 is the year he needs to put it all together. If we have another three or four loss season this year, especially with the weak schedule, it really questions the ability of Fisher to live up to the hype that surrounds his program. WIN, baby......

Finally, I will just come out and say it: FSU needs to find a way, any way, to gain admission to the SEC. That's where FSU belongs. Sure, we spurned them when we were independent and looking for a conference. I also know we have a snowball's chance because of the University of Florida. They will block any attempt by FSU to join the SEC. However, I don't see how you can make the argument FSU in the SEC doesn't make sense. It fits from a regional perspective. A football perspective. A sports program perspective. An academic perspective. Personally, I don't know what UF is worried about. Regardless of reality, they'll always feel they're better than us. They'll probably always have the better head-to-head record. Just let us in. We'll play nice. Heck, I'm even open to begging. I won't lie....I want some of that SEC cash. Once we're in, we'll forget all about how much we groveled to get there.

In sum, I feel the FSU Administration, fans and trustees alike should think about all aspects of any divorce proceeding from the ACC at the moment. Furthermore, we should not let the emotions of what we think FSU deserves in a conference partner cloud our judgment. What might look sexy tonight in the glow of realignment possibilities could very well just be an instance where the reality in the morning is that things aren't really much better than it was with the last partner.....and wondering whether ending the relationship was the right idea at all.