This week we bring you the blogger that helped us start our “Know Your…” segment a few years back, NoleCC from ScalpEm. Bill is a dear, dear friend of the site and has helped us grow from a fledgling scratch pad on blogger to what it is now. We can’t thank Bill enough for all the help he’s given us over the years. Hence, we didn’t make any jokes about Mickey Andrews or his family. See, we can be good people. WE GOT CLASS. WE DIGNIFIED… AND SHIT. Check out our responses here.

1) Christian Ponder’s rib injury seems not to be as bad as first thought. Do you think this is being downplayed and will if affect him at all?

Interestingly enough in Ponder’s press conference he looked healthier than expected and said it hurt less than last year’s injury. If it’s on par with last year’s rib problem, then yes it’s going to affect his running and his passing. The Athletic Department puts out some sketchy injury reports at times, so really we won’t know until a couple of plays into the game on Saturday night. He’s getting treatment all week and FSU fans are certainly hopeful that it works. E.J. Manuel is a capable backup with many of the same qualities as Ponder, should Ponder have any more injury problems on Saturday night.

2) You guys are ranked 74th in rushing and averaging 136 yards a game. That’s not necessarily stick in the mud rushing, but it’s not breaking through any walls either. We’re about as average at stopping the run. Can we assume you’ll be trying to use the pass to help the running game get going or will this be the most boring first half of football ever?

The rushing stats are deceiving. I honestly believe that the FSU rushing attack is better than advertised for a couple of reasons. First, the Noles have been in shootouts all year, which means they’ve been throwing, throwing, throwing. Ponder’s been the highlight of all of that of course, but it doesn’t mean the running backs have been bad. The offensive line had run blocking issues at the beginning of the year, but adjustments were made. Lonnie Pryor, our big back, was moved to Fullback to get him in the game and that’s paid dividends for FSU in blocking and in short yardage. Jermaine Thomas, Chris Thompson and Ty Jones are all capable backs. Second, I’ll use Jimbo Fisher’s argument that a lot of the passing plays FSU uses are short screens of varying types, which equate to sweeps. Yes, on paper it’s a pass, but it acts more like a run. With the wide receivers doing a lot better than anyone predicted it’s been an effective weapon for FSU. Personally, I wish we’d grind it out more to keep the defense off the field, but I’m sure we’ll see a good mix of pass and run in the first half. Whatever works is whatever Fisher will stick to until it doesn’t work anymore.

3) Clemson is ranked fourth nationally in fewest penalties per game. We see FSU at the other end of the spectrum at 108th. Is this a big enough factor for us to count on for the game? Also, you guys aren’t going to try to use the excuse that you gave the game away if it does come into play, are you?

Silly Tigers, obviously it doesn’t matter that much in the win column. Clemson is only 1 game better than FSU at this point. I’ve never been a big believer in penalties mattering. Look back at FSU in the late 90’s. They were always one of the most heavily penalized teams, but they still managed to win tons of games. It’s like the old saying, “If you’re not cheatin’ then you’re not tryin’.” Aggressive penalties can be forgiven, boneheaded ones at bad times like personal fouls for out-of-bounds hits are the ones that hurt. Either way they’re part of the game. I’ve never been one to bitch about penalties and giving the game away. There are tons of ways to “give a game away” but in the end it’s just a different way of saying, “LOSER.”

4) Do you think that Mickey Andrews’ announcement will have any kind of motivational swing for your defense (good or bad) this Saturday?

We can hope, but I doubt it. Motivation isn’t going to fix the problems on defense. Motivation isn’t going to make a horribly undersized and under-coached defensive line suddenly rush the passer effectively. Motivation isn’t going to make the secondary stop biting on play action. Motivation isn’t going to suddenly improve poorly coached linebackers. I hope they improve and send Mickey out like he should be sent out, but I just don’t see it happening with this crew.

5) Bobby Bowden is a doddering old shit and your entire fucking organization looks incompetent and indecisive due to this coaching clusterfuck. Any objectivity regarding Jimbo is completely out the window because he’s the hopes and dreams for the future of the program, no FSU fan can realistically view him because he is the only perceived pillar of stability in the whole drooping program. This isn’t a question, it’s a fact. Enjoy. BOOM.

I’m sorry, when I read that I was confused, because I saw “entire fucking organization looks incompetent and indecisive” and thought you were talking about the Tommy Bowden era at Clemson.

Regarding Jimbo Fisher, I don’t know if he’s “The Guy.” There’s no way anybody knows yet. What I can say is that I like what I’ve seen from him, with the limited ability he has to do anything under the current leadership structure. He needs the chance to see if he can do it as the Head Coach, with his staff in place. I think he’ll do a great job, but you could be right in that I’m just hopeful for ANYTHING at this point since FSU fans have witnessed garbage for the last few years. I like what I hear from Fisher in press conferences. I like his offense generally. From what I read he’s a great recruiter (to the point that he’s getting defensive recruits like Greg Reid). My biggest concern with Fisher is that he’ll actually be “The Guy” and win an MNC or two and then bail on FSU for the NFL or something. At that point, FSU is back to being up a creek without a paddle.