Predicting the toughest games on FSU Football's 2024 schedule

321 what's happening guys this is Logan Robinson from here the spear presented to you by n game bay.com we're here live on a wonderful fantastic Wednesday evening we're back on Wednesdays at least for the time being next week it's going to be chopped up a little bit differently because these Celtics and the Mavericks these two guys' favorite teams are going at it and the NBA Finals also got some merch on over here D just didn't get the theme here it's NBA Finals everything we just know you're not going to wear any other color than gray so highly expected but we're back we got another episode of he the spear for you guys not a whole ton to talk about this week but we do have some quick hitters that we do want to go over including to at near the end of the episode we're going to be talking about our top three toughest games for Florida State on their 2024 schedule so stay tuned for that we've got Sebastian Janikowski and ped of the college football legend Peter work they're on the ballot for the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Nel earned a big time Big Time bonus we will be talking about that we've got Florida State practicing in Jacksonville we have the dates uh for that as well and then two we're going to talk some recruiting a five star putting Florida State in his top five so we've got a lot to discuss not nothing crazy but we got a handful of things also to have some basketball updates from vzy on his end as well but with me this evening is Austin vzy our lead basketball writer and should I say lead editor for the Dallas Mavericks too with our guy Grant a Seth and then Dustin Lewis is our editor and chief across all game day media properties gentlemen how we doing it's NBA finals week for you guys good evening it's great to be here it's been a very long 10 days you know waiting for the finals to start tomorrow and you know really excited to see this series get going and talk a little bit FSU beforehand yeah I can't wait for this it's been 133 years since the Mavericks last won the finals in 2011 it's a really fun ride that year and it's been a fun ride this year and I'm looking forward to covering it for a change obviously Grand ass has doing a lot of that traveling every game he's in Boston right now I'm really looking forward to seeing his coverage but this gonna be a fun series obviously there's gon be a lot of smack talk between Dustin and myself but I don't think that's anything outside the outside the ordinary yeah I'm in a neutral State here obviously don't have any kind of ties here but now leaning toward on the business side of things definitely pulling for the Mavericks to Come Away with the finals championship but uh I know we were teason at the end of last week's episode about our news that was coming about us expanding in game day media if you followed us on socials or anywhere you probably found out that we have acquired the Dallas Mavericks so Mavericks game day we've got the Houston Texans so Texans game day and then we're over there in Washington DC with uh the commander game day Washington commanders up there so we have spread into the NBA for the first time for game day media and then also now with two other NFL teams alongside Bucks game day n game day in MMA knockouts so now six sites under us it's been a couple of months of craziness ups and downs roller coaster ride and it feels like we're still on the roller coaster ride but it's starting to smooth out a little bit but super exciting and it was a lot of work from DUS Austin the rest of our team as well helping do all this on the back end and build these side but like Austin said we've got Grant there in Boston as we speak Austin's going to be traveling for game three for the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics match up so and four okay and four so uh gonna be everywhere for that if you guys like NBA and specifically the Mavericks or even Boston but uh yeah some cool stuff going over there appreciate everybody in the comments and coming out and hanging out with us and always supporting us too we wouldn't be able to get here in any way shape or form without you guys always engaging and it all started with n game day from the very beginning so uh shout out to SS illustrate a minute media all the people up there and the leadership team for giving us this opportunity this platform to help enhance and try to grow our coverage into a couple other teams markets across the country and Globe for our MMA site as well so uh with all that being said let's get to what we need to talk about we're here from Florida state coverage uh as always you can listen to the podcast on iTunes Google play Spotify if you're on YouTube right now hit that like button would definitely appreciate thr in a comment or topic this is the time to do it it's the offseason there's not a whole ton to be talking about so if you have a question a topic you guys would like us to dive into right now is a time to do it as it's pretty dry so feel free to do that I know you guys will uh let's jump into number one uh Dustin you and I we were talking about it and the Discord but Florida State football is back in Duvall heading to Jacksonville and August um in their early prep of fall camp on August 7th and August 8th this was per Rick Baloo from 1010 XL and Jacksonville Dustin you're laughing you're laughing I knew you'd make a face you told me to say it that way so that's what I say shout out to Rick shout out to Rick Baloo by the way 1010 XL I've been on 10 101 XL a few times uh and a few of their shows they do great coverage over there but we awful sometimes with last names or first names even but uh Rick broke the news there though that Florida state was going to be over there at UNF practicing we've been there multiple times Dustin you were there last year it's gonna be warm it's gonna be hot it's gonna you're gonna get your first little Good Taste of a training camp du but uh it's always good to have the team go over there Mike norell has done this since day one and in his first year at Florida State bringing over the team getting out of Tallahassee and getting them over to uh Jacksonville to kind of get get get out of their comfortab comfortability is that the right word Comfort I would have just said comfort zone but you know that works too yeah that's the that's the easy route though V I'm trying to go the hard route which obviously screwed me but yeah I think it's I think it's great but yeah heading back to Duvall du yeah you made me laugh because you you just changed your your voice whenever you started try pronounce the name it got different that that made me laugh but yeah third straight year now well fourth straight year really for Florida State in Jacksonville third straight year that will be in attendance I don't know if Logan will be able to make it since you know he'll have his Buccaneers obligations going on but right now it seems like me and Tommy are going to be there and yeah I mean it's really just uh getting you away from what you're used to you know because for to say they've got all the nice facilities they've got the practice field the indoor um you don't have that out at UNF UNF doesn't have a football team I mean you're just out there on an intramural field um you know you're hoping that it got mowed the day before I know they're going to kind of line it up to look like a football field a little bit and they've got the makeshift goal post but I mean this is you know nothing like what they're used to using um in Tallahassee and you know forces the practices to be a little bit different um the the weather the sun I mean literally just beats down on that field the entire time and then off the field I mean they're staying um in a dorm you know away from home and it's not only getting them out of their comfort zone but with a team where you've got 23 High School prospects incoming and 17 transfers as well so I mean at least 40 new guys and that doesn't count you know new Walk-Ons that are going to necessarily be on the roster as well this is a chance for them to build that camaraderie um keep building chemistry before the 2024 season and you know I think this is a real benefit before they uh take that trip to Ireland I think it's a great idea I think it's a good point to like you said those incoming true freshmen that are summer arrival guys get adjusted to how it's going to be on the Travel how it works with how FS football program runs that's something that obviously we're about to talk about here on the academic front a lot of ways that Min takes those extra steps for these guys to feel acclimated before the season begins and no matter too if you're a veteran we we talk to Veterans uh that are on the team you know during these practices dur during that week and you know they also mentioned it's good for them to kind of hit that reset understand we are now in football season I'm not over here you know just doing whatever I want to do some is over it's time to get into season mode and get your mentals right for it so uh should be should be good so we'll see DJ we'll see Lawrence TOA Philly we'll see Pat Peyton all these guys are gonna be traveling over there to Jacksonville along with Dustin Lewis and Tommy Mir the most important guys but should have some great coverage over there honestly and I mean the heads up it gives you plenty of time to book both of our hotel rooms thank you thank you it is June 5th we'll see how how long I can wait until getting that done so we shall see but uh I know usually we'll see James Coleman over there former FSU stud uh D fullback um big game James but I know a lot of other former nolles like to get over there I think Lonnie prior too like to jump over there to some practices so I should see a handful of former guys as well we also few few Jags and Ronald Derby and Jaren Jones over there now maybe they might that's right yeah we got JJ over there um who knows might be able to see uh come over and watch some of the practices I would not be shocked by it though I Know M Nell and I know jaran they have a really close relationship and to going to jaran Jones real quick um our guys uh on the SI network with us under that umbrella that covered the Jacksonville Jaguars they just put out a piece talking about Gian Jones absolutely being a stud so far for them and OTAs so Gian jolan's fighting for starting spot potentially here in this upcoming training camp over there in Jacksonville so uh something to keep on there as well but no no no real shocker there after the you know the season that he had last year yeah it seems like the majority of people that come on this podcast end up doing pretty well for themselves and yet here you are yeah damn I'm gonna be doing pretty well for myself in a couple weeks once the Celtics get this here we go good luck yeah I was yeah got Deion Sanders a Colorado job I mean yeah anybody that comes on here we'll get you upgrades just like Mel's coaching tree man spend a little bit of time with this we'll get you promoted get you some jobs just come on here the SP that's all I got Braden FIS Jared verse I mean is what we do here at here the spear nah but uh for real though shout out to jant Jones and uh yeah duball Florida State back and Jacksonville for some practice that means we're getting close that's all I got to say we're close I'm not sure are y'all ready for football season yet I feel like I'm at that point where I'm not fully ready for obviously y'all two aren't because y'all got the y'all literally have your teams in the NBA Finals so y'all are your mindset is dedicated to that right now but I still as a guy that's an outsider still I'm not fully ready for football season I think I got to get into July a little bit then I really start craving some football I was kind of feeling it today honestly because you're seeing the FSU you know they were doing a couple media day type things and filming some of those videos that are going to be on uh the big board and stuff uh this upcoming season and you know seeing some of that on Twitter and Instagram floating around I mean I was getting a little hyped up you know we're only you know we saw the ACC kickoff I think that was announced for July 24th if I'm correct so 22nd close enough but either way I mean Florida State should be starting fall Camp you know that means right around that Mark probably right after the ACC kickoff wraps up I mean like you said I'm I'm solely focused on the NBA Finals right now and then pretty much as soon as the finals are over it's the NBA draft the Olympics are going on and Olympic basketball is always a lot of fun to watch so I'm not quite ready for football yet still very much in basketball mood but by the end of July it'll certainly kick in yeah you got a lot more obligations on your side with more on work than anything but the Mavs Olympics and of course what the finals going on in the draft uh let's talk about Mike norell getting a big fat raise for being a good I mean it's a it's a good number but not a raise but a bonus a nice 150k bonus I mean it's nice but he's getting paid 9.8 gu no but when you look at it from his perspective he's getting paid 9.8 million 150k is nice comparatively it's fine bonus but it's it's not it's not even a tenth of what he's making well duh not even close that's a big fat bonus to me guys so anybody in the chat they want to you know relate to me on that but 150k on the side for for the average person 150,000 is very nice for Mike's new contract it's you know it's all right I'm thinking about myself think about myself personally I would take that but anyways what he had to do in order to achieve that though as Florida State obtained a 997 points on the NCA APR that is the academic progress uh rating system uh Florida State though went up another 16 points which put them in this spot to land that OB obviously to for Mike Nell to get that $150,000 bonus um the 997 is also 30 points higher than the average number which was at 967 I believe uh across any of the FBS teams in the country so really impressive there to just going to when this happened the 2022 and uh 2023 Academic Year you think about what Florida State went through of a roller coaster ride and what they were able to do just to obtain that number is really impressive to me yeah the 997 single year mark That's a program record uh for Florida State so I mean it really just shows the focus that's been putting that's been put by Mike norell on building a total program you know they're not just focused on winning on Saturdays uh obviously they want to do that but they also want to enrich these players lives you know get them ready for the future and you know get them ready to win on every single day kind of like what I wrote In My article but I mean it's really impressive especially when you look back on how low this number dipped uh during some of those late years in the Jimbo Fisher era early on in the Willie tiger there I mean it got down to I think uh 9:36 was the low Mark and once you get to that 930 number and Below that's when the NCAA starts sending out penalties for scholarships and other things like that just because of you know how bad the program is doing academically so I mean to see this rise and the four-year number is also the highest that it's ever been since it started being tracked in 2003 I mean it just shows a focus on everything and that's kind of how Mike Norville operates and I mean you hear it in every one of his press conferences and now it's being reflected with the results yeah going to bring up how bad it was you know right before Norville got here I mean it was close like you mentioned to Florida State facing some serious penalties having some eligibility issues and he's turned around quick obviously he's a No Nonsense kind of Coach both on and off the field and he's done a good job with this locker room off the field not only academically but just as a culture as we've talked about for three or four years now I think Tom on Facebook here saying they're building up the academics for the Big 10 speaking into existence here trying to manifest it it seems like like maybe know Mell steps ahead and more than anybody but uh yeah no they're doing a great job off the field there and something that we don't talk about much of any on this show maybe twice a year Max but got to get credit here to minerval the staff the coaching staff the people that are also involved in the offices as well that do a really good job Hands-On with these players traveling to away games with them two bowl games all this kind of stuff to keep them uh on a good track and the academic books D how you know you think you would be able to help this point system for the football program or would it be hurting it what do you think well I believe he said the team GPA was around 3.0 so yeah I think I'd definitely be shaving a couple points off that's the true average I mean hey I mean you really have to credit Forida State I think for getting the right people in the building you know we always hear about for state and how they select players from the high school ranks and the transfer portal process and I mean man it's really impressive to see these guys focused on all aspects and an age where you know the transfer portal and everything's going on you're going You're hopping to multiple schools I mean imagine what that's doing not only on the football side for guys but also on the academic side so I think just to see that focus with where we are at in college football is is really impressive and especially the way that number is continuing to go in the right direction mhm yeah no I wasn't too far away from you there D whatsoever too on my GPA during my time at Florida State a lot of distractions a lot of distractions as the back of my whole at the beginning of here the spear the back of my walls were just filled with a uh Natty Ice really really just gave it a way of how my college tenure went so hey we made it we made it through we made it through we're here somehow and we're talking about some grades and June we need to get to some football soon Gentlemen let's talk about some recruiting though we haven't talked about recruiting here in a while so we're due for something here and this time it's a big boy it's a f-star 2025 offensive lineman Josh Petty he most recently put Florida State in his top five including Ohio State Tennessee Georgia Tech and Stanford this cat is 65 262 pounds he's ranked as the number two offensive tackle by 247 Sports in his class D give us a little bit of a rundown on this guy and is Alex Atkins about to pull in another one yeah this is a big one it feels like Florida state has a real shot here uh as we move into this June which is going to be a pivotal month for a lot of recruits in this 2025 class and it's no different for petty you know he's gonna be taking a lot of official visits over the next couple of weeks uh right now he's been to Stanford and I think he's wrapping up his time at Georgia Tech he's going to be at Tennessee this upcoming weekend goes out to Ohio State the following weekend and then we'll wrap things up at Florida State for that massive recruiting weekend um June 21st to 23d so I mean FSU is getting the final visit before you kind of go into that Dead period that's going to last the majority of July and then you know into August and stuff before visits start up again for games in September so I mean this is really a chance for FSU to pull off a home run you know really impress him with the final visit and it's not really known yet when Petty's going to make an official announcement you know it could happen before the season but you know we'll we'll hear more from him after his official visit later this month to Florida state but I mean it gives them a chance to uh get in the driver seat here and you know you think right now FSU only four commitments in that 2025 class haven't landed a pledge um since January they do obviously have a guy in five-star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas already committed along that front and I think to land someone like Petty you know I mean that'd be one of the best offensive line classes in years probably for Forida state with some other really talented guys on the board so I mean this is definitely one they want to go out and attain and you know Mike norbel Alex Atkins are going to get a chance to shoot their shot in a couple weeks I'd wonder who the biggest competition would be here between Ohio State Tennessee Georgia Tech and Stanford that's what I'm curious about there they're all yeah they're all really contenders at this point I mean Stanford has been pulling some high level prospects as of late I mean they could be a surprising Dark Horse in this recruitment you know you would think it's probably FSU and Ohio State going head-to-head here but Tennessee also you know has been pretty good on the recruiting Trail as of late but I think that's why it was so important for Florida State to get that final visit and they were able to attain it on his schedule and you know he's going to be here the same weekend that multiple commitments and a lot of other talented prospects are as well so they're going to get a chance here to uh pull one off as we know again that last visit is pivotal and FSU fans know that very well and near to their heart there's been a lot of situations where Florida city has put themselves in the driver's seat to land top tier guys in the recruiting class and then go off and visit someone else on the last weekend or the last day even and it just flips over and the opponent's favor so uh Florida State trying to do a good job here of sticking and trying to and a talented offensive tackle which you know Alex Atkins has been able to obtain during his tenure at Florida State and got to protect these young quarterbacks too that are expected to make uh a big uh surge into 2025 2026 and further uh once DJ leaves after this upcoming season let's jump into some Hall of Fame stuff here gentlemen and as always I feel like we give an update on this every year but once again Peter war is list on the ballot for the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame as we were talking in the production meeting we're always shocked that he is not already in the College Football Hall of Fame I think Chad ooso would be one of his biggest Advocates as well because he tweets about him once twice three times a year advocating that he is one of the best if not the best college football players that he's ever seen uh during his lifetime but also to kicking Legend both NFL of course FSU Sebastian Janikowski is also on that ballot as well but uh gentlemen these two guys have a chance to jump into the College Football Hall of Fame is this the year that it gets done though for Pub is this finally it we've waited long enough it's got to be right I mean it it was already pretty surprising that he's not on there I mean to begin with um fla state right now 11 representatives in the culture ball Hall of Fame nine players and two coaches so I mean it would be be awesome to see p dub be the next one to join those ranks I think SE Sebastian Janowski should have a pretty good shot as well I mean he was a a heck of a college football or a heck of a college player for Florida State and he's still up there in a lot of the season and alltime um program records so I mean both of those guys should have a fair shot at the same time there is a ton of people I mean nominated to make the College Football Hall of Fame last year there only 20 total selected out of that pool so I mean it's definitely tough but it's a it's a major accomplishment for uh guys who played or or coached at the college level at a high level yeah I don't know how pb's not in yet with 3500 career receiving yards 38 total touchdowns two-time consense is allamerican somehow he didn't win the bov award which I I think we need to retroact retroactively change um but it's insane that he's not in yet he's he's one of the greatest college receivers of all time and he needs to be in MH yeah absolutely I wish I was just younger not younger dumbass uh older to be able to watch reader work in person oh my good I actually I was a baby a few times my parents brought me to games so maybe I did him but yeah exactly but I didn't get to freaking watch him and really understand I got to watch great like jamus Winson dvin cook absolutely of course spoiled but um Peter war is probably I mean it's number one on anybody that I'd probably want to see in the college football or NFL level in my opinion that I never got to see really seeing while I was older so I just get to hear all the stories from my parents and my dad watching them in person and just I couldn't imagine seeing it in person like what we saw with dvin cook I mean what I was seeing with what cook was doing was just ridiculous he was just a magician out there the way that he ran um the vision the speed just didn't look real so I just couldn't imagine what it would look like in person to see Peter War um but yeah as Kirk here says Cass for Sebastian Janikowski so best of luck to them we'll see what ends up happening there but hopefully you know hear the spear Alum too for pdub he's been on here a few times as well so we'd love to have him come back on and talk about him being a College Football Hall of Famer by the way real quick the the guys who won it over Peter work by the way the Bindu award I just got curious and checked in 99 it was Troy Walters from Stanford and in 98 it was Troy Edwards from Louisiana Tech so who I don't that's my point yeah I mean I don't want to say who but in that regard of the competition that Peter war was also facing too during his tenure just doesn't make sense but yeah definitely snubbed definitely snubbed but like you were saying here the spear Lum and you know we were just talking about all the other guys that have come on and since been drafted or landed within teams I think I think he's gonna get it I don't know a feeling you think now hear the spears I'm not sure he better come on yeah Cass Sebastian calling you out come on here the spear probably gonna get your name called in that College Football Hall of Fame oh my goodness yeah got a good resume for it um let's jump into a little segment here gentlemen it's in our title and also our thumbnail here for Florida State Florida State's top three toughest games for the semal this upcoming season Florida State as we know is going to start off the season overseas against Georgia Tech then you have a Boston College matchup getting two ACC games right away and as we know divisions are gone so these are really pivotal games to start off the season but of course you've got Clemson you've got Miami got Florida uh Florida comes to Tallahassee this upcoming season uh North Carolina also travels to Florida State this year so uh it's the good home season for FSU but just specifically and it's not a three- game toughest stretch it isn't in that kind of thing it's just picking out the three toughest opponents that the seminal will face in this upcoming season on June 5th as we're doing this I've got I've got i' got maybe a surprise one but I save mine should we now I think we should start how do you know it's a surprise at least it should be it should be a surprise maybe V on maybe vzy and I are on the same length here I think we start we start with one and we go down to three I think that's more interesting here make the viewers have to wait a little bit longer okay well so the toughest hardest or the yeah toughest I think everybody knows like the toughest toughest toughest to the hardest no he just said he said the toughest hardest which is the same word back to back I know I know so which one which one we're gonna go toughest to third toughest yeah okay the toughest is the toughest is an Easy Choice yeah toughest we all go together here we hold hands on it sure all right three two one Notre Dame Clemson Clemson whoa whoa whoa whoa why would it not be Notre Dame it's on the road that's my one and two that's my one and two it's on it's on the road it's Indiana in November next to Lake Michigan or Superior whichever lake that is I don't care Notre Dame it's a good football team really good football team I don't think Clemson's as talented as they were in years past I think that's probably why I have them too but I just think Road games are always tougher than than home games and again it's it's Notre Dame in November it's gonna be cold it just is I've got Notre Dame at number two but I mean you know you look at the ACC really it's going to run through fora State and Clemson and that matchup is the most important on the schedule you know the most important is not the question here it's just what's the toughest game toughest opponent toughest game toughest opponent I think Notre the more talented team and it's on the road that's my AR I still think Clemson is the toughest I mean just because of the way those games have went over the years and Forida State I mean they got over that block last year but that game was still extremely close and I mean you're going to be introducing a lot of new pieces you've got DJ going against his former team Kade kumnick is back for Clemson and you know who knows maybe that offense finally takes a step forward that everyone's been thinking it was going to do for the last two years I mean that is going to be a tough game I agree Notre Dame as well on the road is going to be an extremely tough I got that one at number two but still I'm still feeling Clemson for now interesting I'm right there it's hard it's hard but I I get obviously vz's point there I also think it's worth mentioning too you go Miami North Carolina and then Notre Dame that's an interesting stretch there uh anyways overall in itself but I think Clemson still until until Florida States beating them by multiple multiple multiple touchdowns I mean that was an overtime game last year until Florida State's doing that I can't take away Clemson from not being the toughest opponent for the SEL and told Mike noell is able to secure a victory going in the fourth quarter still to me is tough and I I I just don't uh I understand that you're going on the road too and that's not an easy place to play definitely when you're going into Indiana like you said it's gonna be cold it's gonna suck it's not going to be fun uh but I I I don't know Marcus Freeman I'm still not sold on him too and he doesn't threaten me as much as Davos Sweeney does in my opinion still I just feel like Notre Dame especially in South Bend they do a great job of playing up to their opponent for the most part they they definitely slipped up at the beginning of last year but once they were rolling they were rolling as I just think that team's too talented they have Riley Leonard coming in at quarterback who I trust a lot more than Kate kumnick for Clemson and I think their defenses are going to be comparable you know Notre Dame with Marcus Freeman's gonna have a great defense you know Clemson's normally GNA have a good defense but they don't have the experience that they've had in the years past and as we know dbo he's not going to rely on filling Hol of the transfer portal he's relying on brought up Talent as I just think Notre Dame is a little bit better set for success I think I do move Notre Dame up to number one if it's going to snow that day well would you rather be in snow or like 38 degrees in freezing rain because I think that's what's gonna end up happening because that's that's how I feel it always is up there at that time of year they both suck but I mean like Logan said I kind of agree with that big game factor for um Marcus Freeman you know there have been some times where Notre Dame hasn't played up to that level and I mean looked out of place in some of those big games and I'm looking at Florida State you know eight and one the last two years in True Road games and you can extend that a little bit more if you want to include the LSU victories and you know FSU beating Oklahoma and the chees a bowl obviously the win in the ACC championship against Louisville I mean they've done a pretty good job of playing away from home and you know even in big-time moments and environments not letting it get away from them you know we saw it at Clemson this past season like I said a lot of those guys are gone but being down double digits twice and still being to being able to rally and come out of that and surviving the onslaught from Boston College there at the end of that game it's going to be at a different level uh in South Bend playing Notre Dame and a stadium with so much uh pageantry and and tradition I mean that's going to be a really cool moment for Florida State but as we've talked about before they're going to really want this one with the way that how close those games against Notre Dame have been in previous years and it's it's going to be a really fun matchup for sure so let's jump into number two I mean we practically were already discussing must just flip-flopped here but me and Dustin have Clemson at two I mean Clemson at two [ __ ] Notre Dame at two now have Clemson at two like let's not let's not get crazy here those are definitely the two toughest and then it's a pretty steep drop off after that um for me it was a pretty easy Notre Dame one and then clums two and then after that there's there's a few teams in the mix for number three yeah this is where it gets interesting maybe we could do top five even but maybe we'll do some honorable mentions here who was on The Fringe there of the top three um let start off with let's go let's go to let's go to three let's go to the third toughest matchup here what are you guys thinking on that one who do you have listed on your sheet D Dustin's probably probably got the boring answer so I'll let him go first no let's take a guess on who we think is going to pick vzy I think you're going to pick for number three you said it was going to be a surprise one you think it's going to be shock probably it should be I think you're not going SMU I know you're not um I am I think I'm going SMU I okay all right now you gotta so over all right let's make sure that everybody knows over over Miami's the other argument they Miami definitely has a talent let's not disregard the talent they have I just do not trust Chris Ball whatsoever to get them ready for a big game that's really what it came down to for me and SMU on in both football and basketball I know we're not talking basketball right now but they are really trying to build that Athletic program up with tons of nil funding coaching hires they they want to come into the ACC and ready to compete they probably didn't like how they lost to Boston College in the bowl game but they've gotten a ton of talent in the transfer portal this off season it's Dallas Texas in late September so it's still going to be pretty hot I I think it's going to be a tough game and you also have to consider it's the week before Clemson if there's ever an opportunity for a letdown game it's the week before Clemson and I think SMU is gonna be a good team sneaky D for a St they did have a let down game before Clemson this past season mhm it's just bound to happen especially with college age kids they're they're seeing that that tiger paaw logo on the schedule the next week they're seeing a newcomer SMU going ah it's SMU they're coming from the American Conference how good can they be I think it's a talented team okay I like that pick we're have to get that into an article D we can use that for some click clicks right there now if I might guess d one for one on it he's taking he's taking Miami hold on he could do a quick he could do a little switch up and he might take who I'm picking because I I don't have SMU on there interesting so I think we might all be different here on our third which would be fun uh I think D be honest with it he's gonna he's gonna go Charleston Southern as he do as he usually will do hey after what happened the last time FSU played an FCS opponent that's something to consider uh it's probably GNA be Mario chrisal and the Miami Hurricanes at three no I'm going to be going with Duke whoa coming out of a bye what coming out of a byard after Clemson Friday night and M you're capping you're playing with us I know you say on the you say on the road like Duke has any home environment football there I will I will put money on right now there be more Florida State fans there than Duke fans it was bumping last year it was bumping yeah because they were a good football team now you have Manny Diaz back who has a ceiling of nine and three that's pretty good for Duke they don't have they don't have Riley Leonard there's been some changes they got what what's the quarterbacks Malik they got Malik Murphy from Texas which is fine I I think Riley Leonard's better ACC quarterback we'll have to see how he plays uh no offense that's a stupid pick no whoa whoa we all like to be different here on this show no it's fine different's fine but that's that's a pretty brain dead Choice yeah I mean you picked a group of five team but good job buddy Duke might as well be group of five uh well let me go with mine real quick I'm going Boston College when you get back home from overseas I don't hate it I thought about it was that that's a Friday night game right correct Monday Monday night one of those weird night games I've got that uh castalanos still in Boston College Bill O'Brien's a head coach aan Wards at running back uh I like what I saw a little bit from last year from the Eagles and they've obviously got to show growth and everything but I think that will actually be a tough matchup for FSU coming back from facing against Georgia Tech luckily foray will be at home it's GNA be a Monday night game I'll likely be there as well don't know that can't help worth a damn but we'll be there for that will'll be it'll be fun but I think that is going to be a tough opponent for Florida State Miami is definitely in there for me as well I just for some reason it's just always the offseason chatter and I I don't whatsoever trust Mario chrisal Freeman with Notre Dame is a whole different story Chris Ball and what he's shown Us in Miami doesn't prove me anything like I I and Florida State goes to Miami for some reason whenever Florida State goes to Miami under Mike norbel for the most part at least whenever he's in 10 attendance it's uh not a game going into the fourth quarter so I I got I got that and then probably Miami at four for me as an honorable mention yeah I I agree I would have Miami number four it was it was close between them and SMU like I said I think Miami is really talented but until Mario Chris Ball shows that he's worth a dam as a head coach it's not worth talking about Miami as a football team um and then you know I agree with Boston College I think this gonna be a tough game maybe maybe not tough but it's definitely gonna be easy one to overlook for Florida State coming up coming off the Ireland trip maybe the guys are still bevd up from all the Guinness in Ireland and you know it's a Monday night game weird night for an ACC game and like you mentioned that backfield with with castalanos and and our old buddy trewn Ward could could lead for a little bit of a surprise I wouldn't it wouldn't shock me at all I also want to give a little bit of a shout for Georgia Tech Bren ke they've done a good job building that team up and I think they'll be a good team this year I don't know that they'll be good enough to beat Florida State but they'll a solid ACC team yeah the Jordan tech one could be interesting because first game with uh 40 new players and I mean a lot of guys stepping into bigger roles that they didn't have to play in last season so certainly going to be one to watch and then like you guys said with Boston College I mean you're coming back from an international trip you're readjusting now to two different time zones um it is going to be the home opener you know first time for fans to be there for an actual game since he's Renovations and everything started in do so obviously the stadium capacity for this upcoming season going to be reduced a little bit you know what's the atmosphere going to be like uh that open and night uh on Labor Day evening but yeah Boston College you know new head coach Dynamic quarterback who absolutely diced FSU up at times last year uh it's one to watch yeah I mean and I'm sure Adam Fuller in that defense I mean they're going to want to get it back and interested to see the game plan they have for him this time around luckily everybody won't be sick like what seemed to happen this past year at least knock on W they won't be sick for that game yeah fingers crossed coming back from overseas go a double double hope that doesn't happen but yeah Bill O'Brien uh is the head coach there now for uh the Eagles so interested just to see how that's going to work out there for his tenure in his first year and see how they're going to be able to work with that quarterback that's so Dynamic and you they were eating up Adam Fuller's defense last season so uh but yeah that's the I think those was good I'm I do have one I have a one-off question okay where would you where would you place Florida as far as toughest opponents I just we do our top three weakest opponents segment next week stay tuned for he the spear behind Memphis behind Memphis man so that's what like ninth 10th I don't know know man I might have Memphis on that I had Memphis kind of on that Boston College Georgia Tech level I mean they're they're sneaky interesting yeah you are hyping that one up you're trying to get the ratings up for that no I mean I I just looking into their stats I mean you got a quarterback coming back for his fourth year every year that silverfield has been there since he took over for norell um two receivers with 900 plus yards you know they're leading tacklers back but their defense wasn't defense isn't really their game it's offense the crazy thing about the Florida game I think the only opponents you can safely say are easier is Charleston Southern and Cal after that there's Arguments for just about everybody else Cal had a pretty solid fbii rating but it's ESPN you know how it goes yeah Florida state gets the Gators at home too as well this year uh Tom's asking on Facebook any updates on the renovations do Campbell Stadium don't have any kind of significant updates just watching the construction go on but they're going to be throwing up bleachers for this upcoming season so definitely going to be a different look feel environment I'm interested to see how it affects the noise to oke this upcoming season but um you know players and everybody's staff's gotten used to it they've been running scrimmages and had the Spring Showcase in there as well and didn't seem to be too crazy uh distracting what's going on so um a to grab a updated picture this weekend hopefully either of do or over there of where they're putting the football only facility that'd be good throw that up on uh on your Twitter stay tuned for that and then we can throw it up here on the show next week for everybody to uh check out there's a question on here which home games are we going from Terrell which home games uh Florida State's got Boston College they've got Memphis they've got Cal they've got Clemson they've got um Duke no not Duke no not Duke I meant to say wait why is my thing I hate I hate Google um UNCC those are two bad schools get messed up Duke in UNC yeah and Charleston Southern is at home as well yeah Charleston Southern before uh Florida so Florida state gets two home games before the postseason which Florida state is hoping to get back to the ACC Championship this upcoming season I think it was asking which game are you going to which game which home games we go in are we going together Terrell I'm definitely uh at least starting off Boston College at least I want to get up there for that one Monday night game I don't think that affects me too much for the bucks but still trying to figure out that schedule as well um it'll be definely handful I won't be at any of the home games sadly unless something crazy happens but I'll be at the Duke Road game should be at Notre Notre Dame and we'll see about SMU Dallas baby were you at any of the home games last year I haven't been to a home game since the Notre Dame game in 21 it's it's a hassle from to get from Charlotte to Tallahasse flights are expensive or it's a nine- hour drive back roads the entire way it's just it's not a fun trip it's just I took it it's not fun nope uh speaking of not fun let's get some updates here on F basketball uh let's see here what do we got what do we got we got Florida State I mean I was just going off your Tweet earlier Dustin you know didn't seem like you're too excited for what is this the Hall of Fame round robin yeah VZ and then we have the official dates everybody hold on to your seats we have the official date for Florida versus FSU so I know everybody was ready for getting nervous about that but now we have the dates for these things FSU basketball is still happening the next Beatdown has been scheduled well well how about this I I'll I'll parlay this with some good news on the back end that's not on the dock uh see yeah the Basketball Hall of Fame tip off November 22nd and 24th Florida state will be playing a round robin multi-team event against Temple and UMass hell yeah yeah it's as exhilarating as it sounds Temple was not great last year 16 and 20 lost our top three scores from last year UMass was solid finished fourth in the Atlantic 10 which is a really good mid- major conference but it is mid major led by Frank Martin who took South Carolina to the final four in 2017 so he knows what he's doing uh but at the same time it's hard to get excited for Temple and UMass in mohen Sun Arena in Connecticut can't imagine there'll be many Florida State fans I do know of one my guy Angelo on Twitter I know he'll be there he lives up there and he's very excited for this because that's his birthday weekend but um hard to get excited overall for the event must say I didn't realize it was in Connecticut I thought it was in Vegas so this just makes it it makes it even why would the Basketball Hall of Fame event be in Vegas yeah I didn't I didn't think about it that way honestly I didn't even know the name of the tournament I just saw the opponents and I was just like wow so Temple and UMass which are both of the Northeast you thought we be in Vegas do you think I should bet on FSU to lose both games God well geez we are so far away from October we we'll see uh I'm not I'm not too certain yet we'll have to see if Flor can close out this roster with any kind of decency and then the the Florida game is Friday November 15th if I've got my date right uh Florida killed Florida State last year against an okay Florida State team this is not shaping up to be a good Florida State team and Florida still has Walter Clayton Jr so Mah H glockton Alex G then they should be pretty solid again I don't know if that that they'll be one of the best in the SEC but they they should be Florida State just considering the talent each roster has um and uh if it can't get any worse there's no football game that weekend so you can't say hey let's let's get there a day early check out both games NOP just a basketball game it reminds me a lot of 2013 whenever Florida came to Tallahassee and just absolutely beat the breaks off Florida the year after they won the AC championships all those guys were gone so many new guys it was just snare and a bunch of bunch of mess just I mean I think they won the game by like 40 and that was also the game that um Andrew Wiggins took his official visit to Florida State so that's right I went down there and took a picture with Andrew Wiggins but then Florida State lost by 40 and he did not come to Florida state Florida state was down 30 at halftime last year ended up losen by I think it was 23 anded up being I've tried my best to forget that game as much as I can ugly ugly ugly ugly but on a somewhat decent front I know last week we talked about jir Watkins with johw from the NBA draft and I said it's unlikely he would return to Florida State I think Florida State's chance are getting better just from people I've been talking to it seems more and more likely that he could be returning to Florida State I still wouldn't say it's the most likely option he was supposed to visit Michigan in St John's this week the St John's visit was either called off or it's just not going to happen either way that was one of the bigger opponents in the way and then Michigan who's notoriously really tough to transfer into if you're not a grad transfer and as far as we can tell jir Watkins hasn't graduated yet and all of his credits may not transfer over to Michigan if that's where he wanted to go we've seen it happen with Caleb love where he TR where he transferred from Carolina to Michigan didn't have the credits had to go to Arizona there's a guy from FAU this year who tried to follow Dusty made to Michigan didn't have enough credits to get in maybe that's something to monitor Oregon and Kansas state will definitely be pushing for him they really need some wings and they have the nil funds to go get them and then there's Cincinnati who's in the top six they don't have any roster spots last I check so I don't I don't expect it to be him also apparently at the NBA draft combine a couple weeks ago FL jir Watkins was raving about Florida State's coaching staff could not stop talking about how great they were in his development so they're trending upwards and getting him back to Tallahassee at the very least well that would make me feel a heck of a lot better yeah now I'll actually go to the game yeah uh I gotta feel I gotta have a few more things happen for Coach ham to make me feel really good I mean feel like they're gonna win the ACC Championship but getting your best player back and you know a guy who obviously has NBA potential that definitely lifts the the ceiling of the team a little bit and also I mean also the floor as well and you know we saw what jir was able to do down the stretch I mean he really got a into a rhythm there the final I don't know six eight weeks of the Season where I mean he was just caring for State not only on offense but also defensively as well I mean that's really a guy who embrac Forida State's culture and I mean it's good to hear him Raven about the coaching staff he' come back and be a leader for this team if he chooses to do so it really just depends what he wants to prioritize does he want to prioritize putting up a ton of numbers because he'll be able to do that for Florida State next year he could average 28 and5 next year and it wouldn't be a surprise whatsoever if he went to Michigan there there's a lot of miles of feet on that Michigan team and that's just something you have to consider does he want to put up a whole bunch of numbers for NBA scouts or does he want to go to a place and show he can win some basketball because I don't know that it's gonna happen in Florida State next year that they're gonna win a whole bunch of basketball games if he returned they might be a 500 basketball team again but uh we'll just have to see what the scouts told him what Executives told him at the combine that's a big reason a lot of these guys go through the draft process even like Baba Miller who none of us had any real realistic expect expectation he would be drafted but it doesn't hurt to go through the process see what these Scouts are telling you then you can go back to college for another year and try to improve your game a little bit question on here about baseball we don't talk about baseball much on here if not actually any whatsoever but we do know that the floridity seminal are hosting a Super Regional first time since 2017 they're going to be facing against the UK husky another big obviously basketball program but and B base here they're coming down they actually upset uh number nine Oklahoma but yeah Florida State hosting a Super Regional uh it's going to be three games maybe if Florida State can just go ahead and put away 20 they can head off and go to Omaha uh but uh our girl Emily Peters with tribe check if you guys want to go check out her podcast she's doing a lot of interviews with baseball guys giving her thoughts too as well is bringing great coverage on that end also covers softball and soccer and a handful of other things too so if you guys want to go listen into that feel free to jump over and check her out tribe check with Emily Peters she's also on YouTube as well anything else from you guys this evening nothing much crazy this week but um nothing much to really go into we're in the absolute dry period um I'm trying to think if there's anything else up here in the early parts of the comments uh there's one from wit earlier who scores the first touchdown of the 2024 season we'll end it off with a fun one who scores the first touchdown I'm going Malik Benson dju Roy GNA be a 38 yard touchdown hold on I'm not done here I got a whole description of it I'm finishing up for you it's right post no no no no no deep post Mal Benson 37 yard touchdown fan guzz down Guinness no not first drive I'm gonna go second I think the first drives uh a dud there and everybody's gonna freak out on Twitter about DJ that sounds sounds about right yeah I was also gonna go with uh Malik Benson w wow a standing on that this is gonna be a heavy run offense and I just think Ro Williams is gonna it's gonna be born Roo Williams punches it in from like two yards out something like that okay he looks good I was seeing a video of today they were golfing whatnot and that dude is in the weight room he likes the weight room so I'm really interested to see the tandem between him and Lawrence toil and how that's going to work and navigate um just because of Lawrence tofil is so much different than what we've seen in years past just with like what we had with Trey Benson just more of a versatile guy and is's using in such a various different ways so interested to see um we all know this answer don't need to go into this any further Carlos is still ducking me anyways on the 40 yard dash but uh I'm going Austin I'm not you're being silly now but that hip you more confidence I'm not even confident I could be you right now go yes you can yes you can it all depends on what's at the finish line and what is in the Box what's the I can't I physically can't run right now with with my knees and my hips so uh as long as Dustin can have a light jog he should be able to beat me 40 yards man I don't know passing out the 25 Mark it's a long way will Reed saying who's y'all's tackle leader for next year he's I guess guessing here DJ Lundy uh tackle leader I'll say it's between DJ and shyen brown one of the two m okay yeah because you lose Del lo you lose Tatum those would be favorites going into this conversation in question yeah it's it's also one of those where we don't we don't know who's starting next to DJ Lundy yet as that other linebacker could it be Shawn Murphy could it be Cam Riley from Auburn I had to think of his name for a second but you imagine that those guys will either split reps yeah probably yeah I agree it's got to be between DJ and shahe just because you look at the tackle leaders the last two years uh last year it was um bethon and kayin delo up there at the top year before that you had Jamie Robinson who was obviously back there Manning that safety position so I mean with the way Florida State plays those guys in their scheme I mean they're going to get a lot of opportunities so it wouldn't surprise me to see either one end up on top I'll go I'll go DJ Lundy and we think shaheim will be in that same kind of JB Robinson role we think that's what fits him best so I I think he'd be a fine selection if someone chose him and then one last question here from will even better question is who's our interception leader for the season I'm going with I got bold one here Maran Cooper I'm guessing this is what he said I'm going with Duke so I'm going with Mario Cooper there that's what he said I've got uh I've got a Conrad Hy damn it that's who I was going to take he's a playmaker yeah he knows where to put himself in positions to make the play as long as he wins that as long as he wins that starting spot I mean I think there's still a competition going on there right now I mean he probably has the leg up with his talent but you know still has to get down some consistency stuff but yeah with what we saw last year and what he was doing during spring practice as far as force and turnovers I mean that's a pretty good pick and I think you know keep your eye on Earl little Jr as well jumping in there at that nickel spot I think AZ is going to be in position you know he had some trouble corralling those at times dur during the spring so I mean we'll see if he's able to bounce back once the actual game start but it wouldn't surprise me if he's got the most pass deflections yeah that I think oneone he's a more of a pass deflection guy I feel like and that's I feel like that's kind of how San teaches these Corners just get the football away not necessarily make the biggest play we shall see we shall see it's big year ahead for azire Thomas I think that's going to do it for this week's episode everyone appreciate everybody hanging out with us as always you can listen to this podcast on iTunes Google Play Spotify if you're still on YouTube or Facebook hit that like button deeply appreciate who knows with this route with nothing going on we might do another Q&A episode next week but if you guys ever have any topics or you want some things for us to discuss that you have on your mind just tweet us at here the spear as well and we will definitely talk about it and discuss on the show but appreciate it we will most likely see you guys next Tuesday or Thursday most likely probably Tuesday to you guys some content earlier in the week rather than later because the Celtics face off against the Dallas Mavericks next wednes evening so yeah I mean got the shirt ontic first Mavs baby Easy Money easy that's how it's listed on the tickets Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks I mean makes sense ah whatever oh man but yeah appreciate everybody enjoy the rest of y'all's evening and we'll talk to you guys next week on here the spear peace