Shawn Powell's time at Florida State may be nearing its end but he's got a place right next to the clock in the football team's locker room waiting for him.
As a consensus All-American, Powell -- FSU's star punter -- will be given the honor of becoming the 28th player in program history to have a large cut-out photo of himself placed near the ceiling of the locker room inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
Powell's photo will be next in line after Rodney Hudson and joins a Seminoles' consensus All-American list that also includes Fred Biletnikoff, Greg Allen, Ron Sellers, Jamie Dukes, Ron Simmons, Deion Sanders, LeRoy Butler, Charlie Ward, Marvin Jones, Derrick Brooks, Terrell Buckley, Corey Sawyer, Clifton Abraham, Reinard Wilson, Clay Shiver, Sam Cowart, Peter Boulware, Andre Wadsworth, Sebastian Janikowski, Jason Whitaker, Peter Warrick, Tay Cody, Corey Simon, Snoop Minnis, Alex Barron and Jamal Reynolds.
Here's a photo of where Powell's photo will be placed in the near future:
Here's a list of this season's college football consensus All-Americans from the NCAA:
The following players were listed on the most first team All-America teams competing against players at that position only. To be selected a player has to be named first team on at least two of the five selected All-American teams. Second and third teams were used to break ties. Seven players were unanimous choices by the five organizations used in the consensus chart -- American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Foundation. Note: Each of the five teams has a different way of listing the returner or all-purpose player. For the purpose of the Consensus All- America team those categories were treated as one position.
Returner/All-Purpose-- Joe Adams, Arkansas, 5-11, 190, Sr.
Defense
DL--*Whitney Mercilus, Illinois, 6-4, 265, Jr.
DL--Jerel Worthy, Michigan St., 6-3, 310, Jr.
DL--Devon Still, Penn St., 6-5, 310, Sr.
DL--Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, 6-2, 276, Sr.
LB--Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, 6-4, 260, Jr.
LB--Luke Kuechly, Boston College, 6-3, 237, Jr.
LB--Jarvis Jones, Georgia, 6-3, 241, So.
DB--*Mark Barron, Alabama, 6-2, 218, Sr. '
DB--*Morris Claiborne, LSU, 6-0, 185, Jr.
DB--Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, 5-9, 175, So.
P--Shawn Powell, Florida St., 6-4, 235, Sr.
* Indicates unanimous first team selection; Bold indicates consensus repeater from 2010
Note: Three wide receivers are named because of a tie for the second spot. Both Broyles and Woods made two first teams and one second team each. At defensive back, only three are named instead of four. Two players were unanimous first team while Mathieu was named first team on four. Six other players were named to only one first team as defensive backs.
The man that brought you the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness will be making a Tallahassee appearance in March.
Nick Offerman, who plays Ron Swanson on the popular NBC show "Parks and Recreation," will perform live at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on March 29, 2012. The event is free to FSU students with a valid student ID and $15 for others.
For those of you who have not seen "Parks and Recreation," I suggest you start watching immediately -- if only for the genius that is Offerman's character.
ACC Announces increase to 18 conference games in Men's and Women's Basketball
Additional conference games will begin in the 2012-13 season
December 15, 2011
GREENSBORO, NC - Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today that beginning in the 2012-13 season the league will play an 18-game conference schedule in men's and women's basketball.
"Our member institutions have been talking about this increase for awhile and knowing our league will be expanding to 14 in the future, we've decided to move to an 18-game conference schedule next year, regardless of our membership number," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "The additional conference games create a more equitable schedule and we've received significant feedback from our fans for more conference games."
Safeties - Josh Bush, senior, Wake Forest; George Iloka, senior, Boise State.
Punter - Shawn Powell, senior, Florida State.
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AP All-America team selection panel:
Bob Asmussen, Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette; Greg Auman, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times; Robert Cessna, Bryan-College Station (Texas) Eagle; Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman; Seth Emerson, The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph and Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer; Erik Gee, KNML-AM Albuquerque, N.M.; Eric Hansen, South Bend (Ind.) Tribune; Mike Herndon Press-Register. Mobile, Ala.; Joshua Kendall, The State, Columbia, S.C.; Rob Long, CBS Radio 105.7 Baltimore; Dave Matter, Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune; Sam McKewon, Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald; Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-Advertiser; Kyle Ringo, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.; Keith Sargeant, Home News Tribune, Somerville, N.J.; John Shinn, The Norman (Okla.) Transcript.
A few days late on this, but Shawn Powell has been named to yet another All-American list.
Powell, who has already earned first-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and ESPN.com, was recently named to the Yahoo! Sports All-America team.
From the Yahoo! announcement: "Powell leads the nation with an average of 47.0 yards per punt. He also has helped Florida State lead the nation in net punting (42.0). Twenty-one of his 49 punts this season have exceeded 50 yards, and seven went at least 60 yards. He has landed 21 of his 49 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line, and 12 have gone inside the 10. Sixty-three percent of his punts haven't been returned."
From the Yahoo! announcement: "Although he isn't a starter, Jernigan emerged as a vital part of a deep line rotation that has helped Florida State rank second nationally in run defense and fifth in tackles for loss. Jernigan has 28 tackles - six for loss - and 2.5 sacks. He had two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in a shutout of North Carolina State."
Perhaps it's a sign that the Washington Wizards won't re-sign Yi Jianlian. According to the Wizards' official website, former Florida State men's basketball player Chris Singleton will wear No. 31 for his new professional team.
Jianlian wore Singleton's number last year and is still on the roster but it seems clear he will not be re-signed or will be traded in a sign-and-trade.
Singleton, who was Washington's first-round draft pick this year, wore No. 31 for the Seminoles for three seasons.
My followers know how to vote for the Heisman Trophy.
Prior to this past Saturday's Heisman Trophy presentation, I sent out a tweet to those that follow me on Twitter asking for everyone's vote for college football's .
Robert Griffin III wound up becoming the first Baylor player to ever win the coveted trophy and he also nabbed the most votes from my unofficial poll. Of the 31 votes that I received, Griffin pulled in 19 of them.
LSU's Tyrann Mathieu garnered three votes, Alabama's Trent Richardson had eight and Stanford's Andrew Luck had two.
Here's hoping next season there's an FSU player in the mix.
Quotes from FSU players following practice on Friday, Dec. 9, 2011:
Brandon Jenkins, Jr., Defensive End
On getting back to practice:
"Felt good. I got my body back, got my legs back and we're getting back to the basics."
On getting an NFL evaluation:
"Yeah, just to see how people feel about me and it doesn't base anything off of my decision, but just to see where I am."
On the Champs Sports Bowl match-up with Notre Dame:
"Big schools, great tradition, big teams, great players. We've got to bring our A game."
Greg Reid, Jr., Cornerback/Return Specialist
On having time off:
"It was alright. I still did a little conditioning and workout myself, but it was alright."
"Yeah, anytime you have a ten day break you go out there and you feel fresh. I felt real fresh."
On playing Notre Dame:
"Of course (I'm excited). Both teams hold a lot of weight with tradition. I'm ready to play."
On the defense play well and what's working:
"I think that it's just we're learning stuff throughout the year and we just come together and playing right now. We're clicking and we're enjoying it."
On the NFL paper work process:
"I kind of want to come back for my senior year. That's what I'm looking forward to. There are still a lot of things that I want to accomplish yet."
The talent that could be back next year:
"We notice that. A lot of us are still thinking about it, but a lot of us are thinking about our future, too. We know what we're risking. We know what we want to do."
Lamarcus Joyner, Soph., Safety
On getting back out to practice:
"It was great. A few days off; getting the body back healed. Getting back mentally and prepared. As the season goes on, you get caught up in the game, planning against opponents. You lose the basics and fundamentals and techniques. That's the fun of the game where you're just not out there hitting, you learn how to tackle with coverage, that's what you want to do after this game."
On his body:
"It's different from high school to college. My first year as a starter in high school, [you are] trying to tough it out for the team because you don't want to let the team down. You definitely need those days to get your body back right. It was tough long season. We, as a team, appreciated those days off."
On if it feels like a brand new year:
"Yeah, we're just trying to set the tone. It's like a totally different new year. We just want to start this thing off, kick things right for this bowl game."
On playing Notre Dame:
"For me, it was great because I was recruited by them. Just to be able to play against them every once in a while, I was excited."
Christian Jones, Soph., Linebacker
On going back home to play in the bowl game:
"It's real exciting. I'll be able to have most of my friends and family come and watch me play. Probably my high school coach will come out and watch. It's always good to play in front of my hometown crowd."
On playing Notre Dame:
"It was real cool. I know some guys on the team. It's always good to play a team like Notre Dame with all of the history and tradition."
On Thursday's first practice:
"We all had fun out there. It was a lot of the ones on the ones. It was real competitive. We just had fun out there, being able to go out there and play."
On the time off:
"It was great. It's something that doesn't happen that much so it was good to have that time off."
For the defense having the time off:
"Every time we go out there we are ready to play, but it's always good to get that little break in."
On the defense finding a rhythm at the end of the season:
"It feels good; especially to find out that we are one of the top defenses in the country. We just play well together and we have fun together and we are able to just put it all together."
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As part of the press circuit in preparation for Thursday night's Home Depot College Football Awards, I had the chance to speak with ESPN analyst David Pollack.
A former Georgia star defensive end and first-round NFL draft pick, Pollack knows a thing or two about the play of defensive linemen so I took the chance to ask him about Florida State's standouts on the defensive front.
Seminoles.com: What are your impressions of Bjoern Werner?
Pollack: "I love the way Bjoern plays. He's got some good quickness off the ball. He's not just a 'try-hard guy.' Usually you get a light-skinned defensive lineman and he's the 'try-hard' guy but he's got some good ability and he's going to be a very good player. He's got good strength and he knows how to rush the passer. He's really going to be a fun player to watch."
Bjoern Werner
Seminoles.com: Junior Brandon Jenkins has submitted his paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Committee and depending on what he learns may leave FSU a year early. What do you think he should do? What does he do well that translates to the NFL?
Pollack: "He needs to come back and play another year with Werner. Those two together could do some damage. Brandon is as explosive as it gets. He can get off the football. He's definitely quick. It's always a personal decision. You always file your paperwork and see where you're slated [to be picked] and you decide but that defense has got so many young guys that will be coming back that it's going to be fun to watch. But Brandon's a baller. He knows how to get after the quarterback."
Seminoles.com: He's not a defensive end like you were but he's worth mentioning. What do you think of freshman defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan?
Pollack: "He's going to be a good player. FSU just keeps rotating those young, talented guys in there. He looks like a freak in the middle. FSU's got a bunch of guys. The 'Noles are one of the few teams in the ACC that have the defensive impact players in the trenches. FSU is one of the few teams in the country other than than the SEC that has a bunch of guys in the trenches that can make a difference. "
Seminoles.com: Jimbo Fisher talks frequently about the importance of playing well on defense above all else...
Pollack: "It's a perfect state to continue to build that great depth. Florida is a perfect place for it and South Georgia -- or as Coach Fisher calls it, North Florida. That staff has recruited really well the last two years and I expect that team and defense to get even better."
Seminoles.com: As the lone player representing FSU at the awards show, what are your thoughts on Dustin Hopkins?
Pollack: "He's got a horse leg doesn't he? I remember being at the Oklahoma game and seeing it come off his leg and thinking, 'holy cow.' He's good and he's still got another year so that's a good thing obviously. For a school that has some negative history with kickers it's got to feel good for FSU fans to have a guy like that."
According to the Sports Business Journal, Florida State players and coaches will each receive a $420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy and a Timely Watch Co. watch as part of the bowl-gift package for participating in this year's Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 29.
Here's a breakdown of the rest of the gifts for each bowl according to the Sports Business Journal:
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M.
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley beanie, New Era cap, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0, pen with box, Christmas ornament
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Saturday, Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, North End winter coat, Kombi gloves, Nike beanie, Ogio Fugitive backpack, Big Game souvenir football
R+L Carriers
New Orleans
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Samsung Galaxy tablet
Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m., ESPN
Sony PlayStation 3, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, mini-helmet
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m., ESPN
Best Buy gift card*, Tourneau watch, hooded sweatshirt, FlexFit cap
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Thursday, Dec. 22, 8 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, cap
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
Saturday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m., ESPN
Oakley sunglasses, Aloha shirt, Pro Athletics custom beach shorts, Oakley T-shirt, performance wear, cap or visor, backpack, beach towels, bowl calendar, playing cards
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, La.
Monday, Dec. 26, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, New Era cap, commemorative football
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Ford Field, Detroit
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Timely Watch Co. watch, leather duffel bag, commemorative football
Belk Bowl
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 8 p.m., ESPN
Estimated $400 shopping trip to Belk's flagship store in Charlotte, Fossil watch
Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple iPod nano, Deuce watch, LunaTik wristband (to hold iPod), beanie, Nike backpack
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m., ESPN
Best Buy gift card*, Tourneau watch, hooded sweatshirt, FlexFit cap
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome, San Antonio
Thursday, Dec. 29, 9 p.m., ESPN
$400 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Schutt mini-helmet, panoramic team photo
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas**
Friday, Dec. 30, noon, ESPN
Sony Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, camo knit beanie, Ogio backpack, Big Game souvenir football
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium, New York City
Friday, Dec. 30, 3:20 p.m., ESPN
Note: Bowl committee would not disclose details about participants' gifts
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
LP Field, Nashville
Friday, Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, Reactor watch
Insight Bowl
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.
Friday, Dec. 30, 10 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, Fossil watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Reliant Stadium, Houston
Saturday, Dec. 31, noon, ESPN
Toshiba 32-inch flat-screen television, Fossil watch, belt buckle, T-shirt, backpack
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas
Saturday, Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS
Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic Pro-Base fleece pullover, VP Sports cap, Ogio Politan backpack, Helen of Troy hair dryer, souvenir coin
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis
Saturday, Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Nike training shoes, Nike sport sandals, Nike sunglasses, Nike Air Jordan backpack, commemorative game ball
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
AT&T Park, San Francisco
Saturday, Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Soundmatters Personal Audiophile loudspeaker, Fossil watch, cap, Timbuk2 custom messenger bag
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Saturday, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
$250 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Russell Athletic ski cap, Russell Athletic travel bag, $15 Chick-fil-A gift card, commemorative football
TicketCity Bowl
Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Monday, Jan. 2, noon, ESPNU
Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch
Capital One Bowl
Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., ESPN
$420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy, Timely Watch Co. watch
Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., ABC
$150 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Jostens ring, cap, $25 Outback Steakhouse gift certificate
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl
EverBank Field, Jacksonville
Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m., ESPN2
Fossil watch, Gator Gear performance headwear, rolling luggage bag, Jostens ring, commemorative football
Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Monday, Jan. 2, 5 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era hat, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Monday, Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, Kenneth Cole watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Tuesday, Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, Reactor watch, New Era cap, Majestic fleece pullover
Discover Orange Bowl
Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Wednesday, Jan. 4, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Gift suite, Tourneau watch
AT&T Cotton Bowl
Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Friday, Jan. 6, 8 p.m., Fox
Fossil watch
Note: Bowl committee would not disclose additional details about participant gifts
BBVA Compass Bowl
Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.
Saturday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m., ESPN
iBeats by Dr. Dre (ear buds), Reactor watch, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, Big Game commemorative football
As an added bonus for winning the Blimpworthy College Game of the Week contest on ESPN's Sports Nation for the weekend of the FSU-MIami game, the kind folks at Goodyear sent over some black hooded sweatshirts.
Now's your chance to get one. The first to tweet me back with the answer to the following question will get it sent to them in the mail.
Question: Who was the first student-athlete to ever wear No. 11 for the Florida State football team?
