'Noles Won't Take Foe Lightly 

Jacksonville State has FSU's attention

Sept. 10, 2009

Florida State's football coaching staff isn't taking Saturday's opponent - nationally-ranked Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) foe Jacksonville State - lightly.

Extra hours of staff preparation has been the norm during a shortened week of preparation due to Monday's game with Miami. The Seminoles will even participate in a light practice on Friday; a rarity during the Bobby Bowden era.

With dramatically different schemes than Miami and a handful of one-time Bowl Championship Series (BCS) players on the Gamecocks' roster, the coaching staff wants to assure that the Seminoles have all the bases covered. After all, upset wins by FCS teams are becoming more common each season. In fact, there were two in the ACC last week.

"It's a big challenge," FSU senior linebacker and defensive captain Dekoda Watson said. "They might be a smaller team, but we definitely have to respect them, and I do respect them. The quarterback (Ryan Perrilloux) came from LSU, and I'm going to have to get Coach Jimbo Fisher and try to get some pointers from him. We're going to have to respect him and contain and make sure we don't over-pursue this week because he can throw, he can run, and he's very mobile."

Perrilloux isn't alone. One of his favorite targets is former Georgia Tech receiver Greg Smith. Defensively, the Gamecocks have added former Florida tackle Torrey Davis.

"We don't normally do anything on Friday other than study tape and meet," FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said, regarding the decision to practice on Friday. "The way you prepare in a short week is pick up your intensity of preparation."

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Seminoles Begin Crash Course On Jax State

Gamecocks' schemes make short prep time a test

Sept. 9, 2009

Unranked but undaunted, Florida State returned to the practice field Wednesday for the first time since Monday night's crushing, 38-34 loss to Miami at Doak Campbell Stadium.

The Seminoles don't have time to sulk over the loss because Jacksonville State, a nationally-ranked Football Championship Subdivision team led by former LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, brings challenging offensive and defensive schemes to Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday night (6 p.m., ESPN360.com).

"It's very difficult," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said of the short turnaround. "You're really rushed for time."

The No. 21 Gamecocks, who are coming off a 37-17 loss at Georgia Tech, figure to benefit from Perrilloux's return following a one-game suspension.

Offensively, Jacksonville State spreads it out, mixing option work with Perrilloux's big-play passing ability. Defensively, the Gamecocks show a three-man defensive front.

"I'm not sure you can ever get a loss like that out of your system, but you've got to close the door to it," FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said, following practice. "I'm surprised (the game) was as close as it was, with as many mistakes as we made. We had more missed assignments, we had more missed tackles, than any game around here in years."

Correcting those mistakes while preparing for an offense that requires a lot of assignment work is never easy. Doing it on two less days of preparation, after yielding 476 total yards and 38 points doesn't make it any easier.

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