This year’s season has caused us Seminole fans to have a roller coaster of emotions. Each game has stressed us to no end but as always, our Noles never disappoint. Despite being 23-0, the highest scoring team in NCAA history, defenders of the 2013 BCS Championship, home of the 2014 Heisman trophy winner and having an amazing fan base, we still seem to be the red headed step child of ESPN’s teams. Somehow, we’ve even adapted the lovely name from our beloved haters of the “Criminoles.”
I knew that people envied the number-1 ranked team, however, I never thought FSU would be the punching bag in college football. ESPN continues to hate on our program and express doubt in our team this season yet, if I’m not mistaken, I’ve seen College Game Day right here in Tallahassee twice this season and the Noles have yet to disappoint. Other haters say it’s because of luck, but I feel it is a bit unreasonable and naïve to believe that luck brings you 23 straight wins and as Notre Dame showed us, luck can only get you so far.
ESPN makes comments towards the ACC that are lower than Alabama’s ego after the Ole Miss game, but ACC fans everywhere ask the same question: why? Well perhaps it’s because ESPN has a 15-year deal with the SEC, reportedly worth more than $2 billion, broadcasting only Southeastern Conference athletics. So let’s break it down, ESPN is making billions on the SEC and to see an ACC team come bulldozing through and earning (yes I said EARNING) the number-one spot, well, that just seems to leave them a bit frazzled.
With that being said, unfortunately the success of our program has led the spotlight to be shown on our team thus making ESPN and networks everywhere more and more adamant about the witch hunt. Is it over? The answer to this is no, and it won't be anytime soon. Viewers love to root for the underdogs and this time around that is not us. We are defending champions and it will be hard to defend our title but I feel that our team is capable of this, with or without the constant bashing by the media. The fact that FSU is number one will only cause SEC fans everywhere to claw at every aspect and flaw our star player demonstrates. What people are failing to realize is that Jameis Winston is 20 years old, still a college student; he makes mistakes just as we all do.
The media needs to work on their brainstorming and attempt to think of new ideas and shut this down because it’s getting real old, real fast. They await the moment that Jameis looks in the wrong direction so they can blast it all over the headlines. Is there nothing else to talk about? No news, highlights, positive stories? Let’s talk about Todd Gurley, no? Oh that’s right, as long as ESPN has a say, no one touches as much on the issues of the beloved SEC as the ACC. Fans of the SEC that don’t know left from right about FSU’s team toss insults around like it’s their job. Gator fans need to sit down and quit drinking so much haterade because they are the first to bash FSU and continually hate on our football program, I mean I guess they need something to talk about to avoid the conversation of their games this past season, and the one before that... and I guess before that. As long as FSU stays on top of the rankings, there will be no end to the criticism and accusations because they are waiting for the moment to see us slip up. So make sure you’re ready to broadcast ESPN. If they want a show that is exactly what they will get; FSU will put up a fight, a fight to defend our title and a fight to go to Dallas.
