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FOOTBALL

Ice, Ice ... Maybe?

You thought it couldn't get worse at FSU?

Ken Willis
ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
Willie Taggart is still trying to put together a winning formula at FSU. [AP FIle]

The scene takes place about, oh, 20 years from now in Tallahassee.

A couple ol’ boys in tattered FSU caps are sharing a booth at the Sonny’s over on Monroe, when one looks up from his pork special and asks the question.

“Remember the time Taggart iced his own kicker?”

Is it fair? Not entirely. But perception becomes reality rather quickly, and if not rebuffed with equal quickness, it cements itself in lore.

It’s bad enough to continue losing football games. In fact, in certain corners, it’s downright sacrilegious.

To invite ridicule is practically written into the job description. They eat second-guessers for breakfast.

But becoming the object of laughter? You need some serious digging to climb out of that ditch.

No, Willie Taggart didn’t ice his own kicker. Not intentionally. In fact, it might be worse than that.

He called the timeout because he and his coaches apparently hadn’t thought ahead to the possibility they’d be facing an enticing fourth-down situation at the same time they’d be contemplating a long field goal.

In the rain.

FSU’s kicker, Ricky Aguayo, was just 4-for-8 on the season when he splish-splashed onto the field with 2:13 left in Saturday’s game at Wake Forest. That, along with the rain, explains why FSU’s coaches considered skipping the field goal and attempting to convert the fourth-and-6 at Wake’s 33.

It doesn’t entirely explain why they waited until that very moment to contemplate the potential situation.

So they called timeout to ponder. That sounds just a bit nicer than suggesting they iced their own kicker.

However you label it, they left Aguayo on the field, he missed wide left, and the Seminoles didn’t get the ball back until just 35 seconds remained. And that’s because they only had one more timeout to burn during Wake’s three-and-out … the result of wasting one earlier in the half due to substitution issues before a Wake punt.

Oops upon oops upon oops.

The ’Noles have now lost three games this season when leading in the fourth quarter. The one time they escaped that indignity: The Louisiana Monroe “win.”

Twenty years on, after the question is asked at Sonny’s, one of two responses will follow.

1. “Man, I can’t believe Willie recovered from that one and won all the games he did here.”

Or 2. “Whatever happened to him?” 

Rank & File

The weekly ranking of Florida's seven big-league college football programs, based on records versus expectations, current trends, and Taylormade's latest coefficient of restitution . . .

1. Florida (7-1): Somewhere along the way, if you’re going to contend for championships, you almost always have to win a game you easily could’ve lost. The Gators did that at South Carolina last Saturday. And for all the questionable officiating that eats your guts out, eventually you get the breaks, and when those breaks come in a game you could lose, you end up with Florida’s comeback win in Columbia. This week: Off, ahead of next week’s Georgia get-together.

2. UCF (5-2): The loss at Cincinnati three weeks ago means the Knights don’t control their destiny in the American Conference. But Cincy has two tough conference games remaining (Temple, Memphis), so there’s still an outside shot at that third straight American crown. But first things first. This week: At Temple.

3. FIU (4-3): This is more like it. The Panthers were considered a Conference USA threat … and then they kicked off the 2019 season and started taking on water. But Butch Davis has his team rolling through the soft underbelly of C-USA. Two more wins should precede the Nov. 9 Shula Bowl versus FAU. This week: At Middle Tennessee State.

4. FAU (4-3): In a reversal of recent trends, FAU employed the always overrated “Break But Never Bend” defense in a 36-31 loss to Marshall. In an expensive insult to injury, the conference fined FAU Coach Lane Kiffin $5,000 this week for a less-than-subtle critique of the officiating. They weren’t fond of his Sunday tweet showing a photoshopped picture of officials being led around by guide dogs. This week: At Old Dominion.

5. USF (3-4): The lopsided loss at Navy was no shocker, given the state of things in Tampa. More bad news: After this week, there’s nothing but rough sledding through November. This week: At East Carolina.

6. Miami (3-4): Scheduling oddities are rare in the regimented world of football, but the Hurricanes have played five straight home games. They won three of them. If you trust your math skills, you know the ’Canes are therefore 0-2 on the road. Four of the season's final five games are on the road. Ugh. This week: At Pitt.

7. FSU (3-4): Can you already feel the buzz building for next week’s FSU-Miami game in Tallahassee. Me neither. And while we suggested we understand the desire to stick with James Blackman at QB, shouldn't Alex Hornibrook at least get a chance to win a game here and there? This week: Syracuse at home.

Pro Picks

Miami (0-6) at Pittsburgh (2-4), Monday night: A couple of eyebrow-raising issues have arisen during this so-called Tanking For Tua tear-down. For starters, the Dolphins are actually showing improvement. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said something this week about finally knowing everyone’s name at the lunch table. That’s a start. Secondly, Tua has now suffered an ankle injury for the second straight season. The good news is, he’s out of ankles. But the bad news is, does this suggest chronic ankle woes? The pick: Steelers 22, Lunch Buddies 13.

Jacksonville (3-4) at N.Y. Jets (1-5): Minshew Mania hasn’t extinguished, but the wave has settled a bit. He was roughed up two weeks ago, and while rebounding in Sunday’s win, there were still some rookie moments. And wouldn’t you know it, right on cue, Nick Foles is due to start light practicing this week. It’ll be Week 11 before he’s eligible and the Jags might have to make an uncomfortable decision. The pick: Jags 31, Jets 20.

Tampa Bay (2-4) at Tennessee (3-4): The Bucs face the Titans and their new starter at QB, Ryan Tannehill. He was once the present and future with the Dolphins, who gave up on him, and now his career might be rejuvenated. You wonder if Jameis Winston is paying attention. The pick: Bucs 19, Titans 17.

Reach Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com