Since FSU's latest OL commitment is so new to football, not much is known about him. But back in December 6'-6" 320 lb. Menelik Watson revealed to an Auburn site details about his background, including:

• He was introduced to football last August at Saddleback CC in California. His coach wanted to get him in the lineup by the fourth game on the schedule. Watson did it, making his debut on Sept. 24th. It was the first of eight games he'd play in his incredibly brief football career.

• Saddleback's ground game improved dramatically with Watson in the lineup, going from 120.7 ypg before his first game to 153.9 ypg the rest of the season.

• Menelik's first sport was basketball. His play at an academy in Spain led to a scholarship at Marist College in New York, where he played in 29 games in the 2010-11 season.

• When he decided to try football last year, he worked out with NFL players before going to Saddleback. During those workouts Watson said he ran a 4.72 40 -- in tennis shoes.

by Bill from Tampa

In several ways Wednesday night's game against Wake Forest was more of a trap game for Florida State than the Maryland game was. The Seminoles had just come off of a dramatic win over Duke, traveled back home only to return to North Carolina a few days later, were playing an improved over last season but still struggling Demon Deacon team, and could have been looking ahead to having the next seven days off before its next game.

And the game seemed to start out that way with the 'Noles playing sluggish trailing 7-2 early, unable to make baskets and several turnovers or near turnovers. Nearly ten minutes into the half FSU was just 5 of 17 from the floor.

Leonard Hamilton called it "not so much a lack of effort but a lack of focus on offense."

Florida State found that focus however, eventually cruising to a 75-52 win to improve to 14-6, 5-1 and still tied for the conference lead.

"We started to throw the ball inside," Hamilton said. "We stepped it up in the second half. We imposed out will."

What Hamilton left out was how his offense handled everything Wake threw at them. The Deacons tried to press full court and got burned by easy uncontested slam dunk baskets at the other end. They tried a zone defense only to be beaten by lobs to Okaro White streaking along the baseline for the layup. And when the Deacs tried man to man, a variety of players scorched them with three pointers.

The Deacons closed the game to 30-28 early into the second half on a catch and shoot three pointer by C J Harris. But then FSU blew the game open with a 20-4 run to lead 50-32 with 9:39 left in the game highlighted by back to back threes by Michael Snaer from the right wing.

The Seminoles simply wore down the Deacs and did it with their depth. That was reflected in two statistics .... 30 bench points to 9 and four  starters for the Deacons that played 32 or more minutes. Florida State didn't play anyone more than 27 minutes.

FSU was led in scoring by Snaer's 18 points with White adding 11 and Xavier Gibson 10.

The Seminoles were consistent from behind the arc as well connecting on 8 of 16.

Wake's game strategy Hamilton noted was to back up defensively and make FSU beat them from the three point line. When that didn't work that opened up opportunities around the basket, along with the adjustment at the half, to consciously get the ball down low as well as run more transition.

It helped FSU's cause that Wake's leading shot blocker, Ty Walker, went out in the first half with a concussion and did not return.

And then there was the usual defense.

Hamilton was not necessarily pleased though with his team's performance in that area.

"We weren't that sharp on defense," Hamilton commented. "Part of our scouting report was to contain Harris and (Travis) McKie. We didn't do a good job on Harris (16 points) or Tony Chennault (11) who drove past us all game long."

What his defense did do right however was hold the 4th leading scorer in the ACC, McKie, to just 1 of 13 and 3 points well under his 17.2 average.

"We switched on him and gave him a different look every possession."

Hamilton may not have been all that pleased with the team's defense and he was correct about Chennault in addition to McKie having some open looks that didn't go down. But the defense did hold Wake to just 35% for the game.

Also of note were the paltry 11 turnovers the Seminoles had. Better ball security leading to more shots that are finding the bottom of the net has made a large difference in the team's improved play.

So with the week off, FSU will rest up and get in some practice before taking on Georgia Tech at home next Wednesday night. Tip off is at 7:00 PM and to be aired on RSN.

Georgia Tech players are tweeting and otherwise telling friends on campus that the Jackets will play Virginia Tech on Labor Day in Blacksburg -- the marquee Monday night game FSU and Miami played in the past. Tech players say it's offical from the league and they learned it today in a team meeting. Can the rest of the schedule be far behind?

The Tampa Bay Times reports that the number one JC offensive lineman, Will Latu, has only two teams left on his list, and one of them isn't FSU. Oklahoma and Utah are Latu's choices. At the risk of sounding like sour grapes, Latu might've been too much of an academic risk -- if he qualified in the first place. A few weeks ago Auburn stopped recruiting the former Tampa Gibbs OL because of doubts about whether he'd graduate from College of the Canyons (California) in time for summer workouts.

That leaves giant Menelik Watson (Saddleback College, CA) as the Noles best hope to join Daniel Glauser as an OL newcomer. Watson, who's from the UK and has played football only one year, tripped to Auburn last weekend and is supposed to visit Oregon and Rutgers before deciding on a school.

The most valuable returning player on the Noles offense, after E.J., is arguably Rashad Greene. The true freshmen was the most electric player in 2011, with flashes of some of the great receivers in Seminole history. And it's only after the season we get the full story on Greene's recruitment, his first year in Garnet & Gold, and even how his academics are going. Despite a few factual errors, it's a terrific read. Make that a real "feel good" read about a talented guy that makes Nole fans more than a little excited about the 2012 season.

It took just a minute and 20 seconds into the season to discover FSU's 2011 BCS hopes had an Achilles heel. In fact, it showed up on the very first running play of the first series of the first game.

At 13:40 of the first quarter, on second down and ten after an incomplete pass, Ty Jones takes a handoff. Led by Lonnie Pryor, he rushes toward the middle of the LOS where he meets a solid wall of blockers and defenders. Jones bounces to his right, off balance because he either trips or is tripped up by a defender on the ground. Meanwhile, right tackle Zebrie Sanders has fired off the line to engage a Louisiana Monroe corner. But the defender effortlessly slips around the larger Sanders and nails Jones before he can regain his balance.

Result: One yard of forward progress, though Jones is driven back three yards by the corner and two other Warhawks running free in the backfield.

It wouldn't go much better on the second possession, just 11:03 into the opening quarter. With good field position at ULM's 44, Jones takes a first down handoff and gets two yards through the middle. On second down Jones can manage only a yard running left. With third and seven, E.J. fades to pass, is pressured, can't find a receiver and the Noles punt. A scoring opportunity wasted. And FSU, obviously determined to prove what it could do on the ground, was denied.

And so it went through most of the afternoon. And though FSU won handily, the final stats were bittersweet. A mid-major defense that was 67th in stopping the run the season before (allowing more than 159 ypg), held FSU, a team predicted to finish in the top ten, to 92 total yards rushing (ULM had 99). Seminole running backs gained just 77 net yards, including a loss of one yard and two rushes for no gain. E.J. was sacked twice for six yards lost.

The Achilles heel (duh) was the offensive line. Yes, injuries were a major part of the problem. But the lack of solid backups can't be overlooked.

Too many recruits couldn't measure up to Rick Trickett's mold of a sleek and mean O-lineman, even though he thought enough of them as prospects to recruit them. Signing OL was another problem. Some years during Trickett's five seasons, there just weren't enough offensive linemen in the class.

Other questions loomed in 2011. Jacob Fahrenkrug looked to be a valuable newcomer to replace the departed Ryan McMahon. We heard promising comments from coaches about Fahrenkrug's development during spring and fall practice. He supposedly picked up the system so well, he’d be the starting center against ULM. Yet if you look at a DVD of the game, Andrew Datko -- not Fahrenkrug -- is clearly making the line calls. Of course, that lineup experiment didn’t last long. Fahrenkrug was shifted to guard, though didn't do much to help the OL's overall effectiveness.

How, after having all spring and fall to retool the OL -- even with injuries -- could a major Div. 1 power eager to show it was worthy of all the hype, put such an ill-prepared, less than mediocre front five on the field?

The season's final stats were embarrassingly unacceptable: FSU was 104th in rush offense (112.15 ypg), and near the bottom in sacks allowed, giving up 41 on the season (3.15 per game).

Some of the blame is on the Noles colorful OL coach. But if the 2012 OL is anything like Trickett's 2011 group (heaven forbid), that will be on Jimbo.

by Bill from Tampa

Obviously Florida State wanted to end the game right then and there. The Seminoles seemed determined that there was not going to be an overtime.

Just four plus seconds remained on the clock.

Luke Loucks pushed ball up the floor. Bernard James set the pick allowing Loucks to easily get past the defense. Loucks then found Michael Snaer who calmly stroked the the three ball from the right wing. And as the buzzer sounded, the ball found the bottom of the net.

Pandemonium erupted on the Seminole bench with players rushing the floor swamping Snaer. Leonard Hamilton simply nodded his approval as his team had just knocked off the fourth ranked team in the country, 76-73, ending a 45 game home winning streak for the Blue Devils. In addition, Duke had not lost to an unranked opponent since 2007.

Well, that might just change for the Seminoles who in the span of a week went 3-0 and demolished the Tar Heels by thirty three points. At the very least it is a certainty that the 'Noles will pick up more than one vote under the Others Receiving Votes column as they did in last week's poll.

After getting down by as much as eight points in the second half with ten minutes to play, FSU displayed tremendous poise in what is known as a very hostile place to play.

With the score tied at 50 and helped along by Seminole turnovers, the Blue Devils went on an 8-0 run to lead 58-50.

But Xavier Gibson, who led all Seminoles with 16 points, scored five in just over a minute on two free throws and a wide open three from just to the left of the circle. A driving layup by Snaer, a layup by James, and James later had a chance to tie it at the line. But James could only make one of two and the 'Noles trailed 61-60 with 5:20 to play.

From then on it was a dog fight and test of wills as each team traded big shots and big plays.

After Ryan Kelly sank a free throw, Loucks did tie the game at 62 a piece. But Austin Rivers got the lead back for Duke on a driving layup from the left side with 4:19 to play.

Later, an air ball by Gibson gave Duke a quick transition three pointer by Rivers from the right corner to go up by four, 67-63, at the 3:03 mark.

Gibson made up for the errant shot, when James underhanded a pass to Gibson on the left block for the authoritative slam dunk. Dulkys heaved a shot towards the rim that missed everything but James was right there to grab the ball and put it in the basket to tie the game at 67.

Just 2:27 remained.

Seth Curry's driving layup gave Duke the lead back.

James answered again for FSU with a hook shot in the lane.

Snaer attempted to grab the lead for Florida State on a runner that was no good. James, going for the offensive board, was called for the foul over the back, sending Rivers to the line. But Rivers made only one of two, leaving 1:13 on the clock.

Key on the miss by Rivers was Gibson's save of the ball before it went out of bounds. With that possession, Snaer, positioned out on the right wing, saw a lane and promptly drove the ball in, pulling up in the lane for the jumper and a 71-70 FSU lead.

Less than forty seconds remained when Curry put up a three that missed. FSU rebounded and Duke fouled Loucks. Loucks however only made one of two.

With twenty six seconds left, Snaer was called for blocking, sending Kelly to the line and a chance to tie. He could not and FSU still led, but only by one, 72-71.

With time running out, Duke was forced to foul Gibson. Even if he had made both free throws it still would have been a one possession game. But when he made just one of the two attempts that gave Duke options.

An animated Coach K was seen in the timeout imploring his team, and just ten seconds were left.

Three seconds later Curry drove the ball in and laid it in to tie the score at 73.

With 4.9 seconds left, Florida State was not interested in playing an extra five minutes.

The trap screen set by James got Loucks free of his defender; driving the ball quickly over the time line and the middle of the floor, he drew the defense to him. Spotting Snaer all alone, he zipped a perfect pass to Snaer for the game winning catch and basket.

Perhaps it was a foreshadowing of that final basket when Snaer canned a wild shot from the left corner that banked in just before the buzzer sounded at the end of the first half.

Hamilton called that basket a big play as the three pointer gave the Seminoles momentum and pulled them to 32-26.

That was clear as James, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored all of his 12 points in the final period.

Hamilton said he was obviously proud of his squad for how they handled the adversity of being behind and in a venue like Cameron.

"There were so many things to point to in this game," Hamilton said. "I felt like this team grew up some today."

Referring to the somewhat iffy start to the game for FSU Hamilton said, "It was hard to get in a rhythm in the first half. We settled down in the second .... but not a lot."

Hamilton possibly exaggerated a little as FSU did shoot just 39% but held Duke to only 31%. In the second half, while Duke shot 50% (and you knew they would start making baskets on their home floor), FSU blistered the nets at a 67% clip. On Duke's home floor.

Hamilton felt key in the win were the adjustments made at the half, where Duke had 11 offensive rebounds. Florida State did a much better job keeping the Blue Devils off the boards in the second half, allowing only three offensive rebounds.

Snaer finished with 14 and Dulkys had a solid game with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Hamilton did not mention it, but taking care of the ball was a large factor as well, with just 12 turnovers committed by the 'Noles in the game. That was against 15 assists, indicating the team has learned to move the ball and find the open man. It helps that FSU's shots are dropping as well.

With the win, FSU improves to 13-6 overall and 4-1 in the ACC.

Hamilton, contrary to his usual self, said they would enjoy this one for a while. But it is probably a good guess not for very long, as in as soon as the plane touched down back in Tallahassee.

The Seminoles will take the floor Wednesday night, again on the road, at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons will be fresh off their 71-56 win on the road over Boston College. Tip of is set at 7 PM and will be on ESPN3.com.

Think coaches salaries are getting out of hand? Clemson is just getting started. Word is that the big orange paw will be writing a check for $800,000 a year to new D.C. Brent Venables, who just jumped off the Sooner wagon. That's on top of Chad Morris hitting the jackpot for $1.3 million -- annually for six years. Whew, two coordinators raking in over $2-mil combined. By comparison, Mark Stoops recent raise brings him to $575,000.

Looks like Clemson's coaching payroll will outstrip FSU's as the biggest in the ACC and one of the richest in all of Div. 1. Morris alone is now the nation's highest paid assistant, taking sole possession of the title since Gus Malzahn chose relative obscurity at Arkansas State.

Clemson can afford to up the ante because of increased revenue from the new TV contract, and because of the millions in reserve in its IPTAY program. The Clemson booster group has been around since 1934 (IPTAY originally meant "I Pay Ten A Year") and raises enough dough that it can even chip in $1.25 million for non-atheletic scholarships.

Clearly Dabo Swinney can spend like there's no tomorrow because Clemson fans give like there's no bigger priority than Tiger football.