The Florida State Seminoles opened their home campaign at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee versus Georgia Tech after a less than stellar performance against the team from Ireland to start their season on Labour Day Weekend. The opener against Boston College was anything but stress-free, as the Seminoles found themselves down 14-6 at halftime.
The first half was rough for the Noles.
In the beginning of the game, Florida State seemed to be in desperate need. Trailing 14-0 into the second quarter, FSU struggled to find its footing. Florida State’s quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei, did not start hot, however, going 2 for 5 passing the ball and tallying a net five yards. This forced several punts on possessions that Florida State was unable to cross into the end zone. Well, those offensive struggles were on display, and fans took to social media after the loss with plenty of takes, venting their frustration about how poor Arkansas played.
The defence was a shade better but unable to get enough pressure on Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos. Castellanos got plenty of time to throw the ball deep and took advantage, as Boston College moved even further ahead. After two FSU field goals before the half, they still trailed by eight points with plenty of work to do in halftime adjustments.
Quarterback Conundrum: A QB Change?
Among the many issues for FSU has been spotty quarterback play from DJ Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei was just 11-for-27 passing in the first half, a 41% completion rate, and overthrew three straight red zone attempts late in the second quarter on what ultimately could have been an FSU game-changing drive. What’s more, he threw a second-half interception so early in the third quarter that it opened up speculation on whether or not his future should have him replacing whatever Miami has been doing at starting quarterback.
ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky thinks that perhaps its time to make a change. Orlovsky tweeted, “FSU needs a QB change” just before halftime. Many fans and analysts believe redshirt freshman Brock Glenn should take over for Sneed, so he is hardly alone in his assessment.
Glenn started two games for the Seminoles last season (in the A.C.C. Championship and in Florida State’s loss to Michigan in the Orange Bowl) but does not have Uiagalelei’s experience. Glenn went 19 of 51 for two interceptions with two attempts, throwing passes (sans completions), in five appearances during the season. In addition, he added 19 carries for 22 yards and a rushing touchdown on the ground. The transition at quarterback could lend a new life to an underachieving Seminoles offence.
Changes at Doak Campbell Stadium, Including Renovations
Florida State fans, if struggles on the field weren’t enough, you’re dealing with changes off of it as well. Boston College at Doak Campbell’s first game amid continuing renovations It is currently being razed on the west side as temporary stands have been built to hold fans.
The temporary seating includes 7,400 chairback seats, portable bathrooms, and concessions. There are stairwells to access seats on the west side, along with lifts and ramps to the ADA seating sections. The east side of the stadium is complete, with cushioned seats, wide aisles, handrails, and ADA-friendly accommodations. Jack Chatham, the director of ticket operations, added, “The first thing that stands out to me is how open it is under the west arena stands and how much cleaner it is. You won’t see the latticework of steel beams. It’s a wide-open concourse.” The renovation is scheduled to be finished by the summer of 2025, just in time for the season opener game against Alabama. What’s Ahead for the Seminoles? The Seminoles are looking to bounce back from the tough loss and make some changes. The next game is on September 14 against Memphis, while the more difficult one would be on October 5 against No. 14 Clemson. As of now, it is hotly debated among the fans and sports analysts whether a quarterback change is needed. The potential debut of Brock Glenn would energise the team as much as they needed. The remaining games are against opponents such as Duke, Miami, North Carolina, and Notre Dame. Therefore, there is no room for failure, given that they need to rally and battle for the ACC Championship.
Conclusion
The Florida State Seminoles opened up their 2024 campaign with a trip to Ireland and since have stumbled out of the gate in what was supposed to be an easy season. Headlined by uncertainty at the quarterback position and stadium renovations, there is a lot on FSU’s plate. Whether they stay with DJ Uiagalelei or finally let Brock Glenn get a shot, we know one thing is clear: changes need to be made if Florida State wants any chance of turning around their season.
Finally, an enticing slate of games awaits that allow for some if only the ‘Noles can fix their holes on offence and defense. That will put the focus squarely on Tallahassee, where it marks time as a fanbase more eager than ever to turn around and see how this Court wrong turns right.
