Florida State began preparation for Oregon on Sunday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 2 Florida State began preparation for Oregon on Sunday at the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility, holding its first practice since winning its third straight ACC Championship last weekend.
The Seminoles face the Ducks on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. in a National Semifinal matchup as part of the inaugural College Football Playoff.
FSU will practice in Tallahassee until Dec. 22 and will have a three days off before departing for California on Dec. 26.
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said the team had a great practice after having last week off for final exams.
“Great to be back out here, it was good to give the guys a week off mentally and physically,” Fisher said. “They needed it after a long season. It will take us a couple of days to get back into that groove because that’s too many days off, and we knew that. The guys came out and did a nice job today, ran well, conditioned pretty good and proud of practice, we got a lot done. Big fundamental practice for the first three [days], we’ll just go back to basics and camp-type practices and get fundamentally sound and start on our game plan stuff as we go forward. Good day today, proud of them.”
Fisher said that several players will be held out of practice over the next couple of days as a precaution, but contributors like defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, cornerback Ronald Darby, safety Tyler Hunter and safety Trey Marshall could play if there was a game this week.
Goldman and Darby missed significant time in the 37-35 victory over Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 6.
With the season wrapping to a close and a second straight national championship up for grabs over the next month, Fisher said he sees a sense of urgency from players during practice.
“They understand what’s at stake and where they’re at and what they’ve put themselves in position to do,” Fisher said. “I felt that in the practice for Georgia Tech. I really felt it there, too. Hopefully we’ll continue to have a great practice.”
Head Coach Jimbo Fisher Post-Practice Quotes
Opening Statement:
“Great to be back out here, it was good to give the guys a week off mentally and physically. They needed it after a long season. It will take us a couple of days to get back into that groove because that’s too many days off, and we knew that. The guys came out and did a nice job today, ran well, conditioned pretty good and proud of practice, we got a lot done. Big fundamental practice for the first three [days], we’ll just go back to basics and camp-type practices and get fundamentally sound and start on our game plan stuff as we go forward. Good day today, proud of them.”
On how important it was for the team to have the week away from football:
“The pressures of winning and being a champion and doing all those things. I mean, sometimes you just got to get away from it. You got to walk away, mentally. You got to clear your mind and get a fresh mind. Because a fresh mind is, man, that goes a long way.”
On if seeing the end of the season coming soon is easier on the players:
“I think there is. They understand what’s at stake and where they’re at and what they’ve put themselves in position to do. I felt that in the practice for Georgia Tech. I really felt it there, too. Hopefully we’ll continue to have a great practice.”
On the status of the injured players:
“We held them out, but they’ll be fine. If we had to play a game next Saturday, they would be able to play. But I’m making sure they are healed fully before we get them on the field so that it isn’t a nagging thing. You know, where sometimes an ankle you go out there and it’s not quite, it’s 80 percent or 85 percent and you twist a couple days. But we are going to give a couple of days on those guys, [Eddie Goldman], Trey Marshall and Tyler Hunter. [Ronald] Darby is fine, he was practicing. He’s fine, they’re all fine. It was just those three that we held back. Trey has a hamstring [injury].”
On how redshirt sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston’s ankle is after looking gimpy versus Georgia Tech:
“I didn’t think he was gimpy last game at all. I thought he was really healthy going into that game and I don’t see any signs of it now.”
On if Winston is fresher at this point compared to last year when he had to make the awards banquet circuit:
“Jameis always seems fresh. He seems like nothing ever gets to him. I don’t see a difference in him, really.”
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