As imperfect as they are, these Seminoles are also gutsy winners
They're not as good. Not as focused. Not as disciplined. (No jokes, please.)
But here they are, these Seminoles, still unconquered.
No matter what your moral barometer is off the field, you might as well get used to their greatness on it.
The winning streak reached 24 Thursday night with a 42-31 win over Louisville. It should reach 29 by the time the Noles wrap up another ACC championship on Dec. 6.
And after that, well, they'll be playing for a second consecutive national championship. That's what Thursday was ultimately about. The Seminoles can't be stopped.
Not in the near term. Check their remaining schedule and try not to laugh. The Noles may just take November off and still get to the playoff.
Louisville was the last significant challenge before the Football Four. The Cardinals do have supreme talent, at least offensively. Overall they're not as good as 2013, but good enough. And with the threshold being top four instead of top two, that should be good enough.
Not that No. 2 Florida State is mowing ‘em down. After rallying big time to beat the Cardinals, FSU has given up 58 points in its last two games. It has had to come from behind against Clemson, NC State, Notre Dame and the Cardinals.
This just may be who the Noles are – inspired, innovative, imperfect. If their season wasn't such a gosh-awful distraction (at times), it would be a Disney movie. Jameis Winston hobbling to victory. Jimbo Fisher, the plucky recruiter, motivator, play caller. A stableful of young players.
“They have true heart, they play for each other, they lay it on the line,” Fisher said.
It sounds corny. It may be true. It's just not a story we the media can quite bring ourselves to write. When Louisville jumped ahead 21-0, those sighs of relief you heard came from every press box in America.
Sorry, but it would have been convenient and easy to write off FSU. You may be surprised to hear this, but we prefer writing about football. Not allegations and reactions to allegations. Not posing lawyers and police reports. Crab legs and misogyny, not so much either.
Now it gets complicated in a different sense. FSU is approaching the brink of history. How will it be chronicled? Last year's Seminoles' title run was supposed to be a hiccup in the SEC dynasty run. The championship ended a run of seven straight for the Strength Everywhere Conference.
Now FSU's mere presence makes it harder for the SEC. It makes us consider them a favorite, perhaps the favorite. There are four SEC teams in the top six of the CFP poll. We know for sure that at least two of them are going to lose.
Meanwhile, the Noles have to beat (in order) Virginia, Miami, Boston College and Florida to get to the ACC title game. Hey, this title defense thing is looking easier all the time.
The Noles scored six touchdowns on the nation's No. 1 defense. The gag job by the Cardinals was spectacular. That is, if you like being outscored at home 42-10 after leading 21-nil.
But the other half of that story is the Noles showing guts and will. A loss would have been much easier to digest for the FSU critics who were ready to write them off.
Out of the playoff, out of mind.
In a season that has had everything for FSU, this game had more -- drama, points, a sense of commitment from Bobby Petrino. Hey, he stuck around for eight games. What do you want?
Tight end Nick O'Leary scored on a butt fumble by teammate Karlos Williams. Jameis threw three picks but hustled to get one of them back, forcing a Gerod Holliman fumble. Winston also threw three touchdowns.
That's the dichotomy of FSU football lately. As much as this season has been a gosh-awful distraction (at times), you can't help but pay attention.
