# 2008 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 2008 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bobby Bowden and played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. It was Florida State's 17th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The Seminoles were without as many as 12 scholarship players for the first three games of the season because of suspensions carrying over from the previous season for violating team rules, although it has not been disclosed how many of those were involved with an academic cheating scandal at the school. Junior wide receiver Preston Parker was suspended for the first two games of the season, after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 6 | 6:00 p.m. | Western Carolina* | | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | SUN PPV Paul Kennedy, Keith Jones, Tom Block | W 69–0 | 73,024 |
| September 13 | 3:45 p.m. | Chattanooga* | | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ESPNU Doug Bell, Charles Arbuckle | W 46–7 | 71,596 |
| September 20 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 18 Wake Forest | No. 25 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ESPN2 Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Todd Harris | L 3–12 | 79,235 |
| September 27 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Colorado* | | Jacksonville Municipal StadiumJacksonville, FL | ABC/ESPN Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore, Todd Harris | W 39–21 | 46,716 |
| October 4 | 3:30 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | | Dolphin StadiumMiami Gardens, FL (rivalry) | ABC/ESPN2 Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire, Stacey Dales | W 41–39 | 65,786 |
| October 16 | 7:30 pm | at NC State | | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | ESPN Chris Fowler, Jesse Palmer, Craig James, Erin Andrews | W 26–17 | 56,643 |
| October 25 | 3:30 pm | Virginia Tech | No. 23 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ABC/ESPN2 Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham, Jack Arute | W 30–20 | 81,876 |
| November 1 | 3:30 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | No. 16 | Bobby Dodd StadiumAtlanta, GA | ABC/ESPN Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire, Stacey Dales | L 28–31 | 53,528 |
| November 8 | 3:30 p.m. | Clemson | No. 24 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL (rivalry) | ABC Terry Gannon, David Norrie, Todd Harris | W 41–27 | 77,013 |
| November 15 | 8:00 p.m. | Boston College | No. 19 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ABC Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Lisa Salters | L 17–27 | 79,792 |
| November 22 | 7:45 p.m. | at No. 22 Maryland | | Byrd StadiumCollege Park, MD | ESPN Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham, Jack Arute | W 37–3 | 51,620 |
| November 29 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 2 Florida* | No. 24 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL (rivalry) | ABC/ESPN2 Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire, Rob Stone | L 15–45 | 83,237 |
| December 27 | 4:30 p.m. | vs. Wisconsin* | | Citrus BowlOrlando, FL (Champs Sports Bowl) | ESPN Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire, Holly Rowe | W 42–13 | 52,692 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 16 | 24 | 20 | — | 23 | — | — | 21 |
| Coaches | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 16 | 24 | 19 | — | 24 | — | — | 23 |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | 23 | 18 | 24 | 20 | RV | 23 | — | — | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 25 | 15 | 22 | 19 | — | 20 | 24 | — | Not released |

## Recruits

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| A.J. Alexander ATH | Altoona, Pennsylvania | Altoona HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.4 | Jan 28, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Travis Arnold DB | Madison, Florida | Madison HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 184 lb (83 kg) | 4.6 | Jul 20, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Nigel Bradham LB | Crawfordville, Florida | Wakulla HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 4.6 | Apr 15, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Nigel Carr LB | Jacksonville, Florida | First Coast HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.5 | Apr 15, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Avis Commack WR | Jacksonville, Florida | First Coast HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | 4.5 | May 24, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Andrew Datko OL | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | St. Thomas Aquinas HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | 5.3 | Oct 29, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Everett Dawkins DE | Duncan, South Carolina | Byrnes HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 142 lb (64 kg) | 4.7 | Nov 17, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Garrett Faircloth OL | Jacksonville, Florida | Bolles HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | N/A | Jan 24, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Jarmon Fortson ATH | Columbus, Georgia | Carver HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.6 | Feb 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Josh Gehres WR | Tallahassee, Florida | Lincoln HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.5 | Jan 28, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Anthony Hill DT | Pensacola, Florida | Pensacola HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | 4.9 | Feb 16, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Ed Imeokparia ATH | Blairstown, New Jersey | Blair Academy HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 188 lb (85 kg) | 4.4 | Feb 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Carlton Jones RB | Tampa, Florida | Middleton HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | N/A | Feb 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Jabaris Little TE | Tallahassee, Florida | Lincoln HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | 4.6 | May 23, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Kyle Long OL | Charlottesville, Virginia | St. Anne's-Belfield HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | 5.0 | May 5, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 81 |||||||
| E.J. Manuel QB | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Bayside HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.6 | Jun 27, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Anthony McCloud DT | Thomasville, Georgia | Thomas County Central HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | N/A | Feb 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Moses McCray DT | Tampa, Florida | Hillsborough HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 268 lb (122 kg) | 4.9 | May 2, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Nick Moody LB | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Roman Catholic HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 218 lb (99 kg) | 4.5 | Apr 17, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Terrance Parks DB | Fairburn, Georgia | Creekside HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.4 | Jul 19, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Tavares Pressley RB | Torrance, California | El Camino College | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.4 | Nov 27, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| Bo Reliford TE | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | Dillard HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 4.8 | May 30, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Zebrie Sanders OL | Clayton, Ohio | Northmont HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 273 lb (124 kg) | 5.3 | Jan 20, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Rhonne Sanderson OL | Tampa, Florida | Plant HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Jan 29, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Debrale Smiley RB | Thomasville, Georgia | Thomas County Central HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 4.7 | Feb 6, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Blake Snider OL | Heflin, AL | Cleburne County HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 282 lb (128 kg) | N/A | Feb 4, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| David Spurlock OL | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Riverdale HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Dec 9, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Toshmon Stevens DE | Crescent City, Florida | Crescent City HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.6 | Jul 31, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Corey Surrency WR | Torrance, California | El Camino College | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.5 | Oct 21, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| Jermaine Thomas RB | Jacksonville, Florida | First Coast HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.4 | Apr 23, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Joe Tonga OL | Walnut, California | Mt. San Antonio College | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 304 lb (138 kg) | 5.4 | Aug 4, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| Markus White DE | El Dorado, Kansas | Butler Community College | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 10, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: N/A |||||||
| Vincent Williams LB | Davenport, Florida | Ridge HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.8 | Apr 18, 2007 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Florida State 2008 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011. "2008 Florida State Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011. "2008 Player Commitments – Florida State". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011. "2008 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 21, 2011. |||||||

## Game summaries
### Western Carolina

Pregame Line: Lines are not released when an FCS team plays an FBS team.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Western Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida State | 7 | 21 | 27 | 14 | 69 |
The start of the game was delayed almost an hour and a half due to lightning in the area, and then almost another hour during the 1st quarter. The first player to touch the ball for FSU, to start the 2008 season, was Tony Carter who promptly returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown and the game's first score. Sophomore Christian Ponder started his first game at quarterback. Ponder completed 11 of 17 passes for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. At the start of the second drive in the second half (when FSU was up 35–0), sophomore D'Vontrey Richardson came into the game. Richardson went 5 for 6 through the air with one touchdown and also had two rushing touchdowns, one for over 50 yards. With several players serving suspensions due to the school wide "academic scandal" (several students and athletes were caught sharing answers in an online music class), the Seminoles had 28 freshman play in the game. Two of those freshman had touchdowns in the victory over the Catamounts.

### Chattanooga

Pregame Line: Lines are not released when an FCS team plays an FBS team.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tennessee-Ch | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Florida State | 21 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 46 |
In his second start as a collegiate athlete, Christian Ponder threw for 183 yards and three first-half touchdowns before being relieved by D'vontrey Richardson in the 3rd quarter. Richardson threw for 117 yards with one touchdown. Richardson also had a 55-yard rushing touchdown, the longest scoring run for a quarterback in the school's history. The previous record was held by Richardson himself, set in the previous week with a 52-yard touchdown run. Junior Wide Receiver, Corey Surrency, led Florida State in receiving with 87 yards and two touchdowns on just three receptions. Florida State's defense allowed their first score of the season after a 62-yard passing touchdown thrown by Chattanooga quarterback Tony Pastore. This was also the first score by Chattanooga against Florida State all-time, dating back to 1984, the only previous meeting between the two schools in which the Seminoles won in a shutout by 37 points.

### Wake Forest

Pregame Line: Florida State −4
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #18 Wake Forest | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| #25 Florida State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Defense, kicking game help No. 18 Wake Forest clip No. 24 (AP Poll) Florida State

### Colorado

Pregame Line: Florida State −6
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colorado | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Florida State | 7 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 39 |
This game was played in Jacksonville, Florida, with Florida State as the home team. This was Bobby Bowden's 500th Career Game.
Bowden gets Florida State past Colorado in 500th game

### @ Miami (FL)

Pregame Line: Miami −2.5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 7 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
| Miami | 0 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 39 |
FSU dumps Miami behind Smith's career-best four TDs

### @ NC State

Pregame Line: Pick 'em
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 0 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 26 |
| N.C. State | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Florida State rides Ponder, Smith past N.C. State

### Virginia Tech

Pregame Line: Florida State −6
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Virginia Tech | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| #25 Florida State | 0 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 30 |
Carr sets up two TDs in third quarter as No. 25 FSU rallies

### @ Georgia Tech

Pregame Line: Georgia Tech −1.5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #15 Florida State | 10 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 28 |
| Georgia Tech | 3 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
Georgia Tech snaps 0–12 skid against Florida State

### Clemson

Pregame Line: Florida State −7
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Clemson | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| #22 Florida State | 10 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
FSU bowl eligible for 27th straight season on Bowden's birthday

### Boston College

Pregame Line: Florida State −7
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Boston College | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| #19 Florida State | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
One day prior to the game, Florida State suspended Wide Receivers Taiwan Easterling, Bert Reed, Corey Surrency, Cameron Wade and Richard Goodman for their roles in an on-campus altercation with members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at Florida State's student union.
Boston College upends No. 19 Florida State day after five wideouts suspended

### @ Maryland

Pregame Line: Maryland −1
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 0 | 21 | 3 | 13 | 37 |
| #25 Maryland | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Myron Rolle, Florida State's starting safety, was interviewed in Birmingham, Alabama, at noon for the Rhodes Scholarship. At 5:00, he received the call that he was accepted. He flew in a private jet to Washington, D.C., and had a police escort take him to the game in College Park, Maryland. He arrived at the stadium around 8:30pm (with 11:55 left in the 2nd quarter). He dressed out in the locker room and walked onto the field to the roar of the Florida State visitor section with 6:23 left in the 2nd quarter. After stretching out, he made his game debut with 1:30 left in the 1st half. At the end of the game, his teammates showered him with a bucket of ice water in 26 degree weather, an act usually reserved for the head coach. He is the first Florida State player to ever have the "ice water shower".
Maryland picked apart by unranked Florida State

### Florida

Pregame Line: Florida −16.5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #4 Florida | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 45 |
| #20 Florida State | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 15 |
Florida wins 8th straight while continuing dominance in intrastate rivalry

### Champs Sports Bowl vs. Wisconsin

Pregame Line:
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Florida State | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
Ponder powers Seminoles' offense, defense routs Badgers

## Statistics
### Team

| | Team | Opp |
| Scoring | 157 | 40 |
| Points per Game | 39.25 | 10 |
| First Downs | 24 | 12 |
| Rushing | 11 | 3 |
| Passing | 12 | 6 |
| Penalty | 1 | 3 |
| Total Offense | 561 | 176 |
| Avg per Play | 9.8 | 3.0 |
| Avg per Game | 561 | 176 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 8–58 | 6–37 |
| Avg per Game | 58 | 37 |
| | Team | Opp |
| Punts-Yards | 2–93 | 8–272 |
| Avg per Punt | 46.5 | 34 |
| Time of Possession/Game | 27:44 | 32:16 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 3 | 3 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 0 | 0 |
| Touchdowns Scored | 10 | 0 |
| Field Goals-Attempts-Long | 0–1–0 | 0–1–0 |
| PAT-Attempts | 9–10 | 0–0 |
| Attendance | 73024 | 0 |
| Games/Avg per Game | 1/73024 | 0/0 |

#### Scores by quarter

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 62 | 95 | 83 | 83 | 323 |
| Opponents | 43 | 41 | 35 | 55 | 174 |