September 2, 2025 • 18 mins
Seminoles broadcaster Jeff Culhane joins the program days after Florida State knocked off number 8 Alabama in its season opener.
They discuss Florida State's outlook following the win and share stories about broadcasting through torrential downpours -- just like Tallahassee saw on Saturday afternoon.
They discuss Florida State's outlook following the win and share stories about broadcasting through torrential downpours -- just like Tallahassee saw on Saturday afternoon.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In. Our next guest is not a native Texan. In fact,
he's from the heartland of America. And I first met
him when he was plying his trade working with the
Nebraska Cornos Coridio Network. Then to West Virginia where we
spent a lot of time together, and when Texas and
(00:21):
West Virginia were playing women's basketball baseball, and he went
to North Dakota State, and then a place that's just
like Fargo, North Dakota, Tallahassee, Florida. As the voice of
the Florida State Seminoles, jeff Colhanes joins me, Now, how
are you.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Jeffrey man.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
It's great to see you and be with you, my friend.
We're doing great, and you are right. There may be
two places on this world that are less like each
other from a weather perspective. It is Fargo, North Dakota
and Tallahassee, Florida, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well, but true confessions here if I remember correctly, didn't
you tell me? Aren't you originally from South Dakota?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, Mitchell, South Dakota, home of the Corn Palace. I'm
sure many of your listeners would will be very interested
in knowing about that tourist destination in the summer months.
But it's it's been a fun journey, Craig Is as
you laid it out, it's been a fun ride. And man,
I've been able to meet a lot of great people
along the way, just like yourself, and we're meeting some
(01:21):
you know, having fun here at Florida State and really
really appreciate being a part of the family right now,
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, I know that it has to be an exciting
time there in Tallahassee. I know what that feelings like
when things really get off to a really nice start,
and especially I would imagine, and I'll let you expand
on this, when coming off the disappointment and the frustration
of two and ten a year ago, when there were
high expectations, injuries and so much, and then to be
(01:49):
able to flip it like that and do it this year.
I know a lot of hard work went into it
for coach Norvella and his staff, but can you describe
what it was like, you know, first coming through the
two and ten of a year ago, the off season
grind in the work that went into getting things off
to such.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
A fabulous start. Last Saturday at O Campbell Stadium.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, I think I would. It would go back even further.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Craig would it would go back to twenty twenty three,
Quite honestly, when Florida State was left out of the
College Football Playoff at thirteen to zero.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I think it began there.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
And then in the Orange Bowl we didn't have I mean,
Florida State didn't have their team that played against a
Georgia team that arguably was even though they got beat
by Bama on the SEC Title game, was you could
say it was one of the best teams, if not
the best team still in college football that season. And
so you know, from from really that point in December
of twenty twenty three, there was a little bad taste
(02:45):
in your mouth. And then the start a year ago
in Dublin, things just really snowballed on the Knowles and
it went downhill in a hurry, and that was that
was tough ball for everybody and nobody. I think, you know,
warred harder than the head coach, Mike norval Well. And
he understood and understands. He's made it very clear and
very evident. He understands the expectation and understands what needs
(03:10):
to be done. On a day by day basis as
the head coach of Florida State football, and.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
He went out and made changes.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
He went and got two great coordinators and Gus Melson,
which was really a coup, you know, coming from UCF
as the head coach there. And then Tony White is
one of the great defensive minds in college football. I
think Tony White Craig is going to be a head
coach somewhere. I mean, he's got that kind of energy
about him and just a great person and a great coach.
And we've seen it during his time at Syracuse and
(03:39):
Nebraska and also four new assistant coaches as well. But
you know, Mike Norvel has really preached edge. He's wanted
to see his guys have that intensity and that competitive
fire that Florida State had when they won nineteen games
in a row from twenty twenty two into twenty twenty three.
And we really saw that that idea, that edge on
(04:02):
display versus Alabama and a lot of you know, one
off situations, fourth down situations where literally was a couple
of inches that separated a drive continuing and momentum shifting.
And I think the changes that were needed that were
made by Mike Norvel. We really saw on full display
in this game on Saturday, and that went over Obama.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
One thing you mentioned the staff changes, and there are
coaches in this business and who are rather inflexible, and
ultimately it may wind up costing them their job one
at one way or another. But I think I've always
felt that having the flexibility to be able to say, hey,
(04:44):
we've got to get somebody in here to do this different.
You know, we've got to think outside the box, that
sort of thing. And it sounds like that's what you
just described with Mike Norvel, about making some changes within
the staff and getting some people in there who could
bring perhaps a different, if not fresh.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Approach to what needed to happen on the field.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I mean, as as the job has changed, as as
the game has changed, right around college football and college athletics,
head coach is now more so than ever, are CEO types.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
They they are not as ingrained in the x'es and
o's and the adjustments and the play calling or where
some still are doing that obviously, But you know, Mike Norvell,
I think was looking for some of that, you know,
added help within the actual game planning, and you know
Gus Melzon from an offensive play calling perspective, that's his
(05:41):
That's the name of the game for Gus, right, I mean,
that's what he was known for in Arkansas as a
high school coach, and at you know, with the Razorbacks,
and then at Auburn and and and and so, you know,
to be able to bring in Gus who Mike has
had a great relationship with and in fact worked with
Gus his first full time collegiate head coaching job at
(06:02):
Tulsa back in two thousand and seven. Herb hand also
there a Texas fan. No fans know Herb obviously as
an O line coach. You know, all those guys have
have reconnected now and you saw, I think the way
that this thing can move forward with that new energy,
some new voices in the room obviously, and when you
(06:24):
go through a year like Florida State did a season ago,
you need to have that and there needs to be
a little bit of a recalibration. It's now a total
culture change by any point, because Mike Norvell has been
consistent in his messaging in the building day in and
day out, no matter the wins are the losses but yes,
I think being able to have the flexibility for the
(06:46):
first time in his career as a head coach to
not call the plays and gave giving that up to
Gus shows that he understands the situation and made the
right moves here to start the season with bringing the
right guys in.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Busiting with Jeff Colhaynes, played by voice of the Florida
State Seminoles here on thirteen hundred the Cent. Okay, I
wanted to get your perspective on this because when we
walked out of the stadium in Columbus and got in
the car to go back to the hotel, big line
of traffic, so it was going to take us a
while once we got out of the parking garage, and
the first thing on my mind was I need to
hear the Florida State Alabama game. So the first thing
(07:21):
when I popped on satellite radio, the first broadcast came
up was the Alabama ro with our friend Chris Stewart
and the crew, and I'm listening to them and they
were in a mad scramble because they started to mention
how hard the rain was coming down, how they were
trying to cover up their equipment to keep from it.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So I was.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Wondering if you were going through a similar thing, because
then as I flipped over to your broadcast, I heard
you describe it just in Torrents in sheets used one phrase.
I don't even remember what it was, but it made
me laugh and talking about and it gave it to
describe a good picture of how intense the rain was
at that time.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah, I would agree it was a scramble for sure.
And you know, in Florida, you can see the clouds
coming and they were starting to hover and starting to
circle around to Cambell Stadium, and you knew that rain
was inevitable over about a twenty to twenty five minute
(08:16):
period prior to the rain drops getting there. And when
it hit, it wasn't just a light sprinkle. It hit hard.
And as I'm sure you've discussed with your radio crew,
our engineer started going to work moving things around, getting
you know, walking behind us, getting on tables, you know,
trying to get electronics out of the way. And then
(08:38):
the rain started to blow into the booth yep with
the wind, and so we had to shut the windows
and for a period of time and late in the
second quarter, legitimately it felt like you were going through
a car wash. I mean, I'm trying to find a
crease on the windows where i can see clearly onto
(08:59):
the field, and we're almost guessing at times, Craig.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
With what was going on.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
It was almost like the fog Game and Old Soldier
filled the late eighties with the Eagles and the and
the Bears. And thankfully, as as people know in Florida,
the rain usually doesn't hang around very often for the
most part, and that went away by halftime and in
the second half we could open up the windows and
let it rip.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
But yeah, for a period.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Of time we knew there was there was a chance
for rain in the game when watching the forecast. Thankfully
it was only for a brief period. And also thankfully
there was no lightning in the area that caused any
delays and disruption into the flow of the game.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
No doubt about it. You see, here's what it made
me think of. And you just described what I kind
of went through. Back in oh seven, Texas was playing
UCF and it was UCF was opening their stadium, the
new stadium there, which at the time was called bright
House Network Stadium, I think, and we found it ironic
that in a place that had a cable and telecommunications
(09:59):
company as the naming rights sponsor. They didn't have any
cabling into the booths. We had no TV monitors in
the booth at that time. I remember that. But but
the thing that came to mind was, and you've seen,
you know, when I've had my broadcast boards before, a
lot of people, you know whatever, say things, Hey, those
(10:19):
look nicer this and that, and I always laminate them.
I didn't have time on that trip to laminate the boards.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
So that had a big deal. And I had it.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
And one of those rainstorms just like what you described,
came blowing through midway through the third quarter, and the
rains blowing in, and those spotting charts they looked great,
but one thing they were not was waterproof. And so
the colors start running and I have to drop it
into my lap. Fortunately or unfortunately, the game got stopped
(10:50):
because there was lightning. And when they came out after
about an hour and fifteen minute delay, it was like
a sauna and the Texas players starts sucking wind and
they barely got out of their live I think Kevin
Smith ran for one hundred and fifty yards for UCF
Texas won like thirty five, thirty two, and Mac Brown
always said that was the dumbest mistake I ever made.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Was one of the dumbest mistakes.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
I was agreeing to play a team in the grand
opening of their stadium. But that's Florida weather, right, I mean,
you get you get rain like that afternoon. Thunderstorms in
the summer in early fall are a regular.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Thing, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Well, quite honestly, we had a great day weatherwise outside
of the rain coming down. The initial forecast had you know,
you're thinking August thirtieth in Tallahassee, You're thinking, you know,
heat index of one hundred and six, and you know, no,
no just shade, no, no screen from the sun, and
(11:46):
you're worried about some people, quite honestly. But it turned
out to be a perfect day outside of the rain weatherwise,
I mean it was it was eighty two, eighty three degrees.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
There was cloud cover all day.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
The sun only popped out a few times, which which
didn't really turn up the heat too much.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
So from that standpoint, it was pretty good.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
But yeah, I mean two years ago Florida State Miami
played I think it was November thirteenth was the date,
and it was eighty five degrees on November thirteenth, and
we called it Florida football weather. I mean, there was
no such thing as a day in the twenties or
thirties in November here in the state of Florida.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
So yeah, you get used to it.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Your blood thins out pretty quick, but you better be
ready to navigate a brief shower or a delay, because
that's just part of the deal signed up down here.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
What really impressed you coming out?
Speaker 1 (12:37):
And I know one of the things that impressed me
what the Seminoles did was to run for two hundred
and thirty yards on that Bama defense.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
That was one of the things that impressed me.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And then the other thing was their ability to answer
once Bama tried to make a push and got within
a touchdown, to just turn it right back around with
a quick answer score to keep them at arm's length.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah, Craig, I'm with you on both of those. Just
the physicality that Florida State played with. Didn't see that
a year ago, really didn't see that. We saw a
little bit in twenty twenty three. But I thought from
just an actual pads popping perspective, that's as hard as
we've seen around here in quite some time. I mean,
it was a defense that was meeting Alabama on their
(13:19):
side of the line of scrimmage, their side of the fence,
if you will. And Bama is known for elite offensive lines,
elite defensive lines, and they have those pieces in place.
They were missing Tim Keenan in the middle defensively, who
is an All SEC performer. So that was a loss
for them, but they still have very very good players
and very good depth. Florida State just flat out beat them.
(13:43):
I mean that's it. I mean, two touchdown underdogs coming
off a two win season. No one outside of Tallahassee
gave Florida State a shot.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
And look, I get it, right, I understand it.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
And so to see the result of all the things,
and you know, as we talked about a little bit
of go playing with that edge and responding and winning
two huge fourth down conversions on the defensive side, and
I'll tell you, just an amazing moment to me that
shows how this team has come together and how much
(14:17):
they trust each other.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Right now, Craig, there's eleven minutes left in.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
The game, and Bama has made it a seven point contest.
It's twenty four to seventeen, and they've had the ball
two times, two plays to one for Florida State. Thirty
one total plays Florida State fifteen in the second half,
and the defense has gassed. They are gassed, and it's
fourth and one, fourth and two at our own thirty
with eleven minutes to go, and Mike Norvel says, we're
(14:41):
gonna go for it because he knew if he punted
it that his defense didn't have enough juice to go
out and stop Bama, and Bama would go down and
score and take the momentum and probably win the game.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
And Florida State responded.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
The offense respotted and got the first down, moved Bama
on a fourth and two, and then went down and
scored the game winning touchdown on just a great physical
run by Oklahoma transfer Gavin Sadshak, who you guys have
seen before from the running back spot. And so that
was a response moment, but also a trust moment that
a head coach had with his team with eleven completely
(15:18):
new guys on offense. Craig for Florida State offensively, that
shows you what Mike Norfel has been seeing in practice.
And the belief and the connection they've had. It was
on full display in that moment.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
You have three just major headline grabbing games on the
schedule down the road, Miami at home and then at Clemson,
and then of course the game in games will against
Florida on Thanksgiving weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
That all of that is there. I was.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Amused to see that you've got East Texas A and
M coming in this week. They were competitive for a
time against SMU. That's the old Texas A and M commerce
and when they were D two and even before then.
Originally East Texas State where they're proudest slum probably was
Harvey Martin of the Dallas Cowboys Front for Fame back
in the day. So I would imagine the old thing,
(16:11):
the old thing about coaches say, hey, we we worry
about ourselves and not so much about the opponent this week, right.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
You are correct?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
And seven name changes for the school, yeah, getting back
to eighteen eighty nine. So yeah, they're kind of like Prince.
They're going to be a symbol here at some point soon.
But all kidding aside, the connection is East Texas A
and M A. D Jim Curry was with Michael Offer
(16:40):
here at Florida State for a long time and was
a part of the fsuthletic department for eleven years, and
so there's a connection there with their relationship. And you know,
the Lions are trying to build up their program at
the SCS level and at the Division IE level, and yeah,
they hung in there with SMU a bit on Saturday night,
and so you know, but you have to continue to
(17:03):
go out and play. And I think everyone is you know, look,
everyone's obviously excited about the win, but it's one game.
It's a long season. I mean, injuries can happen. You
got to have a little bit of luck along the way,
and we honestly get a little bit of PTSD Craig
in games like this two years ago against North Alabama
is when Jordan Travis suffered the lower leg injury that
(17:24):
ended his football career and essentially ended Florida State's playoff hopes.
So these games you want to get in, you want
to impose your will. You want to play a lot
of guys and get guys out of their healthy that's
the expectation. But you don't want to see two steps
back after really what was ten steps forward for Florida State.
(17:44):
And that went over Alabama, and we'll see, you know
what kind of juice and what kind of approach Florida
State will have in this contest against the Lions on
Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
And we'll look forward to continuing to follow it. Jeff,
I appreciate the time, thanks so much for joining us,
enjoy the ride, and hope you have a great call
this week and I'm sure we'll visit again down the road.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Great to see you, my friend.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Thanks for having me on your show, and we'll definitely
talk down the road.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
You bention.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
All right, that's Jeff Colehanes, play by play voice of
the Florida State Seminoles and what a big win they
had in beating Alabama last weekend. All right, coming up,
we'll hear more from Arch Panning when we continue here
on thirteen under the Zone.
In. Our next guest is not a native Texan. In fact,
he's from the heartland of America. And I first met
him when he was plying his trade working with the
Nebraska Cornos Coridio Network. Then to West Virginia where we
spent a lot of time together, and when Texas and
(00:21):
West Virginia were playing women's basketball baseball, and he went
to North Dakota State, and then a place that's just
like Fargo, North Dakota, Tallahassee, Florida. As the voice of
the Florida State Seminoles, jeff Colhanes joins me, Now, how
are you.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Jeffrey man.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
It's great to see you and be with you, my friend.
We're doing great, and you are right. There may be
two places on this world that are less like each
other from a weather perspective. It is Fargo, North Dakota
and Tallahassee, Florida, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Well, but true confessions here if I remember correctly, didn't
you tell me? Aren't you originally from South Dakota?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, Mitchell, South Dakota, home of the Corn Palace. I'm
sure many of your listeners would will be very interested
in knowing about that tourist destination in the summer months.
But it's it's been a fun journey, Craig Is as
you laid it out, it's been a fun ride. And man,
I've been able to meet a lot of great people
along the way, just like yourself, and we're meeting some
(01:21):
you know, having fun here at Florida State and really
really appreciate being a part of the family right now,
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, I know that it has to be an exciting
time there in Tallahassee. I know what that feelings like
when things really get off to a really nice start,
and especially I would imagine, and I'll let you expand
on this, when coming off the disappointment and the frustration
of two and ten a year ago, when there were
high expectations, injuries and so much, and then to be
(01:49):
able to flip it like that and do it this year.
I know a lot of hard work went into it
for coach Norvella and his staff, but can you describe
what it was like, you know, first coming through the
two and ten of a year ago, the off season
grind in the work that went into getting things off
to such.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
A fabulous start. Last Saturday at O Campbell Stadium.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, I think I would. It would go back even further.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Craig would it would go back to twenty twenty three,
Quite honestly, when Florida State was left out of the
College Football Playoff at thirteen to zero.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I think it began there.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
And then in the Orange Bowl we didn't have I mean,
Florida State didn't have their team that played against a
Georgia team that arguably was even though they got beat
by Bama on the SEC Title game, was you could
say it was one of the best teams, if not
the best team still in college football that season. And
so you know, from from really that point in December
of twenty twenty three, there was a little bad taste
(02:45):
in your mouth. And then the start a year ago
in Dublin, things just really snowballed on the Knowles and
it went downhill in a hurry, and that was that
was tough ball for everybody and nobody. I think, you know,
warred harder than the head coach, Mike norval Well. And
he understood and understands. He's made it very clear and
very evident. He understands the expectation and understands what needs
(03:10):
to be done. On a day by day basis as
the head coach of Florida State football, and.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
He went out and made changes.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
He went and got two great coordinators and Gus Melson,
which was really a coup, you know, coming from UCF
as the head coach there. And then Tony White is
one of the great defensive minds in college football. I
think Tony White Craig is going to be a head
coach somewhere. I mean, he's got that kind of energy
about him and just a great person and a great coach.
And we've seen it during his time at Syracuse and
(03:39):
Nebraska and also four new assistant coaches as well. But
you know, Mike Norvel has really preached edge. He's wanted
to see his guys have that intensity and that competitive
fire that Florida State had when they won nineteen games
in a row from twenty twenty two into twenty twenty three.
And we really saw that that idea, that edge on
(04:02):
display versus Alabama and a lot of you know, one
off situations, fourth down situations where literally was a couple
of inches that separated a drive continuing and momentum shifting.
And I think the changes that were needed that were
made by Mike Norvel. We really saw on full display
in this game on Saturday, and that went over Obama.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
One thing you mentioned the staff changes, and there are
coaches in this business and who are rather inflexible, and
ultimately it may wind up costing them their job one
at one way or another. But I think I've always
felt that having the flexibility to be able to say, hey,
(04:44):
we've got to get somebody in here to do this different.
You know, we've got to think outside the box, that
sort of thing. And it sounds like that's what you
just described with Mike Norvel, about making some changes within
the staff and getting some people in there who could
bring perhaps a different, if not fresh.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Approach to what needed to happen on the field.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I mean, as as the job has changed, as as
the game has changed, right around college football and college athletics,
head coach is now more so than ever, are CEO types.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
They they are not as ingrained in the x'es and
o's and the adjustments and the play calling or where
some still are doing that obviously, But you know, Mike Norvell,
I think was looking for some of that, you know,
added help within the actual game planning, and you know
Gus Melzon from an offensive play calling perspective, that's his
(05:41):
That's the name of the game for Gus, right, I mean,
that's what he was known for in Arkansas as a
high school coach, and at you know, with the Razorbacks,
and then at Auburn and and and and so, you know,
to be able to bring in Gus who Mike has
had a great relationship with and in fact worked with
Gus his first full time collegiate head coaching job at
(06:02):
Tulsa back in two thousand and seven. Herb hand also
there a Texas fan. No fans know Herb obviously as
an O line coach. You know, all those guys have
have reconnected now and you saw, I think the way
that this thing can move forward with that new energy,
some new voices in the room obviously, and when you
(06:24):
go through a year like Florida State did a season ago,
you need to have that and there needs to be
a little bit of a recalibration. It's now a total
culture change by any point, because Mike Norvell has been
consistent in his messaging in the building day in and
day out, no matter the wins are the losses but yes,
I think being able to have the flexibility for the
(06:46):
first time in his career as a head coach to
not call the plays and gave giving that up to
Gus shows that he understands the situation and made the
right moves here to start the season with bringing the
right guys in.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Busiting with Jeff Colhaynes, played by voice of the Florida
State Seminoles here on thirteen hundred the Cent. Okay, I
wanted to get your perspective on this because when we
walked out of the stadium in Columbus and got in
the car to go back to the hotel, big line
of traffic, so it was going to take us a
while once we got out of the parking garage, and
the first thing on my mind was I need to
hear the Florida State Alabama game. So the first thing
(07:21):
when I popped on satellite radio, the first broadcast came
up was the Alabama ro with our friend Chris Stewart
and the crew, and I'm listening to them and they
were in a mad scramble because they started to mention
how hard the rain was coming down, how they were
trying to cover up their equipment to keep from it.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So I was.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Wondering if you were going through a similar thing, because
then as I flipped over to your broadcast, I heard
you describe it just in Torrents in sheets used one phrase.
I don't even remember what it was, but it made
me laugh and talking about and it gave it to
describe a good picture of how intense the rain was
at that time.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah, I would agree it was a scramble for sure.
And you know, in Florida, you can see the clouds
coming and they were starting to hover and starting to
circle around to Cambell Stadium, and you knew that rain
was inevitable over about a twenty to twenty five minute
(08:16):
period prior to the rain drops getting there. And when
it hit, it wasn't just a light sprinkle. It hit hard.
And as I'm sure you've discussed with your radio crew,
our engineer started going to work moving things around, getting
you know, walking behind us, getting on tables, you know,
trying to get electronics out of the way. And then
(08:38):
the rain started to blow into the booth yep with
the wind, and so we had to shut the windows
and for a period of time and late in the
second quarter, legitimately it felt like you were going through
a car wash. I mean, I'm trying to find a
crease on the windows where i can see clearly onto
(08:59):
the field, and we're almost guessing at times, Craig.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
With what was going on.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
It was almost like the fog Game and Old Soldier
filled the late eighties with the Eagles and the and
the Bears. And thankfully, as as people know in Florida,
the rain usually doesn't hang around very often for the
most part, and that went away by halftime and in
the second half we could open up the windows and
let it rip.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
But yeah, for a period.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Of time we knew there was there was a chance
for rain in the game when watching the forecast. Thankfully
it was only for a brief period. And also thankfully
there was no lightning in the area that caused any
delays and disruption into the flow of the game.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
No doubt about it. You see, here's what it made
me think of. And you just described what I kind
of went through. Back in oh seven, Texas was playing
UCF and it was UCF was opening their stadium, the
new stadium there, which at the time was called bright
House Network Stadium, I think, and we found it ironic
that in a place that had a cable and telecommunications
(09:59):
company as the naming rights sponsor. They didn't have any
cabling into the booths. We had no TV monitors in
the booth at that time. I remember that. But but
the thing that came to mind was, and you've seen,
you know, when I've had my broadcast boards before, a
lot of people, you know whatever, say things, Hey, those
(10:19):
look nicer this and that, and I always laminate them.
I didn't have time on that trip to laminate the boards.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
So that had a big deal. And I had it.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
And one of those rainstorms just like what you described,
came blowing through midway through the third quarter, and the
rains blowing in, and those spotting charts they looked great,
but one thing they were not was waterproof. And so
the colors start running and I have to drop it
into my lap. Fortunately or unfortunately, the game got stopped
(10:50):
because there was lightning. And when they came out after
about an hour and fifteen minute delay, it was like
a sauna and the Texas players starts sucking wind and
they barely got out of their live I think Kevin
Smith ran for one hundred and fifty yards for UCF
Texas won like thirty five, thirty two, and Mac Brown
always said that was the dumbest mistake I ever made.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Was one of the dumbest mistakes.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
I was agreeing to play a team in the grand
opening of their stadium. But that's Florida weather, right, I mean,
you get you get rain like that afternoon. Thunderstorms in
the summer in early fall are a regular.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Thing, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Well, quite honestly, we had a great day weatherwise outside
of the rain coming down. The initial forecast had you know,
you're thinking August thirtieth in Tallahassee, You're thinking, you know,
heat index of one hundred and six, and you know, no,
no just shade, no, no screen from the sun, and
(11:46):
you're worried about some people, quite honestly. But it turned
out to be a perfect day outside of the rain weatherwise,
I mean it was it was eighty two, eighty three degrees.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
There was cloud cover all day.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
The sun only popped out a few times, which which
didn't really turn up the heat too much.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
So from that standpoint, it was pretty good.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
But yeah, I mean two years ago Florida State Miami
played I think it was November thirteenth was the date,
and it was eighty five degrees on November thirteenth, and
we called it Florida football weather. I mean, there was
no such thing as a day in the twenties or
thirties in November here in the state of Florida.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
So yeah, you get used to it.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Your blood thins out pretty quick, but you better be
ready to navigate a brief shower or a delay, because
that's just part of the deal signed up down here.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
What really impressed you coming out?
Speaker 1 (12:37):
And I know one of the things that impressed me
what the Seminoles did was to run for two hundred
and thirty yards on that Bama defense.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
That was one of the things that impressed me.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And then the other thing was their ability to answer
once Bama tried to make a push and got within
a touchdown, to just turn it right back around with
a quick answer score to keep them at arm's length.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Yeah, Craig, I'm with you on both of those. Just
the physicality that Florida State played with. Didn't see that
a year ago, really didn't see that. We saw a
little bit in twenty twenty three. But I thought from
just an actual pads popping perspective, that's as hard as
we've seen around here in quite some time. I mean,
it was a defense that was meeting Alabama on their
(13:19):
side of the line of scrimmage, their side of the fence,
if you will. And Bama is known for elite offensive lines,
elite defensive lines, and they have those pieces in place.
They were missing Tim Keenan in the middle defensively, who
is an All SEC performer. So that was a loss
for them, but they still have very very good players
and very good depth. Florida State just flat out beat them.
(13:43):
I mean that's it. I mean, two touchdown underdogs coming
off a two win season. No one outside of Tallahassee
gave Florida State a shot.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
And look, I get it, right, I understand it.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
And so to see the result of all the things,
and you know, as we talked about a little bit
of go playing with that edge and responding and winning
two huge fourth down conversions on the defensive side, and
I'll tell you, just an amazing moment to me that
shows how this team has come together and how much
(14:17):
they trust each other.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Right now, Craig, there's eleven minutes left in.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
The game, and Bama has made it a seven point contest.
It's twenty four to seventeen, and they've had the ball
two times, two plays to one for Florida State. Thirty
one total plays Florida State fifteen in the second half,
and the defense has gassed. They are gassed, and it's
fourth and one, fourth and two at our own thirty
with eleven minutes to go, and Mike Norvel says, we're
(14:41):
gonna go for it because he knew if he punted
it that his defense didn't have enough juice to go
out and stop Bama, and Bama would go down and
score and take the momentum and probably win the game.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
And Florida State responded.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
The offense respotted and got the first down, moved Bama
on a fourth and two, and then went down and
scored the game winning touchdown on just a great physical
run by Oklahoma transfer Gavin Sadshak, who you guys have
seen before from the running back spot. And so that
was a response moment, but also a trust moment that
a head coach had with his team with eleven completely
(15:18):
new guys on offense. Craig for Florida State offensively, that
shows you what Mike Norfel has been seeing in practice.
And the belief and the connection they've had. It was
on full display in that moment.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
You have three just major headline grabbing games on the
schedule down the road, Miami at home and then at Clemson,
and then of course the game in games will against
Florida on Thanksgiving weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
That all of that is there. I was.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Amused to see that you've got East Texas A and
M coming in this week. They were competitive for a
time against SMU. That's the old Texas A and M commerce
and when they were D two and even before then.
Originally East Texas State where they're proudest slum probably was
Harvey Martin of the Dallas Cowboys Front for Fame back
in the day. So I would imagine the old thing,
(16:11):
the old thing about coaches say, hey, we we worry
about ourselves and not so much about the opponent this week, right.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
You are correct?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
And seven name changes for the school, yeah, getting back
to eighteen eighty nine. So yeah, they're kind of like Prince.
They're going to be a symbol here at some point soon.
But all kidding aside, the connection is East Texas A
and M A. D Jim Curry was with Michael Offer
(16:40):
here at Florida State for a long time and was
a part of the fsuthletic department for eleven years, and
so there's a connection there with their relationship. And you know,
the Lions are trying to build up their program at
the SCS level and at the Division IE level, and yeah,
they hung in there with SMU a bit on Saturday night,
and so you know, but you have to continue to
(17:03):
go out and play. And I think everyone is you know, look,
everyone's obviously excited about the win, but it's one game.
It's a long season. I mean, injuries can happen. You
got to have a little bit of luck along the way,
and we honestly get a little bit of PTSD Craig
in games like this two years ago against North Alabama
is when Jordan Travis suffered the lower leg injury that
(17:24):
ended his football career and essentially ended Florida State's playoff hopes.
So these games you want to get in, you want
to impose your will. You want to play a lot
of guys and get guys out of their healthy that's
the expectation. But you don't want to see two steps
back after really what was ten steps forward for Florida State.
(17:44):
And that went over Alabama, and we'll see, you know
what kind of juice and what kind of approach Florida
State will have in this contest against the Lions on
Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
And we'll look forward to continuing to follow it. Jeff,
I appreciate the time, thanks so much for joining us,
enjoy the ride, and hope you have a great call
this week and I'm sure we'll visit again down the road.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Great to see you, my friend.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Thanks for having me on your show, and we'll definitely
talk down the road.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
You bention.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
All right, that's Jeff Colehanes, play by play voice of
the Florida State Seminoles and what a big win they
had in beating Alabama last weekend. All right, coming up,
we'll hear more from Arch Panning when we continue here
on thirteen under the Zone.
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