ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida State will start a nearly unheard-of four true freshman on its offensive line in the Champs Sports Bowl.
This is not a youth movement. This is a we-don’t-have-anyone-else movement.
“It wasn’t a future thing,” Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said at a Wednesday news conference. “It was a necessity.”
Injuries have ravaged the Florida State front. Guard Jacob Fahrenkrug requires hip surgery. Center Bryan Stork had a finger infection that had doctors talking about possible amputation. So the Seminoles will go young, but Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly doesn’t believe that will alter his club’s defensive approach.
“It won’t change what we do,” Kelly said. “It’s not going to matter whether we’re playing freshmen or seniors. But certainly when you’re talking about third-down situations and recognition of pressures and things of that nature, it could impact it a little bit.
“They will be well-coached and prepared. Will they have seen enough of those things is the question. But on first and second down, it won’t impact the game at all.”
Schedule shakeup: Will the new Big Ten/Pac-12 partnership for non-conference football games hurt Notre Dame’s ability to schedule with those conferences from 2017 on — or end some rivalry games altogether?
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon certainly didn’t sound committed in comments to the Detroit News on Wednesday, once the leagues announced their plan publicly.
“We are committed for the next three years,” Brandon told the newspaper of the long-standing rivalry with the Irish. “What the long-term future of that rivalry is remains to be seen.”
Oh captain: Michael Floyd was supposed to be a permanent captain for 2011 before his DUI in March quashed that. But he will get his chance in his final game for Notre Dame.
The record-smashing wideout will be a game-day captain for the Champs Sports Bowl, Kelly announced Wednesday. Now that Floyd has graduated and technically is no longer a student, the school probation that precluded any captaincy during the year is lifted.
“He has exhibited all the things necessary that we’ve asked him to do,” Kelly said. “He has gotten his degree from Notre Dame, he has lived his life the right way, he has been extraordinary in his preparation in practice. He exhibits all of those traits that we feel are important to be a game-day captain.”
Staff matters: Kelly indicated the announcement of how his 2012 coaching staff shapes up will come soon, and it probably will involve only familiar faces. The Irish coach preferred to stay in-house to replace offensive coordinator Charley Molnar and it appears he will do so.
“We’re very excited that we’re going to be able to keep our staff in place,” Kelly said. “I can tell you this: They’re already guys who have been on Notre Dame’s campus. That’s the exciting part. We’re going to have continuity within our staff and maintain that this year.”
Speculation surrounds the promotion of intern Scott Booker — a full-time assistant at previous stops at Western Kentucky and Kent State — followed by the possible flip of safeties coach Chuck Martin to offensive coordinator.
