Preparing For The Seminoles

Tommy Bowden made the first of his weekly guest appearances on my show today.

Now just four days away from the season opener, Bowden still comes across as a man of extreme confidence. It's not the arrogance that he was accused of during his first couple of years here, not by any stretch.

No, this - as I've written before - is more of a quiet, business-like demeanor that shows no signs of stress.

And it could be that Florida State is one team with which he can afford to be confident. After an 0-4 start in Bowden Bowls, son has defeated father in three of the last four. Hard to believe, considering the early years, that the redshirt seniors on this 2007 team have a chance to say their class beat FSU four times.

Yet to do so the Tigers are going to have to overcome a new Seminole offense. Jimbo Fisher, late of LSU, is the new offensive coordinator. Rick Trickett, architect of West Virginia's dominant offensive lines, is also on board.

So Bowden and defensive coordinator Vic Koening are looking at a brand new offense that contains a little bit Seminole, a little bit WVU and a whole lot LSU.

What to expect, you ask?

If Fisher's past is any indication, plenty of running game and play-action pass. So Clemson's chore would seem to be simple - stop the run and make Drew Weatherford's arm beat them.

Of course, nothing is simple in the Bowden Bowl. The stress on the family has reached such a point that Tommy said his mother probably wasn't attending this game.

It's a far cry from the circus atmosphere surrounding the very first meeting back in 1999.

But for the loser Monday, a brand new big top might be in the works.