OCTOBER 2001

The prophet is back, with a view of the dynasty's future

CHARLIE BARNES

How will our Seminoles do this season? I am not a particularly good prognosticator, but I know someone whose unerring predictions are so chillingly accurate as to border on the supernatural.

I speak (in hushed, reverential tones of course) of The Prophet. The Prophet is a real person, an FSU alum, who is among the most devoted Seminole fans. The Prophet wishes to remain anonymous, a request we have upheld for 20 years.

What distinguishes The Prophet from all others is the attention to detail, the voracious devouring of all NCAA periodic publications, statistics, trends, newspaper reports, opponents' newsletters, all coupled with a razor-keen analytical mind.

Do you doubt the power of The Prophet? The Prophet accurately predicted the loss to Florida in 1997, the upset of Florida in 1996, the wire-to-wire championship run in 1999 and the loss to Miami last year. And he outlined a scenario whereby the Noles could lose the Orange Bowl last year, an outcome no one else foresaw. Sadly, it happened.

The Prophet is markedly unpretentious, down-to-earth. His letters are written in the third person, but only in mock seriousness. You would like him very much.

The Prophet routinely shares letters with me before and during each season, each one written out feverishly in long hand in a unique style no doubt distinctive of his genius. Usually the most prized of these letters is the one received in mid-summer containing the first predictions for the fall.

Here are excerpts from the first letter of the 2001 season, received at the Seminole Booster office July 13: (Keep in mind that this was written long before the potentially devastating loss of receiver Robert Morgan on Aug. 14. That might compel The Prophet to fine-tune his summer predictions. He'll let me know, and when he does, I'll pass it on.)

"Charlie: The Prophet loves the prospects for this season. Sure, we are not pre-season No.1 or even Top Five in most polls. But we do play at least two Top Five teams, Miami and Florida, so we have every chance to vault to No. 1 if deserving to do so.

"The whole world is tired of FSU blowouts in the ACC and that problem is 'cured' this year. Only The Prophet dares to predict the following:
"· Georgia Tech, not Miami, is the key to a great season;
"· A significant win over Tech, if it can be achieved, will lead to a 10-1 or 11-0 season;
"· A major upset of the 'top ranked' Florida Gators, even if we lose to Tech and/or Miami, as long as we don't lose to anybody else besides those two;
"· The Prophet guarantees that seven or more out of 11 games will be victories by 17 points or less. Our fans will get their money's worth. With the new BCS formula, relative 'squeakers' (14-21 point differential) with Duke or Alabama-Birmingham will not cost us!

"The BCS poll is being tweaked and, once again, Bobby Bowden wins. FSU, so long as it continues to play Florida, Miami and a top non-conference opponent, will have two to three Top 10 opponents each year."

Stay tuned for more from The Prophet as this season progresses.
All of us should be prepared for the reality of 2001. For the first time under the dynasty, Bobby Bowden and his coaches are actually rebuilding rather than reloading. Our 2001 Seminoles are as fast and as talented as anyone in the nation. We are, however, as inexperienced as any Top 20 team, and more inexperienced than any other recent FSU team.

A season of four losses is not unthinkable. We are spoiled rotten, you and I. I'll bet most of our fans can't tell you for certain which bowl hosts the ACC's No. 2 team. I know it's in either Atlanta or Jacksonville, but I'm not sure. Either place is fine with me. Of course, Pasadena would be OK too.

Think of this season as a throwaway play. When the defense jumps offside, the quarterback immediately snaps the ball. He knows he has a free play. If he does something spectacular, he can keep the play. If something bad happens, well, the play really doesn't have to count.

We might be pretty good after all in 2001.

However the season ends, FSU is going to prove hard to handle in 2002 and beyond. The dynasty will be just fine, even if there turns out to be a short intermission.

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