2013 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 2013 Florida State Seminoles football team (variously Florida State or FSU) represents Florida State University in the sport of American football during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. Florida State competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Seminoles are led by fourth year head coach Jimbo Fisher and play their home games at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. They are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, playing in the Atlantic Division.

It is the Seminoles' 22nd season as a member of the ACC and its ninth in the ACC Atlantic Division.

Previous season
Florida State ended the 2012 season with a 12–2 record (7–1 in ACC play); they finished the season as champions of the ACC. They were led by head coach Jimbo Fisher in his third year of head coaching. Eleven players from the 2012 team were taken in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Pre-season
Prior to the start of the season, FSU lost six coaches from their coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops left his position at Florida State to take the job as head coach at Kentucky. D.J. Eliot left his position as defensive ends coach to assist Stoops at Kentucky as defensive coordinator. Eddie Gran, who served as runningback coach and special teams coordinator as well as associate head coach, also left the staff to serve as offensive coordinator at Cincinnati. Offensive coordinator James Coley left Florida State to take the same position at Miami. Greg Hudson, an assistant head coach left his position to become the defensive coordinator at Purdue Quarterbacks coach Dameyune Craig left Florida State to return to Auburn, his alma matter.

Former Alabama assistant coach, Jeremy Pruitt, joined the Florida State staff as the new defensive coordinator, replacing Mark Stoops. Former Tennessee assistant coach Sal Sunseri was hires as defensive ends coach. Former Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster was hired as tight ends coach. Former South Carolina assistant coach Jimmy Graham was hired as runningbacks coach. Former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator was hired as linebackers coach and special teams. Randy Sanders was hired as quarterbacks coach.

The annual 'Garnet and Gold Game' was held on April 13 at Doak S. Campbell Stadium and the gold team was victorious, winning by a score of 40–24.
 * Spring Game

Personnel
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher is in his fourth year as the Seminole's head coach. During his previous three years with Florida State, he has led the Seminoles to an overall record of 31 wins and 10 losses (31–10).

Jeremy Pruitt, a former assistant coach at Alabama, assumed the duties of defensive coordinator. Head coach Jimbo Fisher took over as offensive coordinator.

Returning starters
For the 2013 season, Florida State has seven returning starters on offense, four on defense, and one on special teams.

Offense

 * QB E.J. Manuel
 * FB Lonnie Pryor
 * TB Chris Thompson
 * WR Rodney Smith
 * OT Menelik Watson

Defense

 * DT Everett Dawkins
 * DT Anthony McCloud
 * DE Cornellius Carradine
 * LB Nick Moody
 * LB Vince Williams
 * CB Xavier Rhodes
 * DE Bjoern Werner

Special Teams

 * K Dustin Hopkins

Media
Florida State football is broadcast on the Florida State University Seminoles Radio Network and the games are called by Gene Deckerhoff.

Rankings

 * Source: ESPN.com: 2013 NCAA Football Rankings

Schedule

 * Source:

Game notes
Florida State will have a bye week after their season opener against Pittsburgh and before their home opener against Nevada as well as another bye after their home game against Maryland and before their away game against Clemson.

Pittsburgh

 * Sources:

Pittsburgh Leads Series: 5 – 3

Pregame Line: Florida St −13

To open the season, Florida State will travel to Heinz Field on Labor Day to face the Pittsburgh Panthers. It will mark Pittsburgh's first game as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Florida State has played on Labor Day four times, compiling a 2-2 record in those games.

Nevada

 * Sources:

Series Tied: 0 – 0

Pregame Line: Florida St −26

In their home opener, Florida State will face the Nevada Wolf Pack of the Mountain West Conference. This will be the first meeting between these teams.

Bethune-Cookman

 * Sources:

Series Tied: 0 – 0

Pregame Line: Lines are not released when an FCS team plays an FBS team.

In an early season non-conference contest, Florida State will face an FCS opponent, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Coming into this game, Florida State holds a 19–0 record against teams from the Football Championship Subdivision.

Boston College

 * Sources:

Florida State Leads Series: 7 – 4

Pregame Line: Florida St −17

For the first road game of the season, Florida State will travel to face the Boston College Eagles.

Last season, Florida State was victorious with a 51-7 win over the Eagles in Tallahassee.

Maryland

 * Sources:

Florida State Leads Series: 21 – 2

Pregame Line:

Florida State will return home to face the Maryland Terrapins.

Last season, Florida State was victorious with a 41-14 win over the Terrapins in College Park. This game will be the final meeting between the teams as conference opponents as Maryland is leaving for the Big Ten Conference.

Clemson

 * Sources:

Florida State Leads Series: 18 – 8

Pregame Line: Clemson −2

Florida State will travel to Clemson to face the Clemson Tigers.

Last season, Florida State was victorious with a 49-37 win over the Tigers in Tallahassee en route to an Atlantic Division title and an ACC Championship.

NC State

 * Sources:

Florida State Leads Series: 22 – 11

Pregame Line: Florida St −20

After a game agaisnt Clemson, Florida State will face the NC State Wolfpack.

Last season, Florida State was upset by the Wolfpack, 17-16, in Raleigh.

Miami (FL)

 * Sources:

Miami Leads Series: 31 – 26

Pregame Line: Florida St −8

Florida State will remain at home to face the rival Miami Hurricanes.

Last season, Florida State was victorious with a 33-20 win in Miami Gardens.

Wake Forest

 * Sources:

Florida State Leads Series: 24 – 6 – 1

Pregame Line: Florida St −18

Florida State travel to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Last season, Florida State shutout the Demon Deacons, 52-0, in Tallahassee.

Syracuse

 * Sources:

Florida State Leads Series: 5 – 1

Pregame Line: Florida St −16

In their final ACC game of the year, Florida State will face the Syracuse Orange. This will be the team's first meeting as conference opponents.

The 1993 national title team, along with former coach Bobby Bowden, will be recognized in honor of the twentieth anniversary of Florida State's first national championship.

Idaho

 * Sources:

Series Tied: 0 – 0

Pregame Line:

In their final home game of the season, Florida State will face the Idaho Vandals of the Western Athletic Conference. This will be the first meeting between these teams.

Florida

 * Sources:

Florida Leads Series: 34 – 21 – 2

Pregame Line: Florida −2

Florida State will travel to Gainesville for their annual rivalry game with the Florida Gators in the regular season finale.

Last season, Florida was victorious with a 37-26 win over the Seminoles in Tallahassee.

Watchlists

 * Lott Trophy
 * Lamarcus Joyner


 * Rimington Trophy
 * Bryan Stork