Humbling bowl loss positions FSU for future
ATLANTA — Reality, as it set in, affected each Florida State player a little differently.
Emotions overcame fifth-year senior safety Tyler Hunter as he cried by his locker following his last game at FSU. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who must decide whether he will leave for the 2016 NFL Draft or return for his senior year, walked around the locker room and hugged just about every teammate he could find.
The 38-24 loss to No. 18 Houston (13-1) in the Peach Bowl was bittersweet for No. 9 FSU (10-3). It signified an unceremonious end for nine of FSU’s scholarship seniors who won 49 games during their careers, but it also enabled most of the Seminoles’ strong returning nucleus to finally look ahead to 2016.
“We’re going to hide this in the back of our mind,” said star sophomore running back Dalvin Cook. “This is going to be it; our goal is not to take another [loss.] We’re going to go out there next season and play our hearts out.”
The 2015 season was always supposed to be a transitional year for FSU. Expectations changed midway through the year after the team got off to a 6-0 start, but three losses in the Seminoles’ final seven games served as a sobering reminder of this squad’s deficiencies.
In many ways, 2015 was similar to FSU’s 2012 campaign. The Seminoles were still a year away from hitting their peak and most players on the roster did not know what it was like to play in and win big games. The 2012 team lost on the road to underdog NC State — similar to how FSU fell to Georgia Tech this season — and then later was defeated by a superior Florida squad, much like how Clemson downed FSU in November.
During both seasons, FSU went on to play a nonPower 5 team in a major bowl game, with the difference being that the Seminoles defeated Northern Illinois several years ago.
“I think the 2012 year is a lot like this year. … It just shows you how hard it is to win 10 games and how hard it is to go undefeated, and how easy it is to lose,” said fourth-year junior kicker Roberto Aguayo. “Playing in a big-time bowl, it gives the guys experience. The young guys may say they’re ready, but at the end of the day, if you haven’t been through it, you don’t know what’s going to go on. I think it’s going to build them up, especially for next season.”
FSU’s offense, which is expected to return every starter next year, dealt with its growing pains this season. Outside of Cook and perhaps left tackle Rod Johnson, every player will face competition from younger teammates this offseason. That includes quarterback Sean Maguire, who played well this season but ended the year with a four-interception performance against Houston while dealing with a sprained ankle.
“I think the best is still ahead for this program,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “I’m very excited about where we’re going.”