O’leary back in the mix

TALLAHASSEE— Florida State coach Jimbo

Fisher learned his lesson last season. Listen to Grandpa Jack.

One of the more memorable moments of FSU’s 2011 campaign came the weekend of its 34-0 win over N.C. State. During the live broadcast, golf legend Jack Nicklaus, grandfather of Seminoles tight end Nick

O’Leary, took Fisher and his staff to task.

“Throw the ball more to Nick,” Nicklaus said, clearly frustrated when asked his assessment of FSU’s coaches. “They play basically a four-wide receiver offense and the tight end doesn’t get a lot of action.”

O’Leary caught only 12 passes his freshman season.

It appeared he was headed toward a similarly low-catch total this season. That changed Saturday afternoon when he caught three passes during the Seminoles’ 41-14 win at Maryland. He now has 16 for the year.

In FSU’s (10-1) five previous game, O’Leary had caught three passes for 28 yards.

Six games ago at USF, he caught a season-high four passes for 40 yards.

The midseason drought had little to do with O’Leary and nothing to do with playcalling, Fisher said.

Opposing defenses started covering him more and leaving receivers open, Fisher said.

Next football game: vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m., Saturday, ABC.

Game-day hashtag: #osfsu