On The Bench: An FSU football podcast network

Florida State has seen three players opt out since Sunday: Asante Samuel Jr., Jaiden Lars-Woodbey, and La’Damian Webb. The latter sent FSU’s fan-base into a tizzy for about a day, although Webb’s status has since been clarified. But the run of opt-outs and the concern from the fan base prompted On The Bench to break out a semi-emergency podcast.  In addition to going over the reasoning for the att...

What a perfect time for Florida State basketball to tip off their 2020-2021 season! Josh Newberg & Chris Nee of Noles247 reflect on last year's ending and look ahead at what's to come. There are several fresh faces that you need to know, including the top recruit in the history of FSU basketball under Leonard Hamilton -- guard Scottie Barnes. We run down the roster and talk newcomers, starters...

On The Bench is back on a busy Monday. FSU’s season is on the brink of cancelation after the Virginia game was canceled over the weekend and the upcoming game against Duke this weekend has already been canceled.  The crew at Noles247 breaks it all down and tells you what it means for the Seminoles. In other big news today — FSU’s top rated commitment QB Luke Altmyer has decommitted. He’s likely he...

Our Thanksgiving edition of On The Bench is a day early so you can enjoy the bonus mailbag while traveling or entertaining or just taking the day off.   We hopefully put the finishing touches on the FSU-Dabo debacle, go over some rumors that we’re chasing, discuss some new offers, and then take listener questions. Check it all out in the latest episode of OTB.

Florida State didn’t play this weekend, but that doesn’t mean it was an uneventful couple of days for the Seminoles.  Saturday’s contest against Clemson was postponed several hours before the noon kick as medical officials from both teams couldn’t agree that the game was safe to play. This came after a Clemson player who was symptomatic earlier in the week traveled with the team to Tallahassee and...

Florida State was competing for national championships less than a decade ago. The program has swiftly declined due to dysfunctional dynamics, mismanagement and some bad luck on various levels. ESPN captured the years of decline in a recent article -- Inside the 6-year unraveling of Florida State football -- by Andrea Adelson and David Hale. The two authors of the story join On The Bench for an in...

Florida State received a one-two punch to the gut at the quarterback position. First, word came that freshman QB Chubba Purdy would miss the remainder of the season due to a complication from a collarbone injury that he suffered earlier in the year. Then a crystal ball was placed in favor of Ole Miss for QB pledge Luke Altmyer. So one QB will lose meaningful reps the remainder of this year, and th...

Florida State has the youngest roster in the country. Does the increased commitment to youth alter the way we perceive this team or what we should expect from it weekly? The gang at OTB debates this question. Plus we get into some developments on the Grad Transfer market.

Florida State continued further down the downward spiral of their 2020 season on Saturday evening, losing 38-22 to  NC State  at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.  The Seminoles (2-6, 1-6 ACC) have now lost three in a row. Chubba Purdy got his first start as FSU was without Jordan Travis today. He played okay, but it was FSU's defense that didn't answer the bell. The 'Noles D gave up 422 yard...

We told you on the last episode of On The Bench that change could be coming, and change did indeed come as the Seminoles took two players off the roster this week. QB James Blackman and WR Tamorrion Terry are no longer with the program, while DT Marvin Wilson is out for the remainder of the season with a leg injury. This brings FSU’s number of players who’ve left the team to 16-17 since Mike Norve...

Florida State’s latest loss -- a 41-17 defeat to Pittsburgh -- could spark some change along the roster as the Seminoles enter the final month of the season. This defeat has sparked lingering frustration among some veterans who haven’t fully bought into the culture under Mike Norvell. This could lead to some more in-season roster attrition. The crew at On The Bench discusses the latest scoop from...

Florida State started hot against Pitt , jumping out to a 14-3 after an 88-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Travis less than 10 minutes into the game - which marked a school-record rush by a FSU quarterback. But then the rest of the game had to be played. Pitt dominated FSU for the remaining three quarters of the football game, winning by a final score of 41-17. The crew at Noles247 breaks...

Florida State comes off a bye week looking to get back on track against Pittsburgh and stingy defense. The gang at On The Bench breaks down the upcoming contest and looks at areas where FSU can find success in order to get to 3-4 on the season. Plus we go over the dozens of new offers FSU has extended recently and share some scoop from the past week. Oh, Newberg and Sonnone get a little irritated...

Florida State enters the second half of the 2020 campaign hoping to finish the year on a high note. It’s an easier stretch of schedule for the Seminoles, and there’s an opportunity for 3-4 wins if FSU grows in some areas. The guys go over what we’re looking for from FSU in the final month or so of the regular season in the latest episode of On The Bench. And then we’re joined by trench expert Cole...

The podcast as you know it now was originally called the Noles247 Podcast, and it started in March of 2017. Friend and colleague Bob Ferrante was with us then, and was part of a three-man show featuring Chris Nee and Brendan Sonnone, with Josh Newberg joining us on occasion to talk recruiting. Our show has changed a lot since then. We had to alter the dynamic when Bob left the network, and pivoted...

Florida State  is midway through the first year of the  Mike Norvell  Era. The results have been mixed, with the most recent outing -- a 48-16 loss at  Louisville  -- leaving a sour taste heading into the bye week. On The Bench dedicated this show to the listeners. We let the members of Noles247 submit questions, about the team or recruiting, and then we answered them all on the show. We cover eve...

Florida State is midway through the first year of the Mike Norvell Era. The results have been mixed, with the most recent outing -- a 48-16 loss at Louisville -- leaving a sour taste heading into the bye week. On The Bench goes over the Louisville game one more time, but explores where FSU is at midway through the season and where the Seminoles go in order to fix things. This includes a look at ho...

The Florida State Seminoles did not have the results fans expected coming off an upset win over No. 5 North Carolina. Instead they went on the road to Louisville and were embarrassed by a score of 48-16. FSU got the scoring going on an 8-yard touchdown run by QB Jordan Travis, but that would be the last time the Seminoles would hold a lead. Louisville demolished the 'Noles in every facet of the ga...

Florida State looks to build upon its impressive win over North Carolina in a road trip up to Louisville. The Seminoles are underdogs heading into the contest, but signs of growth are evident and we’re beginning to see some players but into the teachings of coach Mike Norvell. On The Bench previews this game and what we’re seeing from the team in terms of buy-in. Plus we brought in a former Memphi...

What a difference a year makes. Exactly one year ago, Florida State fell to Wake Forest in a rain-soaked game that was the straw before the straw that broke the camel’s back during the Willie Taggart Era.  We left that game on Oct. 19 feeling uncertain of the future of the program, but certain that a change was needed... and as we reported then, likely imminent . Fast forward a full year later. FS...

The 'Noles took down No.5 North Carolina in a thrilling primetime victory 31-28 inside Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. FSU stormed out to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter and a 31-7 lead at the half. They needed every bit of that to hold on as the Tar Heels (3-1, 3-1 ACC) stormed back in the second half and had the ball in the final two minutes with a chance to win. The Seminoles would...

Florida State is a double-digit underdog for this weekend’s contest against No. 5 North Carolina . Do the Seminoles have a shot against former QB commit Sam Howell and the explosive Tar Heels? On The Bench goes into what Howell and Co. do so well, his recruitment, and the status of FSU QB Jordan Travis (aka J-Trav) in the latest episode. Plus we provide updates on a couple transfer portal targets...

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Florida State’s loss of linebacker recruit Branden Jennings stings. The Seminoles are in desperate need of upgrading the linebacker room, and Jennings was a legacy with the potential to immediately elevate the floor at the position. On The Bench shares what this news means for FSU moving forward. Plus we circle back to the disappointing play of FSU’s defense against...

Florida State traveled to Notre Dame this weekend in an effort to upset the Fighting Irish. It didn't workout that way. The 'Noles battled all game but came up short losing 42-26. FSU falls to 1-3 on the season, including 0-3 against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. It marks the second time in the past four seasons (2017), that the Seminoles began a season 1-3. The crew from Noles247 breaks do...

Florida State is wrapping up preparations for a road contest at No. 5 Notre Dame. The Seminoles found success on offense this past week against Jacksonville State, but will that translate over against a scrappy Fighting Irish defense? We preview FSU’s game at Notre Dame, but also dive into the development of QB Jordan Travis, Mike Norvell’s continued cultural overhaul and more in the latest episod...