Unconquered with Doc Staples

In a whirlwind week that mercifully brought a close to Florida State's 40 days of trial, Mike Norvell chose to stay at Florida State rather than taking over the Alabama position after Nick Saban's retirement. Florida State is now in position to compete for titles for the foreseeable future, and Norvell is prepping for a revenge tour. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps!...

Jason Staples discusses the impact of Florida State's snub from the College Football Playoff on coach Mike Norvell and the team's morale. He expresses concerns about the locker room's state and the difficulty of maintaining motivation. Staples suggests Norvell might embrace a "revenge tour" mentality. He analyzes the quarterback situation, comparing Cam Ward and DJU, favoring Ward's accuracy but n...

It went as badly as it looked like it might. Georgia not only outclassed Florida State's backups, all the bounces also went the Bulldogs' way, meaning the Noles were never competitive after the first quarter. Time to turn the page to the next season—FSU already did. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film b...

Both teams come into the Backup Bowl Presented by Opt-Outs with very different rosters than they had during the regular season, but Florida State has lost much more production due to being a more veteran team with higher-end NFL talent, while Georgia has always been the deeper team. Given all the opt-outs and portal entries, it's pretty obvious who that winds up favoring. The Noles have a puncher'...

As the Backup Bowl Presented by Opt-Outs approaches, I've got a lot of questions to address. Time to reach into the mailbag before the preview epsiode drops.  Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the offseason. Check out our new i...

Florida State has filed suit against the ACC, and the case against the ACC's Grant of Rights is stronger than anticipated. The 'Noles may need to send someone to the ACC HQ to cut out a piece of carpet before too long. Worth the Read: Mark T. Wilhelm, "Irrevocable but Unenforceable? Collegiate Athletic Conferences' Grant of Rights," Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law 8 no. 1 (2017): 6...

The annual Early Signing Day is now in the books, so we now know where these high school projects will be beginning their careers—and where half of them will be transferring from within the next 2–3 years. Florida State didn't enjoy an ideal close, but the Seminoles had an excellent class, raising the overall talent level on the roster with excellent players at key spots. Please rate and review th...

NOTE: This episode was recorded on Sunday shortly after the decision was made and for some reason didn't hit the feed when it should have. I've reposted it two days later. Apologies for the delay. I still stand by everything I said here. In leaving out 13-0 Florida State, the College Football Playoff committee compromised the integrity of the sport in pursuit of the most marketable matchups featur...

Florida State had a historically elite defensive performance against a quality Louisville offense in a game that went almost exactly as our preview projected. This was the first time a Jeff Brohm offense has been held under 200 yards in five years, as FSU held the Cardinals to 6 points and 2.8 yards per play, a lower YPP average than Michigan gave up to Iowa's anemic offense. That was enough to ca...

Despite having two of the best offensive minds in the game calling plays, this one shapes up as an old school matchup to be won by the team that runs the ball, stops the run, and doesn't turn it over. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing thr...

It wasn't pretty, but every win over a rival is beautiful. A few early bad breaks meant having to claw back rather than being able to dictate terms early, but Mike Norvell and staff stuck with the plan and got it done. (Note: I should've discussed the delay of game issues more in this episode—that's one thing they'll need to address this week more than anything else.) Please rate and review this p...

Florida State goes into its rivalry tilt against Florida without Heisman candidate Jordan Travis, and the Gators have a solid offense that will provide a strong challenge for the Noles' defense. But the Florida defense has been porous in exactly the areas FSU has been strong so far this season. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered...

Jordan Travis is an elite athlete at the QB position, but his best quality was managing the game and not turning the ball over. Tate Rodemaker (and Brock Glenn) will need to protect the football, and the offensive coaching staff will need to make sure the less experienced QB isn't asked to do too much. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unco...

Honestly, the words I have to say right now aren't all that suitable for on the air, and I'm not in a frame of mind to dispassionately discuss football or matchups or anything along those lines. I'm just gutted for Jordan Travis, and I hope his recovery is swift and full. We'll get back to discussion of football in a couple days. This isn't how senior day is supposed to go. Please rate and review...

In short: rest the key players. Get lots of reps for the backups and guys who haven't played much. Get as healthy as possible for the final two games, then get healthy again after that. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the off...

Florida State ran its record to 10-0 and its win streak to 16 games with a workmanlike win in a physical contest against rival Miami (Fla.). There were a few warts to point out, but any win against a rival is a beauty. Now the 'Noles get to play their second consecutive game against an FCS foe with an opportunity to go 11-0. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support t...

In the first of two consecutive games vs FCS programs, Florida State comes into a matchup against a rival that has the players to challenge them up front and at many skill positions but has been sloppy and doesn't appear especially well coached. It's a dangerous game, but it's also one the Noles could win big if they play well. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Suppor...

Florida State didn't finish drives, looked sloppy much of the game, and still won a conference game on the road by 17 points. That'll do, pig. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the offseason. Check out our new items in the Unco...

Florida State travels to play a Pitt team that, aside from one of the biggest upsets in CFB this season, has been struggling all season. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the offseason. Check out our new items in the Unconquere...

What are the biggest surprises through the first eight games? Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the offseason. Check out our new items in the Unconquered Shop . Support the podcast by buying some swag! Please also support our p...

Florida State put this game away in the first half and then fell asleep in the third quarter before slamming the door shut in the fourth. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the offseason. Check out our new items in the Unconquer...

Wake Forest has been a thorn in FSU's side in recent years, but this matchup is much friendlier to the Seminoles than recent episodes in this series.  Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the offseason. Check out our new items in...

Florida State survived a quality Duke team (yes, it's true!) that exposed some of the Seminoles' warts in the first half with a 21–0 run in the fourth quarter led by Jordan Travis being turned loose to run.  Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continu...

Mike Elko has never lost a game at Duke by more than one score. Will that impressive streak at a program that has not been very good historically end in Tallahassee, or will the Blue Devils find a way to keep it close and potentially beat the Seminoles on Saturday? Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film br...

Florida State continued its streak of blowing out lesser teams without playing especially well on one side of the ball. They've still got a long way to go to hit their ceiling. Please rate and review this podcast! Every 5-star review helps! Support the podcast via the Unconquered Podcast Patreon page . Film breakdowns of various schemes and techniques will be continuing throughout the offseason. C...