I felt the way I did Saturday night once before.

It was a year ago, riding back to my hotel after I watched Xavier Lee pump life into a dead offense during Florida State's 27-24 loss to Maryland.

In the Oct. 29, 2006 edition of the Miami Herald, a certain writer (okay okay it was me), wrote that “Florida State lost its fourth game of the season Saturday against Maryland, but it might have found a star at quarterback.”

A couple dropped passes, a blocked field goal, and a defense that had been ravaged by injuries prevented Lee from pulling out a win in his first career start. But it was a beginning, a turning point not only in his career, but for Florida State.

As we know now, it was a tease, and I had clearly jumped the gun when I anointed him a star. Lee struggled the week after, completing only 12 of his 25 passes for 185 yards, in a sluggish 33-0 win over Virginia.


Rock bottom was Nov. 11 on a rain-soaked Saturday night in Tallahassee. Lee threw two first-half interceptions on two consecutive throws, and then was quickly replaced by Drew Weatherford. We learned afterwards that the second interception that Lee had thrown came on a play where he had two options. He could either throw a route on the right sideline, or throw it away. He did neither, instead opting to throw it to the left side of the field, more specifically right into Wake Forest linebacker Stanley Arnoux's chest.

It was the type of freelancing that had kept Lee on the sidelines and kept coach Bobby Bowden from handing the former five-star the reigns to the offense.

And that is the reason that I am cautious.

I really do think it will be different this time around, though.

He looked comfortable, he looked confident, and he looked capable of using his ability within offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher's offense. That's what Fisher and Bowden finally began to see out of Lee during last week's practice, and that is what Seminole nation saw Saturday against Alabama.


Let me use Phil Mickelson as an example. No one ever doubted Mickelson's talent early in Lefty's career. But just as everyone acknowledged his raw ability for the game, they acknowledged that he would never win a major until he improved his decision making and his ability to manage his round.
No one has ever questioned Lee's arm, or his athletic ability, but as Fisher has said numerous times, playing quarterback is more than running and throwing. It looks as if Lee is beginning to mature just as many expected him to under the offensive coordinator that groomed last year's No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell.

Lee hasn't won the Master's yet, though, but it appears he will get his chance. Bowden said during his weekly booster luncheon, that Lee isn't a temporary replacement, he has won the job.

"Lee made things happen with his running ability, plus the strength of his arm, plus he was getting the ball to the right people," Bowden said. "He won the job. Drew is the backup now. He'll have to play the role Xavier's been playing the past couple of years."

With the coaching staff behind him, the job secured, and schedule that will allow Lee to continue get comfortable and gain confidence before a brutal November, Lee has a chance to erase last season's struggles and progress into the quarterback he is capable of being.


"I've got my shot and hope to make the most of it," Lee said.

Xavier, we're all rooting for you.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida safety Tony Joiner, a starter on the Gators' defending national champion football team, was arrested by Gainesville Police and charged with burglary on Tuesday, according to the Gainesville Sun.

Joiner is accused of going into an impound lot to retrieve his girlfriend's car at approximately 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. His girlfriend's car was being held at Watson's Towing, the Sun reported, in lieu of a $76 towing bill, according to the police report.

The police report said witnesses saw a man push open the gates of the towing service and drive a car out. As he was trying to close the gates, one of the witnesses confronted the man, who then drove the car back in the lot.

Police arrived and arrested Joiner, who has 17 tackles and an interception for the Gators, who travel to face No. 1 LSU on Saturday night. Florida lost to Auburn last weekend.