Stockstill to Seminoles Ahead of BC: ‘Pack Your Toughness.’

Florida State football coach Rick Stockstill knows what it is like to play for a program that built a reputation on excellence and physicality, on both sides of the ball.

Under Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles put the fear of the football gods into their opponents every Saturday.

As Stockstill prepares to lead the Seminoles for the first time on the road at Boston College, the buzz word for his team this week was “toughness.”

Stockstill spoke about it at the post-practice press conference on Wednesday.

“I told the team this, you go on the road, you got to pack your toughness because who you're playing,” said Stockstill.

He was not done with his spiel. 

“You know, they (Boston College) pride themselves on physicality, that lunchbox mentality that they have. So, we got to bring our toughness,” Stockstill said. “So, I think it starts with the toughness part of it and then just playing with phenomenal, relentless effort that when that game's over, you couldn't go one more play because you ain't got nothing left.”

Currently on a three-game losing streak, Stockstill and the Seminoles need a road victory to put them back on track to possibly salvage a winning or bowl season.

It will not be easy. Stockstill will have reduced manpower to work with this week. As many as 12 players are listed as out for the game at Boston College.

That includes receiver Duce Robinson, who tore his ACL in the loss to Clemson and is out for the season. It also includes running back Tre Wisner, who is listed as questionable for the game.

That leaves just Amari Thomas as the lone ball carrier with any game experience for the Seminoles.

Running backs Ousmane Kromah and Sam Singleton Jr. were lost for the season with injuries earlier in the year.

That toughness and relentless effort has to apply to quarterback Ashton Daniels as well. Daniels leads the conference in interceptions with 11.

Ball security has to be a priority for Daniels. He cannot force the ball or try to do too much.

Daniels must get the ball to his playmakers on the perimeter, namely Jayvan Boggs, Michai Danzy and Jasen Lopez, and let them make plays in space.

On defense, the Seminoles need to play in coach Ernie Sims own image.

They have to show that relentless effort at arriving at the football with a “violence of action,” to borrow Sims’ phrase from fall camp.

The one person they need to key on is Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie. McKenzie has recorded 2,088 yards of total offense, scored 13 total touchdowns, and thrown seven interceptions.

In three games this season, McKenzie gained 300+ yards of total offense.

However, in the 47-2 loss to Duke, McKenzie was held to just 111 total yards. How McKenzie goes, so go the Eagles.

Stockstill is a Florida State man who bleeds garnet and gold. He learned what it takes to be a winner from the one of the best to ever do it-coach Bowden.

Now, Stockstill has the power and authority to do what is necessary, from a schematic and personnel standpoint, to put the best 22 on the field that can win these next four games.

And it does not matter if you win by one point or 50 points. Winning is winning. This is a temporary reset. Stockstill will have his team ready to play, the Florida State way.