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Rick Trickett responds to ranking, his o-line

July 18, 2008 6:30 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

I wondered if FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett knew it was me. I wondered if he knew I was THAT GIRL who ranked his o-line last in the ACC.

Well, now he knows, and he owes me for the motivation:

"That doesn't bother me," he deadpanned. "I ran copies of it off just a minute ago. All of my players will have one in their wallet by the start of the season."

What a sport. All kidding aside, Trickett didn't sugarcoat just how tough his job is going to be this season.

"I'm going on my 36th year now and I've never had this situation," he said. "It's going to be the biggest challenge I've ever had in coaching, just because of the youth part of it. When you don't have one senior, one redshirt junior or one junior, you're basically missing three grades.

"This group of kids I have, I really like them," he said. "This crop coming in has been a pleasant surprise. I can give them everything. I can teach them to pass block, I can teach them everything, but the only thing that bothers me is that I cannot give them the experience. We're always a lot better the third and fourth year than we are the first year.

"When Rodney Hudson who is a true sophomore is your leader and old man, you're really young. But a lot of times with young groups it becomes a nervous energy I really like being around."

When the season starts, three of the five linemen will be playing in their first college game. Trickett will get one more -- Brandon Davis -- back after he's done serving his three-game suspension. He can help at center and guard.

Game experience, though, will help the most, and Trickett is confident in their potential.

"I want you to take your pencil paper right now and right this down," he said. "In two years we will be No. 1."

If they are, I'd be more than happy to put them there.

Florida State Seminoles, Rick Trickett, Rodney Hudson, Brandon Davis

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