FSU has a new starting quarterback. And it’s Everett Golson.
Seminoles’ coach Jimbo Fisher took the most asked question of the off-season and waited until Monday for an answer, picking Golson over returning backup Sean McGuire to be the FSU quarterback.
Golson, a former starter at Notre Dame who was good enough to quarterback the Irish to the national title game in 2012, transferred to FSU in the off-season despite a lack of promises. In 25 games with the Irish, he threw for 5,850 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also ran for 581 yards and 14 more scores.
That experience gave him an edge over McGuire that evidently was not offset by McGuire’s familiarity with the offense.
“He has all the gifts,” Fisher has said. “He can throw, he can run, he’s a competitor, he learns well and he’s getting a grasp of what we’re doing. You can tell his experience level and his demeanor, and the guys respond well to it.”
McGuire had hoped that better ball management would play a roll. Golson has committed 32 turnovers in 25 games, with 20 interceptions. Last season, he had 14 picks and fumbled 12 times.
But in the end, experience won out. And Fisher swears he will not have a quick trigger on Golson.
“I’m not going to short-leash anybody,” Fisher said. “When I played, I did not want to look over my shoulder.”
