There’s an intensity to Ernie Sims’ eyes that was once reserved for running backs. He may be 20 years removed from his last college football game at Florida State, but those eyes deliver an intention now as linebackers coach and the interim defensive coordinator.
Sims loves his linebackers and called the Seminoles’ defensive players his boys. But he’s also all about business, same as he’s always been.
“I can not hide who I am,” Sims said. “I’ve been through a lot of phases in my life. I’ve come to the point in my life where I’m confident of who I am. I’m going to be adamant of living life to the standard. Sometimes I’m a little overkill. But that’s what you get. You see what you get. I’m going to go to my grave living that way.”
Sims’ mindset comes at an ideal time for FSU (4-5, 2-4 ACC), which picked up its first road victory in ACC play in three years at Boston College on Saturday. There were struggles early as the Eagles pulled in front 17-7 in the second quarter.
But if there were any doubts — any “here we go again” moments — on the sidelines, they weren’t visible to fans and media. Interim head coach Rick Stockstill may be the experienced, steadying voice of an FSU alum who wants to restore pride within the program. Sims is right there as an FSU alum, but his emotions and delivery are evident in his eyes.
“Being in this position as a hometown kid, and as a Seminole, that moment was very special, knowing that we hadn’t won a road game in a long time,” said Sims, a star tailback and linebacker at nearby North Florida Christian. “The adversity that this program and these kids had to face. In that one moment, the kids, finishing strong. It’s pretty special. I’m just extremely grateful to have the opportunity to live that moment with those kids and build on top of that moving forward.”
Stockstill downplayed that FSU’s staff made major schematic changes after head coach Mike Norvell and defensive coordinator Tony White were dismissed on Nov. 1, a day after the loss at home to Clemson. When asked about both Sims and interim offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., Stockstill praised them as well as the other assistants.
“They did a really, really good job of communicating with the players in between series,” Stockstill said.
FSU’s defense often showed more three-man fronts early before adapting to four-man fronts later in the game. The defense adapted and played better as the game progressed, with the Seminoles allowing just one second-half touchdown. Whether it was an adjustment up front or elsewhere, coaches and players settled in.
Sims also said some of the adjustments happened early in the week as the coaches prepared for BC. In one case, they liked Nehemiah Chandler with his eyes forward and reading the play as it developed. That helped Chandler, who had two pass breakups and an interception.
“When we took the opportunity to sit down, the sad news that came down on Sunday (with Norvell and White), we wanted to identify the best 11. And after identifying the best 11, what did we feel like they did best,” Sims said. “We felt like he (Chandler) played the ball very well in space with zone eyes. We felt like we could make it easy for him in space.”
Stockstill and Sims have emphasized toughness in the last few weeks. They lived it as players, with Stockstill being a part of five straight road games in the famous 1981 Oktoberfest season. Sims lived it as an All-American linebacker in the mid-2000s.
When the topic popped up about FSU matching the physicality of Pittsburgh on Friday, Sims wrapped up the question as if it were a running back.
“I emphasize several things, non-negotiables of what we have here at Florida State,” Sims said. “One of those non-negotiables is violence to the ball. That is the standard of Florida State. It ain’t a matter of matching someone else’s physicality. We have our own standard of physicality.”
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