Finally, a decision is made at quarterback

A decision has finally been made.

Ever since the December Music City Bowl there has been speculation about which quarterback would start under center for Florida State.

For the past few weeks offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has dodged questions about which of his signal-callers would get the nod against Western Carolina. Now, with the season opener just three days away, it looks like Florida State has a starting quarterback.

"Yeah, he (Fisher) has told me but he hasn't told them (quarterbacks) yet," head coach Bobby Bowden said during the weekly ACC coaches teleconference. "We won't announce it until he tells them."

Since last year, Bowden has insisted that the decision on who will start is up to Fisher. When he was informed the name of the starter did Bowden us his veto powers?

"No, I have hired him to coach the quarterbacks and to coach our offense," Bowden said.

Being a fifth-year senior with 33 college starts you might think that Drew Weatherford is the odds on favorite to lead the offense but that may not be the case. The offensive coaching staff has been very impressed with both Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson though spring and preseason practices and both have a legitimate shot at being named the starter.

"They have really made a lot of progress," Bowden said. "They have closed the gap where you have really a three-man battle right now. Then of course you have D'Vontrey who has great feet, great mobility. You have Ponder, who has pretty good mobility, so much better than you would think. So you really have a close battle where Jimbo has to decide who is going to start the ballgame. I think he is going to tell them today. Last time I talked to him. I think he will. Could be he doesn't get around to it. Nothing will be announced until he decides to announce it, to tell them."

Ponder has one half of college football under his belt when he came on in relief of an injured Weatherford in last year's Virginia Tech game. Richardson has even less experience seeing action on just two plays last season. Nevertheless, both got a vote of confidence FSU's head coach.

"D'Vontrey and Ponder are good football players and we really think we can win with them," Bowden noted.

Gene Williams is the founder and administrator of Warchant.com and writes stories and features covering all of FSU's sports with an emphasis on football and football recruiting. For seven years, Williams hosted a weekly sports radio show in Tallahassee. He currently appears as a weekly guest on 1010 XL Sports Radio in Jacksonville and 1270 The Team in Tallahassee during football season. Williams is also a former ACC correspondent for College Football News (weekly national newspaper), and contributes to The Osceola. Story about Gene Williams & Warchant.comClick Wednesday's Practice is scheduled to let out at around 6:00 p.m. EST. If an announcement is made on a starting quarterback, look for a post on the Tribal Council and to be sent to subscribers via text message.Here to view this Link..

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