Nothing says clandestine like having big poster boards with pictures on them following you everywhere you go.
During Florida State's game against North Carolina last Saturday, a group of three or four student assistants took turns holding the large signs and shadowing Seminoles defensive coordinator Charles Kelly for the entire game.
When Kelly was meeting with his players on the sideline, the posters were used to hide what he was diagramming on his grease board. When the players were on the field, they were used to shield his signals from opposing coaches in the press box.
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said the boards actually could serve multiple purposes. By placing photos or words on them, they could also be used for communicating signals to the players. And they could be used as decoys to distract opponents from the real signals.
"Well, also to get information out quicker. Also to block signals and what they're calling," said Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher. "They read signals from the press box. It also blocks signals on what you're signaling and which cards could be viable and what they do. Could be information on them and couldn't be."
The cards didn't seem to have much of an impact during the Seminoles' 37-35 loss to North Carolina.
FSU (3-2) allowed 538 yards of total offense, with UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky completing 31 of 38 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns. It was the most passing yards allowed by FSU this season. UNC was also 69 percent (9 of 13) on third downs and three of four in the red zone.
