Florida State quarterback Chris Rix has his share of critics. When you are in the limelight it's to be expected from the media and even fans, but you don't usually hear caustic comments coming from former teammates. Well, the 'Noles' starting signal-caller was recently called out by his predecessor, Chris Weinke.

In a story published by Florida Today it said the current Carolina Panthers' quarterback and former FSU Heisman winner has a "deep disdain for his former understudy." Weinke maintained that the then freshman quarterback refused advice and that he "really needs to grow up." The story went on to cite examples and give Weinke's reasons for his dislike of Rix.

To set the record straight to the soon-to-be senior quarterback spoke to Warchant.com about the shocking comments of his former teammate.

I was surprised to hear Chris say some of those things. I have the utmost respect for him even though we haven't always seen eye to eye. I've always respected what he did on the field and what he accomplished. I remember the last time I talked to him was at the (2001) Orange Bowl. I went up to his locker and shook his hand and said 'I want to thank you for everything.' He was just very short and said 'I will keep in touch with you and I'll see you back at Florida State.' I could tell he was disappointed with the loss and that was it, that was the last time I talked to Chris.

I was kind of surprised at some of the comments because a lot of them aren't true. Yes it is true I came in cocky as a freshman, and I'll be the first one to admit that. I was filled with so much pride back then being a big recruit coming into Florida State, and them just coming off of a national championship. I was to say the least, not humble at the time. But I think I have grown up in the past couple years, and it's unfortunate to see somebody that hasn't talked to me, let alone not even be around me for three years, make those kind of comments about a former teammate, and a current Seminole.

Him being ten years older than me I can't imagine myself speaking negatively about a current player, and I can't even see myself saying that now. Even teammates now don't always see eye to eye on everything but the last thing I would do is speak publicly in a negative light about them.

I remember that and I distinctly remember him not being happy with that. I said 'Chris, I apologize but that's always been my number and you know that's going to be my number hopefully after you leave.' I was trying to kill two birds with one stone so when they have my autograph they will have the number I was going to wear at Florida State. In no way was I trying to disrespect him. I couldn't control how he received that. He didn't say anything about that and I thought he was okay with that. I guess four years later it still sticks out in his mind.

When you are on the inside and you know some of the things that some of us players know, it hurts. Speaking of autographs I remember him sneaking out side doors after games to avoid fans and to avoid people after the games while I'm there hours after the game until everyone is gone. That comment hurt. I remember in my freshman year he would do anything to avoid signing them and I tried give as much as I could to the fans whether we win or lose. The whole autograph issue struck a cord with me.

My respect level for him as dropped after these comments. Him saying this about a kid in his late teens and early 20s that has made some mistakes, but I'm pretty sure at my age he made some mistakes too -- he wasn't at Florida State, he was playing baseball. I think it's pretty safe to say we all make mistakes. Seeing some of the comments, in no way do I want to stoop to his level, but I'm not going to let him bad-mouth me especially when the guy said he would keep in contact with me. Numerous times at the games he has been at Florida State he has walked right by my locker. We've made eye contact and he's walked right by me and not said anything. Even after the Colorado game, when I had a pretty good game, I was excited to get a high-five or a pat on the back from the legend Chris Weinke and the guy walked right by me and didn't say a word to me, and that hurt.

The past couple weeks I've honestly been thinking about him and been excited for him with them going into the Super Bowl. I was hoping he'd get in there and be able to say he played in the Super Bowl game. Those were my honest thoughts to see someone, even though we don't talk on a regular basis, play, and then he says he has 'disdain' for a fellow teammate. Is definitely unfortunate.

If you want the facts, no he didn't. I wouldn't lie about that because it would only make me look foolish. I remember numerous times asking him advice, or asking him his opinion on a read -- 'what would you do here?' To sum it up I basically got an attitude, and I can understand it because here's a guy that just won a national championship, it's his senior year and he's a Hesiman candidate so I'm probably the last thing on his mind. I remember that attitude from him - 'here's a freshman from California and I have better things to do then to help this guy out.' I can't remember one time when he went out of his way and tried to give me advice or helpful information to help me as a football player or a person. I remember Marcus Outzen and Jarad Jones saying some of the same things that Wink would never reach out to help the and he wasn't their best friend either. Basically, it was me, Marcus and Jarad hanging out during practice and Wink was by himself. I can't speak for them but I always remember us getting that feeling that it wasn't a priority for him to help us.

That was another thing that stuck out to me from the article, seeing those comments. I'm shaking my head - 'that's not true.' His efforts to help me were minimal, at best, if anything. To say he tried to reach out to me and take me under his wing - that comment is not true.

I try my best with Wyatt, but he is so talented and so smart you don't have to tell him a lot. But with some of the other guys, the walk-ons, I try watch film with them when they ask, and try to impart anything that I've learned to them. To be honest I haven't wanted to be a model of what Chris was to me, even for that one year.

I wish him well, and always wish him well, but I have lost a lot of respect for him seeing this interview three or four year since he's even talked to me. I remember him mentioning in this article that 'this kid needs to grow up, this kid needs to mature' and I would expect more maturity from somebody 10 years older than me to than bash me in an article. He may be older than me but I'll put my maturity up to his any day of the week after seeing this article.

I think so. I don't know why, but I do remember coming in with a lot of hype. We had just played the Cali-Florida Bowl and I'm sure Chris didn't like a freshman from California coming in, and he wants to wear No. 16. I remember coach (Mark) Richt one time asking him 'hey Chris, do you have any extra 16 shirts or shorts you can give Chris?' He was like 'are you kidding me. That's my number.' He wasn't too excited about that and Coach Richt just said it's 'okay and your time will come.' I just remember when he talked he just didn't seem to be a big fan of mine when I arrived on campus. After I got here, I probably didn't help that - I was young, immature and cocky. I know that I've grown up and to see comments from someone that hasn't even been around here the last couple years, or talked to me or been able to look at me face-to-face and see how things are going. I have Charlie Ward calling me, Casey Weldon, Peter Tom Willis, Danny Kanell and Brad Johnson - all of them have made an effort to contact me, call me, and encourage me. I think Weinke is the only one who hasn't done that.

For someone that the last time I talked to him said 'hey, I'll contact you, I'll keep in touch with you and I'll see you back on campus' that was a false statement. He's done everything but that.

I talked to Steve Clarkson, my quarterback coach out in California, and I asked how Drew (Weatherford) did in the Cali-Florida Bowl, and he said 'he did good and he's talking junk saying he's going to compete for that job.' A couple years ago I probably would have reacted the wrong way, but now I know I was the same way. I told Steve I'll do my best effort to help him adjust to college life and college football. I met him last Saturday (Football Banquet) a week after hearing what he had said at the Cali-Florida Bowl, he came up to me and introduced himself so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I gave him my phone number and said call me if you need anything and that I'm looking forward to working with you. I was the same way coming out of high school - you are a big shot. Going from high school to college is a big jump but you don't know that until you get here. You are at the top of totem poll and top of the world. That's where Drew and Xavier (Lee) are right now. I'll do my best to make them comfortable at home. I don't have to prove anything to them, or make them feel little. I want to make them feel important and help them out as much on the field as I can, and impart to them what I've learned over these past couple years.

NOTE: Chris Rix is getting ready for mat drills, and is currently on the track team running the 60-meter sprint, and hopes to participate in the 100-meter dash when outdoor season begins.

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