ATLANTA -- His left knee stabilized by a bulky black brace, Deondre Francois wore the emotions of Florida State’s entire fan base as he was transported to the visitors' locker room.
On his face, there was pain. There was frustration. But mostly, there was concern.
Concern about the extent of damage to his knee, which appeared to buckle following a fourth-quarter hit from behind. Concern about how quickly he will be able to get back on the field. And concern about the prospects of Florida State’s 2017 season, which looked so promising just an hour or so earlier.
For two quarters, No. 3 Florida State and No. 1 Alabama treated the 76,330 in attendance, and millions watching at home, to a heavyweight bout worthy of the hype. The Chick-fil-A Kickoff organizers billed this showdown as the “G.O.A.T.” -- Greatest Opener of All Time – and it had that feel until just after halftime.
It was Alabama 10, Florida State 7.
The two defenses were outstanding. The two quarterbacks were making big plays when they weren’t running for their lives, and sometimes even when they were.
The emotions were high. The competition was outstanding. The sparkling new, $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium was rocking, and the college football world was on the edge of its collective seat, waiting to see what excitement the second half might have in store.
By the start of the third quarter, fans and media already were salivating at the realization that we might be watching the two best teams in the country. That this star-studded showdown -- with famous alumni walking both sidelines and each team receiving $5 million payouts -- might be a preview of this year’s national championship game. A game that will be played in this very same venue in slightly more than four months.
Then Alabama did what a championship fighter does in the later rounds of a bout. It found chinks in its opponent’s armor. And it pounced.
It did what Alabama does.
First, the Crimson Tide knocked the Seminoles back by blocking a punt deep in FSU territory. Nick Saban's squad had to settle for a field goal after an impressive stand by the FSU defense, but the Tide clearly were beginning to assert themselves.
One play later, they forced a fumble at the end of a debacle of a kickoff return by FSU’s Keith Gavin. And they needed just one offensive play after that turnover to finish off a nasty 1-2 combination. Suddenly, the Seminoles were on the ropes, trailing 21-7, and things were about to get much worse.
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Francois, clearly flustered by what was unfolding, threw interceptions on each of his next two passes. He went from looking like a poised veteran in the first half to a frazzled novice in the second. Staring down receivers. Forcing the ball into tight coverage.
Thanks only to a valiant effort from the FSU defense and the erratic leg of Alabama placekicker Andy Pappanastos, the Seminoles were still somehow in the game. They hadn’t been knocked out quite yet.
Perhaps it would have been better if they had.
Trailing by 17 points with 6:25 to go in the fourth quarter, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. He sent Francois and the starting offense out for one more drive.
Three plays later, on a third-and-4 from his own 31, Francois rolled to his right and appeared to see a receiver breaking open just past the first-down marker. Instead of making the throw, however, he pump-faked and pulled the ball back down.
Perhaps he was going to try to run for the first down. Perhaps he saw a different receiver coming free and wanted to throw it there.
Instead of getting to do either, Francois crumbled to the turf as Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison dove at the back of his legs. The hit was clean but devastating.
Francois immediately clutched his left knee. He would be helped off the field by team doctors and trainers. He then would be carried away on a cart.
A promising true freshman, James Blackman, would take Florida State’s final snaps at quarterback. And in his postgame press conference, Fisher essentially confirmed that Blackman would get the nod going forward if Francois is out of commission.
It’s a development that could potentially alter Florida State’s entire season.
Blackman, without question, has been impressive this preseason. He has a great arm, throws a beautiful ball and appears to be a quick study.
When Saturday’s game was over, FSU quality control assistant Tino Sunseri pulled Blackman aside for a one-on-one conversation, perhaps preparing him for the opportunity and challenge of a lifetime -- the chance to be Florida State’s starting quarterback as a true freshman.
It is an almost inconceivable turn of events.
FSU entered Saturday’s game as the No. 3 team in the country, the overwhelming pick to win the ACC and a popular choice to make the College Football Playoff. The Seminoles are loaded on defense, they have very talented skill players on offense, and they were led into the season by a returning starter at quarterback.
Given the way Francois played in the first half, I’m not sure FSU would have fallen more than a couple of spots in this week’s polls had they merely lost the game. I personally would have liked their chances against every opponent remaining on their schedule.
If Francois’ injury results in a lengthy absence, however, the Seminoles’ prospects are cloudy at best. It is virtually impossible to know what type of forecast Blackman would bring.
Could a true freshman quarterback pull off a win at Clemson? Better yet, could he win two weeks from now against Miami? Conversely, could he lose both of those games and more?
The answer to all of those questions is yes, and the reality is that no one knows how it will all play out. That’s the lesson we were all reminded of here late Saturday.
FSU came into this game with so much hope and promise. The fans turned out in huge numbers and were loud and proud. The Seminoles’ sideline was filled with FSU Football royalty -- everyone from Jameis Winston and Devonta Freeman to Anquan Boldin and Warrick Dunn.
The stage seemed to be set for a breakthrough performance.
Instead, it ended with the loss of a game and the potentially more important loss of an integral player. It could mean more than that.
As the medical cart carrying Francois cruised away from the Florida State bench area and into a tunnel, the Seminoles’ star sophomore quarterback closed his eyes and placed his hands together in prayer.
He was probably thinking about his injured left knee.
He might also have been fretting about the rest of this season.
He wasn’t alone.
Contact managing editor Ira Schoffel at ira@warchant.com and follow @IraSchoffel on Twitter.
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Talk about this story with other Florida State football fans in the Tribal Council
