Jameis Winston, Florida State Silence Critics With Win Over Notre Dame

By Anthony F. Irwin @AnthonyIrwinNBA on October 19, 2014

Jameis Winston has a message to the increasingly obnoxious critics — shhhh.

He and the rest of the Florida State Seminoles silenced those doubters with a huge win against Notre Dame to all but seal a playoff berth. The Fighting Irish should not fall considerably in the rankings after participating in that instant classic. That game was everything we love about college football.

Say what you will about his maturity issues, but you have to marvel at his ability to play through adversity. The closest comparison I can think of was Kobe Bryant during his rape trial in 2003. Winston isn’t exactly flying in right before game time, but there is quite a bit of negativity spewed his way week in, week out. The fact that he can close that out and continue to perform at a high level should actually make NFL teams consider him beyond his prodigious talent.

Personally, I think we need to move on. We’re holding it against players for making money off their name? Where else should that revenue go? Should it line the pockets of the corrupt NCAA governing body overseeing it all? Why should school and conference presidents profit off of kids they force to risk future livelihood while barely old enough to legally drink? So he signed memorabilia. Whatever. Move on.

Credit to Notre Dame. Everett Golson (a Heisman hopeful in his own right) and the rest of that Fighting Irish team have come out of nowhere to figure into the playoff picture. Their future is definitely bright, as the majority of their key players are only sophomores. Brian Kelly is more than making a case as easily the most coach since Lou Holtz. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but they’ll need help from other top-tier teams to legitimately have a chance at the national title.

Not enough can be made of FSU’s ability to shut us media types out. Jimbo Fisher might wind up going down with the Winston ship but future recruits – regardless of the school Fisher is coaching at – will note how he stood behind the quarterback that put his school back on the map. Even if he’s forced out of FSU, watch for whichever school he coaches for to figure into playoff pictures for years to come.

Florida State’s remaining schedule is incredibly light. Only an unforeseen trip-up would keep them from the playoffs. Thing is, not since Miami during their run has a school made a title run with so many people rooting against them. They just don’t care.

Anthony F. Irwin is an NBA, NFL, MLB and NCAA Football contributor for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Send him an email at .