Matt Hayes

If it weren't for the five losses last year, or the same injury that ended Sam Bradford's season, or the same off-field nonsense that has clouded his every season at Florida State, it might not seem so improbable.

It might not sound so odd to hear Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher matter-of-factly point out that Christian Ponder, with a career record of 13-9 as a starter, is the best quarterback he has ever coached.

How good?

"The NFL scouts," Fisher said, "know all about him."

Soon enough, everyone else will, too.

When it all started to unfold last year, when the unseemly end to Bobby Bowden's legendary era at Florida State began, I was speaking with Bowden about a completely different subject—about, of all things, Tim Tebow.

"You know what?" Bowden said. "We may have a (Tebow) of our own. But it's one of those, what do you call it? Can't see the forest for the trees."

Look closer, everyone. If it weren't for the off-field Bowden madness of will he or won't he leave; if it weren't for a young defense that didn't know what it was doing; if it weren't for an injury that forced Ponder to miss the last four games of the season; maybe, just maybe, he and the Seminoles would be soaking in offseason hype instead of anonymously preparing for spring drills beginning next week in Tallahassee.

"Those are all just excuses," Ponder said. "I can't complain about what could have been."

How could he not? Ponder was in the middle of a breakout season in his second year as a starter, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes while significantly improving his touchdown-to-interception and yards per attempt ratios. He was hot, the 'Noles were not. And then it got worse.

Four months ago Ponder was on his back on the turf at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, his right throwing shoulder throbbing from an AC joint sprain. Tigers safety DeAndre McDaniel had just intercepted a Ponder pass and was pointing at Ponder on the return before the two met in a vicious collision.

The guy used to delivering the blow walked away. The other guy lost the rest of his season: four games the sport's most overlooked quarterback could've used to signal his arrival. At least, to those who don't know.

"I'm not trying to put pressure on him," Fisher said. "But he has the talent and ability to — by far—be better than anyone I've ever coached at the position."

Think about that for a moment. Four years ago, Fisher coached the guy who was the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL draft in 2007. Say what you want about JaMarcus Russell's transition to the NFL, but he was the consensus first pick of the draft by a majority of the league's personnel departments.

Now Ponder, who has 28 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions in 22 career starts, has been thrown into that conversation—like it or not—by his own coach. He has an NFL arm and is dangerous running the zone-read run game, and he has the physical frame and mental makeup NFL scouts crave.

Ponder graduated with a degree in finance in less than three years and will complete his MBA this semester. By this fall, he'll likely be taking classes toward a doctorate—and for the first time since he stepped on campus, the Florida State team will be more about the quarterback than the coach.

In other words, the way it is for most successful programs.

"We went to practice every day and prepared the best we could," Ponder said. "I don't want to call what happened with coach Bowden a distraction, because that's just not fair. But you can tell already that the chemistry with this team is different. We all feel it."

On the first day of the New Year, FSU was celebrating in Jacksonville by sending Bowden out with yet another bowl victory. In a joyous locker room full of tears and cheers, the future was very clear.

E.J. Manuel, who had just completed a 3-1 record as Ponder's backup—three wins against, frankly, three terrible defenses—was asked about his role in the offense for 2010. There wasn't even hesitation.

"You still haven't seen what all (Ponder) can do," Manuel said.

Soon enough, everyone will.

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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