Citadel guard says line 'going for knees' vs. Florida State
Citadel Offensive lineman Victor Hill and his coach have apologized after Hill posted an online comment saying the Bulldogs line was "going for knees" against No. 1 Florida State in the Seminoles' 37-12 victory Saturday.
In the comments section of a Charleston Post and Courier story on Jimbo Fisher's postgame remarks on the Bulldogs' triple-option cut blocking, Hill wrote (using his Facebook account) that "I played in the game last night and also contributed to the injury list and that was just the mindset going into the game.
"Me and my offensive line brothers preached to each other all week that we would be going for knees from the first play to the last play with the A-backs included," Hill wrote. "We saw it as if [they] [won't] respect us for blocking them then we'll make them respect us cutting them!"
The comment was screenshot and saved by Tomahawk Nation.
Three Seminoles defensive lineman -- including starters Eddie Goldman and Nile Lawrence-Stample -- left the game with leg injuries.
Citadel coach Mike Houston issued a statement condemning Hill's comments and promising he would be disciplined.
"In no way does one person's words reflect the philosophy and mindset of our program, players and coaches," Houston said. "I am very disappointed in Victor Hill's choice of words which do not convey the way I feel the game of football should be played or coached. I have addressed the matter with Victor and he will be disciplined accordingly. The Citadel Football program always strives to do things in a first class manner on and off the field."
Houston would tell the Post and Courier, though, that Hill's comment did not reflect his actual intent.
"He was trying to say, in his own way, things like, 'Florida State didn't respect us going into the game,' and using cut blocks would force them to use their hands to defeat the block and slow them down in back-side pursuit," Houston said. "That being said, it came across the opposite of what he meant."
For his part, Hill apologized for the comment Sunday.
"I would like to sincerely apologize for my statements this morning," Hill said in his own statement. "I am both embarrassed and ashamed of my comments. They reflect in no way, shape or form how I am taught or coached to perform. I am truly sorry for my immature comments that were made out of frustration ... I apologize to Coach Jimbo Fisher, his players and the FSU fans for my negative remarks."
Fisher didn't offer a timetable for the return of any of his three injured players, though he hoped to have them back for his team's next game, Sept. 20 against Clemson. He didn't directly complain about the Citadel's blocking, saying the Bulldogs had done nothing illegal and that cut-blocking is "just football." But he also suggested the Seminoles wouldn't look to schedule any more FCS option teams.
"Those guys that cut and chop like this, it's crazy," Fisher said, per the Tallahassee Democrat. "I'd rather play more conventional teams. Just because of the chance of injuries that occurred."
Seminole defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. was less diplomatic.
"I felt like they were playing a little dirty, taking cheap shots," Edwards said, according to the Democrat. "You know, doing little high-lows, things like that ... They do cut work just like a quarterback does a five-step drop. That's what they were taught to do. I don't necessarily think they were taught to do high-lows. But they did it numerous times. I didn't feel like the ref was calling that."
The bottom line is that whatever the intent of Hill's comments, when they go looking for a team to fill out their schedules, FBS coaches and athletic directors are going to hear Hill's lack of remorse over the Seminoles' "injury list" and see Goldman in his reported postgame walking boot long before they listen to either Hill's or Houston's attempts to repair the damage -- meaning the Citadel could have a much, much tougher job finding a lucrative paycheck game like Saturday's for the forseeable future.
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