It's Jenn Sterger mailbag time!!!!

[ninja]

As the Clubhouse boys can attest, I hate this girl with a passion, yet I am sort of obsessed with her.

Short story: She was on ABC in the stands at an FSU football game, and has become an instant celebrity. She claims to be the most popular girl on facebook (I don't know if I would consider that an honor....) and recently posed for Playboy. She claims she's just a regular girl who likes beer and football. Yeah right



She's cute enough, but if a bad nose and a fake rack is all you need for success, she's well on her way.

Anyway, SI.com was stupid enough to give her a monthly Q-A column, and I don't think she writes it.

I have a 16-year-old daughter who loves FSU. It's the only school she wants to go to. Every year, though, FSU seems to be a top 10 party school. I have heard many stories about the parties that go on, especially during football season. Should I be worried about sending my only daughter to school there? What do you think about the academic life at FSU?
-- James, Norfolk, Va.

Florida State gets a bad reputation by being consistently ranked among the top 10 party schools. People automatically assume that because a school has an active nightlife and party scene, there is no possible way it could have any academic merit. This assumption is completely unfounded. Don't get me wrong, we are the King of Keg Stands, the Babe Ruth of Beer Pong, the Sultan of Shot-Takers, but most of us here still take our academic careers very seriously. Besides, if you are thinking she would be better off at an Ivy League school, I have news for you ... I found out firsthand why they made Animal House about Dartmouth. The Isley Brothers' Shout is the equivalent to our war chant, and believe me when I say, those kids can party with the best of them. (Toga, anyone?)

The party scene gets old very quickly, especially when, as a result, grades suffer. Therefore, it ultimately comes down to whether you raised your daughter to make the right decisions. There is nothing wrong with having a little fun every now and then, but partying at the expense of one's grades is never the answer. I still insist that going away for college is a necessary chapter in every kid's life. It lets us experience the real world, and hopefully make adult decisions. So unless your daughter is only coming here to get her "Dr. in U.N.K.," I see no reason for her not to be a Seminole.

Glad to finally have a chance to read your column! My girlfriend wants to learn more about football, but I'm having trouble breaking it down for her. Are there any books or videos you might recommend? Thanks in advance!
-- Glenn Palmer, Toronto

There are lots of different websites out there geared to help female fans learn the basics. Try NFL.com or Momsguide.com. Both of them are pretty comprehensive reads and even have diagrams for beginners. Or you could always get her into Madden or NCAA 2006. I doubt she'll beat your top score anytime soon, but at least she will begin to learn player positions, strategies, penalties, etc. Hopefully by the time the season rolls around she will be able to keep up with the boys, or at least pretend like she can.

Which NFL rookie will have the best season: Vince Young, Reggie Bush or Matt Leinart?
-- Christian, East Hartford

My personal favorite for next season is one you neglected to mention: Vernon Davis. He'll be an immediate star, and perhaps be the lone bright spot on the 49ers' roster this year. Expect this tight end to be a major playmaker in the red zone. He's a good choice for you fantasy players, too. Mark my words.

My girlfriend is pretty hot, but the other day a friend of mine who makes less money than me and is not much to look at showed up with a babe totally hotter than mine. Is it time for an upgrade, or am I just being immature?
-- Mike, Seattle

It never ceases to amaze me how guys use women and money as a means of validating their existence and their place in society to one another. Sheesh. Sometimes men remind me of dogs -- they feel the need to constantly mark their territory to show dominance over one another. (I guess women are fortunate that men don't do it the same way.) Honestly, did you ever think that maybe there is more to women than their looks? Sure, your friend's date could have been hotter than yours, but was said girl the least bit intelligent, or was she strictly a piece of arm candy to elevate his status among the fellas in the group? Your girl may not be as hot, but there had to be something that attracted you to her in the first place, like intelligence, sense of humor, personality? So consider yourself the lucky one, because at least your date can form complete sentences and not spend the entire night contemplating the difference between chicken and fish.

Then again, God could simply think he did you a good enough favor giving you the better job, so the less hot girl is simply a trade-off. You can't have it all, my friend.

I have a little girl who's almost two years old, and I would love it if she grew up loving sports like I do. How did your parents fuel your passion for sports?
-- Corey, Waverly, Iowa

I grew up in family full of jocks and dancers, though I'm as uncoordinated as they come. Playing sports was just not an option for me, so I figured: If you can't be an athlete, be a fan. Two is a very young age to start, but I'd probably approach it from the "good guy, bad guy" concept. It's a fairly common theme in most children's programming, so it shouldn't be hard for her to grasp.

For me, it was, "See those guys in the orange and blue, and the man throwing the visor? They are very, very bad." Or my parents would dress me in cute little outfits adorned with Sebastian the Ibis (I was raised a fan of the "U"). Regardless of your team, it gives your daughter something to cheer for and belong to.

Another option is teach her to like or dislike the mascots. For Florida State fans, the Gators are bad because they drag around a stuffed pony. Florida State has the privilege of having Chief Osceola and Renegade instead of two college freshmen doing embarrassing dances in hundred-degree polyester costumes. Or you can teach her the fight songs and cheers. It keeps her entertained and involved. You can work on the play-calling and strategies later.

Regardless, just make the environment fun, and one that creates bonding time with Dad. Sports will always be the common link between me and my father, so be sure to share the precious memories with her.

What team(s) do you fear the most in the ACC to overtake your Seminoles this season?
-- Jim, Greenville, S.C.

I really expect my Seminoles to have a pretty good season. Of course, it doesn't hurt that we have eight home games this year and that we spent a lot of recruiting effort beefing up our offensive line and finding kids who will hopefully bring new dimensions to the team, like throwing to the tight end.

There are really only a few teams out there that I am a little hesitant about playing. Boston College gave us a little trouble last year but has since lost some of its key playmakers, while somehow managing to keep a very strong defensive line.

The Bowden Bowl brings its own drama to Doak Campbell as the game pits father (Bobby Bowden) against son (Tommy Bowden). With a loss to Clemson last year, the Seminoles will be out for revenge. Expect to see a hungry defense, which could be bad news for new Tigers starting quarterback Will Proctor. He's more mobile than Charlie Whitehurst, but will his offensive line be effective enough to give him time to maneuver? While he is a great athlete, Proctor is still a big question mark for the Clemson offense, although the Tigers will add freshman C.J. Spiller to the mix.

Week 1 is always the most difficult. We play the Miami Hurricanes, and both offenses will still be trying to jell. Last year was the first time the Seminoles pulled out an upset against the Hurricanes since 1999, sacking Miami QB Kyle Wright nine times. (Miami's kicker also reimbursed our missed field goals from previous years.)

Though the 'Canes suffered some major losses at the end of last season, they are notorious for replacing talent with talent. Both QBs (Wright and Drew Weatherford) made their starting debuts last year and neither found their niche, so expect a dramatic improvement upon last year's performance from both quarterbacks. Week 1 will continue to be the battle of the defenses, until they move the game to a later date in the season, giving the offense more preparation time and experience. Then again, it is probably safe to say that special teams will also get their fair share of playing time. My words of advice: Get your leg ready, Cismesia, it's going to be a long night.