As most know by now, top-ranked Florida State will be without starting quarterback Jameis Winston for a half as the Seminoles take on Clemson on Saturday. Winston was suspended Wednesday after being seen in the student union on Tuesday yelling a vulgar phrase made popular by a viral video and social media meme.
Although this is the first time that Winston has ever been forced to miss game action since being named Florida State’s starting quarterback prior to the start of the 2013 season, his return to the field in the second half may not be a role that Winston is all that unfamiliar with.
When and if Winston enters the game in the second half on Saturday, it is unclear what the situation will be. Florida State may be nursing a lead or the Seminoles may be forced to rally. While that may seem like an unusual position for one of the nation’s best quarterbacks to be in, it is par for the course for a relief pitcher.
As the closer out of the bullpen for the Florida State baseball team this past season, Winston posted a stellar 1.08 ERA in 24 relief appearances. Winston also led the Seminoles with seven saves and held opposing batters to a miniscule .154 average.
Comparing relief pitching to playing one half at quarterback may seem like a stretch, but the situations aren’t all that different. College baseball may not be the intense game that college football is, but relievers often enter the game in an adverse situation.
Sometimes relief pitchers will inherit runners in scoring position and are forced to pitch out of jams without time to settle in. When Winston enters the contest on Saturday, he won’t have the luxury of having a first quarter to get a feel for the game and ample time to adjust to what the Clemson defense is trying to do.
As is the case when Winston comes out the Florida State bullpen, what’s on the scoreboard when he enters the game on Saturday will not be as a result of plays he made or didn’t make earlier in the game. In this case, instead of keeping the opposing team off that scoreboard, Winston will be trying to add to what Florida State already has on it.
Though there may not be many similarities between pitching and playing the quarterback position, the unpredictability and mindset that comes with being a relief pitcher could greatly help Jameis Winston on Saturday. While being something other than the FSU starting quarterback may be uncharted territory for Winston, the role of closer is one that he is more than comfortable with.
Winston will likely take over in the second half for sophomore Sean Maguire, who will be making his first career start. Saturday will be Maguire’s first opportunity to showcase what he can do in meaningful action and the first-time starter hopes to put Winston in a save situation rather than force him to pick up the win.
