Labor Day is a day that most Americans have off, but in Orlando two years ago, it was one where Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois did work.
In his FSU debut, the then redshirt freshman accounted for 478 total yards with 419 of those coming through the air and two touchdown passes in a 45-34 win over Ole Miss. In the process of his debut for the ages, Francois led the biggest comeback win in Florida State history as the Seminoles erased a 28-6 deficit.
Fast forward to two years later and Francois is in a bit of a different predicament — still with something to prove. After a 2016 season that watched Francois stand in and take hit after hit, win over teammates, earn ACC Rookie of the Year and lead FSU to a New Year’s Six bowl victory and a top-10 finish, many thought the Orlando native would take the next step and turn Florida State into a national title contender in 2017. Unfortunately for the signal-caller, his redshirt sophomore season lasted less than a full game as Francois went down late in a 24-7 season-opening loss to Alabama.
After a tumultuous 2017 that led many to question how bought into the program that Francois was, the now redshirt junior has been given the keys to new head coach Willie Taggart’s “Gulf Coast Offense”. Francois will be tasked with leading the Seminoles into a new era on Monday night against a Virginia Tech defense coordinated by one of college football’s defensive masterminds in Bud Foster.
The Labor Day stage in prime time two years ago was when Francois first introduced himself to the national scene. After winning a quarterback competition over second-year players James Blackman and recently transferred Bailey Hockman this offseason, Francois can show that he’s still the same guy who fans and teammates alike rallied around in 2016 and perhaps even improved.
Francois’ showing against Ole Miss two years ago was one of the best quarterback performances for FSU of the Jimbo Fisher era and perhaps one of the best in school history given the circumstances. After falling behind 21-3 early, Francois led eight straight scoring drives in the comeback victory and cemented his place as the team’s starting quarterback over the more veteran Sean Maguire. Francois set a standard that few first-time starting quarterbacks could live up to for a season opener on the national stage.
The biggest competition for that honor also came on Labor Day in 2013 as redshirt freshman Jameis Winston went 25-for-27 passing for 356 yards and five total touchdowns in a 41-13 win over Pittsburgh. Winston would go on to win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Seminoles to a perfect 14-0 record and a national championship.
Solid quarterback play for Florida State on Labor Day has certainly become a theme. The same was true for Christian Ponder as a redshirt junior in 2009 when he accounted for 322 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 38-34 loss to Miami.
Drew Weatherford wasn’t quite as good in three Labor Day starts from 2005-07, going just a combined 40-for-90 passing over those three starts with 384 total yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions.
It however, should be noted that in the 2005 contest, Weatherford became the first FSU quarterback to beat rival Miami in seven tries in a 10-7 win in Tallahassee. The following year, Weatherford led two fourth quarter scoring drives as the Seminoles rallied for a 13-10 win over the Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl — their first road win in the series since 1998.
None of that will really matter for Francois or FSU on Monday night, but how he performs in his first game in more than a year is certain to be a key storyline afterward. If it’s anything like his last Labor Day effort, all the questions about his leadership ability and last season’s patella tendon tear will surely subside.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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