You may not like Florida State, but you better respect them.

Florida State fans will fiercely defend their team and their coaches. They even have there own name on #FSUTwitter. Don’t make #FSUTwitter mad by attacking their school, players, or coaches. If you do be prepared, they will come after you!

Right now Florida State is really disliked nationally. It stems in large part to the Seminoles off the field issues that are well documented. National Sportswriters are taking weekly shots at the Seminoles led by Pat Forde and Clay Travis. Here’s some of Forde’s recent pieces on the Seminoles, Lucky Bounces and Jameis brings hate.  Clay Travis pieces do not get linked here. I stopped following Travis more than 2 years ago. Let’s just say I’m not a fan of his writing. If you can’t say something nice…

One thing I will agree with Forde on is that FSU is getting hate like I haven’t seen since the late 80s early 90s Miami Hurricanes. Now there’s a pair Florida State and Miami united by hate. There’s a similarity though. Those Miami teams thrived on the hate. They played with a chip on their shoulder. Florida State is doing the same, and embracing the hate just the same and using it to their favor.

Sweet Graphic made by @ryanprasek for us! #FSUTwitter #Noles #FSU #EmbracetheHate pic.twitter.com/YJIB7akKIn

— Triangle Seminoles (@trianglenoles) October 31, 2014

This Seminole team is not as good as last year’s. The 2013 Florida State team will one day have a 30 for 30 about them as the SEC streak stopper. It was that good, and that achievement was that great. Thursday night for the first time, I really felt like the Seminoles could repeat as national champion.

Louisville is a solid team. They were at home on a Thursday night. They were brilliant running out to a 21-0 lead. They have future NFLers dotted across their lineup. The Seminoles promptly outscored the Cardinals 42-10. The 2nd half was as good as Florida State has played all year. Defensively they stuffed Louisville in the 2nd half. On offense think what you will about Jameis Winston, but on it he’s every bit the player Cam Newton or Vince Young was. He might be better when it is all said and done. Winston handles blitzes like a seasoned NFL veteran, and the offensive line that has struggled handled a good Louisville defensive front in the later portions of that game.

I’m not trying to defend the Florida State football program, Jameis Winston, or Jimbo Fisher. I’ll leave that to #FSUTwitter.

What I am saying is that this team has still won 24 games in a row. They have an uncanny ability to focus on the task at hand even when they fall behind so far against anyone and anywhere. Off the field distractions don’t seem to faze this team. You don’t have to like Florida State, but you do have to respect what they have been able to accomplish on the field.

Become a fan of the ACC on Facebook and follow the ACC on Twitter.