Ponder Taking Some Risks

By STEVE ELLIS The Tallahassee Democrat Published: October 9, 2008 Chip Baker has yet to be asked for tips on sliding as he was more than 15 years ago. Mark Richt, Florida State's offensive coordinator back then, made the request after watching QB Charlie Ward put himself at risk one time too many as he tried to make something out of nothing or extend a designed run a few yards. Baker, FSU's director of baseball operations, would offer the same advice for the Seminoles' current starting quarterback, Christian Ponder, after watching the sophomore take some hard hits on his way to 144 yards rushing against Miami last Saturday. Baker's message: Don't do it halfway. "If you're going to slide, slide," he said. Ponder is already getting plenty of advice. His father David, a former defensive lineman at FSU, has encouraged his son to... [read full story]