A former Florida State athletics director said the responsibility is shared between schools to ensure opponents meet the requirements needed for an FCS opponent to count toward an FBS team's bowl eligibility.

“You don’t try to point fingers, but what is the right thing to do?” former FSU Athletics Director Bob Goin said.

“The burden of proof is on the institutions to make sure they meet the qualifications."

Florida State is scheduled to play Southern Miss Wednesday in the Independence Bowl, even if the 6-6 Seminoles may not actually be bowl eligible, according to a report from Reddit College Football.

FSU’s 77-6 home win against Delaware State on Nov. 18 should not have counted towards the Seminoles' bowl eligibility, according to the report.

The case made at Reddit hinges on an obscure NCAA rule that FCS-level teams -- such as Delaware State of the MEAC -- must use at least 90 percent of their scholarship allotments over a two-year period to count toward an FBS team’s bowl eligibility.

User bakonydraco determined that the Hornets used 87 percent of their permissible scholarships (around one scholarship shy of the NCAA-mandated threshold).

Under that scenario – and if the information is accurate -- FSU’s win over Delaware State should not have counted towards the Seminoles’ bowl eligibility at 5-6.

Neither the Seminoles, ACC or NCAA noticed this, and the Independence Bowl extended an invitation to FSU.

However, the NCAA also has an option to extend a waiver to FSU due to the eligibility issue/or extenuating circumstances - if any action is to be taken at all.

FSU paid Delaware State $475,000 to play the game.

Wright Waters, the executive director of the Football Bowl Association, told Dennis Dodd of CBS that he believes this situation "probably happens more than" fans and the media realize.

He further noted that most schools do not face this issue among their six bowl-eligible wins because it is usually as simple as "someone in compliance making a phone call. Florida State should have verified it ... [and] they may have."

Dodd also noted that the FBA has no jurisdiction on this matter.

FSU is scheduled to depart for Shreveport, Louisiana, Saturday.

"That is a matter between NCAA, Florida State and Delaware State," bowl spokesman Stefan Nolet said Thursday evening. "We are continuing preparations for our game between Southern Miss and Florida State."

TICKET UPDATE

FSU is expected to use around 3,000 of its bowl allotment 6,000 tickets, according to school officials. Tickets cost $50 and $40 and can still be purchased on Seminoles.com.

DAWSEY

FSU wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Lawrence Dawsey will not be retained by new head coach Willie Taggart.

Dawsey, who has been with the Seminoles for 11 years and also played at FSU, was informed of the decision Thursday.

FSU alum and current Miami wide receivers coach Ron Dugans is believed to be the top candidate to be Dawsey's replacement.



