Football 2009 schedule a work in progress

FSU’s football season just ended a little more than a week ago, but the Seminoles already are on the clock for the 2009 season: They need to hammer out a schedule and they need to do it soon.

The Seminoles are still in need of a 12th game and they want a Division I-A opponent (think a Mid-American Conference school, not a heavyweight from a BCS league).

“We’ve got some feelers out there, but we haven’t gotten anything definitive back,’’ athletic director Randy Spetman said.

Could USF be a possibility?

“I think we have more interest than in the past,’’ Spetman said, a major concession from a school that routinely has nixed the mere suggestion of a FSU-USF game.

But given the tough economic reality, an in-state team that might bring fans makes sense (and cents). Remember, FSU had amble seats for every game in ’08, even for the Gators.

“I know they have a full schedule, so I don’t know if that can work out,’’ he said.

Spetman also is juggling another scheduling issue – the ACC and its television partners would like to see FSU and Miami renew their Labor Day evening game in ’09. Day. In order to play the ‘Canes that day, which would give the ACC a blockbuster weekend (Virginia Tech and Alabama play on Sept. 5 in the Georgia Dome), FSU would have to get Maine to move and Spetman said the Black Bears are “a little inflexible’’ at this time. While both could be amenable to not playing, that would leave FSU with two holes to fill and that’s not good.

“We’re still working it out with the conference,’’ Spetman said.

The ACC would like to have the Labor Day question settled by the end of January, so stay tuned.