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DJ Uiagalelei struggled once again as the starting signal caller in Tallahassee. Luckily in this case, his team walked away with its first win of the season.
The veteran passer failed to eclipse the 200-yard mark while throwing as many picks as he did scores. He did, however, have a 36-yard fourth quarter touchdown pass that gave Florida State a late lead.
The ‘Noles would go onto win the game, 14-9, despite being outgained by the Cal Bears 410-284.
Uiagalelei was largely unproductive leading the offense. Of his 177 yards passing, 73 came on that go-ahead drive in the final quarter. His three other second half drives ended in three-and-outs.
Had it not been for a pair of missed Cal field goals and a late turnover on downs inside the redzone, the Seminoles would likely be sitting at 0-4.
It’s a story that’s become all too familiar for Florida State fans in 2024.
Uiagalelei has just two touchdown passes in four starts to go along with three interceptions. He’s missed open throws and been criticized for his inability to get the ball out of his hands.
The fans aren’t happy!
DJ Uiagalelei gets booed as he gets announced as the starting QB in Doak. #Noles pic.twitter.com/hwhN7tlHQX
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) September 21, 2024
Through it all, though, he’s had his dad in his corner.
“Big Dave” Uiagalelei has defended his son amidst criticism dating back to his days at Clemson. He hasn’t gotten a moment to breathe during DJ’s short stint in Tallahassee.
Naysayers came out almost immediately after FSU’s season opening loss to Georgia Tech. Dave Uiagalelei ripped the Seminoles’ coaching staff after the fact while refusing to lay blame on his son.
He then went after FSU fans following a loss to Boston College the next week.
There wasn’t much to say after a Game 3 loss to Memphis, but after Game 4, he finally stopped defending his son’s poor play.
DJ Uiagalelei’s dad replied to a fan post on X.
We all recognize that when there are any offensive struggles, the responsibility ultimately rests on the QB since everything begins with him. DJ consistently takes responsibility for his errors and makes no excuses. He knows what he signed up for and the responsibilities that come with being a QB at a historic school like FSU.
Outside of football, as a father, it’s hard to see your son face challenges, but my faith remains strong. I believe that God chooses his toughest soldiers for the hardest battles. Therefore, for me, it’s not about questioning why DJ, but rather asking why not DJ.
You can question his play, but never his heart or his character.
-Dave Uiagalelei / X: @DUiagalelei
That final comment appears to be a clear admission of Uiagalelei’s struggles. His father finally placed some blame on his son.
That said, he notes that DJ Uiagalelei is a driven individual who will continue to work to better his team. We’ll see if he can build off of his first win.