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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 21, 2002
CORAL GABLES -- Five starters and three reserves for the top-ranked Hurricanes didn't practice because of various injuries.
Starting strong safety Maurice Sikes was the latest starter to go down when he missed practice with flu-like symptoms.
In addition to Sikes, linebacker Howard Clark (hamstring), fullback Kyle Cobia (knee) and defensive ends Jerome McDougle (chest muscle) and Andrew Williams (knee) are out with injuries.
Linebacker Darrell McClover (concussion), running back Jarrett Payton (back) and defensive end John Square (irregular heartbeat) also sat out.
"We've got some people banged up who are out, and, while it's a concern, it's not unusual to be fighting this at this time of year," coach Larry Coker said.
Injured but practicing are kicker Todd Sievers (sore hip) and punter Freddie Capshaw (injured ankle), Coker said.
An MRI exam on Payton's back revealed a strain and bleeding in the muscle tissue. Coker said he isn't sure when the son of Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton will be ready to practice.
The season opener is Aug. 31 against Florida A&M.
TAMPA -- After completing its 23rd practice in 13 days, South Florida is ready to reduce the workload.
"It was probably one of our best practices so far," coach Jim Leavitt said. "The team really responded and had a great day. We're going to start backing off now."
The Bulls begin preparations Thursday for the Aug. 29 season opener against Florida Atlantic.
POLL NEWS: USF debuted at No. 10 in a new ESPN.com poll, the Mid-Major Top 10. The poll is for schools not in the six BCS conferences. Marshall is the preseason No. 1, and two Conference USA teams are ahead of the Bulls, No. 2 Louisville and No. 4 Southern Miss. Bowling Green, coming off an 8-3 season and plays at USF on Nov. 16, is No. 9.
LAST CHANCE: The final scrimmage of the preseason is at 7:30 tonight. Several key players, such as Marquel Blackwell, will sit out.
"We have to build up a little depth," Leavitt said.
INJURIES: DeAndrew Rubin (hamstring) practiced for the first time in more than a week. Defensive end Kenny Huebner (toe) did not practice. Leavitt said "there's a chance" that Huey Whittaker (strained knee ligament) could play in the opener.
-- PETE YOUNG, KEITH NIEBUHR
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State focused on how to contain Iowa State's versatile quarterback Seneca Wallace.
Wallace, who ran for 663 yards and threw for 2,044 more, could give the defense problems.
"He's a dangerous man," junior linebacker Michael Boulware said. "If I'm not on my toes and get every little detail right, he's going make me really look stupid and probably put me on ESPN on a bad play."
FSU used a combination of freshman quarterback Wyatt Sexton and receiver Lorne Sam to duplicate Wallace's big-play ability.
"I see Seneca as a combination of a Charlie Ward and Michael Vick," coach Bobby Bowden said. "He runs well, but he also has a great arm."
McPHERSON BACK?: Backup quarterback Adrian McPherson said he would be back in time for the opener despite reports he wouldn't be ready. McPherson put his health at 70 percent and believes he could be ready.
-- JASON SCHNEIDER
GAINESVILLE -- Florida has not selected its punter, but if the season started today sophomore Jason Hunter would get the nod.
Hunter, a walk-on from Tampa, is competing with fellow walk-on junior Sean Morton for the job. Coach Ron Zook said a decision on who will punt in the Aug. 31 opener against Alabama-Birmingham likely would be made after tonight's scrimmage.
Hunter also is a leading candidate to replace Brian Stone as a holder. Stone quit Monday.
"I hope that's the way it works out because that way those guys can be together all the time and that's a definite advantage," Zook said. "People don't realize that the kicker is only one-third of that operation. There's so many kicks that are missed because of the holder or the snap."
The scrimmage is 6-8:15 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and is open to the public.
WILLIAMS BACK: Bobby Williams practiced.
"He didn't go real hard but he was out there," Zook said. Linebacker Mike Nattiel couldn't practice (hamstring) and center Mike Degory had a stiff back but went through most of practice.
-- JILL MARTIN
Florida's Rex Grossman, Miami's Ken Dorsey, FSU's Chris Rix and USF's Marquel Blackwell are on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, which honors the nation's top quarterback. The winner will be announced Dec. 12.
-- BRIAN LANDMAN
ORLANDO -- A dose of heavy rain and lightning forced practice inside the UCF Arena. The Golden Knights have lost 31/2 practice sessions due to inclement weather. "It's frustrating," coach Mike Kruczek said. "I'm getting stressed out by the day by missing time on the football field."
-- TIMES WIRES
Around the nation
ALABAMA: The school claims the NCAA Infractions Committee wrongly used the testimony of a secret witness, an administrator unknown to the university, in punishing the program for recruiting violations.
The university's defense team also said, in appeal documents made public Monday, the NCAA for the first time has imposed penalties commensurate with an "institutional" violation even though it found no such wrongdoing.
The NCAA Committee on Infractions placed Alabama on five years' probation Feb. 1 for illegal recruiting practices by boosters, stripping the Crimson Tide of 21 scholarships over three years and imposing a postseason ban for 2002 and '03. Alabama had self-imposed 15 scholarship cuts, but no bowl ban.
Alabama presented its appeal to the Infractions Appeals Committee during a closed-door meeting Friday in Chicago. The school complained about the failure to distinguish between the secret witness and a second "confidential source" whose identity was known to the school.
AUBURN: Coach Tommy Tuberville said Daniel Cobb will start at quarterback, citing the sixth-year senior's knowledge of the offense.
INDIANA: Kicker Adam Braucher will miss the season after rupturing a tendon in his left knee. The junior from Punta Gorda was injured in practice last week and had surgery.
IOWA: Quarterback Dustin Ward will be the starter.
MISSISSIPPI: Linebacker Lanier Goethie, sidelined with a hamstring injury since the start of fall practice, worked out at full speed for the second straight day. Linebacker Justin Wade (foot) practiced for the first time.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Running back Dontae' Walker returned to practice after missing five days with a right knee sprain.
SOUTHERN MISS: Cornerback Corey Yates will have knee surgery and miss the season.
UCONN: YES Network will telecast two games this season: Sept. 7 at home vs. Georgia Tech and the next week's visit to Buffalo.
-- TIMES WIRES