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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 9, 2002
Injured Noles LB: I'll play
TALLAHASSEE -- Miami is most dangerous when it can run and pass when it wants. Because of that, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is concerned starting middle linebacker Jerel Hudsonmissed practice for the second straight day.
"It bothers me that Jerel Hudson is still out," Bowden said. "I sure wish he could (practice) because (Miami) runs the ball so well that you need a big guy in there, and that's his forte."
For most of the season Hudson has played with a sprained ankle but was able to move around effectively and make plays against the run and the pass. Hudson sprained the other ankle Thursday at Clemson, but FSU expects him to play Saturday. "I don't think he's been 100 percent (healthy) all year," linebackers coach Joe Kines said.
Hudson has no doubts about his playing status. The 6-foot-3, 267-pound senior, who is a South Florida native, has said that he will be in the lineup.
"I've been trying to get out there to practice, but (the trainers) keep telling me to take my equipment off," Hudson said. "I've waited five years for this. I'm playing."
WIDE RIGHT NO MORE: Florida State is used to seeing its game with Miami come down to a kick, with less than stellar results. But on Tuesday the Seminoles saw former Jesuit star Xavier Beitia drill a 53-yard field goal that went straight through the uprights.
"I feel much better about the kicking game this year than when we went down to Miami two years ago," Bowden said. "I wish we had (Beitia) then."
INJURY UPDATE: Safety B.J. Ward (cervical burner) and fullback Torrance Washington (hip flexor and groin) practiced.
-- JASON SCHNEIDER
GAINESVILLE -- Florida quarterback Rex Grossman said his quest for the Heisman Trophy most likely has ended after the first half of Florida's roller-coaster season.
Now his primary concern is finding a way to save the Gators' season.
"The first half of the season's over. I've pretty much, almost eliminated myself for that (Heisman)," Grossman said. "I'm really going to try to have the best second half of the season in college football history and that's my goal.
"Whether I do it or not, that's different. But I'm really going to bear down and try to have the next six games be the best of my life, and I'm going to do everything possible to make that happen. The Heisman is irrelevant right now."
HE DOES FIELD GOALS TOO: Backup quarterback Ingle Martin took over punting duties in Saturday's Mississippi game, averaging 45.9 yards. But Martin said he also has a knack for field goals.
"I usually (practice) on Sundays out there by myself," Martin said. "I've enjoyed kicking since I was little. ... If they want me to try (kicking field goals) I'll give it a go."
INJURY UPDATE: Left tackle Shannon Snell (sprained shoulder) did not practice and is questionable for this week's game against LSU. Defensive end Marcus Oquendo-Johnson (sprained ankle) is day-to-day. -- ANTONYA ENGLISH
TAMPA -- The Bulls worked out for two hours in preparation for Saturday's game against Southern Miss.
The Golden Eagles present the biggest challenge to USF's 15-game home winning streak, fifth-longest in the nation. The Bulls have been favored in every game in which there has been a point spread during the streak, but Southern Miss (4-1) is a 31/2-point favorite.
"(The streak) is kind of big. It's very hard to beat us in Raymond James Stadium," defensive tackle Greg Walls said. "I figured they would be (favored), but we won't listen to that. We'll just come in and play. We're always considered the underdogs anyway."
INJURY UPDATE: Walls (sprained left ankle) missed practice for a second straight day. If he does not complete a full practice by Thursday, Matt Groelinger and Cedric Battles would replace him.- PETE YOUNG