Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Around the state

By Times wire and staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 29, 2002

TALLAHASSEE -- After an eye-catching performance in the waning moments against Notre Dame, Florida State sophomore Adrian McPherson moved ahead of Chris Rix and will start Saturday's game against Wake Forest.

"I know you wonder why. The only answer I can give you is we feel like we should," coach Bobby Bowden said Monday night.

It is the first time since the 1990 season Bowden has made such a dramatic change at the position. That season he promoted Casey Weldon ahead of Brad Johnson in the Oct.20 game at Auburn.

In last weekend's 34-24 loss, McPherson completed 8-of-11 for 118 yards and two TDs and scrambled three times for 25 yards, helping the Seminoles avoid their worst home defeat in two decades.

That was a marked improvement from his showing against Clemson weeks earlier. He was 0-for-6 while playing most of the second quarter after Rix absorbed a punishing hit.

"I'm excited; that's why I came here, to get a chance to come on the field and perform," said McPherson, who was telephoned at noon and told to come in early to meet with quarterbacks coach Daryl Dickey. "To tell you the truth, I thought maybe we'd rotate or something like that. I didn't think I'd start. ... It's a great opportunity for me to go out there and make the most of my opportunity."

After the loss to Notre Dame, several Seminoles criticized Rix and suggested coaches needed to make a change. Rix had three turnovers, two in back-to-back possessions. The Irish turned those miscues, as well as fumbled kickoff by Leon Washington, into 17 points.

Bowden said he talked to Rix and the sophomore, who has started the past 20, took the news well. Bowden and the team hope this move will spark a turnaround.

"It might be, it depends on his performance," receiver Anquan Boldin said. "He sure added a spark Saturday. We're just hoping that can carry over to the next game."

-- BRIAN LANDMAN

USF a little rusty

TAMPA -- South Florida was slightly out of synch at practice. The Bulls, coming off a bye week, are preparing for Saturday's game against DivisionI-AA Charleston Southern.

"It wasn't that the guys didn't work hard. We just need to get back into the flow of things," coach Jim Leavitt said. "I'm glad we didn't play tonight."

Several missed all or part of practice with injuries, including defensive tackles Tavares Jurineack (concussion, back), Matt Groelinger (ankle) and Cedric Battles, safety Kevin Verpaele (knee), cornerback Sidney Simpson and running back Clenton Crossley (knee). Jurineack and Verpaele are questionable for Saturday, and sophomore Johnny Jones would start for Verpaele.

HE'S NO. 1: Quarterback Marquel Blackwell is No.1 in the NCAA with 1.15 interceptions per 100 passes (three in 260 attempts).

HOORAY: Architectural plans will be unveilled for the athletic facility at 10:30 a.m. Nov.6 at the site at the end of the band practice field next to the parking lot behind the Sun Dome. Representatives from the architect/builder, R.R. Simmons Construction and consultant HOK will be on hand with USF president Judy Genshaft, athletic director Lee Roy Selmon and Leavitt. The multipurpose facility will be between 103,000 and 104,000 square feet.

-- PETE YOUNG

UF, ESPN together again

GAINESVILLE -- Earlier this season, it was CBS. Now Florida

has become a regular on ESPN.

ESPN's College GameDay will be on location at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium. It is the third time this season Florida has been featured

The show was based in Gainesville on Sept.7 for the Miami game and in Knoxville, Tenn., Sept.21. ESPN also televised the Gators' matchups with LSU and Auburn.

CAPTAINS NAMED: Florida coach Ron Zook named quarterback Rex Grossman, linebacker Bam Hardmon and long-snapper Casey Griffith captains for Saturday. Grossman will be offensive captain, Hardmon defensive captain and Griffith special teams. Hardmon, a Jacksonville native, leads the team with 97 tackles, including 60 solo and 37 assisted.

SPECIAL VISITOR: Houston Texans wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, who left for the NFL after his sophomore season, visited practice.

-- JILL MARTIN

Payton proud of Smith

CORAL GABLES -- After he watched Emmitt Smith top his father's all-time rushing record, Miami junior running back Jarrett Payton called the Dallas running back to congratulate him.

Payton was in a team meeting when his friend eclipsed his father's rushing mark (16,726) by 17 yards during the Cowboys' 17-14 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

"You don't find people like Emmitt and my dad around. They don't come around that often," said Payton, who has become closer to Smith since his father's death in November 1999. "I'm just very lucky now that even though my dad's gone, I still have someone who I can look up to."

-- TIMES WIRES

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright