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Around the state

By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 12, 2002

UF's Jacobs, Troupe questionable

GAINESVILLE -- Florida receiver Taylor Jacobs and tight end Ben Troupe remain questionable for Saturday's game against South Carolina.

Jacobs, wearing a knee brace, did some sprints and caught a few passes Monday. Troupe (sprained ankle) attended practice on crutches.

Jacobs (sprained MCL) said he is unsure if he will be able to play.

"I don't know for a fact," Jacobs said. "I'm just going day by day. I'm healing a lot faster than what I'm supposed to be healing. That's what I'm living off of right now."

Troupe is optimistic he'll play. He wore an ankle boot Monday.

"It's just a precautionary measure to keep it from getting worse," Troupe said. "Hopefully by Wednesday it should be off, and I should be ready to go Thursday. I'm just going to try to get a lot of treatment and be ready to go."

BACK ON TV: ESPN will show Saturday's game, which starts at 6 p.m. It will be the fourth time UF has been on ESPN this season and the sixth time the Gators have kicked off at 6 p.m. or later.

WEEKLY HONORS: Offensive lineman Max Starks was named the Jefferson Pilot SEC Good Works Team Player of the Week.

Coach Ron Zook selected tailback Earnest Graham, strong safety Guss Scott and defensive end Bobby McCray as his players of the week.

-- JILL MARTIN

Maddox's ankle better

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State tailback Nick Maddox (right ankle sprain) was held out of practice as a precaution.

"They just want to make sure by Saturday it's 90 percent better," he said. "I think it will be all the way better if we keep going at the rate we treated it today."

Maddox, who became the starter when Greg Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury, recorded his second straight 100-yard game against Georgia Tech.

His health becomes a bigger issue if backup Willie Reid (separated left shoulder) is unavailable. That would leave freshmen Leon Washington and Thomas Clayton behind Maddox.

MORE INJURY NEWS: Safety Claudius Osei (fractured right hand) will wear a cast for the next 4-6 weeks. He's expected to play.

"I've just got to get used to it and forget about that hand," he said.

ACC WEEKLY HONOR: Cornerback Stanford Samuels, who had two interceptions, including one for a touchdown, was named defensive back of the week.

-- BRIAN LANDMAN

Bulls ready for challenge

TAMPA -- USF practiced for 1 1/2 hours in preparation for 8-1 Bowling Green, which garnered national attention with an 8-0 start and the nation's third-ranked scoring offense, averaging 44 points.

"This is a tremendous challenge," Bulls coach Jim Leavitt said. "They're real good. This is going to be exciting."

HALF-RANKED: Bowling Green dropped out of the AP poll with its 26-17 loss Saturday at Northern Illinois, but the Falcons are No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. USF considers them the first ranked team to play the Bulls in Tampa.

NO RESPECT: Northern Illinois, which has three losses, including a 37-6 defeat Sept. 7 at USF, is receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today poll. So is Southern Miss, which also has three losses, including a 16-13 defeat at USF. The Bulls (7-2) have not received votes in either poll.

FINGERS CROSSED: CBSsportsline.com projects a USF-Northern Illinois rematch in the Dec. 26 Motor City Bowl.

-- PETE YOUNG

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