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Colleges

Guard Sutton turns life around to play again

Angela Sutton is not just back in the starting lineup for the Florida State women's basketball team. She is back in life after two years on a self-destructive path.

"Angela's what second chances are all about," coach Sue Semrau said.

Entering Thursday's ACC game at Maryland, the fiery junior guard has started the past five for FSU (10-4, 2-1) and is averaging 5.2 points and 2.4 steals in those games. Not bad for someone who began the season on the bench, holding a clipboard for her coach.

And she was thrilled to do it.

"I came into this knowing there would be some repercussions for leaving two years ago," said Sutton, 22, a starter for much of the 1999-2000 season before quitting the team the next fall. "For me, it wasn't about playing even though I love to play basketball. It was about being part of the program and being a part of a family again."

After she left the team and FSU, she led a nomadic, troubled existence that included a brief stint in the Navy and a time living out of her car (she pawned a television and VCR for $45 for gas to drive from Pensacola to her home in Cleveland, Tenn.). She said she drank more and more.

But she stayed in contact with Semrau, who told her about Mercy Ministries in Nashville, essentially a rehabilitation center for young women battling alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, depression or unplanned pregnancies.

"I made a decision," Sutton said. "I was going to get my life back together. It wasn't about basketball at that time. It was about saving my life."

She stayed there five months. Semrau and FSU coaches called every weekend and when she graduated, the staff and some former teammates attended the ceremony.

"A week later, I was back at school," she said.

She was put on scholarship, but as a stipulation of her return, was treated as a walk-on. She was the last person off the bench for the first semester, which was okay with her.

"This program is so special to me because the coaches really care," Sutton said. "The team, we're like a bunch of sisters. We get along so well. I missed being a part of that. ... So, it didn't matter to me whether I was holding the clipboard or whether I was the water girl. Whatever I could do to help the team was my goal."

"She gave and gave and gave," Semrau said.

A few weeks ago, the team captains asked Semrau to play Sutton more.

"We feel she not only has the athleticism that we've been lacking, but she brings a maturity to our backcourt," Semrau said. "Having the time away, she has an appreciation for this opportunity and has really helped us step up to a different level."

SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD: Freshman tailback Thomas "Hollywood" Clayton, who dropped further on the depth chart with each fumble last season, met Tuesday with coach Bobby Bowden to finalize his intentions to transfer. He had 13 carries for 45 yards.

ALL-STAR EXPOSURE: Offensive linemen Brett Williams and Montrae Holland and receiver Talman Gardner will try to impress NFL scouts in Saturday's Senior Bowl. They're on the South team.

-- Brian Landman covers Florida State athletics. He can be reached at (813) 226-3347 or by e-mail at landman@sptimes.com.

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