By Times Staff Writers Times Wires
Published August 14, 2004
GAINESVILLE - With the departure of last season's special-teams coordinator, Mike Woodford, a hole was left in Ron Zook's coaching staff. That void will not be filled by one person, but rather a collective effort.
In not naming a coach, Zook has asked his assistants to join together in running the UF special teams.
"(Running backs) coach ( Mike) Locksley is going to handle the kickoff returns," Zook said, "I'm going to handle the punt returns. (Linebackers coach) Bill Miller, (secondary coach) Dan Disch and myself will take the kickoff coverage. (Offensive line coach) Joe Wickline will have the extra point/field-goal protection. Bill Miller will have the extra point/field-goal block. I'm going to try to oversee all of it."
Zook's plan to replace Woodford seems organized and well thought out, but some on the special-teams unit are struggling to adjust.
"I guess in a way it could be a lot easier (to have a special-teams coordinator) because the coach could concentrate on one thing," kicker Matt Leach said. "It won't be as hectic. It would be easier for each specific team."
Zook stands by his decision to not hire a replacement for Woodford. Asked if he would assume the duties of special-teams coordinator, a position he held at UF from 1994-95 and with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1996-98, Zook again said it will be a group effort.
"I don't know if I'm the coordinator or not," he said, "but it's an area where we need to be good. We've got a great staff who takes a lot of pride in it. We have to make sure we're as good in that area as we possibly can be."
- BRIAN SHAFFER, Times correspondent
FSU: First day in pads
TALLAHASSEE - The Seminoles wore pads for the first time, but the bulk of practice focused on fundamentals like blocking and tackling.
"That's what we tried to do," coach Bobby Bowden said. "It ain't no fun. It ain't interesting to write about. It's a starting place to see how far you got to go and how much better you have got to get in certain areas."
During the final few minutes for scrimmage, soggy field conditions from consecutive days of heavy rain contributed to sloppy play.
"Passing was not as sharp, but this kind of weather right here is not conducive to real smooth offense," Bowden said. "I didn't think we threw as well as we are going to have to throw, especially in the scrimmage."
FSU's first two-a-day sessions are today.
INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who injured his knee during a pass coverage drill Tuesday, said he thinks there's a "30/70" chance he'll be healthy in time for the opener Sept. 6 at Miami.
"I'm not going to say it will be a 50/50 chance because I don't think it will be," said Cromartie, indicating that a buildup of scar tissue might be to blame. He is scheduled for an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday. He said he expects to miss at least three weeks.
Former Lakewood linebacker Marcello Church left with what appeared to be an injury to his lower right leg or ankle.
BEITIA MAKES LIST: Former Jesuit standout Xavier Beitia was named to the 30-player Lou Groza Award watch list. The award is given to the nation's top placekicker.
- ZACHARY SPAIN, Times correspondent
UCF: Early to rise, early to leave
ORLANDO - The Golden Knights moved practice up to 5 a.m., before the school closed at 7 a.m. because of Hurricane Charley. The players practiced for two hours under the lights on the practice fields.
"Today was a pretty good practice considering the fact the players were awake at 3:45 a.m.," coach George O'Leary said.
The Golden Knights were scheduled to return to practice at 3:30 p.m. today.
- TIMES WIRES
USF: Charley cancels practice
TAMPA - USF likely will return to practice today after Friday's workouts were canceled when the university closed its campus with the threat of Hurricane Charley.
Today could mark both the first day in full pads and the start of two-a-days. USF, which started workouts Monday and practiced once in shoulder pads Wednesday, will decide this morning whether to hold practices as scheduled. All workouts are closed to the public.
- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer
Around the nation
RICHMOND, Calif. - Oregon incoming freshman Terrance Kelly was shot to death two days before he was set to leave for school.
The 18-year-old linebacker from De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., was shot in the driver's seat of his car outside his brother's home Thursday night, said Richmond Police Sgt. Enos Johnson on Friday.
Police said they found Kelly lying in the street next to his car, shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Johnson said police were investigating and had not identified a motive or any suspects.
Kelly was a standout at De La Salle, which has a 151-game winning streak. He was one of four players from the school recruited by Oregon and was one of the Ducks' top recruits.
Kelly was scheduled to leave for Eugene, Ore., today.
HALL OF FAME: Inductee Jimbo Covert insists athletes need to do more than excel on the field - they need to be role models.
"It's up to them to conduct themselves in a professional manner and in a way that if their own kids were looking at them, their kids would be proud," Covert said at the College Football Hall of Fame's enshrinement breakfast.
Covert, a star tackle at Pittsburgh, will be enshrined into the Hall today with 21 others, including Notre Dame's Joe Theismann, Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders and Darrell Green, who played at Texas A&I, now known as Texas A&M-Kingsville.
AUBURN: Cornerback David Irons is out for the season with a knee injury and his backup, Courtney Denson, decided to transfer. Irons tore a ligament in his left knee during practice Thursday.
NORTH CAROLINA: Offensive tackle Drew Hunter and offensive guard Mickey Rice have quit playing because of injuries.
TENNESSEE: The school spent $65,000 last year to fly 12 prospects to campus by private plane, a practice now banned by the NCAA. A ban on using private planes to transport prospects was part of the recruiting reform package the NCAA's board of directors approved this month. Five of the recruits signed with Tennessee; the other seven, including a men's basketball recruit, signed with other schools.
