Seminole named nation's best
By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published December 14, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Florida State senior tackle Alex Barron, like his teammates, has marveled at the glass-enclosed locker stalls that recognize the school's two-time consensus All-Americans.
"I never thought I'd have one," he said.
But he will. By making the Associated Press' first team Monday, he is just the seventh Seminole - and first offensive lineman - to become a consensus All-America twice, and FSU will honor him with a special locker complete with his helmet, shoulder pads, jersey, pants and shoes.
The other Seminoles similarly decorated and immortalized read like a Who's Who of college football:
Nose guard Ron Simmons (1979-80), cornerback Deion Sanders (1987-88), middle linebacker Marvin Jones (1991-92), linebacker Derrick Brooks (1993-94), kicker Sebastian Janikowski (1998-99) and receiver Peter Warrick (1998-99).
"Out of all the awards a person can get in sports, leadership awards and conference awards, those are all really prestigious awards. But this is 10 times more prestigious, especially here at Florida State," Barron, 22, said. "Great players and great people have come through Florida State and have gone on to have success in everything they've done, on and off the field. It's just truly a blessing. It's truly one of the greatest things in my life. I'm just so thankful and grateful and appreciate it so much."
The 6-foot-6, 308-pound Barron, a finalist for the Outland Trophy, allowed just five quarterback pressures and one sack, leading the team in pancake blocks. He also received first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America and Sporting News .
"Alex has been one of our more consistent blockers in the years he has started for FSU," coach Bobby Bowden said. "He has been blessed with phenomenal athletic ability and puts it to good use. We're proud of his accomplishments, and he deserves the honor."
Miami senior cornerback Antrel Rolle also was a first-team selection. FSU senior defensive tackle Travis Johnson was named to the third team.
Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart and three Southern Cal teammates, tailback Reggie Bush, defensive lineman Shaun Cody and linebacker Matt Grootegoed, are on the first team. Bush, a Heisman finalist, is the all-purpose player.
Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson, the Heisman runnerup who has run for 1,843 yards and 15 touchdowns, is the first freshman AP All-American since North Carolina cornerback Dre' Bly in 1996. Peterson was joined on the first team by Sooners tackle Jammal Brown.
Oklahoma quarterback Jason White, a first-team All-American and the Heisman Trophy winner last season, was a third-team selection. Utah quarterback Alex Smith was the second-team quarterback.
Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson, like FSU's Barron, returned to school after being an All-American last season and repeated.
Tennessee's Michael Munoz was one of the 20 seniors on the first team, outdoing his NFL dad. Anthony Munoz was never an AP All-American when he was a offensive lineman for Southern Cal from 1976-79.
USC tied Michigan for the most first-teamers and had six players total on the three AP All-America teams, the most of any school.
The Big Ten had the most first-teamers with nine. The Pac-10 had five, followed by the SEC and ACC with four. The Big 12 had three.
Beitia to kick againTALLAHASSEE - Xavier Beitia has reclaimed the starting job for the Jan.1 Gator Bowl, Bowden said.
Beitia, the former Jesuit High standout who lost his position after a poor showing in the loss Oct.30 at Maryland, came on for Gary Cismesia and hit a career-long 52-yard field goal in the 20-13 loss to Florida.
"It's big to me, especially with how my season has gone," he said. "You're going to be remembered by your last kick, not by your first kick. If I can go in there and pull another Gator Bowl like I did three years ago, I can't think of a better way to leave."
Beitia made field goals of 35, 47 and 50 yards in the 2002 Gator Bowl win against Virginia Tech.
INJURY UPDATE: Senior cornerback Leroy Smith said he might play in the Gator Bowl. He broke a bone in his left forearm Nov.20, needing a metal plate and six screws, but is healing fast. Of more concern is recent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to clear scar tissue. Smith will weigh the long-term effects of coming back too soon versus being healthy for the NFL combine in February.
"If I had to choose one, I'd rather be ready for February," he said, "because this is my life and this is what I want to do in the future."
BYU: Bronco Mendenhall was promoted from defensive coordinator to coach. The coordinator for the past two seasons, his unit ranked third in the WAC in rushing defense this season and second with 34 sacks. He replaces Gary Crowton, who resigned after going 26-23 in four seasons.
COLORADO: A former soccer player dropped her lawsuit, one of three involving the sex-and-recruiting scandal surrounding the football team. The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged the athletic department retaliated against the woman after she talked to police about a recruiting party where two other women say they were raped. The woman, the only black player on the team at the time, also alleged the department ignored her complaints of racial discrimination by her coach and teammates. Her attorney, David Feola, did not return messages.
MIAMI: Running back Frank Gore won the Brian Piccolo Award, given annually to the ACC's "most courageous" player. Gore, who has recovered from two major knee surgeries, is fourth in the ACC with 865 yards.
N.C. STATE: Running back T.A. McLendon will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. He rushed for 2,479 yards and 35 touchdowns in three seasons. This season, he rushed for 770 yards and six touchdowns while struggling through shoulder and hamstring injuries.
Information from the Associated Press was used in the report.