College football

FSU avoids academic troubles

By Times Staff Writers Times Wires
Published December 17, 2004

TALLAHASSEE - Fall semester grades for Florida State students were released Thursday, and coach Bobby Bowden said he did not know of any academic disqualifications for the Gator Bowl.

"They would let us know if something came up, unless they were real late with getting the grades," Bowden said. "I haven't heard of anything."

But Bowden does have concerns on the offensive line.

With senior Ray Willis sidelined with a left ankle sprain sustained Nov. 20 against Florida, sophomore Mario Henderson and redshirt freshman David Overmyer have been sharing playing time at Willis' tight tackle position.

Henderson, who usually backs up two-time consensus All-American Alex Barron at split tackle, has more experience, starting for Barron in the Orange Bowl in January. But Overmyer played well in place of Willis against the Gators, Bowden said.

"(Henderson) has the experience, so you would kind of lean to him," Bowden said. "However, I thought Overmyer did pretty good in the last ballgame when he went in there."

Willis' status is uncertain, but Bowden is optimistic that the three-year starter will be healthy enough to play on New Year's Day.

"He might be okay," Bowden said. "We still got a couple of weeks for him. He needs time right now."

Following the Gator Bowl, defensive end Eric Moore and rover Jerome Carter have been invited to play in the Jan. 22 Hula Bowl in Maui, Hawaii.

- ZACHARY SPAIN, Times correspondent

ATLANTA - Five conference commissioners said they are willing to discuss the possibility of allowing a selection committee, instead of the current formula, to pick which teams play in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

The BCS has been embroiled in controversy since Dec. 5, when a 12-0 Auburn team was left out of the national championship game and some 11th hour changes by poll voters knocked California out of the Rose Bowl and let Texas in.

"After what has happened in the last few weeks, you have to say that everything is back on the table," said Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen, who has been critical of the process since Cal was denied its first Rose Bowl trip since 1959. "I have a real problem with what has happened this year and I'm willing to discuss anything to change it."

Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese will propose the idea of a BCS selection committee when the commissioners meet next month at the NCAA Convention. If there is any support, the commissioners could put together a plan for change and vote during their next formal meeting in April.

The specifics of how it would work have not been discussed. But in concept, a selection committee, similar to that for the 65-team NCAA basketball tournament, would be appointed. This committee would have the final call on which teams would play in the BCS national championship game.

USF: Mike Benzer of Longwood Lyman High, ranked as one of the nation's top three kickers by recruiting analyst Max Emfinger, said he has accepted a full ride to kick for the Bulls. "They told me I have to beat out two walk-ons, but they also said they wouldn't be giving me a scholarship if they didn't think I could be the starter," said Benzer, who converted 11-of-15 field goal attempts as a senior. Those kicks included six field goals of 50 yards or longer, including a career-best 55 yards. He'll compete with walk-ons Kyle Bronson and Justin Teachey to replace departing kickers Santiago Gramatica and Justin Geisler.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

DIVISION I-AA: Montana (12-2) will face James Madison (12-2) in the championship game tonight in Chattanooga, Tenn. ... William & Mary quarterback Lang Campbell won the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the division.

OHIO: Former Nebraska coach Frank Solich was hired as coach.

[Last modified December 17, 2004, 00:08:09]