College football

Back at practice, DE Buie tries to shake off injury

By Times staff writers
Published October 27, 2005

TAMPA - After spending almost two months on the injured list, sophomore defensive end Jarriett Buie returned to practice Wednesday.

Buie, who played for Armwood High, suffered a broken leg before the 23-13 loss to Penn State and had a target return date for the Rutgers game on Nov. 5.

"I'm not sure how (Buie) will do," coach Jim Leavitt said. "We shall see because with (coming back from that injury) you never know how it will go. It's basically where he and us have to take it day by day."

Sophomore safety Danny Verpaele has been attending practice but not participating, and Leavitt expects his return soon.

"We'd like to get him out next week. He's pretty close though," he said.

WAITING A WHILE: With the postponement of last Saturday's game against West Virginia due to Hurricane Wilma, the Bulls have been faced with a 20-day layoof between the 31-17 loss to Pittsburgh and the game at Rutgers.

Leavitt says the team is taking it in stride.

"They are just taking it as what it is: a big layoff," Leavitt said. "We can't control it, and there isn't much they can do about it, so we're not worrying about it. We're just practicing and practicing hard." - MIKE CAMUNAS, Times correspondent

GAINESVILLE - Even though ESPN GameDay and ESPN2's Cold Pizza will be in Jacksonville this weekend for the Florida-Georgia game, some Gators are barely noticing.

"You love to have that kind of publicity, but it really slips your mind sometimes," sophomore linebacker Brandon Siler said. "You don't see it until you get there. "Oh, shoot - GameDay is here.' It finally sets in."

Siler said the Gators have bigger things to worry about than national hype.

"You don't really play for those types of things," Siler said. "We still have our vision on the SEC championship. We know some things have to happen, but the first thing we have to do is handle our business in Jacksonville."

Cold Pizza airs from 8-10 a.m. Friday and fans are encouraged to join the crowd in front of Alltel Stadium.

INJURY UPDATES: Coach Urban Meyer reiterated Wednesday that he expects Siler (ankle), receiver Jemalle Cornelius (ankle), and defensive end Ray McDonald (knee) to play against Georgia.

Meyer said McDonald had a good practice, but won't be back to 100 percent.

ET CETERA: Representatives from the Peach Bowl will be in attendance Saturday to scout UF and Georgia. The Peach Bowl, scheduled for Dec. 30, is the only bowl that guarantees an ACC vs. SEC matchup.

- IAN FISHER, Times correspondent

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State freshman defensive back Michael Ray Garvin has seen his playing time steadily increase over the course of the season.

With the dismissal of Joe Manning and the absence of the injured Trevor Ford in the secondary, Garvin registered a team-high six tackles and one sack in a win against Duke.

Garvin has moved up to second-team cornerback behind Tony Carter.

"He did well (against Duke)," defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "He played well for a freshman."

HEADED OUT: Freshman safety Clarence Ward has been granted a release, coach Bobby Bowden said.

"He was kind of homesick and we felt like it was best for him," Bowden said.

INJURY UPDATE: Starting right guard John Frady (shoulder), who was injured in the first quarter against the Blue Devils, has practiced this week and is expected to start against Maryland Saturday.

- BRANDON MELLOR, Times correspondent

Quarterback Kyle Wright will start Saturday against North Carolina, two weeks after spraining the thumb on his throwing hand against Temple.

"A couple of days off did some amazing healing," Wright said.

Coach Larry Coker wasn't surprised that Wright has proclaimed himself ready to go.

"He would have been the starter last Saturday," Coker said, referring to the postponed Georgia Tech game. "I don't think you could have kept him off the field."

WILMA RELIEF: A portion of ticket sales for the game will be donated to Hurricane Wilma relief efforts in South Florida, university officials announced. A separate collection for relief efforts will take place outside the Orange Bowl's gates.

[Last modified October 27, 2005, 01:28:19]