College football

Injuries make FSU go small, speedy

By Times staff writers
Published November 24, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Close your eyes and picture a big-time defensive end and you see a 250- or 260-pound player with the uncommon blend of dizzying speed and bulldozer power.

But not when injuries hit, as has been the case at Florida State, with star Kamerion Wimbley (sprained left knee) out and several others hobbled. So the Seminoles will be relying, to some extent, on linebackers Marcello Church and Lawrence Timmons against Florida.

Church, the former Lakewood star, is all of 6-1 and 230; Timmons is 6-3 and 225.

"I'm all-purpose," Church quipped. "I just have to use my speed."

He and Timmons have plenty of that.

"It's fun to watch them," defensive ends coach Jody Allen said. "They're going to make some mistakes, but they're going to bring some energy to it."

"It is kind of different seeing Church lined up next to me," added nose guard Brodrick Bunkley, the former Chamberlain standout. "But those guys are athletes. That's not a problem. We have athletes backing up athletes. That's one thing I do love about this team. We have guys willing to step up and play a bigger part."

NOISE AND TURKEY? NOPE: As the Seminoles prepared for a game at Gainesville about a decade ago, they piped noise into their stadium on Thanksgiving morning.

"We were out about 15 minutes and some guy came in the stadium and asked us, "Hey. Didn't you know this is Thanksgiving? We can't hear up at our house,' " coach Bobby Bowden said. "The guy was in my Sunday school class. I think I stopped the noise."

To avoid a repeat of upset neighbors on the holiday, the Seminoles practiced with noise Wednesday evening instead of today as they normally would do.

SOD GAME: Count on the Seminoles, as road underdogs (by five points), declaring the UF game a "Sod Game." If they win, they'll dig up a clump of the field for a ceremonial burial in their "Sod Cemetery." The Seminoles are 1-0 in Sod Games this year, having won at Boston College. Bowden, however, had to be reminded that was such a game.

"Did we win a Sod Game?" he said. "That's good news."

LOOKING GOOD ... FOR '06: Star cornerback Antonio Cromartie trots off the practice field these days, smiling and sweating, looking like a guy ready to play. But he's not, no matter how much he would like to.

"I've thought about it, but it's not going to happen," he said.

Cromartie, a preseason All-America, tore his left ACL in July and had surgery. Doctors usually suggest a nine-month rehabilitation, but he has worked diligently and said he has been able to practice in a brace and "it's holding up; it's not bothering when I run or cut or anything." Despite the temptation to come back early, he said he's not and will definitely be back for his redshirt junior season.

- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

GAINESVILLE - Some of the Florida players will get to spend today's Thanksgiving holiday at home. Urban Meyer is allowing players who live within reasonable driving distance to go home today after practice.

"The good thing about Florida is there's a lot of kids within distance that they go home," he said. "So we are going in the morning and have practice, then let them go home and come back on Friday and have a normal Friday."

As for the players who can't go home, they'll have a few options.

"A lot of the kids are going home with some of the other players," Meyer said. "Usually I'm going to have something over at my house for some of the guys who are just sticking around. But I've heard, and we've asked every kid, so there's somewhere to go. I think Chad ( Jackson) is going to be going with Dallas Baker and Kyle Jackson is taking care of Markus Manson, which is the way it should be."

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: Florida quarterback Chris Leak is a big fan of the Florida State program, which is why he considered attending.

"I took an official there," Leak said. "Coach Bowden is a great coach. They were obviously in the Top 5 on my list. It's a great, great program, great traditions, great facilities."

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive end Ray McDonald did not practice Wednesday but likely will play this weekend in at least a limited capacity. McDonald has struggled to make it back since having knee surgery in September.

"I think he's going to play this week," Meyer said. "They drained his knee, and what happens is it swells up when they drain it (which is why he didn't practice)."

Baker is still suffering from a broken rib but will play, and running back DeShawn Wynn has a muscle injury in his shoulder but is expected to play.

- ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times staff writer

[Last modified November 24, 2005, 00:18:19]