College football

FSU's Lewis, UF's Harvey to miss half for ejections

By Times Staff
Published November 30, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Upon further review from the ACC, Florida State redshirt freshman guard Cornelius Lewis won't play the first half against Virginia Tech in Saturday's ACC championship game.

He was in fact ejected for fighting with Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey early in the fourth quarter. The ACC erroneously told FSU that SEC officials kicked him out for a personal foul, which would not have carried a penalty into the next game.

Harvey will not be allowed to play in the first half of UF's bowl game because of his ejection.

"If there was ever a pillow fight, that was a pillow fight," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "You ever see two guys whiff each other."

Lewis said: "I want to help my team, but rules are rules. There wasn't too much going on, just a little bit after the play back and forth."

Senior Ron Lunford , who made his first start of the season at left tackle for the injured Cory Niblock last weekend, will start at guard for Lewis. Junior Mario Henderson will start at tackle and, when Lewis can return for the second half, will stay in the game in place of sophomore tackle David Overmyer . Overmyer had started every game this season.

REVERSAL FOR WIMBLEY: Though senior defensive end Kamerion Wimbley said Monday he was a "go" for the ACC title game, Bowden said Tuesday he will be out for a third game.

"He could probably go out there and play, but it's just not smart," Bowden said. "If he goes ahead and gets healthy, he's got a chance in two weeks to ... play in the bowl."

Wimbley, the team leader in sacks (7.5) and quarterback hurries (17), sprained his left knee against N.C. State on Nov. 5.

BAD MOVE: Freshman receiver/kickoff returner Kenny O'Neal has been suspended for Saturday's game after missing the team bus coming back from Gainesville, Bowden said.

NO PROBLEMS FOR BRYANT: Sophomore cornerback J.R. Bryant doesn't have any eligibility issues, school officials said Tuesday as they re-examined his admission records.

Bryant, who attended Miami Killian as a junior and then for the first semester of his senior year, graduated from University High, a correspondence school that is the target of scrutiny after a lengthy New York Times story.

According to the Times, several students who signed with Division I football programs improved their grades markedly in a short period of time, implying some suspicious circumstances. Some of the prep students, including Bryant, didn't have to take the FCAT.

"We've checked with our (university) academic people and he's met all the criteria (for admission)," said Bob Minnix , FSU's associate athletic director for compliance, adding that Bryant, like all collegiate athletes, had been cleared by the NCAA's clearinghouse before he was admitted. "I have not talked to the NCAA at this point and I don't anticipate any issues here."

The Florida High School Athletic Association said Monday it will look into issues the Times raised about University High.

TAKING THE SNUB IN STRIDE: Senior defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley , the former Chamberlain star who has had an All-America season with a league-best 20.5 tackles for a loss, was undaunted by his exclusion from the first-team all-ACC list.

For the first time, no Seminole made the first team in balloting by the media that covers the league.

"I'm not even worried about that," said Bunkley, a second-team pick. "We have a big game to focus on and it's time to get after it because a victory here would salvage all the troubles we've been through so far."

- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

GAINESVILLE - Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas said Tuesday that he will not jump to the NFL after a successful junior season.

However, Thomas has filed paperwork with the NFL to see where he is likely to be drafted.

"Just to be interested, just to know, but I'm not going anywhere," Thomas said. "If anything, the first round, but most likely I already know that it isn't going to be the first round. I want to be that top-10 type pick, so I know I have to wait until next year."

Thomas thinks the defense can be extraordinary next year.

"I want to be a part of that because I know they're going to have us rated as one of the top defenses in the nation coming into next year," Thomas said.

Junior receiver Chad Jackson has not filed his paperwork yet, but he will, he said. He said he thinks he will return.

Jackson said he'd be almost a lock to go if he is a likely first-round pick. He also said he is going to factor in how tough it's going to be to get catches with what is expected to be an improved receiving corps.

Cornerback Dee Webb also is expected to consider a leap.

"I'm just focused on this season and this bowl game," Webb said. "Things will fall into place."

- IAN FISHER,

TAMPA - While digesting turkey Thursday, coach Jim Leavitt saw a pretty good football game. No. 12 West Virginia beat Pittsburgh 45-13. Quarterback Pat White rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns, earning Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors.

"He did a lot," Leavitt said. "He can run and can throw, and well he's very good as well.

White has 11 touchdowns and 1,317 yards, and Leavitt said keeping the freshman under control Saturday will be tough.

"You're not going to be able to stop him, but maybe slow him down," he said.

[Last modified November 30, 2005, 02:15:38]