Sports

College football

Future of Orange Bowl is unclear

By wire services
Published December 1, 2005

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MIAMI - City officials are considering plans to replace the 68-year-old Orange Bowl with a new stadium on the same site, which could force the Hurricanes to play in Dolphins Stadium for at least a couple of seasons, city manager Joe Arriola said Wednesday.

"We're looking at all our options," Arriola said. "We might tear it down and build a new Orange Bowl."

No decisions have been made, Arriola said. The Hurricanes will play in the Orange Bowl next season, he said, but might need to relocate 10 miles north to Dolphins Stadium for the 2007-08 seasons.

"We apologize, but we don't have any knowledge of this, and so we'll refrain from making any comment," said Joe Bailey , chief executive officer of Dolphins Enterprises.

University officials said the school and the city will meet next week to discuss the situation. The Hurricanes have played in the Orange Bowl, owned by the city, since it opened in 1937.

"This is about possibly making the facility strong enough to go another 30 years, whether that's rehabilitating it or build a new facility," Paul Dee , the university's athletic director, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel .

City officials already have raised $80-million for the project through bonds and the sale of Miami Arena, Dee said.

Arriola said city workers will examine the Orange Bowl to determine the extent of structural damage from Hurricane Wilma on Oct. 24. The city may decide on renovations while keeping the existing frame, or the entire stadium might be torn down and replaced if structural problems are discovered, Arriola said.

FSU: DE a challenge

TALLAHASSEE - With multiple injuries on the offensive line, FSU has enough problems to deal with.

And that's before Virginia Tech defensive end Daryl Tapp adds another big - and fast - problem.

"There's no question, (Tapp) is one of the best we've seen," said offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden . "That sums it up. He's fast as lightning."

Tapp, a first-team All-ACC member, has 41 tackles, nine sacks and 34 quarterback hits.

FSU has a fairly conventional plan to try and stop such an unconventional player.

"You have to be real sound in your technique and you've got to get some help at times for your tackles," Bowden said.

With the first-half suspension of guard Cornelius Lewis , Mario Henderson will make the second start of his career. In the 2004 Orange Bowl he started for Alex Barron against Miami.

"I've just been focused, working really hard (this week)," said Henderson, a 6-foot-7, 310-pounder from Lehigh Acres. "I'm just treating every practice like it's a game. I'm taking it a lot, lot more serious because of how important this game is to us and Florida State."

Bowden said he plans to give tailback Leon Washington more carries. Washington rotates with Lorenzo Booker , and Antone Smith has also played.

BROOKS UPSET: Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks , a former Seminole All-American who sits on the school's board of trustees, wants to see improvement. "I'm not going to forget the three losses to teams that are not ranked. I tell people all the time, Florida State has been humbled," he said. "But now that we've been humbled, what are we going to do about it?"

USF: Farewell, seniors

TAMPA - Saturday's game with No. 12 West Virginia will mark the final regular-season game for 13 USF seniors, including nine who have started at least nine games this year: offensive linemen Frank Davis , John Miller and Chris Carothers , running back Andre Hall , defensive linemen Jon Simmons , Tim Jones and Terrence Royal , safety Johnnie Jones and punter Brandon Baker .

"This senior class is a powerful group. Great leaders, great workers, did what we asked them to do, never blinked an eye," coach Jim Leavitt said. "It's why we have an opportunity to go to a bowl game, play more football, all those things, which I plan on. It's never happened in the history of South Florida."

One player the Bulls will have to account for Saturday is West Virginia freshman running back Steve Slaton , who had just emerged the week before the Bulls were originally scheduled to play the Mountaineers, a date postponed by the threat of Hurricane Katrina.

Slaton's breakout game was 188 yards and five touchdowns in a win against Louisville, but he's been strong in three games since, rushing for 379 yards and seven scores.

UCF: O'Leary honored

ORLANDO - UCF's George O'Leary was named the Conference USA coach of the year and running back Kevin Smith was named freshman of the year.

Other awards: Southern Mississippi linebacker Kevis Coley , defensive player of the year; Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams (offense) and Memphis kicker Stephen Gostkowski (special teams).

Academy scrutinized

MIAMI - A Miami correspondence academy has drawn the scrutiny of the NCAA and state officials amid growing concerns about "diploma mills" - nontraditional high schools that make it easy for athletes and other students to graduate.

University High School has no classrooms, teachers or teams but has helped numerous athletes quickly earn diplomas, the New York Times reported last week. The NCAA has begun an investigation of the school, and the Florida High School Athletic Association plans to investigate.

"What's alleged in that case ought to be of concern to everyone in the country," Kevin Lennon , NCAA vice president for membership services, said Wednesday. "It relates to the quality of the diplomas students receive. Athletes continue to be a small percentage of this problem; other students are taking advantage of diploma mills."

Over the past two years, the New York Times said, University High graduated at least 14 students who signed with Division I football programs.

University High officials couldn't be reached for comment. A recording said the phone mailbox was full.

[Last modified December 1, 2005, 01:08:09]

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