Colleges

DT Bunkley logs many miles

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published April 27, 2006

Former Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley is trying to catch his breath.

Leading up to this weekend's NFL draft, the 6-3, 307 pound Bunkley, projected to join as many as three of his Seminole teammates as a first-round pick, has visited Baltimore, Cleveland, St. Louis, New England, Detroit, Kansas City and the New York Jets.

Whew.

"It's been busy and it's been a very long process," he said earlier this week. "I'm in the final stretch. I just can't wait to see where I'm going and see where I'll be living for the next couple of years."

Bunkley, who helped lead Chamberlain High to the state championship game in 2001, knew he would have to do "something outstanding" to position himself as an NFL possibility. He took encouragement from Darnell Dockett and Travis Johnson - both interior defensive linemen - doing just that with dominating senior seasons. Dockett was a third-round pick of Arizona in 2004, while Johnson was a first-rounder last year of Houston.

After working diligently to avoid academic ineligibility last summer, he had a breakout season at just the right time. Despite constant double teams, he parlayed his quickness and power into 25 tackles for a loss (a single-season record) and nine sacks. He was named a first-team all-America by the Football Writers Association of America.

He followed that up with stellar showings at the Senior Bowl, the combine, FSU's pro day and then individual workouts. He plans to be in the bay area on Saturday to celebrate with his family when his name is finally announced. Not that he plans any lengthy party.

"I'll be happy and I'll take the time to cheer, but I've got to dispose of it quick 'cause it'll be time to get to work," he said. "It's going to be a very hard road, but I want to make a statement and prove myself and whatever team drafts me, make sure they know they're getting their moneys' worth."

Sophomore right-hander Tiffany McDonald entered the week with a couple eye-catching stats that are a source of pride and pain: 43 appearances and 247 innings pitched. Both led the nation.

McDonald admits the work load, increased as a result of injury, illness and inexperience, is both tiring but inspiring in that her coaches and teammates have the faith in her to throw often and throw well.

"She's really responded; she hasn't backed off of anything, which is a nice credit to her competitiveness," FSU coach JoAnne Graf said.

The hardest part for McDonald is dealing with a record (23-14) that isn't the most accurate gauge of the job she has done. She has lost to Tennessee and Virginia 1-0, to North Carolina 3-1 when she allowed only one earned run, and to both North Carolina State and Virginia Tech by 2-0 scores. In the loss to the Wolfpack, she had a no-hitter through eight innings.

While frustrating, she has maintained her focus and her goal - pitch as well as she can. She also knows that the experience this season should make her a stronger pitcher in the future, not just as a junior or senior but in the postseason.

FSU (34-24), which closes the regular season next week with a doubleheader on Tuesday at UCF and then a three-game series at Maryland on May 6-7, has a comparable record and resume to last year when it received an at-large bid to an NCAA regional.

The baseball team (33-10) can use a break from ACC play and gets it with Savannah State (27-16) coming to town for a weekend series begining today. The Seminoles have lost five straight (Miami, Florida and Georgia Tech) and six of its last seven games - all at home.

The men's track and field team, which won the ACC indoor and outdoor championships, was honored with a ceremonial lighting of the torch at the "Unconquered" statue on Tuesday night.

Freshman defender Sarah Wagenfuhr will head to Carson, Calif., for the United States U-20 women's national team training camp May 7. Up next would be a trip to Germany for matches in May. The goal for the team is the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia Aug. 17-Sept. 3.

[Last modified April 27, 2006, 03:05:24]