Colleges

Standout Warren leaving FSU

Florida State standout tight end Brandon Warren has left school, his mother told the Times on Monday, and apparently will continue his career elsewhere, most likely Tennessee.

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published February 13, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State standout tight end Brandon Warren has left school, his mother told the Times on Monday, and apparently will continue his career elsewhere, most likely Tennessee.

"He's home, and, as far as I know, he has resigned (from all his classes)," said his mother, Deidre.

Warren, from Alcoa, Tenn., isn't talking to the media, and his mother said the family will be issuing a statement, perhaps today. She did dispute Internet speculation that Warren had left FSU simply because he was homesick.

"There's more to it than that," said his mother, who has had health issues.

FSU officials said Warren, a freshman All-American (28 catches, 301 yards and one touchdown), hasn't officially withdrawn from school or asked for his release. Coach Bobby Bowden doesn't have to grant a release, which would mean Warren would have to pay for his first year at a new school.

FSU MULTIMEDIA RIGHTS: ISP received the multimedia rights to the school's athletics for the next 10 years for a minimum $66-million over the course of the deal. The agreement - for radio and television programs, game programs, athletic publications, the Web site and corporate promotions - begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2017. FSU will receive about $2.075-million this year in rights fees.

FSU BASEBALL: Junior second baseman Tony Thomas, a former Bloomingdale High star, was named ACC player of the week after hitting .727 in a three-game series last week.

Murdock plans transfer to USF

TAMPA - Former Middleton receiver O.J. Murdock, a nationally coveted recruit who spent two seasons at South Carolina, plans to transfer to USF this summer.

"I want to be closer to home. My family needs me, and this is a better fit for me," said Murdock, a first-team all-state selection ranked as the nation's No. 10 prep receiver by Rivals.com two years ago.

Murdock, 5 foot 11 and 187 pounds, redshirted his first year with the Gamecocks, then played sparingly last season, catching one pass for 8 yards before he left the team in December. He will have to sit out the 2007 season and will have two years of eligibility with the Bulls.

Murdock was arrested in October in Tampa on a felony charge of grand theft, accused by police of shoplifting about $420 in clothes from a store at University Square Mall. Murdock said he expects his legal problems to be resolved by the end of this summer.

USF has not received a release from South Carolina, so coaches cannot yet speak with Murdock.

Tampa Sports Club awards

TAMPA - Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley, in charge of the first athletic program to have reigning national champions in football and men's basketball, will be honored Friday as Florida personality of the year at the Tampa Sports Club's annual awards banquet.

Plant senior quarterback Robert Marve, who signed with Miami after leading his high school to a state title, is the male athlete of the year. USF senior forward Jessica Dickson, the Bulls' career scoring leader, is female athlete of the year.

USF redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Grothe, who guided the Bulls to a 9-4 record and their first bowl victory, will be honored as well.

Tickets for the banquet at Higgins Hall are $60 each. For information, call Joe Tomaino at (813) 974-7489.

FLORIDA WOMEN'S GOLF: The team opened the spring season at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, Calif., with 15-over 299 to finish two strokes behind leader Pepperdine after the first round of a three-day, 54-hole tournament.

TAMPA SOFTBALL: Devlin Dougherty was chosen as Sunshine State Conference pitcher of the week after leading the Spartans (1-5) to a 2-1 win over Valdosta State on Saturday.

Times staff writer Greg Auman and Times wires contributed to this report.

[Last modified February 13, 2007, 00:18:05]