Colleges

Confusion quickly sets in on first punt

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 12, 2007

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A bizarre sequence three plays into the game brought a delay of more than 10 minutes and left egg on the ACC's face in front of a national TV audience Thursday.

On fourth and 10 from the Florida State 22, Graham Gano's punt landed in front of Wake Forest returner Kenneth Moore. The ball bounced off the back of FSU's Preston Parker, who was face-first on the ground, then grazed the facemask of Wake's Alex Frye at the 31 and was recovered by FSU's Roosevelt Lawson at the Wake 23.

The Deacons were penalized for an illegal block during the punt. The officiating crew huddled for several minutes before referee Tom McCreesh announced the penalty. FSU coaches were frantic in trying to decline the penalty, thinking the Seminoles gained possession.

McCreesh headed toward the FSU bench, where he was met halfway by coaches, among them Bobby Bowden and a vocal Chuck Amato. Several minutes later, with the FSU sideline not yet satisfied, McCreesh announced that the play was being reviewed.

Four minutes later McCreesh said Parker was guilty of illegal touching, thereby making the ball "dead" for FSU from that point. The Seminoles accepted a 10-yard penalty against Wake, which gave FSU a first down back at its 32.

Three plays later, the Seminoles punted again, this time without incident.

STILL LOOKING: FSU is still exploring a nonconference neutral-site game for next season.

"We have several irons in the fire," athletic director Dave Hart said. "We're down to just one potential site."

That could be Orlando or Jacksonville -- Tampa, which is focusing on acquiring the ACC championship game for at least one time during 2008-10, figures to be a player in later years. FSU already has a deal to go to Orlando in 2012 or 2013, and its game against Alabama in Jacksonville last month drew a Jacksonville-record crowd of 85,412. Atlanta was reported to be close to a deal during the summer, but that's no longer possible.

If a site and an opponent perhaps Colorado that make sense financially (FSU nets about $1.3-million from each game and walked away with in excess of $2-million for the Tide game) can't be put together, the Seminoles will have eight home games.

"Your students don't want you to take your games away from campus, they want them where there are, but anytime we were overloaded, I wouldn't mind playing them," Bowden said recently of a neutral-site game. "But to be honest with you, I'd rather stay in the state of Florida. I'd rather play in Jacksonville, Orlando or Tampa or somewhere like that where there's a big fan base, where there's an advantage and where it's hot."

WE CAN HEAR YOU: BB&T Field is undergoing a renovation that will include a new press box.

A temporary setup left members of the FSU coaching staff within earshot of sports writers.

Late in the second quarter, substitutions were being made. offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was overheard saying "keep Greg (Carr) in there, keep Greg in there."

Sure enough, Carr caught a touchdown.

ET CETERA: Wake Forest has 25 players from Florida, including redshirt senior receiver Kevin Marion (Dixie Hollins), senior receiver Trey Schmidt (Shorecrest) and redshirt senior offensive lineman Louis Frazier (Clearwater). ... FSU reserve linebacker Marcus Ball hobbled off the field after turning his left ankle late in the third quarter and didn't return.

Correspondent Kevin Brafford contributed to this report. Brian Landman can be reached at landman@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified October 12, 2007, 02:37:16]