Colleges

FSU's Thacker, out since Sept. 15, cleared to face Duke

By Times staff
Published October 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Nose guard Budd Thacker will play Saturday against Duke, after the university issues that had jeopardized his status were cleared Wednesday. Coach Bobby Bowden was mum Wednesday on the details surrounding Thacker, and for the second straight day Thacker would only answer "football-related" questions.

Thacker has not played since a win at Colorado on Sept. 15.

MCNEIL UPDATE: Defensive end Kevin McNeil, who has yet to play this season, is still not cleared, and according to Bowden will likely sit out the rest of the season and take a redshirt. McNeil was suspended for a violation of team rules before the season-opening loss at Clemson.

Fourth-quarter emphasis: After letting second-half leads slip away in its past two games, FSU has used this week of practice to emphasize the fourth quarter. The team has participated in agility and conditioning drills after the regular workout all week during practice, and Bowden said he hopes it will make a difference late in games.

"We used to do the (fourth-quarter drills) before practice," Bowden said. "Now we do them afterward just to put emphasis on the fourth quarter."

Robinson will start: Cornerback Patrick Robinson will get his second career start Saturday. The sophomore from Miami has had an interception in each of the past three games and leads the team. Despite the promotion, Robinson said he is taking the same approach.

"It doesn't really matter who starts the game," he said. "It just matters who makes plays during the game."

Jamey Givens, Times correspondent

UF: Injury questions

GAINESVILLE - Florida defensive tackle Brandon Antwine, who has been hospitalized due to a lower back injury, is expected to be released today, coach Urban Meyer said.

Meanwhile, a few key players remain questionable for Saturday's game against Georgia.

Sophomore receiver Riley Cooper, who had two screws inserted into a broken finger Monday, ran at practice Wednesday.

Meyer said he would know today if Cooper will be available Saturday against Georgia.

Offensive tackle Carlton Medder (heel) did not practice but "was out there moving around."

Starting free safety Major Wright, who had surgery on a broken finger Monday, is "very questionable," Meyer said.

Wright would likely be replaced by Kyle Jackson and Dorian Munroe.

"They've just got to play their tails off Saturday," Meyer said.

HOME SWEET HOME: Florida's homecoming game is more than a week away, but Tim Tebow has his eyes set on Saturday's game.

Meyer said Tebow is pumped to start at quarterback in his hometown of Jacksonville.

"He said 'I'm going back home, baby, to Duval.' And I'm like 'Duval County or something?' He's really excited," Meyer said.

"He said when he was a kid he would go to his Pop Warner football games and go to the Florida-Georgia game back when it was in the Gator Bowl. That's a special game for him."

D-LINE DEPTH: After being impressed with the play of freshman Torrey Davis after an injury to Clint McMillan forced the defensive tackle to fill in, Meyer said he is gaining confidence in the rest of the young unit.

In particular, he said defensive linemen Justin Trattou, Duke Lemmens, Terron Sanders and John Brown have been making strides.

Bryan Jones, Times correspondent

USF: Big East focus

TAMPA - Though the Bulls' national title hopes may have been dashed with a loss at Rutgers, USF hopes to earn a berth in its first BCS bowl game.

The team can take a major step toward that goal by defeating Connecticut, ranked No. 23 in the BCS, on Saturday.

The winner of the Big East automatically qualifies for a BCS (Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, Rose) bowl game. A USF victory, coupled with a West Virginia win over Rutgers, will put the Bulls atop the Big East standings.

"We believe we're going to win it," quarterback Matt Grothe said. "I don't think we need help at all."

Immediately after the loss to the Scarlet Knights, coach Jim Leavitt said a team with one loss still has a chance of winning the conference championship but a second defeat likely puts it out of contention.

Two seasons ago, the Bulls hopes of winning the Big East were eliminated when they fell 15-10 to the Huskies at Rentschler Field. That loss has been a source of motivation since.

"Definitely - we talk about that every summer," cornerback Mike Jenkins said. "Now we just have to win out in the Big East and hope that will be enough."

Brendan Galella, Times correspondent

Up next

USF: at UConn, 3:30Saturday, Ch. 28

UF: vs. Georgia, 3:30 Saturday in Jacksonville, Ch. 10

FSU: vs. Duke, 8 Saturday, ESPNU

Miami: vs. North Carolina State, Nov. 3, time/TV TBA

[Last modified October 24, 2007, 22:35:24]