Colleges

Trickett waits for West Virginia news

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published December 20, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett was back for practice Wednesday morning, a day after he was in Morgantown interviewing for the vacant head coaching job at West Virginia.

"I don't have any idea where I stand," he said as he walked off the field.

Trickett, a West Virginia native, coached on the Mountaineers staff from 1976-79 then from 2001-06 and was head coach at Glenville State College in West Virginia, his alma mater, in 1999. Florida assistant Doc Holliday and Terry Bowden are also reportedly candidates to succeed Rich Rodriguez.

"It's good for him," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said of Trickett getting the opportunity.

"Right now, I'm just trying to concentrate on this bowl game with these kids," Trickett said. "Something inside felt it was something I probably needed to look at."

DARLING UPDATE: Devard Darling was in town Monday for a hearing before two special masters. They will make recommendations to the state Legislature on his family's case to receive the remaining $1.8-million from a settlement with FSU in connection with his twin Devaughn Darling's 2001 death.

"I don't know what quite to think right now," said Devard, now with the Baltimore Ravens. "It's a little disappointing, the whole process of what we have to go through and how long we've had to go through and thinking, 'Was today a waste?' I don't know."

A claims bill has been introduced in the House and Senate, but it's anyone's guess if it will be referred to committee and voted upon by both bodies. Wendy Smith and Dennis Darling Sr. each received $100,000 when they and FSU settled a wrongful death lawsuit in June 2004; that's the cap on damages that can be recovered against a state entity. Only if the bills reach committees will the recommendations of the special masters be revealed.

AN EXPECTED DEPARTURE: Freshman basketball guard Chris Blake, who has been suspended all year, plans to transfer to Okaloosa-Walton Community College, coach Leonard Hamilton said.

Hamilton hasn't addressed the status of junior forward Casaan Breeden, who wasn't on the bench for a third straight game on Tuesday and folks speculate might also be looking for a new home. Meanwhile, sophomore forward Ryan Reid, who was on the bench, missed his fifth game for an undisclosed reason.

ONE STEP UP AND TWO BACK: The women's basketball team received a needed boost Sunday when sophomore guard Alysha Harvin returned from a nine-game suspension for "violation of team standards." That penalty is in line with what student-athletes are expected to receive if they admit to wrongdoing in the academic misconduct scandal. Harvin scored 15 in her season debut against Alabama State.

But on the same day, the Seminoles (7-3), who play at UAB today, announced that guards Tanae Davis-Cain and Angel Gray had been suspended for "violation of team standards." Davis-Cain, a junior who had started the first nine games, averages 13.7 points and 4.2 rebounds and is one of the team's top 3-point shooters (18-of-49). Gray, a sophomore, has started four times and averages 3.8 points.

MORE GOINGS: Senior associate athletic director Kim Record surprisingly announced her resignation this week, meaning that the athletic department overhaul is continuing. Athletic director Dave Hart is out officially as of Dec.31 and two other longtime assistants, Charlie Carr and Pam Overton, resigned during the fall.

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified December 19, 2007, 19:41:08]