'Noles unimpressive in win [Times photo: Kevin White] FSU's bid to repeat as national champ starts with a 29-3 win, but it isn't pretty. Pigskin links historic coaches Bobby Bowden and LaVell Edwards have 555 wins between them and a lot of good times. FSU Sidelines Good and Bad Running woes make FSU turn to air game JACKSONVILLE -- It is a glamor position, among the most high-profile in football. Running backs are seemingly always in the spotlight, scoring touchdowns, getting the tough yards. FSU likes to hog Pigskin cash JACKSONVILLE -- Besides having the opportunity to learn about his team's strengths and weaknesses, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said another benefit to playing in a preseason game like the Pigskin Classic is the money. FSU received a guaranteed $650,000, which unlike the revenue from other regular-season games and bowls, it doesn't have to share among its Atlantic Coast Conference brethren. UF's Pearson returns from skull fracture GAINESVILLE -- Florida's offensive line finally got some good news. Tackle Mike Pearson returned to practice and is expected to be available for the first game Sept. 2 against Ball State. College football briefs Kansas St. wins in sloppy fashion

Devil Rays 'It's so hard knowing you're done' The Rays' Tony Saunders tearfully acknowledges that his baseball career is over. Rays' stance is unacceptable in Rekar's domestic violence case Strained ribs will cost Sturtze starts Pitchers shuffle again in split Adjustments pay off in Durham Bucs Bucs finally offensive in a way coaches like Coach Tony Dungy joked about scaling back his offense after a 37-point outburst. Preseason solves some of the team's questions TAMPA -- Five bucks says you wouldn't know these five Bucs: Carl Bradley, Kinnon Tatum, Shawn Stuckey, Deshone Mallard and Terrance Parrish. They are not household names, even at their own households. But they sweated through two-a-days, slept on granite dorm beds and chased a dream of making an NFL team. Dungy's move ruins chemistry Hape takes point in leading run game

Olympics
Technology helping swimmers improve
Olympians, coaches endorse a Tallahassee man's computer system for stroke analysis.

Medals cause mini-cultural revolution
ST. PETERSBURG -- Apparently, the motto for the 2000 Olympics goes something like this: When in Australia, do as the Romans do.

Gary Shelton
Only No. 1 will satisfy Seminoles
JACKSONVILLE -- They stalled and they sputtered and they stumbled. They didn't run the ball very well, and they kicked it even worse. The confetti that fell from the sky a few months ago has been replaced by penalty flags.

Baseball
AL briefs
Rangers' rookie righty stepping up on the mound ARLINGTON, Texas -- Doug Davis doesn't care whether he's a starter or a reliever. The rookie right-hander simply wants the ball.

NL briefs
Cubs outfielder shelved again

Mac should hurry his way back
Mark McGwire has forgotten what made him an American icon.

FSL
Major-league loss with minor-league team
Minor-league baseball is the beginning and the end. St. Petersburg saw both last week.

Kissimmee tops Tampa
KISSIMMEE -- Greg Miller pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings and struck out nine as the Kissimmee Cobras beat the Tampa Yankees 3-1. Mike Rosamond went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and a run for the Cobras. Brandon Puffer earned his eighth save.

Colleges
Gators lose 3-1 to PSU to start season at 0-2
GAINESVILLE -- Unable to rebound from its season-opening loss, Florida fell Saturday in the consolation match of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators volleyball tournament to Penn State.

NFL
Dallas honor reconsidered
Jerry Jones has never been afraid to incur the wrath of fans, reporters or fellow owners.

Around the NFC
BEARS: Coach Dick Jauron was upset with his team's performance in the first two quarters that pitted first units against first units. The Bears lost to the Titans 34-28 to finish 2-2. "It was disappointing," Jauron said. "We started so poorly, and the whole first half I don't know if we stopped them. We've just got to play better to have a chance. We're a better team than that."

Around the AFC
BENGALS: Four days after Cincinnati cut Doug Pelfrey, the most accurate placekicker in team history, rookie Neil Rackers missed two field goals and an extra point in a 21-13 loss to Detroit.

Outdoors
Captain's corner
A migration of juvenile baitfish has arrived for the transition from summer to fall. Schools of glass minnows and baby threadfin herring are pushing their way toward the coast.

Local parks offer great wade-fishing
Carol Caruthers' cell phone was ringing among her pile of gear on the beach. I didn't know if Caruthers was ignoring it or didn't hear it. Either way, she went about her business of checking the baits on her lines.

Grouper, greed, Guggenheim
GULF OF MEXICO -- Drifting with the current 30 miles offshore, talk turned to plans for a fishing and diving trip to waters off the Panhandle.

Preps
The undergrowth: Keswick moves up to 2A
ST. PETERSBURG -- There is nothing anyone can say to make Keswick Christian feel better about last season.

Ex-Tiger star uses smarts to move up
Geoff Goetz was a 5-foot-11, 163-pound senior at Jesuit in 1997 when he was the state's top baseball player. Four years later, he is an inch taller and 20 pounds heavier, but Goetz insists intelligence, not bulk, is his greatest addition.

Two roads diverged, one goal
CLEARWATER -- Lynn Hallmark sounds bemused when asked what changes she has made in her four months as Clearwater's coach.