College football Left speechless [Times photo: Carrie Pratt] Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden is at a loss to explain his team's third loss in ACC play. FSU sideline Ever-present reminders Penalty kills a momentary high CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- For a moment, Florida State redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Rix thought he had delivered the play his team desperately needed. Butterfinger 'Noles give plenty of help Florida State's five turnovers, three by QB Chris Rix, lead to 28 Tar Heel points. UF Florida pours it on in second half to beat UK LEXINGTON, Ky. -- There were three lost fumbles, a few miscues and some noticeable first-half struggles. And the defense still didn't get a turnover, much to its dismay. Teams together in pregame salute LEXINGTON, Ky. -- It might have been the first time any of them had heard the national anthem at a collegiate game. UF sideline Double the pleasure Backfield emerges at forefront for UF Earnest Graham and Robert Gillespie make an impact on a unit more known for passing. USF Bulls fall short vs. Memphis USF starts poorly, then rallies only to have its last-second TD pass fall incomplete, losing 17-9 to the future C-USA rival Tigers. Timeouts taken for remembrance MEMPHIS -- There were several acknowledgments of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent relief efforts before Saturday's game between South Florida and Memphis. USF sideline Thank you Etc. College football this week on TV Thursday College football around the state Two long drives spur rally as Central Florida tops Tulane

Hubert Mizell
Several pro teams have airline disaster plans in place
It's a subject none of us wishes to confront. Being as prepared as possible, if fate stabs in the heart. In light of the Sept. 11 events, the thought is painfully engraved in our minds.

Gary Shelton
Modest goal just a little out of reach
MEMPHIS -- Turns out, the geniuses who run Conference USA had it right all along. South Florida just isn't ready yet.

Bucs/NFL
Bucs get benefit in break
Extra practice time has allowed Tampa Bay's offense to work on early-season kinks.

Long layoff might have its positives
TAMPA -- It will be 21 days between games for the Bucs, a break that is rivaled only in duration by the offseason.

Games return with perspective
The decision by the NFL to skip a week did not come without dispute.

NFL gameday
Bills at Colts

John Romano
Sports as escape? Not after Sept. 11
Nod to the police officer. Stare at the security camera. Stretch your arms wide for the hand-held metal detector. And don't forget your cotton candy.

Lightning
Foreign exchange
For European hockey players who come to North America, their English skills can prove to be just as important as their hockey skills in adjusting to life in the NHL.

Eluding army can be tough
HOUSTON -- It might be extremely difficult for the Lightning to get first-round draft pick Alexander Svitov out of Russia any time soon.

Devil Rays/baseball
Rays let another get away
The Blue Jays overcome a 5-0 deficit, and sloppy play costs Tampa Bay in 8-7 loss.

Powerless Rays make the most of doubles
TORONTO -- The Rays don't have a lot of power, and aren't expecting to add much. Instead, they're going to have to settle for the next best thing: hitting doubles. And lots of them.

Writers must choose among so-so valuables
TORONTO -- The newspaper writers who cover the team on a regular basis will be asked soon to make a difficult decision, one much more complicated than their usual dilemmas of whether to add bacon to a double burger or if a certain pair of jeans can be worn for a third straight day.

Rays tales
KARATE KID: As if he wasn't tough enough, Greg Vaughn revealed last week that he has earned a black belt in karate.

Schedule, hot streak favor Phillies
Larry Bowa cried on a baseball field for the first time since 1980.

20 for the ages
When Roger Clemens pitched his 20th win Tuesday, the Yankees ace became the first to start a season 20-1. But among other notables associated with the accomplishment, Clemens also joined Bob Feller and Warren Spahn as pitchers who've had 20-win seasons in three decades. While it's doubtful that Clemens could ever match Spahn's 13 seasons with 20 wins, the Rocket has a better winning percentage than the other two during those years. Here's a look at how the trio stacks up:

Shorts
Lecavalier doesn't deserve attention
I have heard all the comments about what the Lightning should do with regard to Vinny Lecavalier. I have read John Romano's Pay him what he wants (Sept. 20). Well, I am a huge Lightning fan. I have season tickets and go to most of the games. I am sick and tired of the multi-million dollar athletes who are not worth the money they are receiving. Vinny may soon be one of them. He has yet to show the consistency that is warranted a player of "franchise" caliber.

Highs and lows
Highs

Baseball this week on TV
Today

Soccer briefs
Miami gets win in opener

Outdoors
Sinkholes open unknown world
Sinkholes on the Florida mainland are frequent dive sites for freshwater divers. Most are between 100- and 200-feet deep and many connect to the Floridan Aquifer by a system of caves, often well-charted by technical divers.

Captain's corner
About 40 miles out, in 100-plus feet of water, decent amounts of large red grouper are available. Some have reached weights of 20-plus pounds. Commonly called "big red fire trucks," these fish are feeding around the bait piles stacked on limestone bottom. This push of fish is a month late and is much appreciated since inshore grouper digging has been miserable. Expect more fish to migrate eastward as the month progresses.

Outdoors calendar
(phone numbers are 727 area code unless noted)

Preps
Mitchell freshman steals spotlight
Jeff Masterson passes teammate Danny Sheehan at the 2-mile mark, cruises to the title and sets a school record.

Heat, humidity take toll
Race leader Mallory Giordano collapses in the final 100 yards but leads four Plant runners in the top 10 to help the Panthers take the team title.

Heat, humidity take toll
With second-place team finish behind Miami Gulliver Prep, Jesuit knows how much ground it must make up before the state meet in October.

A fast mover, a smart move
East Lake's Tony Teats cruises to victory in the men's Race for the Cure 5K while Belleair's Liane Rae uses strategy to pull off a late pass for the women's crown.

Warhawks, Hurricanes set stage
The attendance and noise level resembled a district meet, and probably rightfully so. Seminole and Palm Harbor U. added another stirring installment to their rivalry this week, satisfying fans while leaving room for more in the near future.

Mitchell coach makes good
Scott Schmitz keeps his promise to his team that it would not go winless in its first season after a 30-28 win against Gulf.

Kotchman leads IRC to fourth
CITRUS PARK -- Saturday's USF/Jesuit Invitational at Ed Radice Park was supposed to showcase some of the state's top teams at the site of this year's state cross country meet.