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College football briefs

By DEBI JONES, ALEX ABRAMS, BRANDON WRIGHT, Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 12, 2001

Gators DE returns after asthma scare

GAINESVILLE -- Defensive end Ian Scott was back at two-a-day practices Saturday after having problems with asthma, which caused him to leave practice Friday.

Scott was taken to the hospital to have tests on his heart, including an EKG, but participated in every drill Saturday. Scott has a history of asthma, which was diagnosed last fall when he had to leave practice, and uses an inhaler during practice.

This month, a Northwestern player died after a bronchial asthma attack during workout.

"I wasn't really scared because it's happened to me before," Scott said. "I was wheezing and Coach (Jon) Hoke heard me and sent me off."

TEST SCORES: Coach Steve Spurrier said the university received the latest test scores for wide receiver Dallas Baker and another player but could not release any more information.

Offensive lineman Jonathan Colon also is waiting for a qualifying test score. -- DEBI JONES

FSU's Bowden cautiously pleased

TALLAHASSEE -- Bobby Bowden was pleased with how his team looked in its morning workout, saying: "It was a very good first practice, as good as I can remember."

But, the Seminoles coach said, "Nearly all (players) stand out when they ain't got pads on. They all look like All-Americans. Then you get the pads on, and you separate the men from the boys."

WALKER RETURNS: Highly-recruited quarterback Fabian Walker was at practice, but could not participate. The NCAA ruled that the sophomore will have to sit out three days of practice after failing to qualify academically last season. -- ALEX ABRAMS

Leavitt praises USF offense

TAMPA -- With Bulls sophomore quarterback Kevin Patullo excused because of his grandmother's death, sophomore defensive back Kevin Verpaele, who played quarterback in high school, took snaps with the offense and impressed coach Jim Leavitt with his arm strength. After three days of practicing in helmets and shorts, the Bulls are scheduled to practice in full pads today. Leavitt praised the offense's performance in the morning session. -- BRANDON WRIGHT

Miami defense impresses

CORAL GABLES -- An impressive outing by the starting defense highlighted the afternoon practice as the Hurricanes completed the second day of full-squad two-a-day drills.

"I was impressed with the starting defense," coach Larry Coker said."I told the guys at the end of practice that the great Miami teams really worked together and made each other better.That's what we need to make happen here. We had some good passing-game success this morning and the defense stepped it up in the afternoon."

Miami will have an afternoon practice today. The first scrimmage is Wednesday.

FAMU beefs up running game

TALLAHASSEE -- When the Rattlers begin practice today, coach Billy Joe plans to tweak the offense to make it more of a running attack. Joe said FAMU will continue to focus on passing, but also will use formations with two or three running backs. Joe said the changes will help the Rattlers capitalize on a "plethora" of running backs. Quarterback Quinn Gray said the changes also stem from last year's playoff game, when the Rattlers struggled to pass on a rainy day.

Lynche back for UCF

ORLANDO -- Linebacker Mike Lynche from Gibbs returned to the practice field a day after spraining his right ankle. Receiver Tavirus Davis and linebacker Elliot Shorter left the field because of cramping.

Hall of Fame inductions

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- John Elway had one regret during College Football Hall of Fame inductions. He was sorry that his father, Jack, who died April 15 at 69, wasn't there.

"It breaks my heart because he was my mentor. He was my hero. He was my best friend. College football was his love," he said. "He would have loved to have been here and walked through the Hall of Fame. But I know he's here in spirit."

Others enshrined: former Grambling and Bucs quarterback Doug Williams, former Southern Cal running back Marcus Allen, former Nebraska wingback Johnny Rodgers and 21 other former players and coaches.

Elway threw for four touchdowns as the West Hall of Famers beat the East 29-28 in overtime in a flag football game. Allen ran for the two-point conversion as Williams, now the Grambling coach, dived to pull the flag off Allen but instead grabbed his belt momentarily before losing his grip.

MICHIGAN STATE: Tight end Eric Knott, one of the nation's top recruits who is on probation for a sexual offense involving a 13-year-old girl, received an athletic scholarship Friday. TEXAS A&M: Starting tight end Lonnie Madison is out for the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee during drills.

WISCONSIN: University officials told the NCAA's Infractions Committee that self-imposed penalties for a shoe-buying scandal should be enough. A decision is expected in about eight weeks. -- TIMES WIRES

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