Five questions

Find out who's backing up whom, who's not backing down and whose fortunes look the brightest, all before the first kickoff in the Sunshine State.

By Times staff writers and correspondents

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2000

South Florida

It's being called a "transition" year, but really there's no such thing. At least not officially.

What South Florida is experiencing is the strange conversion period that occurs when playing the final season of Division I-AA, but not completely I-A.

The Bulls have a schedule of teams in both divisions, some proven veterans and a few questions that are begging to be answered.

Here are five that the coaching staff probably would like to answer at least tentatively before the season begins Sept. 2:

Who will replace Dyral McMillan?

McMillan was the Bulls' first 1,000-yard rusher and the team's big-play man last season. He's gone and just who will take his place may be the team's most serious question.

Senior running back Otis Dixon gained 70 yards on 21 carries last year before a torn knee ligament ended his season in Game 3. He's expected to return, but must show he is healthy and can pick up where he left off.

Coach Jim Leavitt would love to hand the job to freshman Clenton Crossley, who has shown in early practices why he was a three-time all-state selection at South Sumter High School.

But Crossley, a partial qualifier, is awaiting word on an appeal to the NCAA Clearinghouse.

"We've got to find a good running back," Leavitt said.

How well will the Bulls handle the schedule?

Kentucky, Baylor, Connecticut and Middle Tennessee State may not have been powerhouses last season, but they are Division I teams with history and tradition.

Southern Mississippi is Division I, too, and is ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll.

It should be interesting to see whether some of the tough early season games impact the Bulls late in the year. Another point of interest: Will the players have a tough time getting up for teams such as Jacksonville State, one week before playing Kentucky, and for James Madison, the week before Baylor, and ... you get the idea.

Leavitt points out USF hasn't beaten every I-AA team it has faced, so it shouldn't take any team lightly. "It's a very, very tough schedule," Leavitt said. "People outside don't think we have a prayer at all this year. But we are kind of excited about it. We're excited about playing this schedule and see how we match up."

Will there be a new role for the tight ends?

Since Trevor Hypolite graduated after the 1998 season, the tight end's role has changed. Hypolite was the team's leading receiver. Richard Guerrero is the only tight end on the roster to have caught a pass -- six for 42 yards and one touchdown -- last season.

Guerrero is 6 feet 2, 240 pounds, and with 6-6, 265-pound junior Dan Rodimer vying for the starting job, the question remains whether the position will stay more of a blocking role or if the tight ends will be on the receiving end of Marquel Blackwell's passes more often.

Who will punt?

Bill Gramatica is a kicker -- and Leavitt wants him to be just that. Which means replacing third-team All-American Tony Umholtz is paramount.

The leading candidate is sophomore walk-on Devin Sanderson, who has been working diligently all summer on his consistency. But freshman Jason Bingham is also expected to compete.

Neither has college experience.

Will the health of the secondary be a concern?

Cornerback Bernard Brown is redshirting. Senior Anthony Henry is moving from free safety to cornerback. Jay Mize is injured and out for at least the first two weeks of preseason.

Glenn Davis and Roy Manns bring experience, but if any injuries occur, Leavitt may have to look at a group of talented but unproven players.

"The group of athletes in our secondary is as good as any we ever had at Kansas State and K-State had the No. 1 defense in the country," Leavitt said. "But can they play like those guys did? Will they come out and lay it on the line? That's what we've got to wait and see."

-- Antonya English

Florida

GAINESVILLE -- Questions.

Everywhere Florida coach Steve Spurrier went this summer -- booster club meetings, the golf course, media interviews, even the Shands Hospital recovery room hours removed from back surgery -- people asked him questions.

It was only fair.

The 1999 season ended with a three-game losing streak, the worst in Spurrier's 10 seasons at UF. So people want to know: Are the Gators prepared to erase those painful memories? To answer that, they will need to answer a few other questions first.

Who will play quarterback?

Isn't that always the question at UF? Even when there is a seemingly obvious answer, which this season is senior Jesse Palmer, Spurrier's tendency to become disenchanted makes a change impossible to rule out. Especially when one of the challengers is freshman sensation Brock Berlin.

The job is Palmer's to lose. He has the most experience, though he was inconsistent the past two seasons sharing time with Doug Johnson. Berlin, the nation's top quarterback prospect who went through spring drills, is viewed as the next savior, and Spurrier already compares him to UF legend Danny Wuerffel. Redshirt freshman Rex Grossman, impressive in the spring game, also is in the mix.

Who will be the next big-play receiver?

For the third time in four seasons, UF lost its best receivers early when juniors Darrell Jackson and Travis Taylor opted for the NFL. Though no one is certain who among 11 receivers in camp will fill their shoes, there is talent and potential.

Sophomore Reche Caldwell, a former quarterback at Tampa Jefferson High, has breakaway speed, but his technical skills need work. Senior Alex Willis, a former walk-on voted team co-captain, spent two months working with Minnesota Vikings stars Cris Carter and Randy Moss at Carter's camp in Boca Raton.

Also expected to contribute are at least three of six true freshman: Matt Jackson, Kelvin Kight, Carlos Perez, Keiwan Ratliff, O.J. Small and Reggie Vickers.

Is Alex Brown going to be more consistent?

Brown's reputation and his status as a first-team All-American were built largely on his performance in two games. After bursting onto the scene with five sacks, an interception and a forced fumble against Tennessee Sept. 18, he was virtually invisible until registering two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception Oct. 30 against Georgia. Brown is bigger, stronger and faster, and vows to play hard every down.

"Alex isn't looking at the past," ends coach Jim Collins said. "He's looking at the future. Everybody wants to talk about inconsistency, and that's a bunch of crap. This is the 2000 season and he's going to play dadgum good."

We'll see.

Will UF's top-rated recruiting class have an impact?

Absolutely. The only upside to UF's three-game losing streak at the end of 1999 was that plenty of hot-shot recruits figured they could play for the Gators right away.

They were right.

The list starts with Berlin, but coaches also are gushing about defensive ends Darrell Lee of Kirkwood, Mo., and Ian Scott of Gainesville; offensive lineman Shannon Snell of Tampa; tight ends Ben Troupe of Augusta, Ga., and Ronald Dowdy of Fayetteville, N.C.; and at least three receivers.

Can UF beat rivals Tennessee and Florida State on the road?

Florida's odds of contending for the national championship are never as good in even-numbered years, when the Gators play their biggest rivals on the road.

UF has beaten Tennessee seven of the past eight meetings, but the only loss came in Knoxville in 1998, a 20-17 overtime crusher. That means only fifth-year seniors who traveled as freshmen have experienced victory in Neyland Stadium. Translation: no one. The outlook is even more grim in Tallahassee, where the Gators have not won since 1986.

-- Joanne Korth

Florida State

TALLAHASSEE -- This time last season, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden knew he had what poker players confidently call a pat hand.

He had the All-Americans. He had experienced, talented players around them. He had the offense. He had the defense. He had the special teams. He had no need to bluff about his chances of walking off with the pot, otherwise known as the national championship.

But with this season's opener against Brigham Young in the Pigskin Classic just 13 days away, Bowden admitted, "There's some missing pieces."

And some questions to answer before conceding his No. 2-ranked Seminoles as hands-down favorites to join Nebraska as the only teams to repeat in the past two decades:

Can kicker Sebastian Janikowski be replaced?

Janikowski, a two-time Associated Press All-American and a two-time Groza Award winner, loomed as a scoring threat whenever FSU reached the opponents' 40-yard line and boomed virtually all his kickoffs into the end zone. Janikowski, however, left early for the NFL.

"It's our biggest loss," Bowden said.

Freshman Brett Cimorelli, the former Zephyrhills star, is the likely heir. But he began practice "pressing." His struggles prompted Bowden to announce that redshirt sophomore Chance Gwaltney and redshirt freshman Matt Munyon were in the hunt.

Simon, a two-time All-American and first-round NFL draft pick, and the unheralded but solid Johnson were lynch pins of the defense last season.

Taking over is a collection of seldom-used underclassmen, including redshirt sophomore Chris Woods, who appeared in 11 games last season, and redshirt freshman Kevin Emanuel.

"I think everybody wants to do well," Woods said. "We have something to prove to the world. With Corey and Jerry gone, everybody's expecting the interior of the line to be the weak link. We just want to prove to everybody that we're going to step it up a notch and we're going to be even better than when they were here because we have more depth."

Is there enough depth at linebacker?

Tommy Polley, Brian Allen and Bradley Jennings, 1-2-3 on the team in tackles, form one of the best units in the nation. But new linebackers coach Joe Kines has a dearth of bodies behind them, let alone experienced ones.

It didn't help that three recruits, Eric Moore, who was one of the nation's top-rated prospects, Chad Moscoe and Nathaniel Hardage didn't qualify academically.

Freshman Kendyll Pope, a first-team USA Today All-American who enrolled in January, is expected to start until Polley returns from reconstructive surgery on his left knee. Another top recruit, Michael Boulware, the younger brother of former star defensive end Peter, decided to switch from receiver to linebacker and must be counted on immediately.

Will a playmaking wide receiver emerge to cushion the loss of Peter Warrick?

Although not the fastest receiver, no one this side of the NFL could match Warrick's dizzying ability to turn a routine 5-yard hitch into a breathtaking 80-yard touchdown.

"If you don't have anybody who can go deep, they can come up and crowd your receivers," Bowden said. "But we've got some boys who can go deep."

Yes, but virtually the entire receiving corps is young or inexperienced. Redshirt sophomore Talman Gardner, probably the fastest of the bunch (4.3 in the 40), had seven catches and has been bothered in the spring and the fall with a bad back.

Can the pass defense improve from what was a subpar season by FSU standards?

Two years ago, the Seminoles led the nation in pass defense efficiency but, even with the return of all four members of the secondary, they slipped to 15th last season and were error-prone. Defensive holding penalties were too commonplace.

All four defensive backs who started in the Sugar Bowl -- safeties Derrick Gibson and Chris Hope and corners Tay Cody and Clevan Thomas -- return.

"I felt our secondary, including our linebackers, were reacting a lot better to the ball than a year ago," Bowden said after a recent practice. "It's getting tough for the receivers to catch the ball out there. There's more knock downs, more interceptions than I've seen. It really is encouraging."

-- Brian Landman

Miami

CORAL GABLES -- They're talking national championship again at Miami. And this year, the Hurricanes insist they're not just offering lip service.

For the first time in his six seasons, coach Butch Davis thinks the program is at full strength. The fallout of probation behind him, Davis has depth and senior leadership. Davis compares the talent level now with that of Miami's championship teams in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Voters agree. Miami enters the season ranked fifth by the Associated Press and sixth in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Receiver Santana Moss, defensive tackle Damione Lewis, linebacker Dan Morgan and running back James Jackson are senior All-America candidates. The pieces are in place for a run at the Big East title and the national championship.

To reach the next level, Miami must answer these key questions:

Can the Hurricanes finally beat rivals Florida State and Virginia Tech?

Davis has not defeated either in five tries. Miami hopes home-field advantage helps end the hex. FSU visits the Orange Bowl on Oct. 7 and Virginia Tech is in town Nov. 4.

"No excuses now," Morgan said. "We've got all the players. We've got the depth."

What Miami can't have are the mistakes. The Hurricanes committed six turnovers in a 43-10 blowout at Virginia Tech last year. And miscues in execution led to a 31-21 setback to the Seminoles.

"When Florida State gets here, we'll be ready for them, you can count on that," quarterback Ken Dorsey said. "We have to eliminate those in order to beat those elite teams."

Is Dorsey ready to take Miami to the next level?

The sophomore steps in for Tampa's Kenny Kelly, who left UM to pursue a baseball career with the Devil Rays.

Dorsey, 6 feet 5 and 200 pounds, is described as a true pocket passer who resembles ex-UM greats Vinny Testaverde, Jim Kelly and Gino Torretta. Last year, Dorsey became the first true freshman to start at quarterback since Mike Rodrigue in 1978.

In his three starts, he led Miami to its highest three-game point total (155) in school history. He threw for 803 yards and 10 touchdowns in those games.

The knock is, those were against Rutgers, Syracuse and Temple. Can he excel against top-ranked teams?

"Without that experience," Dorsey said, "I wouldn't be where I'm at right now. In order for a quarterback to get better, you have to have games under your belt."

Will the special teams be special?

Davis isn't sure. Miami stresses special teams, and Davis said they will be among the highest priorities in camp.

Andy Crosland, a four-year starter, has graduated. Sophomore Todd Sievers steps in. As a freshman in 1998, Sievers, who was redshirted last year, handled kickoffs. The Hurricanes are working on the timing with long-snapper Joe Fantigrassi and holder Ethenic Sands.

"As a process, they're not there yet," Davis said. "They have to have the same heartbeat."

Sophomore Freddie Capshaw was fourth in the Big East in punting with a 39.7 average.

Will running back Najeh Davenport successfully return from season-ending knee surgery?

Miami expects Jackson to contend for the Doak Walker Award, symbolic of the best running back in the nation. But don't rule out the emergence of Davenport, a 6-2, 235-pound junior.

Davenport returns from anterior cruciate ligament torn in Miami's Kickoff Classic win against Ohio State Aug. 29. Before the injury, he had 81 yards rushing on 13 carries.

When healthy, Davenport has the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. In addition to his size, he has been clocked at 4.39 seconds in the 40.

Is the offensive line championship material?

For the Hurricanes to exploit their skill position weapons, the offensive line must prove it is championship caliber. Three starters are back, but the line must replace All-American Richard Mercier and All-Big East first-team choice Ty Wise.

Davis reshuffled several backups two days into full-squad workouts. Redshirt freshman Veron Carey moved to right tackle behind Greg Laffere. Sherko Haji-Rasouli switched from left guard to left tackle. Fantigrassi and Joe McGrath are lining up at right tackle. Freshman Chris Myers has been moved from defensive line to offensive line.

-- Joe Frisaro

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