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College football briefs

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, ALEX ABRAMS, BRUCE LOWITT, Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 14, 2001

Florida's Sheppard may play in opener

GAINESVILLE -- Florida cornerback Lito Sheppard could be eligible to play in the season-opener against Marshall on Sept. 1.

Sheppard, who led the Southeastern Conference in punt returns and tied for the SEC lead in interceptions last season (6), is scheduled to serve a one-game suspension for violation of university policy. He has filed a second appeal of the suspension.

"I think there's a chance he could play," Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. "There is a chance that he and another player could be vindicated."

Spurrier would not name the other player, but center David Jorgensen and defensive end Kennard Ellis are suspended for the first game.

SOLD OUT: About 600 tickets for the Sept. 8 Louisiana-Monroe game went on sale last week, with the last being sold Monday afternoon -- meaning every home game is now officially sold out.

ODDS AND ENDS: Tailback Willie Green is practicing just once during two-a-day practices as he recovers from knee surgery. ... Freshman offensive lineman Mike DeGory sprained his ankle and is wearing an air cast. ... Marcus Oquendo-Johnson returned Monday after missing Sunday with severe cramps. ... Receiver Dallas Baker has received his ACT score but has not been declared eligible, while Jonathan Colon awaits results of his test score. ... Spurrier said Thomas Pittman has "about three more days" to decide if he will quit minor-league baseball and return. ... Senior center Zac Zedalis was the victim of a home robbery Sunday morning, losing two videocassette recorders among other items. Police are investigating.

Florida's first scrimmage is at 7 Wednesday night. -- ANTONYA ENGLISH

FSU QBs struggle in practice

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden was irritated Monday after quarterbacks Chris Rix and Anquan Boldin struggled during the first skeleton drill of fall practices.

"I saw a lot of inconsistencies the first day," Bowden said. "I just felt like (there were) a lot of poor throws at times, a lot of high throws, a lot of dropped balls."

PUNTER TRANSFERS: Walk-on punter Eric Resta has decided to transfer to Michigan State after not being invited back for fall practices.

RECEIVERS SIDELINED: Wide receivers Atrews Bell and Talman Gardner sat out much of the evening practice with mild hamstring strains. Trainer Randy Oravetz expects them to return soon.

SEASON OPENER: The Sept. 1 season opener against Duke will be televised live in Florida on pay-per-view, the Sunshine Network said. -- ALEX ABRAMS, TIMES WIRES

Dorsey says he'll stay 4 years

CORAL GABLES -- Miami junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Ken Dorsey said he's already decided to return for his senior season, no matter how well this upcoming one goes, CNNSI.com reported.

"I will be here all four years," Dorsey said in the report. "I know I'm coming back my senior year."

FEELING GREEN: First-team defensive end Jamaal Green sat out practice Monday with a a twisted knee. -- TIMES WIRES

Freshmen impress Leavitt

TAMPA -- Three true freshmen, defensive back D'Juan Brown, wide receiver Travis Lipp and tight end Tim Jones, continue to impress South Florida coach Jim Leavitt.Monday's second practice was moved to the evening by threatening afternoon weather. Leavitt also singled out redshirt freshman Devon Small, "who is doing some tremendous things at left tackle. We're real encouraged by some of his play."

Also Monday, freshman Marcus Edwards, son of Jets coach and former Bucs defensive coordinator Herman Edwards, was moved from wide receiver to the defensive backfield. -- BRUCE LOWITT

FAMU players struggle in heat

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida A&M began two-a-day practices Monday, with several players getting cramps in the afternoon sessions. "I'm a bit concerned about some of the guys, considering we haven't pushed them very hard yet," Coach Billy Joe said.

UCF players out due to heat

ORLANDO -- Offensive tackle Steve Edwards and offensive guard Willie Comerford (St. Petersburg/Gibbs High) left the Central Florida practice in the morning because of heat and did not return in the afternoon. They are expected back today along with offensive tackle Johnovan Morgan, who had asthma trouble. In the afternoon, linebacker Antoine Poe sustained a bruised left knee and tight end Michael Gaines sprained his left ankle. Safety James Cody returned. -- TIMES WIRES

Injuries abound at B-CC

DAYTONA BEACH -- In the first of two-a-day workouts for Bethune-Cookman, defensive lineman Chauncey Mitchell sustained a concussion during blocking drills and is day to day. Freshman running back Amos Southall injured his left middle finger and was taken to Halifax Medical Center for x-rays, the team said. -- TIMES WIRES

FAU prepares for pads

BOCA RATON -- Florida Atlantic held its last two-a-days without pads Monday. Freshman offensive lineman Scott Whitener sprained his left ankle and will miss 10 to 14 days. Freshman offensive lineman Chris Shepherd sprained his right ankle and may have torn his right lateral meniscus. He is being evaluated. -- TIMES WIRES

Around the nation

ARKANSAS: Backup tailback Radele Pearson is lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the university announced.

NORTHERN COLORADO: Defensive end Jasper Armstrong decided to quit just before the Division II Bears started practice. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Armstrong, who has asthma, told coach Kay Dalton during the weekend that he doesn't want to take any chances, especially after Northwestern's Rashidi Wheeler, an asthmatic, died Aug. 3 after collapsing during practice.

NORTHWESTERN: Wheeler was remembered Monday as a gifted, humble and perpetually smiling athlete who was always there for people who needed help. The Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke at the memorial in Pomona, Calif., for the 22-year-old Northwestern safety.

KENTUCKY: The school has until Oct. 5 to respond to an official letter of inquiry from the NCAA regarding violations in its program, school officials said. The school reported more than three dozen possible violations in March. "The encouraging thing is that there are very few new revelations," said athletics director Larry Ivy said. Also, coach Guy Morriss had his one-year, $400,000 contract extendedthrough the 2005 season. -- TIMES WIRES

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