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By ANTONYA ENGLISH, BRIAN LANDMAN, ALEX ABRAMS and PETE YOUNG
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 18, 2001
UF-UT battle set for Dec. 1
GAINESVILLE -- Florida's season was extended at least two weeks Monday when the Southeastern Conference announced what had been expected: The Florida-Tennessee game will be played Dec. 1, and the SEC Championship game has been moved from Dec. 1 to Dec. 8 in Atlanta. Game time for the SEC Championship game has not been set.
The move comes in the wake of last week's postponement of Division I-A football. Florida was scheduled to conclude its regular season at home Nov. 17 against Florida State.
PRECAUTIONS: Security is among the main topics this week as teams prepare to take the field for the first time since terrorists attacked New York and Washington on Sept. 11..
At Kentucky, Florida's opponent this weekend, administrators met Monday to discuss plans for beefing up security at Commonwealth Stadium.
And Florida officials are expected to unveil new security guidelines this week that will include the banning of backpacks, video cameras and tote bags at all Gator athletic events.
ODDS AND ENDS: Defensive end Kennard Ellis was shocked to learn that former teammate and current FSU defensive end Eric Powell had been shot during an apparent robbery attempt. Ellis and Powell are from Orlando and were 1999 Junior College All-Americans at Southwest Mississippi College. "There's a lot of stuff going on in this world," said Ellis, who planned to try to contact Powell. "That's pretty sad."
Defensive tackle Ronald Dowdy sprained his knee during practice and was taken off on a cart. ... Erik Strange is replacing Tommy Moody at right guard, coach Steve Spurrier said. -- ANTONYA ENGLISH
TALLAHASSEE -- The FSU-Georgia Tech showdown, postponed from Saturday in wake of the terrorist attacks, has been rescheduled as expected for Dec. 1.
Georgia Tech, which plays Georgia on Nov. 24, wanted the game to be played Dec. 8 so it and FSU would have the same amount of time to prepare. (FSU plays UF on Nov. 17.) But Doak Campbell Stadium is locked into hosting high school football championship games that day.
Game time is to be determined.
WOODS HEALING: Defensive lineman Chris Woods, who has had recurring ankle injuries, practiced for the first time since a week before the season. He was held out of contact drills.
JONES PRACTICES: Highly recruited linebacker Willie Jones Jr., who tore his right MCL in the California-Florida high school all-star game, practiced for the first time Monday. He will begin taking part in contact drills next week.
SAFETY ISSUES: Coach Bobby Bowden said he would not be afraid to board an airplane for North Carolina on Friday. "I don't worry about it all," Bowden said. "I'm sure everybody's thoughts will be on it, but there won't be any fear in my eyes." -- BRIAN LANDMAN, ALEX ABRAMS
TAMPA -- South Florida, which didn't practice Sept. 11 and hadn't worked out since Thursday in the wake of the terrorist attacks, had its usual 11/2-hour Monday night practice.
The lengthy inactivity was more than enough for coach Jim Leavitt.
"It's great to get on the field," said Leavitt, whose team is preparing for Saturday's game at Memphis after having the Southern Utah game postponed until Oct. 20. "It feels good to get out here."
During Tropical Storm Gabrielle on Friday, Leavitt placed buckets beneath the leaks in the trailers that serve as the football offices.
"I was like the captain of a ship. I was going to go down with it," Leavitt said.
An approximately 80-foot stretch of fencing surrounding USF's practice field was damaged by high winds Friday.
ALMOST PERFECT: Besides the usual bumps and bruises, the Bulls are in good health. Star receiver DeAndrew Rubin, who did not practice last week due to turf toe, participated Monday. -- PETE YOUNG