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College football around the state

By ALEX ABRAMS, ANTONYA ENGLISH, DEBI JONES, Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 19, 2001

FSU has defensive concerns

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State's depth at defensive end still is uncertain as sophomore Charles Howard and freshman Travis Johnson continue to nurse injuries.

Howard, a 6-foot-3, 235-pounder from Lake Butler, did not feel pain in his right hamstring while participating in full-contact drills Tuesday.

"Health-wise, I feel I'm almost 100 percent injury-free," Howard said. "It's still kind of sore, but I'm able to go a full practice on it."

Johnson, however, sat out the second half of practice after experiencing pain in his sprained left ankle. Coach Bobby Bowden said Johnson is doubtful for Saturday's game against North Carolina.

"(We) tried to work him a little last week, and his ankle won't hold up right now," he said. "I sure wish he were healthy."

Johnson started the season opener against Duke and had two sacks. He sprained the ankle a week later in a 29-7 win over Alabama-Birmingham.

"I am not going to lie to you," Johnson said. "(The ankle) is like 50 percent."

NEW POSITION: Bowden said B.J. Ward, who moved from safety to wide receiver, will play Saturday. "He's becoming more familiar with (the wide receiver position)," Bowden said.

"He looks like he's a lot more fluid with his actions, so I would definitely think he would see some action this week."

PATRIOTIC DISPLAY: The Seminoles will have an American flag on their helmets Saturday. WELCOME BACK: Former FSU assistant coach Don James returned to Tallahassee and spoke to the players before practice.

James was an assistant in the 1960s before becoming coach at Washington. -- ALEX ABRAMS, TIMES WIRES

South Florida loses center

The Bulls will be without starting center Alex Herron for 2-6 weeks.

Coach Jim Leavitt said Herron sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during last Thursday's practice and spent the weekend working on the knee in rehabilitation sessions.

USF will move starting right guard Jimmy Fitts to center and freshmen Levi Newton and Shelly Houston will battle this week for Fitts' spot.

Fitts has some experience at center, having spent the spring working there.

The injury comes two weeks after the line protected quarterback Marquel Blackwell well at Pittsburgh, when he threw 65 times without a sack. -- TIMES WIRES

Gators take time off

GAINESVILLE -- With the game against Tennessee postponed, coaches and players were off for three days.

"I stayed up in Gainesville," said offensive lineman Mike Pearson, an Armwood graduate.

"I was going to go home, but with all the rain that was supposed to hit Tampa, my dad and I thought I should just stay up here. I just kind of relaxed, and we had a little cookout Saturday night."

Coach Steve Spurrier went out of town, and linebacker Andra Davis went home to see his family in Live Oak.

"I looked outside at about 3 o'clock, and the weather was pretty nice," quarterback Rex Grossman said. "I was a little disappointed in that. Other than that, I just hung out, laid by the pool, didn't do much. I know I was out of it a little bit; couldn't concentrate as much as I like. I think it was the best thing to do."

STRANGE TO START: Guard Erik Strange will get his second career start Saturday against Kentucky. Strange is a fifth-year senior, and his first start came against Ball State last season.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE: The Gators will get their first taste of national television exposure when they host Mississippi State on Sept. 29.

The game has been picked up by CBS, and kickoff has been changed from 1 to 3:30.

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive tackle Ronald Dowdy had X-rays on his ankle, but defensive coordinator Jon Hoke said he was unsure of his status.

Dowdy was carted off the practice field Monday. -- ANTONYA ENGLISH, DEBI JONES

UCF changes game time

ORLANDO -- UCF's home game against Louisiana-Lafayette, Nov. 24 after being postponed last week, will be at 1 p.m. The game was scheduled for 6.

Kickoff for Saturday's game against Tulane is 3:30 at the Louisiana Superdome. It will be televised on Sunshine. -- TIMES WIRES

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