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Practice reports

By DEBI JONES, ALEX ABRAMS and PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 27, 2001

Sheppard practices, should play

GAINESVILLE -- Florida cornerback Lito Sheppard likely will play against Mississippi State on Saturday, coach Steve Spurrier said Wednesday.

The All-American pulled his groin against Kentucky but did some work during Wednesday night's practice.

"He's going to try to play," Spurrier said. "He was out here doing a little today."

Starting all three games, Sheppard has eight tackles and two pass deflections. The junior handles most punt returns, averaging 12.3 yards.

Sheppard did not participate in a full practice Monday or Tuesday and missed the second half against Kentucky Saturday.

Safety Lester Norwood is getting better but has not been cleared to hit after a neck injury during practice early in September, Spurrier said.

OFFENSIVE SWITCH: Guard Tommy Moody will start, Spurrier said. Moody, who started the first two games, lost the job to senior Erik Strange for the Kentucky game. It is the only starting change.

CONGRATULATING FRANKS: Spurrier said he could not reach former Florida assistant coach and Duke coach Carl Franks, who pulled a man from a submerged vehicle in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday.

"He just said the guy drove in the water, had some kind of seizure," Spurrier said.

Spurrier said that he talked to Duke assistant Aubrey Hill and director of football administration Jamie Speronis talked to Franks.

"They said if he could just save his team from an 0-11 year, he would be happy," Spurrier said.

Freshman moves to DT

"I just want to help the team, be a positive influence, get after the ball, work hard and practice every day to get better," Carter said

Carter was expected to redshirt, but a lack of depth on the defensive line has forced coaches to reconsider.

Sophomore defensive lineman Travis Johnson is being limited in practice because of a sprained left ankle.

MORE POSITION CHANGES: Freshman tight end Matt Heinz, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, said he will redshirt the season, then be moved back to offensive guard, the position he played in high school.

ON LEAVE: Wide receiver Talman Gardner returned after leaving town to attend his grandmother's funeral. Guard Bobby Meeks was excused from practice to attend his grandfather's funeral.

INJURY UPDATES: Team trainer Randy Oravetz said fullback Randy Golightly could return in November from an Achilles' tendon torn in practice on Sept. 14. Golightly, a sophomore, could appeal to the NCAA for a medical redshirt. Wide receiver Willie Reid likely will miss the season after breaking his fibula before the start of the season.

Leavitt pleased with practice

TAMPA -- With the late afternoon temperature at its lowest of the season, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said the Bulls had one of their best practices.

"This practice was our best practice since before (the) Pittsburgh (game, on Sept. 8)," Leavitt said. "The guys were focused, worked hard, did some good things, and it was encouraging because we needed to get back into that kind of rhythm. We haven't had it since that game. "We had the kind of practice that we were accustomed to before."

Helping lift the Bulls' spirits was the return of star receiver DeAndrew Rubin. Rubin has been slowed since the Pittsburgh game by turf toe, and he didn't practice Monday or Tuesday because he was sick.

Top reserve cornerback Kenny Robinson missed Monday's practice and defensive tackle Matt Groelinger has not practiced this week because of illness. Leavitt said Groelinger, who started the last game against Memphis, would play in Saturday's home opener against North Texas.

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