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College football around the state

By Compiled from Times staff, correspondents and wire reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 27, 2000

USF healthy for UConn trip

TAMPA -- For the first time in weeks, nearly the entire South Florida team is ready to play. Save for senior starters Vassay Marc and Jay Mize, who are out indefinitely with herniated discs in their necks, the Bulls will field a full squad Saturday at Connecticut.

The list of healed or nearly healed players includes receiver/kick returner DeAndrew Rubin (ankle), who has missed three games, and center Joey Sipp, who will start his school-record 41st game despite spraining an ankle against Liberty on Saturday.

Also traveling are a number of reserves: defensive end John Brown (ankle), tight end Casey Cobb (knee) and tight end Dan Rodimer. Rodimer had been out indefinitely with a concussion.

SMALL CHANGE: The Bulls took the unusual step, for a Thursday, of practicing in shoulder pads. Coach Jim Leavitt said it partly was to protect his players from further bumps and bruises, and partly to shake things up before Saturday. The Bulls haven't won on the road in five games, since September 1999.

"I just didn't think we'd been as sharp," Leavitt said, "so we wanted to do something a little different."

-- Sharon Ginn

Grossman continues at helm

GAINESVILLE -- Redshirt freshman Rex Grossman will start at quarterback Saturday against Georgia at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium. Senior Jesse Palmer most likely will be backup and freshman Brock Berlin will be the No. 3 quarterback.

"We had a pretty decent practice and Rex is our starter, he's ready to go," said coach Steve Spurrier , looking for his 10th win over the Bulldogs in 11 tries. "He had a lot better practice today. Jesse had a good one, Brock's okay, fine too."

Defensive lineman Gerard Warren, who has been out for several days with a pulled hamstring, and linebacker Travis Carroll, who has been out since injuring his knee Sept. 23 against Kentucky, practiced.

"On defense, most of the guys seemed more healthy today," Spurrier said. "I think Travis Carroll even practiced a little bit, he and Gerard. So we're taking most everybody over to Jacksonville."

O LINE PROTECTS: After allowing 16 sacks during the first five games, the Gators gave up one against Louisiana State and Auburn, and offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens said it was more than just a credit to the line.

"Sometimes you may play one sack in two games and not play any different and you may get three or four sacks in another game," Stephens said. "... If you only give up one sack or no sacks, that's attributed a lot of times to the tight ends and running backs doing a good job."

INJURY UPDATE: Wide receiver Brian Haugabrook (left knee) is listed as probable while Warren (right hamstring) and Carroll (left calf) are questionable. Defensive lineman Ian Scott (left ankle) and offensive lineman Tommy Hillard (concussion) are doubtful.

-- Debi Jones

Seminoles concentrate on kicking

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State worked on kicking and the two-minute offense in preparing for North Carolina State.

Chance Gwaltney kicked extra points, going 2-for-2 from the middle of the field, 1-for-1 from the left hash and 2-for-2 from the right hash. Gwaltney also kicked a 25-yard field goal in his only try. Matt Munyon stepped in and was 3-of-4 from beyond 35 yards, ending the day with a 40-yarder.

"We had some good practices this week," coach Bobby Bowden said. "We practiced well; we will just have to go play our best game."

RECEIVER AWARD: Marvin Minnis was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award. Minnis is one of three Atlantic Coast Conference players on the list, joining Clemson's Rod Gardner and N.C. State's Koren Robinson.

Minnis, a senior from Miami, has 808 receiving yards this season and is averaging 101 yards. He ranks 10th nationally in receiving yards per game and is 44th nationally in receptions per game.

The other semifinalists are: Antonio Bryant, Pittsburgh; Freddie Mitchell, UCLA; Quincy Morgan, Kansas State; Santana Moss, Miami; Josh Reed, LSU; Vinny Sutherland, Purdue; and David Terrell, Michigan.

-- Times wires

Knights worry about hurt receiver

ORLANDO -- Central Florida wide receiver Tyson Hinshaw, who separated his left shoulder in Tuesday's practice, will play Saturday against Alabama. Hinshaw did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, but will see game action despite having pain. Hinshaw leads the Knights with 64 catches for 824 yards and nine touchdowns.

"When Tyson went down, I was a little apprehensive about things," coach Mike Kruczek said. "He's critical to the success of that side of the ball. I think the kids play more competently with him in there. "We've kind of played (the hype of playing Alabama) down this week," Kruczek said. "It doesn't make a difference who you play, a win is critical for this program. Regardless of whether it's a I-AA, or a I-A, or a great I-A team, you have to prepare the same way. There is a certain level of proficiency that we try and attain each week. These guys don't need a lot of motivation from us; they know what they're walking into."

Strong safety Damian Demps earned the team's Big Stick award for a hit he made on a Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver last week.

INJURY REPORT: Offensive lineman Steve Edwards (sprained right ankle) and linebacker Tony Hardman (hyperextended knee) will be game-time decisions.

-- Dave Marsters

Defensive star returns to lineup

CORAL GABLES -- Miami coach Butch Davis said defensive tackle Damione Lewis, who missed last week's game with a toe injury, will return to the starting lineup Saturday night. Also, Davis said cornerback Leonard Myers (foot injury) could start and most likely will play against Louisiana Tech.

"This has been a good week for us," Davis said. "We're ready to play. It will be a challenge for us in a lot of ways as we are playing an opponent that really likes to take chances and pressure you on both sides of the line of scrimmage."

-- Times wires

FAMU enjoys rare good health

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida A&M, which completed preparations for Saturday's homecoming game against Hampton, will face the Pirates with its healthiest squad in several weeks. The most notable Rattler likely to return from injury is senior linebacker Pat Burrows (ankle), FAMU's leading tackler.

"We have an abundance of injuries, but we are getting some players back who were hurt earlier," said coach Billy Joe, who also expects defensive tackle Dwayne Beverly (ankle) to play against Hampton. "We should have (linebacker) Pat Burrows back, but we are still an injury-riddled football team."

Burrows' absence was felt in FAMU's 30-10 loss to North Carolina A&T two weeks ago, but the Rattlers had no major problems in a 42-14 win at Norfolk State last week.

"This year we seem to be plagued by injuries, but any good team can overcome that," senior defensive end Ebbie Parsons said. "Injuries are just a part of football."

-- Jabari Ritchie

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