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Seminoles' Maddox nursing ankle

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 6, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- Starting running back Nick Maddox was held out of Monday's practice with a sprained left ankle. He was injured Saturday on the second play of the game against Clemson.

"It's getting better," he said. "It's a little stiff right now. It should be all right by Saturday."

Maddox, a junior who has rushed for 420 yards and three touchdowns, has been receiving treatment for the ankle.

Coach Bobby Bowden said freshman tailback/fullback Eric Shelton will get more practice time this week in case Maddox is unable to play Saturday against North Carolina State.

Backup Greg Jones, who has a team-high 537 yards and six touchdowns, is also nursing a sprained ankle. Bowden also said sophomore fullback Randy Golightly likely will not return this season from a torn Achilles' tendon.

Junior running back Greg Tony, who has missed the past four games with a broken back, has started working out and should return.

HONORS: Redshirt freshman Chris Rix earned ACC rookie of the week for the second consecutive week after passing for a career-high 369 yards and four touchdowns. Senior safety Chris Hope, who had a career-high 12 tackles, was named defensive back of the week.

Norwood cleared to play

GAINESVILLE -- Senior free safety Lester Norwood has been medically cleared to play.

Norwood severly injured his neck in August after making a tackle in Florida's last scrimmage. At first, the injury appeared to be career-ending.

"That's the way it was looking, then they did X-rays and found out it was just a very serious sprain," said Norwood, who is only the second true freshman under coach Steve Spurrier at UF to start on defense. "I just prayed. I really didn't have any other options. I wasn't sure if I was going to play at all this year until last week."

Norwood has played in 33 games and was a top reserve last season, but has not played this season. He said he could be ready to play against Florida State next week.

Tailback Ran Carthon was in a sling. Spurrier said Carthon slept on his shoulder wrong but is expected to play Saturday at South Carolina. Junior linebacker Marcus Oquendo-Johnson remains questionable with a strained left shoulder. Cornerback Keiwan Ratliff will get his second start, Spurrier said.

WHAT'S THE DEAL?: Spurrier is known for replacing his quarterbacks when they don't perform to his expectations, but that hasn't been the case this season. Rex Grossman has held his starting job, with no sign of change. And that has South Carolina coach Lou Holtz a little puzzled. "You might check to see what pictures Grossman has," Holtz said. "I know this, he didn't stick with Grossman last year."

Blackwell takes a break

TAMPA -- South Florida backup quarterbacks Ronnie Banks and Kevin Patullo took the first-string snaps during practice as starter Marquel Blackwell sat out due to injury.

Relax, Bulls fans, Blackwell is fine. Coach Jim Leavitt allowed Blackwell to skip practice due to assorted bumps and bruises, but he will start Saturday against Western Illinois.

"We gave him a body-bruise day off. We've done that before," Leavitt said. "We might give him a couple of days off. You get to this part of the year, those quarterbacks get banged (up)."

BAD ANKLES: Starting running back Clenton Crossley did not practice due to a sprained ankle and is questionable for Saturday.

Defensive end Chris Daley and defensive tackle Tavares Jurineack both practiced "light," Leavitt said, due to sprained ankles.

SLINGIN' IT: Leavitt usually waits until his Tuesday press conference to begin building up the credentials of the opposing team, but after Monday's practice he raved about Division I-AA Western Illinois, which is 4-4 but has dropped three straight.

"We'll have to play well to have a chance," he said. "Western Illinois has played three I-A teams the last two years and they're 2-1. They've run into a jam the last few weeks here, but it's not indicative of what kind of team they are. They're a better team than Houston."

USF is coming off a 45-6 victory against Houston, which is 0-8.

Time changes for UM games

CORAL GABLES -- Miami's game against Syracuse on Nov. 17 at the Orange Bowl has been moved to 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by ABC (Ch. 28).

Miami's game against Washington on Nov. 24 has been set for 8 p.m. and will be televised by ABC.

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