Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

College football around the state

By ROBYN DISNEY and JABARI RITCHIE

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 16, 2000

Quiet day for seniors

TAMPA -- For 25 seniors, Wednesday was their last contact practice as a Bull. But coach Jim Leavitt said there was nothing special for the seniors.

"We don't have anything special for them at practice," Leavitt said. "They might do something after practice, but we salute them before the game and tell them to go play a good game."

This is the school's largest graduating class. Fourteen seniors have been with the program since the first practice Sept. 6, 1996.

"They've been here for four or five years, it's time to go," Leavitt said. "Five years is a while. They are always going to be special, there's no question about that. Every group is going to move on. You can't keep them here forever."

INJURY REPORT: Still sore from Saturday's game against Middle Tennessee State, four players participated in a light practice. Leavitt said quarterback Marquel Blackwell, linebacker Anthony Williams, defensive end Shawn Hay and running back Otis Dixon were not 100 percent. "They will most likely play Saturday, but we are resting them," Leavitt said. -- ROBYN DISNEY

Added motivation

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida A&M players say there is more at stake than the MEAC title and an automatic playoff berth in Saturday's Florida Classic against Bethune-Cookman. "It's bigger than a rival this time," linebacker John Battle said. "This is for bragging rights. This is for recruiting rights. Since it's in-state, the loser will have to deal with it for a whole year."

"Every year everything is on the line, whether the MEAC title is or not," wide receiver Jacquay Nunnally said. "When I go back home to Miami, I'm going to see half of their team down there." -- JABARI RITCHIE

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright