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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
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