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

FSU -- UF briefs

By BRIAN LANDMAN, LUCY MORGAN, DEBI JONES and ALEX ABRAMS

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 17, 2000

Chandler gets fifth year

GAINESVILLE -- Florida placekicker Jeff Chandler ran out on the field with the other seniors during the homecoming game last weekend and he will have the chance to do it again next season.

Chandler was granted an extra year of eligibility, coach Steve Spurrier announced Thursday.

"Jeff Chandler will be able to participate in his fifth year next year," Spurrier said. "He is an excellent kicker. He is the leading scorer in Gator history. So, we won't have to recruit a kicker next year."

Chandler told Spurrier he wanted to try to go through the senior activities twice.

Chandler received the extra year of eligibility because he kicked only one extra point against Central Michigan in his first year.

The Jacksonville native is the leading scorer in UF history with 260, and has a record 48 field goals.

SPURRIER YET TO NAME STARTER: Spurrier said he was not ready to make a decision on a starting quarterback against FSU on Saturday.

"It's the same deal," Spurrier said. "Whoever is standing the closest to me is going in on the first play."

Spurrier had said he would likely start senior Jesse Palmer after pulling redshirt freshman Rex Grossman against South Carolina.

SLEEPING IN: Spurrier said with the late start of the game on Saturday, the players would have the opportunity to sleep in that morning. The Gators will travel to Tallahassee today after a short workout.

INJURY UPDATE: Defensive end Kennard Ellis (left shoulder) is questionable; offensive lineman Tommy Hillard (concussion) is doubtful.

Heavy security planned

TALLAHASSEE -- If FSU should win Saturday, don't look for the fans to pour onto the Doak Campbell Stadium field and tear down the goal posts as they did in 1996.

"We'll have the field totally surrounded; shoulder-to-shoulder," FSU police spokesman Maj. Ron Baxley said.

About 195 officers are expected, nearly a three-fold increase for a home game. Anyone who tries to reach the field will be arrested and charged with trespassing.

"We've doing this since '96," he said. "It's not just for Florida. We did the same for the Miami game last year."

Officers will patrol outside the stadium to arrest scalpers or anyone trying to sell counterfeit tickets or counterfeit merchandise. Baxley said the 8 p.m. start is another concern.

"Any night game is always a concern for us," he said. "You usually have a few more problems with night games that afternoon games. Any time after 6 o'clock, you do have the potential there for the patrons to drink too much before they get to the ballgame and then fights erupts in the stands."

RUNNING BACKS SORE: Coach Bobby Bowden will decide on a starting running back today after talking with coaches.

Senior Travis Minor (sprained left ankle) and freshman Greg Jones (sprained right ankle) practiced.

"Travis looked a little bit better today, Jones looked a little bit better today," Bowden said. "I would say they're not 100 percent."

Minor is questionable. Jones is probable. Trainer Randy Oravetz believes both will play.

KICKING ACTION: Freshman Brett Cimorelli is the starting kicker, but he could be replaced should he begin to struggle.

Bowden said his team needs every point and would make a kicking change if Cimorelli, a Zephyrhills native, misses on his field goal and extra-point attempts.

Cimorelli said, "I think the way I've been kicking has been pretty successful the last few weeks, so why change?"

A TIME FOR FUN: Gov. Jeb Bush said he plans to take a break from the chaos surround the presidential election between Al Gore and his brother, George W., to attend the game.

"I hope the focus on Saturday will be the UF-FSU game," he said.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: A T-shirt circulating around town plays off Tallahassee's role in major decisions -- in the race for the White House and the race for the national championship game in the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl. The names Al and George appear on facing football helmets; above and below is written:

Who will be No. 1 in the Polls?

The Other Big Game in Florida

The Final Tally in Tallahassee.

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

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