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Around the state

Maddox back, still banged up

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State running back Nick Maddox participated in the team's two-hour practice Tuesday despite a sprained left ankle that has the junior limping.

Maddox, who has rushed for 493 yards and three touchdowns this season, has seen limited playing time in the past two losses because of the injury.

"He did everything (in practice), limping a little bit but not bad," coach Bobby Bowden said. "We didn't want to expose (the injured players) to anything that they might get hurt any worse."

Senior receiver Atrews Bell missed practice with a bruised knee.

MORE WORK: Freshman Craphonso Thorpe, who sees playing time at receiver and kick returner, may soon get work at a third position.

Bowden, impressed with Thorpe's big-playmaking ability, told offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden to try to get the freshman more involved offensively.

"We got to find some way to get him in the ballgame more," the elder Bowden said.

This season, Thorpe has 12 catches for 271 yards for a team-high 22.6 average.

PUNTING: Bowden said he has no plans to replace starting punter Chance Gwaltney, whose 38.1-yard average ranks eighth in the ACC. Chris Hall has not played this season and Bowden said he does not want to waste a redshirt season by playing the freshman in the final game.

Spurrier still hot about tackle

GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Steve Spurrier continued talking about tailback Earnest Graham's injury against Florida State on Saturday.

Graham will be out 3-5 weeks and Spurrier said Graham told him he thought he was injured intentionally.

"Does it surprise me that an FSU player would do that? No it doesn't surprise me," Spurrier said. "Does it surprise me that Coach Bowden and those guys aren't going to do anything about it? No it doesn't surprise me at all. That's simply the way they do business. You can quote me on that. It doesn't surprise me at all."

TWO FINALISTS: Quarterback Rex Grossman was named a finalist for the Football News' offensive player of the year. The sophomore is 226-for-344 for 3,534 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He leads the nation in passing rating at 176.3. The winner will be announced Dec. 12.

Also, defensive end Alex Brown is one of five finalists for the Nagurski Award, given to the nation's best defensive player.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING: The Gators wrapped up their practice schedule. They resume practice Monday in preparation for Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee.

Bulls get time to heal

TAMPA -- Having a bye last weekend has helped South Florida get healthy.

Quarterback Marquel Blackwell (turf toe) and defensive end Chris Daley (sprained ankle) practiced on Monday and Tuesday after sitting out last week. Also, running back Derrick Rackard, who has missed the past three games with a sprained ankle, could play in Saturday's finale against Utah State.

"Derrick isn't quite there yet," coach Jim Leavitt said. "We'll see how it goes the rest of the week."

BOWLING BULLS?: Because many games were canceled in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the NCAA loosened its restrictions on bowl eligibility. A team typically must have six Division I-A wins to qualify for a bowl, but this season a victory over a I-AA opponent can count toward that total. NCAA regulations allow teams to count a I-AA win toward the minimum once every four years, but this year's waiver allows teams to do so without it counting as one of its exceptions.

If USF wins Saturday, it will finish with five I-A wins and three I-AA wins. The Bulls, however, are not expecting a bowl invitation.

"The chances for us to go to a bowl are pretty remote," said Leavitt, who said the team had four goals this season, with No. 4 being a bowl invitation. "But it's exciting to even have the possibility of being bowl eligible."

IN AND OUT: I-AA Indiana State has been replaced with Southern Miss on USF's schedule for next season, meaning the Bulls' 11 scheduled games in 2002 are against I-A teams. USF could add a 12th game since teams are allowed to schedule that many next season. Also, school officials said the game with Middle Tennessee State might be replaced.

UM's Reed a Thorpe nominee

Edward Reed is among three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's best defensive back. Reed has seven interceptions, two for touchdowns. Reed and tackle Bryant McKinnie are finalist for the Football News' defensive and offensive player of the year, respectively.

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