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Academic Investigation Leads To FSU Players' Suspension

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By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - For the second time since Florida State returned to practice on Friday, FSU coach Bobby Bowden confirmed that several Seminoles are going to be suspended for the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31. The suspensions are connected to FSU's ongoing internal investigation into an academic misconduct case centered on an on-line course for which student-athletes and regular students received test answers.

On Tuesday afternoon, FSU released a statement saying "as many as 25 members" of the team will not play against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl in Nashville. Bowden, unavailable after practice on Tuesday and who later declined to speak to reporters gathered at a Warrick Dunn Foundation event at the FSU Alumni Center, did address the suspensions in FSU"s release.

"Some of our players will not travel with us to the bowl game," Bowden said. "We have some players not traveling for one reason and some for another, including those who are ineligible for the bowl because of academic issues. We cannot be more specific than that at this time.

"Our staff is in the process of determining what adjustments we must make for the game. We will have a few practices to get our plans in place."

FSU starting linebacker Derek Nicholson, who said he is not one of the players involved, admitted the Noles are facing a difficult challenge entering their 26th consecutive bowl appearance under Bowden.

"We've just got to come together. We're a team," Nicholson said Tuesday. "We're helping each other out and trying to get through it. What you remember from playing the game of football is how to get through adversity. This is an adverse situation. We're trying to go through it with our heads up high, trying to compete and trying to win."

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