TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

FSU's Roster Rocked By Suspensions

ADVERTISEMENT

By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 23, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is taking the Seminoles to a bowl game for the 26th consecutive season, an NCAA record for one coach at the same school. But Bowden has never taken an FSU team to a bowl like the one he'll coach in the Music City Bowl.

Amid an academic misconduct scandal that has jolted the athletic department, FSU released its travel roster Saturday for the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl. The travel list revealed that 25 scholarship players on FSU's bowl media guide roster are not making the trip, including 11 players who started regularly during the season and are not injured.

Federal privacy laws prevent FSU from revealing the players directly tied to the cheating scandal or providing reasons why those not involved are not traveling. But according to multiple sources, at least 22 of the unavailable players are implicated in the academic misconduct probe. Overall, 36 players on FSU's bowl roster are not traveling, but that total includes 11 walk-ons who have seen little game action and normally wouldn't travel.

"It is very important that the media make clear that those missing the bowl trip are not included because of either injury or for a violation of team policy," FSU associate athletic director Rob Wilson said in a statement. "Had we released the specific reasons for those players not going to the game, only 25 would be because of injuries or some violation of team policy."

FSU's defense, coming off a 45-12 loss to Florida in which it allowed a season-high 541 yards, will be without four players who started that game: cornerback Patrick Robinson, a second-team All-ACC pick who led the Noles with six interceptions; and defensive end Neefy Moffett, defensive tackle Budd Thacker and linebacker Dekoda Watson. Two other defensive players who started this season - defensive linemen Letroy Guion and Justin Mincey - are also unavailable.

A trio of Tampa area players will not be making the trip to Nashville: starting left tackle Daron Rose of Jefferson High, former Land O' Lakes High standout Caz Piurowski and receiver Joslin Shaw of Plant City. Rose and Piurowski declined to comment on their playing status during practice last week. As for Shaw, he served a four-game suspension earlier in the season for being implicated in the case, but he will not make the trip because of other academic concerns.

Rose, tight end Charlie Graham, offensive lineman Jacky Claude and quarterback Xavier Lee are the offensive players who started during the season but are ineligible for the Music City Bowl against Kentucky. Two other players who started - fullback Marcus Sims and receiver Richard Goodman - are injured and not making the trip.

Saturday's practice was closed to the media, but after Friday's practice, Bowden voiced his concern over the loss of so many players.

"You've got 22 positions out there," he said. "There's some you would be more concerned about than others. The main concern is not to get any injuries."

Senior long snapper Garrison Sanborn, a product of Jesuit High who graduated from FSU eight days ago, described the team's morale as "energetic and good" following Friday's practice. Because of the player suspensions and various other issues, the 6-foot-1, 232-pound Sanborn practiced at defensive end some during the week. He is confident the team will adjust and make do with the players it has.

"It's a lot of young guys playing, but they were recruited here, so you know they've got talent," Sanborn said. "I think they'll come through."

FSU and Kentucky both finished 7-5, but because of FSU's depleted roster, Las Vegas bookmakers have taken the game off the board.

Meanwhile, Bowden has been under extra scrutiny since FSU announced Tuesday that as many as 25 players could be suspended from the game for their involvement in a scandal that centers on a tutor providing answers to online tests in a music appreciation course. Two of the state's major newspapers wrote editorials calling for Bowden to step down from the job he has held since 1976.

"Our university found this problem," Bowden told reporters Friday. "It's not like I had anything to do with this. It ain't time to cut and run. That won't erase what has happened.

"I ain't never run from a fight, and I ain't running from this one."

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT