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Weatherford Feeling Fine In Return To Field

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State QB Drew Weatherford said that by Tuesday, three days after suffering a concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit by Virginia Tech's Brandon Flowers, all the symptoms from his first career concussion had subsided.

The next test was a real hit.

Weatherford passed with flying colors in Saturday's 24-16 victory over Maryland in FSU's home finale. He finished 16 of 26 for 204 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed nine times and showed no lingering signs of the concussion.

"I got hit a couple of times in the head and I felt fine," Weatherford said. "I wasn't frightened by anything. I just felt regular."

TAMPA TALK: Dave Hart attended his last game at Doak Campbell Stadium as FSU's athletic director on Saturday. The school didn't hold any type of ceremony to acknowledge Hart's imminent departure, but he did stop by the press box for an impromptu goodbye.

Hart is set to leave his post Dec. 31 after recently negotiating a buyout of his contract. One of Hart's last tasks is to complete FSU's 2008 football schedule, which after recently adding a home game against Western Carolina still has an open date.

The school is also seeking to hold the Sept. 20 game against Colorado at a neutral site, with Jacksonville and Tampa as the leading candidates. While FSU president T.K. Wetherell preferred the Noles playing in Tampa for the first time since 1979, the school is close to completing a deal with Jacksonville.

Tampa officials are focused on acquiring the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game.

HEISMAN TALK: FSU sophomore LB Marcus Ball hears all the talk about Florida QB Tim Tebow being a Heisman Trophy favorite. Ball is impressed by Tebow, who the Noles will try to stop Saturday in The Swamp. But if Ball had a Heisman vote, no way he would be voting for Tebow.

"In my opinion, I'm going with Arkansas RB Darren McFadden," Ball said. "Quarterbacks always get the love for the Heisman. He's a good player; he's good at what he does. He can't do it all by himself."

WARREN CLEARED: TE Brandon Warren left FSU in February only a few weeks after his freshman season ended. Warren, who caught 28 passes for 301 yards a year ago, received word Friday from the NCAA that he has been released from the national letter-of-intent he signed with FSU.

According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the NCAA's eligibility center reviewed Warren's appeal Friday and notified him of its decision later in the day.

"It takes a lot of weight off our shoulders," Warren's mother, Deirdre, told the newspaper. "He's happy about the decision."

The ruling means Warren won't lose a year of eligibility after withdrawing from FSU. He cited his mother's battle with kidney cancer and need to be closer to home as reasons for his departure. Warren is planning to enroll at Tennessee in 2008.

GOODBYE, SENIORS: FSU recognized 21 seniors on Senior Day, a class that improved to 31-18 with the victory over Maryland. The 2004 group of incoming freshmen finished 18-14 in ACC play.

CARTER DOWN AGAIN: Starting CB Tony Carter suffered a left shoulder injury in the second quarter, forcing him to miss the rest of the game.

Carter started a week after suffering a head injury at Virginia Tech, which caused him to miss the majority of that game. He'll be re-evaluated Monday and his status for Saturday's season finale at Florida remains uncertain.

EXTRA POINTS: Weatherford's 204 yards of total offense increased his career total to 6,691, surpassing Charlie Ward for third on the school's all-time list. Weatherford's longest pass was a 27-yard completion to former Land O' Lakes High teammate Caz Piurowski, the longest catch of his career. ... FSU finished 3-2 against ACC Atlantic Division opponents after going 0-5 in 2006. ... In his final home game, WR De'Cody Fagg extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 25. ... Former Jefferson High standout Daron Rose returned to the starting lineup at left tackle after missing the Virginia Tech game with a knee injury.

Scott Carter

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