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Carter Hopes To Finish Against Gators

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By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - TALLAHASSEE - Florida State starting CB Tony Carter has played in the last two games; he just hasn't been able to finish them. Carter hopes to end that streak Saturday at Florida.

"I expect to play unless something happens between now and Saturday,'' Carter said. "I just have to fight through it and go out there and help my team get a win. It's just bad luck, that's all.''

Carter suffered concussion-like symptoms after falling and hitting his head on a long pass play at Virginia Tech. He returned in Saturday's win against Maryland, but Carter had to leave the game in the first half due to a shoulder injury.

He said regardless of what doctors tell him, he doesn't want to miss Saturday's game in The Swamp. "If I feel good enough to play, then I'm going to play.''

Carter also has extra incentive to play against the Gators. He was posterized on the front of nearly every major sports section in the state last year when former Florida receiver Dallas Baker caught the game-winning TD over him in the corner of the end zone.

"Baker is not playing anymore,'' Carter said. "I can't really get any payback on him.''

But maybe he can help stop Florida QB Tim Tebow, who Carter played against in Pop Warner when the two were growing up in Jacksonville.

"He was a big guy [in Pop Warner],'' Carter said. "He was always one of the main guys we looked out for playing against one another.''

FIVE-YEAR PLAN: Asked about FAMU coach Rubin Carter's firing on Tuesday — Carter was 16-17 in three seasons — FSU coach Bobby Bowden said you need longer than that to turn around a program.
"It's not enough time,'' Bowden said. "Normally coaches won't take a job without a five-year contract. They feel like the first year they are there, they are going to be late and behind in recruiting. Then the next year, they will get their first class. Then four years later, if they haven't done anything, they know that's it.''

BIG TROUBLE: FB Seddrick Holloway is a 5-foot-10, 248-pound wrecking ball who doesn't look too shifty at first glance. But don't be fooled. Holloway has 29 carries for 129 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.

With starting RB Antone Smith (shoulder) questionable for Saturday's game and Preston Parker expected to split time at receiver and running back, Bowden is confident Holloway can make an impact if needed.

"I'd say [he] was one of the surprises of the year,'' Bowden said. "He runs so much better than you would think.''

NOLE NUGGETS: FSU will hold its final practice of the regular season this morning and then gather for a Thanksgiving team dinner in the afternoon … Bowden is 17-15-1 all-time against Florida, including 7-8 in Gainesville … Redshirt freshman WR Brandon Paul played the role of Florida speedster Percy Harvin all week in practice.

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