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Gators' Caldwell Returns Trash Talk Fire

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 22, 2007

GAINESVILLE - The trash-talk street runs two ways in the Florida-FSU rivalry.

Seminoles LB Geno Hayes fired the first salvo Monday when he said Gators QB Tim Tebow "is going down." Tebow's teammate, WR Andre Caldwell, has returned fire. His target? The entire FSU defense.

"This is a bad time to be playing us," the Jefferson High grad said.

"Like I tell my teammates, they don't want to be the opponent. We're going to give them heck whoever we face on defense this week. Florida State is going to be our victims this week."

Because he redshirted in 2005, Caldwell isn't in the unique position of five of his teammates. TE Tate Casey, S Kyle Jackson, S Tony Joiner, C Drew Miller and FB Eric Rutledge can finish their careers undefeated against the Seminoles if the Gators win Saturday.
Andy Staples
Carter Hopes To Finish Against The Gators

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 at 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."

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 UF, including 7-8 in Gainesville.

Scott Carter

Grothe Believes Bulls Can Score Against Pitt

TAMPA - Pittsburgh may own the nation's ninth-best overall defense, but University of South Florida QB Matt Grothe is confident the Bulls can have success Saturday.

"Statistically they're one of the best defenses, but people are finding ways to score," Grothe said.

Although Pitt is No. 9 in total defense, the Panthers have the nation's No. 37 scoring defense, allowing 23 points a contest.

"I don't know if teams are taking advantage of costly turnovers," Grothe said.

Grothe added Pittsburgh is "one of the types of defense we play well against. They play the type of coverage I like to go against," he said. "We should produce a lot this week."

In their past four games, the Bulls are averaging 496 yards a game and 38 points a contest.

ODDS AND ENDS: USF sophomore DE George Selvie is among 30 players on the final ballot for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top defensive end. As many as six finalists are expected to be announced next week, with the winner announced Dec. 5. ... USF has 37 takeaways this year, the nation's second-best total behind Cincinnati (38).

Brett McMurphy

Phillips Limits Practice Time Due To Injury

CORAL GABLES - Junior S Kenny Phillips only practiced half of the time on Wednesday as he deals with an ankle injury.

Phillips, who is second on the team with 78 tackles and has one interception, injured his right ankle in the first quarter against Virginia Tech.

Coach Randy Shannon was unsure of Phillips' status for Saturday as the Canes travel to Boston College looking to become bowl-eligible.

Leading rusher Graig Cooper participated in the entire practice, but is still wearing a brace on his right knee.

"He's not hobbled," Shannon said. "He was full-speed, full-go. He'll play."

Christopher Stock

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