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Lee's Absence Raises Questions

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By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 9, 2007

Tallahassee - Tallahassee - As of late Tuesday night, Florida State starting QB Xavier Lee remained on the Seminoles' travel roster for Thursday night's game at Wake Forest. However, Lee's status for the game remains uncertain since he did not participate in the Seminoles' final practice before leaving for Winston Salem, N.C., today.

About two hours after practice ended, an athletic department official said he was told Lee was absent from practice while taking care of academic obligations. Still, Lee was apparently expected by coaches to show up at practice, and when he didn't, Lee's availability against Wake Forest became an issue.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden was unavailable for comment following practice due to his weekly call-in show. FSU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher also left practice without speaking to the media.

With Lee absent, Drew Weatherford worked with the first-team offense as he has most of the season. Lee, who replaced Weatherford and led the Noles to a victory over Alabama on Sept. 29, made his first start of the season in FSU's 27-10 victory against N.C. State on Saturday. Lee finished 16 of 28 for 257 yards in his fourth career start.

Lee, a fourth-year junior who arrived at FSU the same year as Weatherford, a Land O' Lakes High product, had not started a game prior to Saturday since losing the job by throwing two costly interceptions early in last season's 30-0 home loss to Wake Forest.

ROSE SEEKS REDEMPTION: Sophomore LT Daron Rose, a former star at Jefferson High, can't remember the last time he had a game like Saturday against N.C. State.

"It might have been my worst game ever in any sport,'' Rose said after practice Tuesday. "I can't have that.''

Rose missed assignments and failed to make crucial blocks, something he remains puzzled about. "I don't know if it was a lack of focus or what,'' he said.

Rose is intent on making sure he doesn't have a repeat performance Thursday at Wake Forest.

"I took a major step back,'' he said. "I had a horrible game. I can't have that. I've been doing a lot of extra film study. I believe this is a challenge for me to regain the confidence of the coaches.''

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