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Noles QB Lee Absent From Final Practice

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

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.

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.'

Scott Carter

O'Leary Impressed By Bulls Secondary

TAMPA - University of South Florida senior CBs Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams, both solid NFL prospects, have impressed Central Florida coach George O'Leary.

'I think they have good transition to the ball and good ball skills,' O'Leary said. 'When the ball is in the air, they turn into a receiver. The DBs who do not make it, they are defending all the time. The great corners act like receivers.'

Jenkins is rated as the top cornerback by NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., and Williams is second in school history with 12 career interceptions.

TWO IN A ROW: USF will play in front of a home sellout crowd for the second consecutive time when the No. 5 Bulls (5-0) host UCF (3-2) Saturday at noon.

Gregg Becnel
Tebow Got Calls Before Saturday's Game

GAINESVILLE - University of Florida QB Tim Tebow said Tuesday that he received hundreds of threatening phone messages in the week leading up to the Gators' matchup against Louisiana State.

The sophomore said he wouldn't repeat the messages because he 'doesn't use that language too much,' and he acknowledged that some of the calls promised physical threats.

'Some people did take it way too far. Farther than you should take it with sports,' Tebow said. 'But I think for the most part people were just having fun. But unfortunately there's people like that everywhere.

TARTT CLEARS THE AIR: Florida OG Jim Tartt dispelled any rumors that Louisiana State DT Glenn Dorsey took some extra hits during the Gators' loss to the Tigers on Saturday night.

Rumors circulated after the game that Dorsey had taken a cheap shot on Tartt by poking him in the eye.

'He was just pass rushing,' Tartt said. 'He was just swinging his arms and his thumb went up in my eye. It wasn't a big deal.'

Jenna Marina

Shannon Sending Strong Message To Players

CORAL GABLES - Randy Shannon had a very, very strong message to his team after Tuesday's practice.

'It is not acceptable to lose at the University of Miami,' he shouted to his team as they were on one knee around their head coach, who was standing and pointing adamantly at his team.

NEW STARTERS: TE Chris Zellner, DT Josh Holmes, and LB Darryl Sharpton are now slated to start this weekend against Georgia Tech.

Christopher Stock

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