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Noles Notebook: Family Gets To Watch Nicholson Play

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2007

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Derek Nicholson returned to very familiar surroundings Thursday night, and it wasn't just because he played his final prep game for Mount Tabor (N.C.) High at BB&T Field in 2003. Nicholson's childhood home, the place where his parents still live, is located only a few miles from Wake Forest's campus.

Former NFL player Darrell Nicholson, Derek's father, introduced his youngest son to football at a very young age, the same way he did his two older sons, Darrell Jr. and A.J., a former teammate of Derek's at FSU who is currently home in Winston-Salem after being released by Cincinnati due to multiple off-the-field issues.

Nicholson's family attended Thursday night's game to watch Derek, FSU's starting MLB and its leading tackler, play in his hometown for the first time since leaving home for FSU. In 2004 when the Noles played at Wake Forest, Nicholson did not make the trip. That provided extra incentive for the fourth-year junior to play well in Thursday night's nationally televised game on ESPN.

Nicholson made two tackles in the first half, helping FSU limit Wake Forest to 76 yards of total offense excluding an 83-yard TD run by Josh Adams, the longest TD run surrendered by FSU in more than a decade.

BIG-PLAY CARR: Junior WR Greg Carr's TD catch with 43 seconds left in the first half was the 24th of his career, moving him into a fourth-place tie with Andre Cooper for most in school history. Earlier on the scoring drive that put FSU up 14-7, Carr hauled in a 58-yard pass from Lee, his sixth catch of 40 or more yards this season. Last season, Carr only had two catches 40 or more yards.

UNFRIENDLY CONFINES: Wake Forest is building a new press box and luxury suites to give cozy BB&T Field (31,500 capacity) a more big-time feel. However, this season the press box is a makeshift open-air structure that placed the visiting media outside in temperatures that dipped into the 40s by the end of Thursday night's game. The new press box is scheduled to be open by the start of the 2008 season.

SUNSHINE STEALERS: Wake Forest's roster features 25 players from Florida, which ranks third in the nation among Football Bowl Subdivision teams outside of Florida. Only Army (30) and Troy (29) have more Florida players on their rosters.

SPECIAL SALUTE: FSU is participating in the Wounded Warrior Project on Oct. 27 against Duke. Military personnel severely injured during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored, and any past or present military members can purchase reduced-priced tickets for $17.

EXTRA POINTS: FSU coach Bobby Bowden is expected to attend the funeral of former FSU president Bernie Sliger early next week. Sliger, considered FSU's most popular president, died Wednesday morning after suffering a stroke. He was named FSU's president in 1976, the same year Bowden was hired. ... LB Marcus Ball (left ankle sprain) left the game in the third quarter and did not return. ... Sophomore DE Justin Mincey made his first career start, replacing senior Alex Boston in lineup. ... Senior Anthony Houllis of Tarpon Springs blocked his second career punt.

Scott Carter

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