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McDaniel Returns After Handling Family Matters

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Michael McGuffee

Published: October 23, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Sophomore WR Damon McDaniel returned to practice after spending a little more than a week away from the team to be with family and firstborn son Damon Jr. in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Va.

"I had to sit out a little while and handle some business back home," McDaniel said. "It feels good to be back in the swing of things."

According to McDaniel, who didn't miss a beat when asked, his son was born Oct. 16 at 2:05 p.m.

McDaniel left for home following the team's return from Wake Forest and was with Damon Jr.'s mother Shantiel for the birth and watched the FSU-Miami game on TV from his hometown.

"Man it hurt," McDaniel said on missing FSU's 37-29 loss to Miami. "You feel like you can be out there and do something, something to help — anything that would help.

"[The birth of my son] is one of the most important things in my life. I just had to be there."

McDaniel has played a limited role with the team but layer FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher repeatedly has said he would like to get him more involved. However, time away from the field has undoubtedly hurt his cause.

The sophomore, who also missed practice time leading up to the Alabama game, was named the team's most improved receiver after spring practice and is known for being a tough runner and solid down-field blocker.

While he hasn't yet discussed with Fisher the impact his time away will affect his opportunity to play this week, McDaniel said it's tough to consider this a setback.

"Things come up in life and you've just got to figure out what's more important to you in life. My family is the most important thing on my list so if I got to go home and take care of something as serious as that, that's when I'm going to go."

As far as his fatherly duties, McDaniel says for now he's got plenty of help back home.

"Oh yeah, there's a lot of help there," McDaniel said. "Grandpas, grandmas, uncles and aunts —it's ridiculous how much help we've got. That baby's spoiled already.

!KIND OF SHAKY: As Florida State moves closer to what looks to be the team's toughest stretch in the schedule, depth along the defensive line remains a concern.

Senior DT Andre Fluellen has now missed five straight starts and is still recovering from torn ligaments in his elbow. NG Budd Thacker says he is finally healthy, but his status remains uncertain this week due to what FSU coach Bobby Bowden called "university issues" on Monday.

"[The defensive line] is kind of shaky right now with Fluellen like he is and Thacker's uncertainty," Bowden said. "So yeah, it's scary."

Fluellen, who saw limited time with the injury through three straight games before sitting out all of Saturday's loss to Miami, admitted playing through the injury wasn't helping the recovery process.

"Well the more extension I have the better it is," Fluellen said on gauging what has become a nagging injury. "I can pretty much extend it all the way, I just still can't do it forcefully, but that's way better than it was."

!CARR EXPECTS TO PLAY: Junior WR Greg Carr does not expect to miss time against Duke despite a sprained wrist suffered in the first quarter against Miami last week. With the wrist in a cast, Carr participated only in parts of Tuesday's practice, but expects to have the cast removed later this week.

"I finished the [Miami] game with it," Carr said. "I really wasn't thinking about it at the time so it will be alright. I am trying to get back there as soon as possible."

!NOLE NUGGETS: QB Xavier Lee declined to speak to the media again Tuesday and hasn't since Drew Weatherford was named the starter this week. Freshman LG Rodney Hudson said his sprained right knee his healing better than expected, but a timetable for his return has not yet been set.

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