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Things Starting To Heat Up For Seminoles

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Tampa Tribune

Published: August 29, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Just last week, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was lamenting the fact that his team had yet to endure one of those suffocating, shirt-soaking Tallahassee heat waves.

After two straight days of temperatures in the mid-90s however, there's no reason to lament any more.

"This is exactly what we need because it's probably exactly what we'll be playing in," Bowden said after a practice conducted in Thursday's oppressive heat. "The kids handled it a lot better today than they did yesterday."

It's all about acclimation.

The recent bouts of heavy rain and lightning forced the team to hold a handful of practices indoors in previous weeks. Instead of running full speed in the burning heat that's customary for August, the Seminoles were holding workouts in air-conditioned gymnasiums.

Those air conditioners were nowhere to be found the last two days.

"We need the heat," senior cornerback Tony Carter said. "That's how it's going to be on Saturdays early on in the season, especially down here in Florida. Coach Bowden's been telling us the weather is going to spoil us with all this rain, but it's going to test us with the heat."

Just because the players need the heat, it doesn't mean they're excited when it arrives.

"Football gods were looking out for us," defensive tackle Budd Thacker said with a smile. "It's been pretty overcast for pretty much all of two-a-days except one or two."

He then added: "But honestly I would have rather it been nice and steamy and hot to get used to it."
Thacker has gotten his wish this week. And according to local forecasts, the high temperatures and brutal humidity don't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. So the heat will be on for the foreseeable future.

"It pushes us a little harder," senior receiver Greg Carr said. "We know with the heat beaming down on us and the way coaches push us, things are going to get a little hotter. But at the same time, we know it helps us mentally."

DUNBAR OUT OF THE HOSPITAL: Redshirt junior Emmanuel Dunbar, who was taken by ambulance to the hospital after suffering a back injury during Wednesday's practice, walked out of Capital Regional Medical Center under his own power on Thursday afternoon.

"His mama is excited and I was excited for him because he can get up and walk," said defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins, who would not comment on Dunbar's future prognosis.

PRESSLEY CARTED OFF: JuCo transfer Tavares Pressley, who is expected to compete for the second-team tailback spot behind senior Antone Smith, injured his left knee during Thursday's practice and was carted off the field. After waiting more than two weeks while his academic paperwork was cleared to become eligible, Pressley finally was able to start practicing with the team in the middle of last week.
Florida State had no official word on the severity of the injury.

NO WORD ON TIGHT ENDS: Bowden still had no idea when — or if — he'd be getting back three of his scholarship tight ends. True freshmen Bo Reliford and Ja'Baris Little still are not clear to practice with the team.

"Hadn't heard a thing yet," Bowden said. "We expect it yesterday, then we expect it today. Then we expect it tomorrow. We'll just wait and see what they do."

There's also Madison County product Charlie Graham, who was a part-time starter for the Seminoles last season but still hasn't been cleared to play after doing coursework at Tallahassee Community College.

"Haven't heard good reports on Graham," Bowden said.

Walk-on Josh Dobbie is the only tight end on the roster who definitely will be eligible for the season opener against Western Carolina.

Corey Clark

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