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FSU's Reply Is Heading To NCAA This Week

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The Tallahassee Democrat

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

Updated: 09/07/2008 12:56 am

TALLAHASSEE - A night of long delays was the perfect setting for Florida State director of athletics Randy Spetman to address some unfinished business.

Spetman said the university expects to send to the NCAA this week its official reply to that organization's notice of allegations regarding the academic-fraud case involving FSU athletes. That letter was received in June.

Eleven Seminoles did not participate in the season opener Saturday night as a result of four-game suspensions handed down in December.

"Sometime next week it's going to be submitted and it will all be released to the media," Spetman said. "I'll be glad to get it out there and getting moving and going forward."

Spetman previously has said the notice of allegations, which has not been released to the media, did not include any surprises and FSU's reply would reflect FSU's initial report.

FSU officials will go before the NCAA Committee on Infractions on Oct. 18 in Indianapolis.

Spetman also addressed an indoor practice facility that head coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher had been raising money for during the spring.

"The architects will come in the next seven to 10 days, go over sites where we think we can put it and start the drawings from there," Spetman said. "We have kind of narrowed where we think we can put it. Take one of the practice fields away, the practice soccer stadium and a parking lot behind baseball. At least look we'll look at the latter. If we could find some place to give them parking back we would do it."

FIRST-GAME JITTERS: Fisher expected some nervousness on the FSU sidelines before the game.

"We might have to change a diaper or two," Fisher said with a smile last week.

Twenty-six players participated in their first game as collegians Saturday night, including 15 true freshmen.

Nine players, including six on offense, made their first FSU start - and that didn't include special teams players.

That group included RT Antwane Greenlee, LT Zebrie Sanders, RG David Spurlock, TE Josh Dobbie (Bloomingdale), QB Christian Ponder and WR Rod Owens. On defense, the first-time starters were defensive end Benjamin Lampkin, NT Moses McCray (Hillsborough) and boundary corner Korey Mangum.

PK Zach Hobby, P Shawn Powell, deep snapper Zach Aronson and kickoff specialist James Esco were among those making their first starts on special teams.

Greenlee was somewhat of a surprise starter with junior college transfer Joe Tonga beginning the game on the bench. Tonga, a summer enrollee, is still trying to get a grasp of FSU's offense.

Spurlock, a freshman, started in place for redshirt freshman Will Furlong, who has been hampered in the preseason because of a back problems.

In addition to Sanders, Spurlock, Esco and McCray, other freshmen to play included Ty Jones, Nigel Carr, Nigel Bradham, Jarmon Fortson, Shawn Powell, Ja'Baris Little and Everette Dawkins.

FIRST-GAME JITTERS, PART II: Another person making his debut Saturday night was William Floyd, who joined Gene Deckerhoff in the radio booth as an analyst for the broadcasts of FSU football games.

"It felt pretty good," Floyd said. "It was a little different."

Once FSU did play following the first weather delay, Floyd had a 68-yard punt return by Tony Carter for a touchdown to get excited about. "Chop it up, Seminoles," was Floyd's on-air reaction to Carter's touchdown.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: Former All-American CB Clifton Abraham was among those honored before the game as the latest inductees into FSU's Sports Hall of Fame.

Also inducted into the hall of fame were Doug Edwards (basketball), John Poston (track and field), Jan Sikes (softball), Nadia Ste-Marie (women's golf), Bud Teagle (baseball), Claude Thigpen (coaches and administration) and Andy Haggard (Moore-Stone Award).

Steve Ellis,

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