Hayes' Status For Alabama Remains Uncertain

TALLAHASSEE - Junior LB Geno Hayes, suspended indefinitely for his involvement in an altercation outside a College Avenue bar early Friday morning that resulted in the arrest of his injured teammate Joe Surratt, practiced Monday, although his availability for Saturday's game against Alabama remains in doubt.

"I'm not going to talk about that," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said Monday. "I'll tell you all about that Wednesday."

Hayes and Surratt were arrested around 1:45 a.m. Friday outside Potbelly's, a popular student hangout near campus. Police used a Taser on Hayes as he attempted to go back inside the bar, where he reportedly had an altercation with another patron a few minutes earlier. Surratt also got involved, and both players were arrested and taken to the Leon County Jail before being released on bail.

Hayes is FSU's most experienced linebacker and the Noles' only returning starter at the position. If he can't play Saturday, the rest of the unit is determined to overcome his absence.

"Things happen," LB Derek Nicholson said. "We've been through this before in the past, so we know how to cope with it. I'm like you all, even though it's in-house, I really don't know what's going on."

CLOSE TO RETURNING? Fifth-year senior WR Joslin Shaw is expected to hear Wednesday whether he has been cleared to play by the NCAA. Shaw, a product of Plant City High, has yet to appear in a game after he and DE Kevin McNeil were suspended for "violation of team rules" prior to the season opener at Clemson.

The unspecified violation, which FSU officials are not disclosing, has included communication between the school and the NCAA since June. After practice Monday, Bowden said he understood that Shaw had been cleared. However, when approached after practice, Shaw declined comment until he learns his status for certain.

"We need him out there," offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. "Any time you don't have a tough guy on the field, you miss him."

NOLE NUGGETS: The ACC announced Monday that FSU's home game against North Carolina State on Oct. 6 will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and be televised on ABC ... Starting DT Andre Fluellen, sporting a new brace on his injured left elbow, said he remains hopeful of playing Saturday against Alabama. Fluellen suffered torn ligaments in the elbow in practice two weeks ago and missed the Colorado game ... LB Anthony Kelly, who has missed the first three games, has been officially ruled academically eligible. "We're trying to get him in shape," Bowden said. "He's got a lot of work before he'll be able to play."