Noles Coach Will Be Cheering For Bulls

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey will spend most of today preparing for FSU's showdown with Miami on Saturday. But sometime tonight after FSU's final practice, Dawsey will flip on the TV and take a peek at the USF-Rutgers game.

After all, Dawsey still receives text messages and phone calls from some of the players and assistant coaches he befriended the past three years as USF's receivers coach. The former FSU receiver returned to Tallahassee when Noles coach Bobby Bowden offered one of his all-time favorite players a job. Dawsey is enjoying the challenges of his new job, but he hasn't forgotten about his old team, which is ranked No. 2 in the country and talking about winning a national championship.

"I'm not surprised at all,'' Dawsey said after Wednesday's practice. "They've got good talent. They've got good coaches. The quarterback is doing a great job. The defense is great. I knew it was in the making. I felt it was close last year when I was there. They had most of the guys coming back. I feel like they can go undefeated.''

Dawsey said if the Bulls play like they have been, tonight's road game at Rutgers is "going to be no problem.'' While USF's quick climb onto the national stage doesn't surprise him, he smiled widely when asked about the sudden talk of Bulls sophomore QB Matt Grothe contending for the Heisman Trophy.

"That's a little weird,'' Dawsey said. "I didn't think it would be going on this year. I figured that more for his senior year. I knew he had the talent and with the style of offense they're running, it's not surprising.''

CHANGING HATS: FSU sophomore WR Preston Parker is developing into one of the Noles' most exciting players. If he had grabbed the other hat on National Signing Day in 2006, he would be playing for Miami on Saturday rather than FSU.

During the recruiting process as a senior two years ago at Delray Atlantic Beach, Parker verbally committed to Miami. However, when it came time to sign on the dotted line, Parker tossed a FSU and Miami hat up in the air at the same time, and ended up catching the FSU hat.

"Really, when I grabbed the hat, that's when I decided,'' Parker said. "I didn't really like [FSU] on my official visit. I knew I was going to Miami. I don't know what made me change. I had a lot of second thoughts, especially last year when I wasn't playing.''

Parker now believes he made the right decision.

"I'm finally playing,'' he said.

NOLE NUGGETS: Bowden said DT Budd Thacker has been downgraded to doubtful for Saturday's game. Thacker has missed the past three games because of a fractured toe, but now his ankle is bothering him. "He has been very limited this week,'' Bowden said. "He hasn't practiced well.'' ... FB Joe Surratt (broken fibula) is no longer wearing a cast and is walking without crutches. However, a starter last season, Surratt is not expected back this season due to his injury and legal issues related to a fight outside a bar last month.