Tuesday Practice Report: Preparing For Virginia

The Florida State football team practiced for 21 periods in shells (helmets, shoulder pads and shorts) Tuesday in preparation for its noon showdown Saturday against Virginia.

Former Seminole linebacker Garth Jax (1982-85) - who played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys and Cardinals - attended practice, as did former Cleveland Brown and Carolina Panther Nick Maddox (1999-2002).

During 7-on-7 pass skeleton, quarterback Xavier Lee was 6-for-8 with the first team, including a 20-yard pass to Preston Parker.

Tommy Keane worked at quarterback with the second team and also went 6-for-8 in 7-on-7.

Safety Roger Williams and cornerback Jamie Robinson had pass breakups during 7-on-7.
The second team had the upper hand in 11-on-11 with Keane going 2-for-2, including a 20-yard pass to Richard Goodman, while defensive end Kevin McNeil had a tackle for a loss against the first team offense.

QUOTES:

Head Coach Bobby Bowden:

(on Alex Boston's condition)

"Well I sure hope he can come back and play. Whether he starts or not isn't the most important thing. If he can just come in and play some it would be a real help."

(on more starters playing on special teams from now on)

"We have had to put some starters back on that team. It was a good example last week. You can lose that way just as easy as you can lose any other way. So he still has some walk ons out there, but I know he has replaced some of them."

Alex Boston:

(on slowing gaining more playing time after hurting ankle)

"Yeah, just easing me back in, and I was just being cautionary. Just trying to get in as many plays as I can and just seeing how it felt up there (at Maryland) in the cold weather."

Lorenzo Booker:

on about splitting carries)

"I don't think it's so much about that. There might be a guy who's hot. I just think that when it comes to running the ball, it has to be consistent."

(on how well the line blocked at Maryland)

"It was definitely the best they've blocked in a long time. Sometimes I was surprised that the hole was as big as it was. It was like I wasn't getting touched at all, so it really made my job easier."