FSU Practice Report: Preparing for UCLA

Florida State held its first two-a-day practice since August Monday. It was the first of two scheduled double sessions this week.

In the morning practice the Seminoles went 16 periods in pads. The team worked in position groups, versus scout teams, in goal line and 11-on-11.

Roger Williams had a big practice in the morning for the defense. The safety broke up two passes and had an interception. One of his break-ups was intercepted by Everette Brown. Patrick Robinson also picked off a pass and broke up two others as well with one coming on a deep ball in 11-on-11.

In goal line, Buster Davis and Lawrence Timmons had big tackles deep behind the line of scrimmage. Kevin McNeil broke up a pass headed to the end zone.

Offensively, both Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee hooked up on deep passes to Greg Carr and Chris Davis. Preston Parker had a great catch in tight coverage along the sideline.

In goal line for the offense, Davis, Joslin Shaw, De'Cody Fagg and Robert Hallback were among the receivers who caught TD's.

The biggest runs of the day were turned in by Jamaal Edwards, Marcus Sims and Lorenzo Booker, who broke one off in 11-on-11.

In the afternoon session the team practiced 14 periods in shells. The practice started with special teams work and then there was scout team drills, work on the offensive game plan for UCLA and 11-v-11 drills.

Buster Davis picked off two passes versus the scout team and Patrick Robinson broke up another pass.

In 11-on-11 Patrick Robinson once again broke up a pass play and Lawrence Timmons got in on Drew Weatherford for a would-be sack. Lorenzo Booker reeled off two big plays and Weatherford also connected deep with Chris Davis.

Buster Davis and Lawrence Timmons were both named honorable mention All-Americans by Pro Football Weekly.


QUOTES

Head Coach Bobby Bowden

On the two-a-day practice):

"It's good because the weather is so much different than when we were doing it before. It was hot in August and now the weather's good. They handled it good."

On the players healing):

"I think some of them are. You still get them nicked up here a little bit so you have to overcome that. Overall we're in pretty decent shape."

(On UCLA's defense):

"Good talent that can run. It's kind of like playing Florida again or playing us. They have blitzed a lot. One game I remember 37 times another game 41 times and then sometimes not as much, but they seem to be more effective when they blitz. They won't hesitate to blitz."

(On UCLA defensive ends Justin Hickman and Bruce Davis):
"I've watched film on them. They are good. They can run and they tackle well. They remind me of Florida and us. I tell our kids it's kind of like playing against ourselves. You look at them and you wonder how they lost five games. You look at us and wonder how we lost six."

On what a win would do for the team):

"It would mean a lot, especially when you are where we are right now. Nothing would help you more than a win. Both of us would like to end with a win, send you through spring training with a win behind you and into the next season."

On spending Christmas away from home):

"We'll have to celebrate Christmas the best we can. We'll have a program for them once we get out there. We've been home for Christmas a lot of years."

Senior linebacker Buster Davis

On winding down the season):

"We've only got 60 more minutes left so we might as well make it the best 60 minutes you've ever played."

On ending his FSU career):

"I'm not worried about that. I haven't played enough minutes this year. It's winding down, but everything has to come to an end one day. It's time to move on."

On UCLA's offense):

"They're pretty good. They run a traditional type of offense. Nothing really sticks out, they just play really hard. They play really hard and they have a bunch of good athletes out of California."

On the team's motivation):

"I know I don't want to be on the team that y'all going to write about that says this is the first team in 30 years to have a losing season.That's the motivation.You don't want to be 6-7 when that game's over.I don't want to be the captain of the team that went 6-7."