Noles Begin Practicing For Miami

FSU Sports Information Excerpts:

For the first time since returning from Thursday night's game in Winston-Salem, the Seminole football team returned to the practice fields. What is usually a short practice that starts much later in the day, the squad took the field Monday at 3:30 and went 18 periods in an unusual first work-out of a game week.

After specialty, the team spent a large part of the practice working versus Miami scout teams.

In pass skel Michael Ray Garvin broke up two passes while Jamie Robinson and Derek Nicholson recorded PBU's as well. Xavier Lee connected on passes to Greg Carr and Preston Parker. Drew Weatherford completed a couple as well to Rod Owens and Joslin Shaw.

In pass rush the defensive line had a good day. Seven different guys won individual battles. Emmanuel Dunbar, Letroy Guion and Budd Thacker recorded more than one win while Paul Griffin, Justin Mincey, Eli Charles and Neefy Moffett also got to the QB. Daron Rose carried the torch for the offense winning three battles and Ryan McMahon picked up a win as well.

11-on-11 was spent working in down and distance. Parker and Antone Smith both turned in nice runs. Lee completed the biggest pass of the drill connecting with Richard Goodman deep. Lee and Parker also hooked up. Weatherford and Shaw once again connected in another drill. Justin Mincey batted a pass down at the line for the defense and Toddrick Verdell and J.R. Bryant both had great reads on plays to turn what looked to be big gainers into stops.

Head Coach Bobby Bowden

Injury updates:

"Budd Thacker worked today and Andre Fluellen worked about half the day; I think he's okay but we're just holding him out on some stuff. David Overmyer worked today and you know Marcus Ball is out with a sprained ankle and Rodney Hudson is out."