11 Seminoles Graduate As Music City Bowl Practice Continues

FSU football got practice in early Saturday and will hold its annual awards dinner tonight.

Dec. 15, 2007

Tallahassee, Fla. - For Eleven FSU football players, Saturday was a special day. For the rest of the team, it was an 18-period practice in a light rain. Dumaka Atkins, Alex Boston, Tony Carter, Sean Compton, Andre Fluellen, Anthony Houllis, Brent Moody, DJ Norris, David Overmyer, Garrison Sanborn and Roger Williams all graduated on Saturday and they were joined by two prominent NFL and FSU alum in Terrell Buckley and William Floyd who finished work their degrees this semester. Later this evening the team will gather for the annual football awards dinner. The date of the dinner was moved up this year so all the graduates and seniors could be in attendance.

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS:

·         The team went for 18 periods in uppers.

·         In pass rush Budd Thacker had a big day getting to the QB four times. Emmanuel Dunbar, Everette Brown and Kendrick Stewart joined him in the backfield once each. On the other side of the line Rodney Hudson, Daron Rose and David Overmyer each recorded a win.

·         In pass skel Drew Weatherford connected with Rod Owens and Christian Ponder had a nice completion to Bert Reed.

·         In 11-on-11 Antone Smith turned in a nice run on the first play. Weatherford hooked-up with Owens and Preston Parker. Defensively Myron Rolle had a pick that he returned for six the other way, Jamie Robinson had a tackle for a loss and Dionte Allen made a great read on a screen pass, put a big hit on the receiver and broke up the pass.

QUOTES

Head Coach Bobby Bowden

Opening Statement:

"It was a pretty lively practice today and we will then practice twice on Monday."

On the running back situation and is Preston Parker getting some reps at that position:

"He is working both ways, at wide out and running back."

On the importance of having a two-way player like Parker:

"It's a matter of that we need him at both positions.  The other team has to account for him playing at both spots.  They want to know where he is."

On practicing early today:

"Well we had planned to practice early today because we have some prospects in today and then the banquet later on this evening."

On Kentucky Head Coach Rich Brooks:

"I know Rich pretty good.  We go back to about 1982.  Ann (Bowden) and I know his wife and both of us have been on the Nike Staff.  I was on that staff before him.  I think (Joe) Paterno got on there in '80, he was the first one.  Then I got on second.  And I think Brooks came on after us.  He has done a tremendous job at Kentucky.  They did a great job last year of running up and down the field (last year's Music City Bowl against Clemson).  They have a great quarterback and a great, solid football team; there is no doubt about it.  

On how often he gets to talk to Coach Brooks at Kentucky:

"I haven't had the chance to talk to him since last February.  It's been awhile.  You know Jimmy Heggins is up there, coaching the offensive line.  He is doing a great job up there too."

On Coach Brooks' style of coaching:

"He did a great job when he was with Oregon.  Then he went up to pro ball.  Then he went to several pro clubs, was in Atlanta for awhile.  Since he has been the coach at Kentucky, he has really brought them up.  But what does he do, pro style offense, pro style defense, it's something that he knows best."

On the state of the team following to the first two practices:

"Well, I think we have gone has far as we can go. The kids, since the last game, have been working out, running and lifting weights, so they look in pretty good shape.  We have done about everything we can do in the first two practices." 

Wide Receiver Preston Parker

On working out at running back:

"It's going alright, just a lot of hard work and a lot of practice.  We are just short in numbers and I'm doing just trying to pull through and work hard. "

On his role as a running back and wide out going into the bowl game:

"I am really feeling good about it.  I just want help the team come up with a `W'.  I am just willing to do whatever I have to do.   It's really tough because you have to learn both of the positions.  I still haven't learned everything about the running back position and I'm still learning things at the receiver end.  You are just learning a whole bunch and more responsibility."

Sophomore Everette Brown

On getting pressure on Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson:

"For me personally, it's just as important then any other game, but he's not as mobile and like any quarterback, he does not like to get hit.  We definitely want to collapse the pocket and force him to make throws that he doesn't want to make.  I haven't had a whole lot chances to look at them on film but they have a pretty big offensive line.  But for me, coming off the edge, I have to create havoc and get to the quarterback.  He's a good passer; I mean he was up for the Heisman earlier in the year, so you can't take that away from him.  But we have to get him rattled."