College Football

Head of SEC Officials Admits Timing Mistake in Vols’ Win over Florida

The Southeastern Conference’s supervisor of officials said Sunday the crew working the Tennessee-Florida game erred in handling the clock, allowing the Volunteers more time on their final drive, which ended with a game-winning field goal.

The mistake occurred when Florida receiver Dallas Baker was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after DeShawn Wynn was stopped on a third-down run with 55 seconds left in the game, with the Gators leading 28-27 Saturday night.

Bobby Gaston, the SEC supervisor of officials, said because it was a running play, the clock should have started on the “ready” — when the referee winds his arm — and not the snap.

Gaston said there’s “accountability with our officials,” but any punishment issued would be discussed with both schools and decided by the SEC’s commissioner. He said any punishment would not be made public.

“It was a game of close calls, tipped balls that went for touchdowns, kicks that slid wide of goalposts. But in the end, it came down to one call and one huge mistake for Florida.

Saturday night was the first two seasons in microcosm. When you think they’re done, they rally. When you think they’ve got it figured out, something goes wrong.”

Florida Game Rescheduled

The University of Florida’s season-opening football game with Middle Tennessee State University has been moved to October 16th due to the potential impact of Hurricane Frances.

The game is now scheduled to be played October 16th in Gainesville at Noon. Television plans for the game will be announced at a later date.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida linebacker Channing Crowder was arrested for fighting with police outside a nightclub.

Crowder, the Southeastern Conference’s freshman defensive player of the year, was arrested early Sunday along with junior safety Jarvis Herring, police said Monday.

According to the police report, Crowder got into an argument outside the club. After police told him to leave, Crowder stopped in the middle of the street, held up traffic and yelled at another man.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Most analysts have identified the Steelers needs in the upcoming NFL Draft as being at cornerback and offensive tackle, and everyone knows the team always is in the lookout for another pass-rusher to plug into its 3-4, and Coach Bill Cowher got a chance to see what might be available when he was at the University of Florida on Tuesday as part of an NFL contingent on hand for the Gators’ pro day.

The fifth Bachelor edition will also follow the established gradual process of elimination, as Jesse narrows the field of women from twenty-five to fifteen on the season premiere, presenting each of his choices with a single red rose. Jesse then closes the gap to 10, six, four, three, two and, ultimately, the one woman who captures his heart. As always, if at any point along the way any of the women decide that they are no longer interested in Jesse, they may reject his invitation to continue dating.

Jesse Palmer was drafted by the Giants in 2001 and became the team’s top back-up quarterback last season. Jesse ranks fourth on the University of Florida Gators’ all-time list with a 133.14 passing efficiency rating and was named to the Southeastern Conference’s Academic Honor Roll for the third straight year in 2000.

While the free agent stars of the NFL jet across the country, seeking mind-boggling contracts with multimillion-dollar signing bonuses, Danny Wuerffel goes to work each day in one of the worst neighborhoods in America.

Wuerffel could not be happier about it.

FSU invited University of Florida student Mike Murphy to its annual gambling symposium. Murphy spoke to the group about a friend’s compulsive gambling. But he also opened his speech to FSU student-athletes with a reference to the officiating in last season’s FSU-Florida football game. FSU football players weren’t impressed.

Steve Spurrier has kept a low profile since his abrupt departure from the Washington Redskins, even ducking through airports in sunglasses and a hat.

He’s not trying to hide anything. He’s just enjoying retirement after 20 seasons as a “head ball coach” in college and pro football.

Spurrier says his new life so relaxing that he plans to do nothing more strenuous this fall than watching his son’s high school games. He’s not interested in broadcasting and won’t return to the sidelines–not in 2004 and possibly never.

CLEMSON — Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden questioned the rape allegation by former Colorado kicker Katie Hnida, defended the character of Colorado coach Gary Barnett and acknowledged college football’s “black eye” from recent recruiting scandals on Monday.

Bowden made his comments in an interview with reporters Monday at Clemson University before giving at lecture titled, “Changes in College Football During His Lifetime: What is Good and What is Bad.”

Florida fans can grumble about game-day traffic, the heat and the price of a hot dog at The Swamp, but they probably can’t complain too much about the price of their ticket.

For the second consecutive season, UF, one of the Southeastern Conference’s most successful programs on the field, will have the lowest season ticket and individual game ticket prices in the SEC.

Florida defensive end Steven Harris pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery Wednesday and is eligible to play this week against Tennessee.

Mike Price was fired by Alabama without coaching a single game because of behavior including a night at a topless bar — another embarrassment for a once-proud football team.

Reports emerged during the week that Price spent hundreds of dollars at a topless bar and, the next morning, a woman ordered about $1,000 of room service and charged it to his hotel bill.

A son of Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden pleaded guilty Tuesday to swindling millions from investors — including his father.

Steve Bowden admitted conspiring with former Alabama quarterback Brian Burgdorf in a scheme that prosecutors say defrauded investors of $10 million.

The scam involved selling unregistered securities through The Millennium Fund, which billed itself as being for “the privileged few.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Adolph Dean said Steve Bowden brought in his father and three other investors, who lost a total of $4.4 million. Bobby Bowden invested $1.6 million, Dean said.