Bowden Issues Apology For Duke Blowout
Bobby Bowden of No. 1 Florida State has sent a letter of apology to Duke’s Fred Goldsmith, who said the Seminoles ran up the score for poll voters in a season-opening win over the Blue Devils.
The letter followed a 70-26 victory over Duke on Sept. 2 in which the Seminoles scored 10 touchdowns, including a fourth-quarter scoring pass by starter Danny Kanell.
The question of scoring a lot of points for poll voters was raised again Wednesday, two weeks after the Duke win, because the Seminoles beat Clemson by 19 points last weekend but lost ground in The Associated Press’ weekly poll.
“We can’t afford to let it get to us like I was accused of in the Duke game,” Bowden said. “I was very disappointed what happened against Duke. I’ve written a letter to Fred to apologize.”
Frazier resumes practicing
At No. 2 Nebraska, there is actually a football game to play this weekend.
And the Cornhuskers finally got some good news Wednesday for their home opener: Quarterback Tommie Frazier returned to practice from a deep thigh bruise and should play against Arizona State (1-1).
Nebraska will be without its star running back. Lawrence Phillips, who had four touchdowns last week against Michigan State, was kicked off the team following his arrest for allegedly hitting his ex-girlfriend. He pleaded innocent to third-degree assault and two other misdemeanor charges.
Backup Damon Benning, however, will play if he recovers from a pulled hamstring. He was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor assault after allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend. Coach Tom Osborne said he believes Benning was defending himself and is innocent.
Vanderbilt violates rules
Vanderbilt has alerted the Southeastern Conference that it may have violated league rules on the number of coaches in a game.
Strength coach Chris Gaines assisted on the sidelines by signaling plays to the defensive unit on the field during the season opener with Alabama.
End zone
Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz was up and walking around the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. after emergency surgery to remove pressure on his spinal cord… . Friends, teammates and coaches paid tribute to University of Arizona football player Damon Terrell at a memorial service attended by more than 500 people in Tucson, Ariz. Terrell, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end, collapsed Aug. 10 during preseason football conditioning and died from irreversible kidney damage on Sept. 7 after month-long hospitalization…. Stanford running back Mike Mitchell, who sustained a dislocated left elbow on Sept. 2, may be ready to play against Wisconsin on Saturday, three weeks before his scheduled return…. Penn State linebacker Brandon Short has a broken bone in his left foot and will miss at least six weeks…. Florida State middle linebacker Daryl Bush will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today.