THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 26, 1994 TAG: 9408260751
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The good news for Virginia is that Charlie Ward is gone and Derrick Brooks will be on suspension when the Cavaliers open the season against Florida State next week.
The bad news, Seminoles defensive back Clifton Abraham said, is that it won't matter very much.
``At Florida State, when someone moves out, we just move someone else in who can do the job,'' Abraham said.
In the case of quarterback Ward, the Seminoles have no regrets because he led them to last season's national championship while playing out his eligibility.
Brooks, perhaps the best college linebacker in the nation, is a different story.
He was suspended for the first two games because of the now-infamous Foot Locker scandal, in which FSU players allowed agents to buy them shoes and clothes. Three other Seminoles are on suspension for the shopping spree.
Brooks said he merely received a couple of T-shirts from teammate Corey Sawyer. But he isn't bitter about having to sit out the first two games of his senior season.
``We have no one to blame for our problems except ourselves,'' Brooks said. ``We made mistakes. We are men and we have to accept the consequences. We can't go looking for a scapegoat because we were the ones who did it.''
Ironically, Brooks also missed last year's game against Virginia because of an injury. But as Abraham said, it made no difference. The Seminoles won, 40-14, en route to another perfect ACC record.
Brooks admitted that missing this year's Virginia game will be tougher because he is healthy and capable of playing.
``But I can't get down because I am the defensive leader and don't want other guys feeling sorry for me,'' he said. ``I will play the game through their eyes and cheer as hard as I can.''
Coach Bobby Bowden isn't as confident as Abraham, though, about opening the season without Brooks.
``He means as much to our defense this year as Ward did to our offense last year,'' Bowden said. ``Playing two games without him scares me. He is so good that you can't coach what he does.''
Apparently, losing Ward and starting the season without Brooks concerns others, too.
The Seminoles were not preseason No. 1 choices in either of the major polls, and Sports Illustrated even listed them No. 10.
Danny Kanell, a junior, replaces Heisman winner Ward at quarterback for the Seminoles this season.
He showed his potential last season when he subbed for an injured Ward against Maryland. He passed for 341 yards and a team season-high five touchdowns.
As Abraham said, at Florida State, when one moves out, another moves in.
The state of Florida demanded repayment Thursday of more than $84,000 spent on a new roof for Florida State athletic director Bob Goin and other financial irregularities in the school's $96 million stadium expansion, The Associated Press reported.
The state Ethics Commission is looking into Goin's conduct and is expected to release its investigative report today. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Linebacker Derrick Brooks is suspended for the Seminoles' first two
games.
by CNB