Florida State Football News

9-11-06

No. 9 FSU Begins Preparation for Clemson

NOTES

* Florida State worked out for 10 periods Monday evening on the band field in preparation for Saturday's 7:45 kickoff with Clemson on ESPN.

* Nose guard Paul Griffin has a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season.

* Free safety Rogers Williams had an interception during pass skeleton.

* Quarterback Xavier Lee had a pair of 20-yard passes to Roger Hallback and Preston Parker.

* Middle linebacker Buster Davis was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for the second week in a row.

* The ACC announced on Monday that FSU's September 23 contest with Rice in Tallahassee will be played at 3:30 EST and can be seen on ESPNU.

* Florida State returns to the practice field Tuesday afternoon.

QUOTES

FSU Head Coach Bobby Bowden on how injuries on the defensive line will affect the team
"It just means you are going to have to play freshmen. There's going to have to be freshmen playing. Guys you would have liked to have redshirt and that probably needed redshirting. Somebody will have to step up."

FSU Head Coach Bobby Bowden on what he saw watching Clemson
"Of course they have great skill. An excellent quarterback and excellent runners. They really have good skill. Then on the offensive line there are five back. They are a very solid football team. (Tommy Bowden) has lost two linebackers and a safety."

FSU Head Coach Bobby Bowden on Paul Griffin
"I would say he was our second best defensive lineman. He has really done well. He did well in the spring. He did well in the fall and in the first ballgame."

FSU Head Coach Bobby Bowden on the importance of the game versus Clemson
"Once you get in your division you have to win that. Both of us got to have. We both just got to have it. You got Boston College sitting up there with no losses."

Offensive lineman Cory Niblock on the FSU's running attack so far
"Watching the film we were so close to breaking so many runs. It is always something so simple that stopped us. Hopefully the o-line and running backs will learn from our mistakes because we are not getting the running game going like we should."

Wide receiver De'Cody Fagg on how injuries on the defensive line will affect the team
"Of course it was painful. It was an ACC loss. It was my first game back. I didn't perform how I expected. This year I am just trying to make a big difference out there. This is a big ACC game for us. Of course it is the 'Bowden Bowl' so we are going to try get this win and make coach Bowden happy."

Defensive lineman Kendrick Stewart on filling in for the injured Paul Griffin
"I have to step up and fill his shoes. I have been working hard anyway right behind him. I am ready to step up. I will have a lot of adrenaline running for that game. It is a big game. I am going to play it for Paul. He is one of our teammates and I love him like a brother. This game is going to be for him."

Defensive lineman Kendrick Stewart on preparing for a possible start versus Clemson
"I have been doing the same thing I have been doing with the second team. I am working hard, trying to get better so I can help all the other players. We are going to have to play a lot of young guys."

Defensive lineman Andre Fluellen on the injuries to fellow defensive linemen
"It was pretty rough on a personal level seeing everybody go out. Paul (Griffin) getting hurt. Letroy (Guion) getting hurt. It is hard but we know we have Clemson this week and we have to play strong. We can't let it effect us too much."

Defensive lineman Andre Fluellen on Kendrick Stewart
"The only thing he doesn't have is experience. He has all the talent. He has all the tools. That is the thing. He is going to have to step up to be able to try and fill those shoes. We probably won't run anything too difficult for him. Pretty much our base package so we can get everybody in the best position to make plays for themselves."