Bowden Defends Seminole QB Weinke

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden said a Tallahassee, Fla., police report indicating quarterback Chris Weinke was drunk and belligerent when officers tried to break up a weekend party was unfair and off base.

“He wasn’t treated fairly and that’s getting to be habit forming,” Bowden said. “It was blown so far out of whack it makes me sick.”

Weinke, 26, also disputed the report but said he wanted to “apologize to any officers who think I was in their space or that they felt I wasn’t agreeing with what they wanted me to do.”

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Four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference officials were fired after the supervisor of officials ruled they missed a critical call that led to the winning score in last weekend’s William & Mary-Hampton game.

With about three minutes remaining and the score 34-34, William & Mary receiver Chris Rosier caught a pass near midfield and was immediately tackled. The side judge, believing Rosier was not down, did not blow his whistle. Rosier jumped up and ran for a touchdown, and the Tribe beat Hampton, 41-34.

Johnny Grier, MEAC supervisor of officials, said the game tape showed all four officials had a clear view of the play. “Because the nature of this error is more than just a judgment call, disciplinary action will be taken,” Grier said.