Gators’ Johnson Issues an Apology

Florida quarterback Doug Johnson called Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden on Tuesday to apologize for throwing a ball in the coach’s direction during a fight before last weekend’s game.

Officials at Florida State reviewed a videotape and saw Johnson had thrown the ball in Bowden’s direction toward the end of the fight. The ball hit assistant strength coach Eric Johnson in the back of head.

It was part of the 90-second melee during which about 100 players ganged up at midfield. Nobody was injured.

Bowden was among the handful of coaches trying to break up the fight. Toward the end of the fight, the ball came flying from the Florida side of the field toward a large group of Seminoles.

“I had absolutely no specific target,” Johnson said in a statement. “It all happened in the heat of the battle. In no way was I aiming for Coach Bowden.”

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San Diego State edged Utah for an invitation to the Las Vegas Bowl. In what was described as a very close vote, San Diego State (7-4) was selected over Utah after both schools and Colorado State made presentations Monday to the Las Vegas Bowl committee. The Utes (7-4) still have a small chance for the Aloha Bowl or another bowl. . . . Southern Mississippi (7-4), which rebounded from 1-3 start to have its fifth consecutive winning season, accepted a bid to play in the Humanitarian Bowl. The Golden Eagles will play Big West Conference champion Idaho (8-3). . . . North Carolina State (7-3) will play in the Micron PC Bowl in Miami on Dec. 29 against either a Big Ten team or an at-large selection.