Still No Plea for Warrick

Peter Warrick’s football future remained on hold Thursday, diminishing the chances of the Florida State star being back on the field Saturday at Clemson.

For a second consecutive day, Warrick received a court postponement on a plea agreement in connection with a department store scam that would reduce a felony grand theft charge to a misdemeanor.

Warrick’s lawyer, John Kenney, is hoping to get the receiver back on the playing field and resolve a plea agreement under terms satisfactory to the university president.

Warrick and former teammate Laveranues Coles were charged with buying more than $400 of designer clothes Sept. 29 for $21.40 from a 19-year-old store clerk, who is also charged.

Warrick, a favorite for the Heisman Trophy before his arrest, has practiced all week and can continue to do so.

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Penn State’s Brandon Short and LaVar Arrington head a list of 11 semifinalists for this year’s Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker. Michigan also has two nominees, James Hall and Dhani Jones. Eight of the 11 nominated players are seniors. The juniors are Arrington, Ohio State’s Na’il Diggs, and Miami’s Dan Morgan. Arizona’s Marcus Bell, Kansas State’s Mark Simoneau, Mississippi State’s Barrin Simpson, Virginia Tech’s Jamel Smith and Tennessee’s Raynoch Thompson complete the list. . . . Terry Shea will remain as Rutgers’ coach next season despite losing all six games this season and 32 of 39 in three-plus seasons.