Florida State Moves Ahead

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden shrugged off potential distractions facing his Seminoles as they practiced in Miami for the first time Wednesday in preparation for the Orange Bowl.

When they face top-ranked Oklahoma State next Wednesday with the national championship at stake, the Seminoles must adjust to the absence of All-American receiver Marvin Minnis and the impending departure of offensive coordinator Mark Richt. Minnis was dismissed from school last week for academic reasons, and Richt this week accepted the head coaching job at Georgia.

“I tell you what, if you can’t handle distractions nowadays, you ain’t going to make it,” Bowden said. “It’s as simple as that, man, because everybody’s got them. Every time I look at the paper, somebody is getting suspended or somebody flunked out or somebody changed jobs. You just have to adjust to it the best you can.”

Richt will continue with his Florida State duties until after the Orange Bowl.

“I want to see how the Georgia head coach can call plays,” Bowden said.

Florida State officials flew from Tallahassee to Miami on Wednesday. Many players, including more than a dozen from Miami, arrived at the team hotel by car after spending the holidays with their families. Several players had flights delayed by bad weather and missed the first workout.

Oklahoma arrived Tuesday.

By Florida State standards, Bowden plans to keep a relatively tight rein on his players leading up to the game. They won’t be allowed to drive.

“I don’t want them to be able to get in that car and take off to anywhere they want to go,” he said.