The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 59

ms 3D Friday October 20 2000 wwwheraldcorn SOOGERGOLLEGE FOOTBALL Fusion considers name change to attract fans seen to lure fans in tri as best choice -county area from Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties have teams in small markets like Columbus Ohio and San Jose Calif and they have identity said one source think Fort Lauderdale would have been fine especially since that is the name linked to the history of pro soccer in the BY PEDRO FONTEBOA pfonteboaherald com Also with a team in Tampa Bay it also would cause some confusion The third choice is supported by many in Broward County including Hudson would follow the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the defunct North American Soccer Hudson said personally think it is about the Hudson added we put a championship caliber team on the field the people will come Winning the US Open Cup would be a wood was attended by Hamilton Horowitz MLS Commissioner Don Garber Fusion coach Ray Hudson and more than 100 people from the South Florida soccer community The focus was how to promote soccer in the tri-county area It was at that meeting changing the name was first discussed Fusion management is leaning toward because it advertises the location is being considered to stay in line with the Florida Panthers and Florida Marlins but it may be gen "We are not ready to make public our Hamilton said Attendance problems during the first three seasons last in MLS home attendance this season with an average of 7460 for 16 matches have fueled the reports about the name change Although called Miami the Fusion plays all of its home matches at Fort Lockhart Stadium The team was originally supposed to play in the Orange Bowl The South Florida Soccer Summit held in May in Holly the club plans to retain the nickname Fusion but it will replace the To end the confusion between the tri-county area and to build loyalty the Fusion sources say will change its name to the South Florida Fusion Management is said to be worried that Lauderdale would alienate fans CHICAGO When the Miami Fusion takes on the Chi- cago Fire in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship Saturday night at Soldier Field it is expected to be the final game under that name Several sources close to the team have told The Herald that Fusion InvestorOperator Ken Horowitz could not be reached for comment Fusion vice president and general manager Doug Hamilton would not comment on specifics COLLEGE FOOTBALL Canes hurting on defensive line Davis: Players have to step up BY STEPHEN HOLDER sholderherald com Miami Hurricanes coach Butch Davis was rolling right along during his post-practice interviews when suddenly he found himself stumped by a seemingly simple question: who do you have left on the defensive Davis: see Uh When injuries ravage a unit Allen Polley among Butkus 'semifinalists JOHN GREIUCK AP -from Herald Wire Services NOTEBOOK 1 UP IN THE AIR: Quincy Hipps above blocking the pass attempt of Rutgers QB Chad Schwenk on Sept 30 could miss game against Temple with an injured right ankle (4-1) will start defensive ends Jamaal Green and Cornelius Green with William Joseph and Matt Walters at the tackles Davis must still figure out how to rotate players with limited availability Backups at tackle will be Santonio Thomas and Brian Stinson with LaVaar Scott and Larry Anderson filling in at the ends The remaining players will have to produce against a Temple squad that is playing with confidence having already improved on last 2-9 mark Also the Owls have the Big top rusher in Tanardo Sharps (1131 yards per game) years like he said year it was the running backs We had to play two freshmen And a couple years ago it was receivers In we finished the season against Syracuse and we only had five offensive linemen suited up for that game got to step up and play I Offensive guard Ed Wilkins (knee) and cornerback Leonard Myers (sprained foot) are doubtful for Saturday Dan Morgan and Florida State teammates Brian Allen and Tommy Polley were among 11 semifinalists named Thursday for the Butkus Award which honors the best linebacker in college football Other semifinalists: Keith Adams of Clemson Adam Archuleta of Arizona State Rocky Calmus of Oklahoma Carlos Polk of Nebraska Matt Smith of Oregon Ben Taylor of Virginia Tech Robert Thomas of UCLA and Eric Westmoreland of Tennessee Morgan the middle linebacker has turned in his best games in biggest games He had a crucial interception in the 27-24 upset victory over then-JNo 1 FSU on Oct 7 Polley a senior outside line- backer had reconstructive surgery on his left knee after hurting the joint in Florida national championship triumph over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl While he rehabbed Allen 'also a senior outside linebacker helped pull the Semi-n 1 defense together The list of 11 will be pared to three finalists on Nov 9 The award presentation will be held on Dec 8 DAVID BERGMAN HERALD STAFF LET IT LOOSE: A pro baseball career work out for Chris Weinke so he turned to football the way they have defensive line it is no wonder Davis is left scratching his head when trying to determine his personnel entering Big East game at Temple (4-3) Three starters on the defensive line are now forming a different line outside the training room as player after player falls victim to various ailments Tackle Damione Lewis the anchor is still slowed by a broken right foot Defensive end Quincy Hipps has an injured right anlde End Jevon Rhodes a starter early this season is bothered by an injured left heel Clint Hurtt was moved to the offensive line this week Davis made the move because he believes the position will put less strain on knees Hurtt has a history of knee problems sitting out 1998 after knee surgery been defensive line by Davis said just trying to get enough healthy guys to None of the aforementioned players has practiced this week They are likely to miss game No 4 Miami assets are up as experience pays off WEINKE FROM ID Gators given time off with Georgia up next KENTUCKY QB HURT Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen injured the thumb on his throwing hand during a drill in practice The Wildcats (2-5 0-4 SEC) will decide Saturday whether the redshirt freshman will start against No 12 Georgia X-rays showed no break Through seven games Lor-" enzen has completed 202 of 347 passes for 2182 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 intercep- heralded Minnesota high school quarterback accepted offer But coaches grimaced when Weinke arrived for his first practice was very recalls offensive coordinator Mark Richt thrown a ball in a competitive situation in six seven years His brain wanted to do one thing his body another His mechanics good his footwork Weinke learned slowly He played in two games his first year Then he broke out throwing for 2487 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore in 1998 In the 10th game Weinke went down with a neck injury Surgeons sliced into his back leaving a 12-inch scar Weinke missed the national championship game against Tennessee which FSU lost He also nearly lost the use of his legs Weinke escaped paralysis by inches BY IZZY GOULD UF NOTEBOOK Herald Writer tions OPENING THINGS UP him Bowden said after Weinke passed for 536 yards in 2Vi quarters last week against Duke could have broken every There are other differences between Vick and Weinke Like age Vick is old enough to remember first year in office Weinke remembers Warren Or so it seems age thing is an says Weinke a sports management major has helped in my time management skills going to get my degree this If Weinke is to make a run at the Heisman FSU must win out And Weinke must throw up numbers so dizzying voters will think on a carnival ride Which they are Weinke has taken the media into a world of make-believe Beat writers are accustomed to interviewing players worried about picking an agent not guys old enough to be an agent Reporters are accustomed to young athletes griping about small stipends not grown men explaining how they turned a $300000 investment into a $1 million portfolio of stocks and mutual funds Which Weinke has done Back in the 80s he was a pretty good baseball player So good the Toronto Blue Jays signed him in 1990 to a then-re-cord bonus $350000 Weinke bounced around the minors for seven years realized he had whiffed on one dream then headed to FSU to pursue another See back in the Bush administration before the Persian Gulf War Bowden had promised Weinke a scholarship if 3ie make it in baseball So Weinke once a term Florida State senior And you wonder: If Chris Weinke older than his 70-year-old coach then how come Bobby Bowden has more hair? Back to that body 28 years old if you believe the Seminole media guide That body has lifted once-beaten FSU (6-1) back into the national championship race at No 6 despite constant pounding Lifted Weinke himself into the Heis-man Trophy hunt despite a tender left ankle priority would be to run the Weinke says of winning his remaining five games know we make any mistakes Our chances of winning the national championship have not been Had he rallied FSU past Miami two weeks ago Bowden says Weinke might be the Heisman favorite Weinke did not falling three points short so Michael Vick of No 2 Virginia Tech a kid so young he remember disco remains the frontrunner a step ahead of Drew Brees Vick and Weinke be more dissimilar Vick plays his position like a running back He is Gale Sayers behind center blinding speed dazzling moves Weinke is Troy Aikman in the pocket strong body sure arm Vick averages 77 yards per rush Weinke 153 yards per completion Vick ran for more yards (210) three weeks ago against Boston College than anyone has for FSU since 1988 Weinke has thrown for more yards his past two games (1032 yards) than 25 Division 1A teams have all season what he could do if you left him in there and let GAINESVILLE The Florida Gators held their last practice of the week Thursday closing out the bye week early to allow players to have the weekend off before focusing on the Oct 28 Georgia game Coach Steve Spurrier offered this advice to his players: safe get in cars with guys that are drinking and certainly the players be trying to drive in that manner hang out in nightclubs unless you want to catch some Spurrier will spend the weekend at Crescent Beach with his family Freshman Shane Boyd a highly touted recruit from Lexington was expected to red-shirt this season but could be called into action against the Bulldogs Mark Perry is the third quarterback Neither has thrown a pass in a college game 1 I Georgia also comes into the game with an ailing quarterback Quincy Carter (left shoulder) practice Thursday and coach Jim Don-nan said he has no intention of playing him Saturday Spurrier opened practice to the media toward the end of the session Freshman players were scheduled to hold a short passing drill at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium but Florida Field was closed so the field could be worked on Instead quarterbacks Rex Grossman Jesse Palmer and Brock Berlin worked on seven-on-seven passing drills Spurrier said both Berlin and Palmer looked sharp Spurrier said he also was happy with the defense His story turned like a Hollywood script The following fall Weinke led FSU to a perfect season beating Virginia Tech and Vick in the national title game With one year of eligibility remaining he considered bolting for the NFL Then decided to stay reading the paper ECU NIPS LOUISVILLE David Garrard threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score to lead visiting East Carolina to a 28-25 victory over Louisville Garrard finished 11 of 2P for 174 yards to keep the Pirates (5-2 3-1 Conference USA) in the conference race INJURY UPDATE Middle linebacker Travis Carroll who has been suffering from an injured left knee could make his return against Georgia running Spurrier said think going to try and play next Defensive tackle Ian Scott who suffered an ankle injury during the Mississippi State game tested the ankle during running exercises at practice on Thursday Now here he is chasing a second ring and a block of granite Emotions swell at the memory of his injury The eyes moisten Then a reporter mentions that Weinke has thrown for more yards in his past two games than Vick has all season and Weinke smiles Then he excuses himself A roommate is waiting back home Someone who can relate to the aging quarterback A stockbroker Merrill Lynch Spurrier commented on a recent article he read from a Tennessee newspaper which said the Tennessee Titans are beginning to overtake the Tennessee Volunteers in popularity in some areas of the state pros are taking over up Spurrier said moral is never a good time to have a lqjsing season if the pros are independenceespn ESPN will televise the Independence Bowl through at least 2006 under a new contract This game scheduled for Disc 3L wiU pit teamfc from the BiglTandSEC --g-- i mm A Ai.