FSU throws Jared Jones off team
 |
|
||||||||||
Jared Jones, a third-year junior from Walla Walla who figured to be No. 1 heading into spring practice, was dismissed from the Florida State football team for an unspecified violation of team rules. His ouster leaves Florida State with only one quarterback, freshman Chris Rix, on the current roster.
Jones, a former Parade All-American from Walla Walla, was unavailable for comment. His telephone number in Tallahassee had been disconnected.
"When I first heard, it was pretty shocking," said Jeff Bowden, the Seminoles' receivers coach and likely offensive coordinator. "It really puts us in a bad situation, a predicament. We're going to try and solve it with recruiting, but we've never been in this situation before (one quarterback) that I can remember."
University academic officials said Jones was in satisfactory standing. A background check of Jones revealed no criminal record, either. Florida State athletes are also routinely tested at random for drug usage, but those results are protected under privacy laws.
Bowden, meanwhile, is the choice of his father, Coach Terry Bowden, for the vacant offensive coordinator position. But school president Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte has expressed concern about violating a university policy on nepotism.
** Youngstown State picked defensive coordinator Jon Heacock on to take over as coach following Jim Tressel's departure to coach Ohio State.
Golf
On a day when Andrew Magee made what was believed to be the first hole-in-one on a par 4 on the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods shot a methodical 6-under 65 Thursday to get within one shot of defending champion Tom Lehman and two others.
Not even an orange tossed by a spectator that went rolling by Woods as he stood over a birdie putt on his final hole could mar a bogey-free round that saw a relaxed Woods joking with partner Olin Browne and talking Stanford basketball with his caddie.
"It could have been better but I had a couple of lip outs," Woods said. "I was playing well in practice, so it was just a question of bringing it into the tournament."
Woods was about ready to hit a 20-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole, his last, when a spectator threw a large orange from a hill that went rolling across the green about 30 feet from Woods. He stepped back and looked into the crowd, then missed the putt.
"It could have been dangerous if he had hit someone," Woods said. Police detained a 15-year-old boy and tournament officials said they planned to press charges. The officials said the boy told them he threw the orange on a dare.
** Jackie Gallagher-Smith and Wendy Ward shot 4-under-par 66s in windy conditions to share the first-round lead in The Office Depot in Miami.
Two-time defending champion Karrie Webb opened with a 1-under 69.
** In East London, South Africa, South Africa's Hennie Otto shot a 7-under 65 to take the lead during the rain-delayed first round of the South African Open.
NCAA
The Nevada Gaming Commission lifted a long-standing ban on gambling on Nevada college sports teams and tightened other regulations on casino sports book bets.
The moves were criticized immediately by an official with the NCAA.
"They've expanded college sports wagering," said Bill Saum, director of the NCAA's agent and gambling activities office in Indianapolis. "They actually went the opposite direction we were hoping for."
Baseball
The Angels avoided salary arbitration with pitcher Mike Holtz by agreeing to a $705,000, one-year contract. They also signed Wally Joyner, who played his first major-league seasons in Anaheim, to a minor-league contract.
** Former World Series MVP Ray Knight has had the most serious hunting-related charges against him dropped by state wildlife authorities.
Earlier this month, Knight was charged with hunting from a public road, hunting from a motor vehicle, hunting without permission and hunting deer at night.
-- Seattle Times news services