Florida State's Marvin "Snoop" Minnis was declared academically ineligible yesterday, knocking the all-American wide receiver out of the Orange Bowl.
The third-ranked Seminoles (11-1) will meet top-ranked Oklahoma (12-0) on Jan. 3 in the BCS national championship game.
Minnis was Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke's favorite target during the season, catching 63 passes for 1,340 yards and 11 touchdowns. Weinke called the development a "shock to the whole team."
Athletic Director Dave Hart said Minnis would not accompany the team to the bowl game in Miami, the player's home town.
Minnis came out of relative anonymity this season as a fifth-year senior to become one of the nation's most dangerous receivers.
The Florida State depth chart lists Talman Gardner and Nick Maddox as the top two backups at flanker. They combined for 19 catches good for 333 yards and one touchdown. . . .
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The Virginia Cavaliers hope their problems getting to Hawaii will not follow them into the Oahu Bowl.
It took them 20 hours over two days to get from Charlottesville to Honolulu because of plane problems and poor weather.
Virginia (6-5) arrived at 2 a.m. yesterday after being delayed at Dulles International Airport. Once on board, the team's charter plane had to be de-iced and the computer system failed.
"It was 20 hours on the road, sitting on buses and airplanes, so they're not going to be real good today," Cavaliers Coach George Welsh said. "I have to do more today, otherwise, we'll never be never be able to play a decent game."
Because of the delays, Welsh--who arrived Tuesday--said he will shorten the daily practices in preparation for Sunday's game against No. 24 Georgia (7-4).
"Today is going to be a tough day for them with practice and a luau," Welsh said. "Hopefully they'll go to bed instead of going out tonight." . . .
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At least 13 football players misused a Minnesota telephone access code and will be suspended until they repay about $420 in charges, the school said.
Coach Glen Mason informed the players after practice of their punishment.
He said he expected all of them to repay before the team leaves on Friday for Miami, where Minnesota will play North Carolina State in the Micronpc.com Bowl on Dec. 28.
Carruth Implicated
The man who admitted shooting Rae Carruth's pregnant girlfriend testified in Charlotte that the former NFL player planned the slaying for six months.
Van Brett Watkins was called by defense lawyers, who apparently hoped he would confirm a jailhouse statement that he shot Cherica Adams because he was angry at Carruth. Instead, Watkins said the former Carolina Panthers wide receiver planned the attack.
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"I was very afraid of Rae Carruth," Watkins said. "He made me do it."
Watkins pleaded guilty to the Nov. 16, 1999, drive-by shooting of Adams, who was eight months pregnant with Carruth's child. The baby survived; Adams died a month later.
Philadelphia Deal
Philadelphia's City Council approved a $1 billion deal by a 15-2 vote to build two new sports stadiums.
Mayor John F. Street's plan calls for stadia for the Eagles and Phillies to be built near Veterans Stadium, where both teams play. The Eagles plan to open a 66,000-seat venue in 2003; the Phillies plan to open a 45,000-seat stadium in 2004.
Ingle Progresses
Paul Ingle opened his eyes, moved his hand and was breathing on his own four days after he had brain surgery and was placed in a drug-induced coma in Sheffield, England.
Ingle remains in critical but stable condition while recovering from a blood clot in his brain suffered during a loss Saturday in an IBF featherweight title fight against South Africa's Mbulelo Botile.
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FIFA Payment
World soccer's governing body has agreed to pay $10,000 each to the families of 13 fans who died in a stampede during a World Cup qualifying match in Zimbabwe.
FIFA also said it ratified the result of the July 9 match in Harare, which was stopped with 10 minutes remaining and South Africa leading Zimbabwe, 2-0. Chaos broke out after police fired tear gas to control unruly fans.
Kostelic Cruises
Croatian teenager Janica Kostelic won her fourth straight slalom race on the World Cup circuit in Sestriere, Italy. Norway's Trine Bakke took second and the U.S.'s Kristina Koznick was third. . . .
Hermann Maier's one-race ban for rules infractions was lifted by the International Ski Federation, allowing the Austrian star to compete in today's giant slalom in Bormio, Italy.
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