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Florida State report No suspension for Janikowski after curfew snafu
Posted: Sunday January 02, 2000 09:27 PM
NEW ORLEANS (CNN/SI) -- Florida State All-America kicker Sebastian Janikowski will kick off at some point in the Sugar Bowl Tuesday night despite missing curfew on New Year's Eve. "When they put that ball out there to kick off, he's going to kick it," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said Sunday morning before a practice at the Louisiana Superdome. "Kids make a lot of mistakes, but you don't have to kick them off the team." Players who miss curfew on a bowl trip generally don't get to start the bowl game. Bowden has followed that practice in the past as have other coaches. But not with Janikowski, a back-to-back Lou Groza award winner who has already been named first team All-America by Walter Camp, Football News and the Football Writers of America for the 1999 season. Janikowski has also already said he will skip next season to enter the NFL draft. On the surface, there's not much Bowden can do to punish him. Asked if it appears Janikowski is receiving preferential treatment, Bowden said, "Does it appear to be? It does to me." Bowden did say he has decided on action to take against the brash kicker from Poland who has often bragged about staying out late the night before games. "We've still got ways of punishing him," Bowden said. "We'll get back at him." One of those ways was extra sprints at Saturday's practice with defensive back Reggie Durden joining him. Bowden, however, isn't overly concerned with the punishment of Janikowski, who was spotted in the Jackson Square area on New Year's Eve after midnight. Florida State's curfew that night was 11:30 p.m."He missed curfew, but I think this is much ado about nothing," Bowden said. "It's really not important." Janikowski avoided most questions about the incident before practice Sunday. "I didn't do anything that bad," was one of his few comments. Bowden said all of his players are dealing with boredom. "There's not much we can do anymore," he said. "The kids are bored to death. And everybody is trying to make sure they have a good time. We've done everything but play a football game." Florida State freshman offensive tackle Brett Williams agrees with his coach's assessment. "I think we're starting to get a little bored. We just want to get to the game already." The Seminoles looked out of it at their Saturday practice, but the team looked better Sunday and even ended the workout with a Dance. "I thought things picked up a lot today," Williams said. Bowden got away from New Orleans and football Sunday morning by speaking at the First Baptist Church in Covington, a bedroom community of New Orleans located across Lake Ponchartrain from the city. "I didn't preach," he said. "I don't do that. I gave what they call a testimony." Bowden said he did not pray for victory. "I never pray to win a football game," he said.
Practice reportDefensive tackle Jerry Johnson and defensive end Roland Seymour each missed practice Sunday with the flu. Janikowski closed practice by kicking a 45-yard field goal to cap off a one-minute drill. Janikowski is 26-of-36 during his career from 40 yards and out.
What's nextFlorida State will not practice Monday as originally scheduled. The Seminoles will attend a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast in the morning and meet in the afternoon.
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