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Sunday, December 31, 2000

MIAMI -- Was Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden getting religion -- finally? After years of winking at misconduct, was the legendary coach tiring of the antics of his players? Or had FSU -- Free Shoes University -- had enough of the image it seemed to have carefully cultivated over the years as much too willing to overlook transgressions by football players?

Whatever the case, everyone was astonished about two weeks ago when Florida State announced that All-American senior wide receiver Marvin "Snoop" Minnis was suspended.

Minnis was nothing less than the team's best receiver and the favorite target of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Chris Weinke. Minnis led the Seminoles in receptions (63), yards (1,340) and touchdowns (11) and was integral to the Seminoles' phenomenal offensive success.

"It's a shock to the whole team," Weinke said.

And to the college football world.

With a national championship on the line, it wasn't like Florida State to start nit-picking over matters as mundane as attending class.

And so it is that the Seminoles will play Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl Wednesday night with consecutive national championships within reach without their most spectacular offensive performer.

But there appears to be a shortage of concern from the people who count with Florida State. And with good reason. The Seminoles, it turns out, have a stable of fleet, talented, sure-handed and anonymous receivers ready to replace Minnis. At Florida State, there's always someone waiting for an opportunity.

The Seminoles haven't slipped a notch this season despite losing four wide receivers who went to the NFL.

If the likes of Peter Warrick (first round), Ron Dugans and Laveraneus Coles (third round) and Germaine Stringer (free agent) can be replaced, surely Minnis, despite his superb skills, could.

With that group of receivers (mostly minus Coles who was thrown off the team early last season in another rare burst of Bowden discipline), the Seminoles passed for 3,332 yards and 27 touchdowns. With a new group of starters, none of whom had caught more than 19 passes last season, the passing numbers surged to 4,608 yards and 36 touchdowns.

Only Florida State could lose a Peter Warrick and get better.

So what if Minnis is gone? The Seminoles have Anquan Boldin, Atrews Bell, Robert Morgan and Javon Walker.

Never heard of them? You will.

"One man's adversity leads to another man's opportunity," Bowden said. "Somebody gets hurt and can't play. Somebody gets suspended and can't play. And that's a chance for somebody else. This is what they came here for. Some of them are tired of waiting their turn and are going to get their turn."

Boldin, who was second to Minnis in receptions (41) and yards (664), could be the next great Florida State receiver. He was a wildly coveted high school quarterback in Florida, a Parade All-America who won virtually every award a high school player can win while throwing for 2,842 yards and 36 touchdowns and running for 1,497 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior.

With all the leverage in recruiting, Boldin made it clear he was going to Florida State to play quarterback and would not accept a switch to another position.

Two days into preseason camp, he requested a move to wide receiver.

"We were excited about him as a future quarterback," said Jeff Bowden, the coach's son and wide receiver coach. "But I was happy to have him."

Bell, a junior who has caught 37 passes for 675 yards and 10 touchdowns, was another high school quarterback. Jeff Bowden called him "the hardest worker I've ever had."

Morgan and Walker, juniors who combined for 39 receptions, reek of talent.

"Two of them will be drafted and the other two might play in the pros, too," Jeff Bowden said. "But I'm not going to tell you which two."

It doesn't really matter. The names of different, the high level of skill is the same.

Nothing stops Florida State, not even something as unconventional for the Seminoles as discipline.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.