Alabama coach Nick Saban said he supports Kenny Stabler and hopes he remains as the Crimson Tide's radio analyst for football games following Stabler's recent arrest on a drunken driving charge.

The University of South Alabama eventually will join Division 1-A and be a football-playing member of the Sun Belt Conference.

Finnegan, Tynes return to Milton for football camp.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football color analyst Ken Stabler has been granted a leave of absence for the upcoming season following his arrest on a drunken driving charge.

EA's NCAA Football 09 is an improvement on an all ready great game.

Today's look at what's happening in college football.

Three local semi-professional football teams — the Panhandle Crusaders, the Pensacola Lightning and the Pensacola Wolfpac — will be on display in the Pensacola area on Saturday night.

Major college football's winningest coach Bobby Bowden — his 373 victories lead Joe Paterno by one — won't put a date on it. But he reiterated that he'd like to take care of some business at Florida State before retiring.

In 2007, New York Giants' defensive tackle Fred Robbins achieved his main goal as a professional football player, winning his first championship in Super Bowl XLII.

For Chelsea Parmer, it's another B2B, the symbolic etching that Leon High flag football players wrote on their arms to represent their pursuit of back-to-back state titles.

Every league needs that first superstar, that one extraordinary player that can stir the masses and bring real publicity and interest to the sport.

Fifteen years ago, Charlie Ward was preparing to lead Florida State to its first football national championship season in school history. Earlier in the same year, 1993, he led the Seminoles' basketball team to an Elite Eight appearance, the deepest FSU has gone in the NCAA tournament since the 1971-72 team that ended the season as national runner-up.

GAINESVILLE — Recruiting in Alachua County and surrounding areas should be a lot easier for Florida A&M — at least that's the impression that a lively gathering of alumni gave football coach Joe Taylor last weekend.

Fifteen years ago, Charlie Ward was preparing to lead Florida State to its first football national championship season in school history. Earlier in the same year, 1993, he led the Seminoles' basketball team to an Elite Eight appearance, the deepest FSU has gone in the NCAA tournament since the 1971-72 team that ended the season as national runner-up.

Two Wakulla High standouts are going to continue their football careers at junior colleges.

There was plenty for James Coley to embrace as he talked about his first five months as Florida State's football recruiting coordinator on Wednesday.

The 2003 football season had come to this: two friends and veteran football coaches clashing in a game that would decide the MEAC championship.

EUGENE, Ore. — Even as he tried to catch his breath following the 200-meter semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Michael Ray Garvin knew where his focus needed to be next.

Anytime during the upcoming football season that coach Joe Taylor decides to show living examples of perseverance, he might just call Darrius Patterson and Marcus Joseph to the head of the line.

Of the words that could be used to describe the offensive line for the Florida State football team, young is just one.

For fullback Marcus Sims and wide receiver Richard Goodman, nothing would be sweeter than running onto the field in Doak Campbell Stadium with the real possibility of playing a down for the Florida State football team.

The Seminole Showcase that brings together the Florida State football program's past and future during a one-day instructional camp is Saturday. The coaches' annual hideaway in which final preparation takes place for the 2008 season will be held next week. And then on Aug.11, the Seminoles take to the practice fields for preseason camp.

It was 23 years ago when a high school senior by the name of Dexter Carter made the trek from Baxley, Ga. to Tallahassee for the annual Bobby Bowden Football Camp.

Just a few minutes into their voluntary 7-on-7 workout, the early-evening heat of summer began to get to the FAMU football players who came out.

Amid the gold shorts and gray T-shirts announcing the presence of the Florida State University football team, a familiar face joins the group.

Leon High receiver James Green exploded on the local football scene during the spring jamboree.

In private chats, Florida's Urban Meyer and Florida State's Bobby Bowden admitted last month that with Randy Shannon coaching the Canes, it has become increasingly difficult for them to lure top players from South Florida. But after recent lulls here, both are making a big push for top Dade and Broward 2009 prospects.

When North Miami Beach stunned defending national champion Northwestern 25-0 in a spring game last Friday, it signaled the end of a very productive 30 days of practice in South Florida. It also gave many football fans a chance to speculate and predict the 2008 season.

There was a time when you spoke of the Florida Keys, and it would be Key West High that would pop up with some of the impressive athletes the Conchs produced on the football field.

OVERALL Class 6A-4A Male Athlete of the Year: Brandon Harris, Booker T. (football, track). Finalists: T.Y. Hilton, Miami Springs (football, basketball); Jacory Harris, Northwestern (football); Luiz Yamashita, Varela (soccer); Tico Baez, South Dade (wrestling); Daniel Manco, Ferguson (cross-country, track); Olarenwajuk Adeyemi, Southridge (football, track).

Over the years, the Southridge football program has established itself as one of the top programs in Miami-Dade County. In that time, the Spartans have enjoyed what seems like an endless string of top-notch athletes that have played for them.

Miami Edison's 7-on-7 team went to Davie just looking for some fun. And they got it. The Red Raiders emerged from 20 teams Saturday to win the first Dolphins Academy 7-on-7 high school football tournament at Bamford Sports Complex, dropping Boyd Anderson 34-28 in the final.

Only a few months after producing one of the richest football recruiting classes ever by a Miami-Dade County school, Northwestern had its first player of the Class of 2009 commit to a Division I college.

Miami-Dade County already has a solid core of athletes destined to play big-time college football in their careers, and that list keeps growing every day with transfer students such as Kenny Whittaker.

Kenny Whittaker is a fighter. He's the kind of football player you want on your side in a fierce battle. He is the type of player who will never give up. While he brings all these accolades to the field, getting colleges to offer this gifted athlete has been tough.

Miami Booker T. Washington football coach Earl Tillman's tibia was broken during a brawl after a scrimmage against Pahokee at a Nike-sponsored 7-on-7 camp Saturday in Miramar Park.

In the wake of Saturday's brawl at the Nike 7-on-7 tournament at Miramar Regional Park, Booker T. Washington's football team decided to punish its players Thursday by skipping a trip to the adidas national tournament in Atlanta later this month.

The Northwestern football team lost 41 seniors to graduation since being crowned mythical National champions last season, but the Bulls don't rebuild they reload.

In the wake of Saturday's brawl at the Nike 7-on-7 tournament at Miramar Regional Park, Booker T. Washington's football team decided to punish its players Thursday by skipping a trip to the adidas national tournament in Atlanta later this month.

Fresh off its first state championship since 1999, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas' football team will play an ESPN-televised game in the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series in late August.

Conor O'Neill is a defensive menace for St. Thomas Aquinas, regardless of the sport. ``Two outs, runner on third base, single to left and the runner from third was fried at home plate, recalled James White, who plays both football and baseball for the Raiders. ``Conor came charging in and swoop, he got a rope to home. The runner didn't have a chance and we ended up winning the game.''

The University of South Florida landed two of the top recruits in Broward County over the weekend when it received commitments from Hallandale quarterback Victor Marc and cornerback Ricardo Dixon.

In private chats, Florida's Urban Meyer and Florida State's Bobby Bowden admitted last month that with Randy Shannon coaching the Canes, it has become increasingly difficult for them to lure top players from South Florida. But after recent lulls here, both are making a big push for top Dade and Broward 2009 prospects.

It was nearly seven months ago, but for Deerfield Beach football coach Art Taylor and his team, the heart-breaking loss to Northwestern in the Orange Bowl is something that they think about.

As American Heritage was winding down spring practice late last month, senior linebacker Brent Singleton was being his usual loud self on the football field.

Eric Samuels and James Watkins capitalize on their football talents.

Eric Samuels will not begin his senior football season at Umatilla for more than two months, but he already knows where he will be playing his collegiate football career -- at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Dr. Phillips grad Chris Wilkes passed on a chance to play quarterback for the Ole Miss football team and signed Sunday to play pro baseball as a 22nd-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander flew out Monday to report to the Padres' Arizona League rookie team in Peoria. Wilkes was 4-1 as a DP senior, with 60 strikeouts and a 2.27 ERA in 46 1/3 innings. In football, Wilkes passed for 1,360 yards and 16 touchdowns. "I think Chris just decided baseball was his avenue," said Mike Barefoot, DP's baseball coach. ". . . I think the Padres see a big kid with some potential. It's that magical word, potential."

Miami Booker T. Washington, Florida's reigning Class 4A state football champion, won the adidas 7on7 high school passing tournament at UCF on Sunday.

Groveland South Lake will send a top football recruit to the University of Florida for the second time in two years with OL Jonotthan Harrison's oral commitment Monday.

When Jonotthan Harrison was a freshman on the football team at South Lake, Coach Walter Banks didn't foresee the day when Harrison would be considered one of the top high school offensive guards in the country.

Derek Wolfe, who joined Trinity Prep's staff in the 2008 season, is the Saints' new head varsity baseball coach. The former Lake Mary standout and UCF assistant (2000-06) replaces Jim Newlin, who was an interim coach for the school in the Saints' 16-10 season last spring. Wolfe, who was head baseball coach at Hiwassee College of Tennessee for five seasons before coming to UCF, will teach and serve as a football assistant for Trinity Prep.

There was a day when summer football for high-schoolers was dedicated drudgery, hours spent lifting weights or running.

Eric Samuels, a rising senior running back at Umatilla, and James Watkins, a recently graduated football/track star at Umatilla, have both made choices on their collegiate careers according to Umatilla football coach Ron Timson.

Spring football games are exhibitions. But a 16-14 spring victory over longtime Seminole Athletic Conference power Lake Brantley felt good nonetheless for Hagerty, which has yet to win a varsity game on the field. The Huskies only official victory in...

Lyman, which scored more than two touchdowns in only one game in its 1-9 football season last fall, lit up the scoreboard in a 39-14 three-quarter victory over Oviedo in a spring exhibition last week. Greyhounds quarterback Antonio Wyche complete...

Apopka’s Jeremy Gallon, the Sentinel’s 2007 Central Florida Offensive Player of the Year, played a limited role due to a sprained ankle but the Blue Darters spread the ball around and totaled 390 yards rushing in their 35-14 spring football...

Recent Dr. Phillips grad Chris Wilkes passed on a chance to play quarterback for the Ole Miss football team and signed Sunday to play professional baseball as a 22nd round draft pick of the San Diego Padres. The 6-4, 235-pound...

Evans football speedster Ishmael Aristide was knocked off stride when his left knee buckled and he suffered an ACL tear making a cut with no contact in a kick return drill in his first week of spring football practice last...

Who knew two-hand touch would come back around to be a hot topic for high school football teams in the summer? Passers, receivers and coverage guys will play for two national tournament berths at this weekend’s adidas 7on7 tournament at...

Lake Mary football defensive end Demi Thompson (6-2, 240 pounds) orally committed to sign with South Florida while on campus for last weekend’s “Super Bull” camp. Thompson missed the first five games of his junior year due to a knee...

The lineup for the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series IV in Ohio and Texas has been announced, and it includes one Florida team -- 2007 Class 5A state champion Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

The second annual Under Armour All-America high school football game will move from Disney’s Wide World of Sports to the Florida Citrus Bowl next season, it was announced Thursday by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and ESPNU General Manager/Vice President Rosalyn...

There is so much new in Xavier Lee's world these days, about the only thing familiar to him are the yard lines on the football field.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Daytona Beach ThunderBirds, the area's ArenaFootball2 team, will play their final home game Thursday night and disband at the end of the season, management said Monday.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The ThunderBirds final home game at the Ocean Center turned out much like the fate of indoor football in Daytona Beach.

The recent shakeup in Lighthouse Christian Academy's athletics program has resulted in a former local star becoming the new head football coach.

Bayshore High graduate Danny Wood will play football next year at Division III powerhouse Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio.

Considering the high school football season is three months away, it might have been inevitable more questions were raised than answered in Lakewood Ranch's 25-7 loss against Arcadia DeSoto in Friday's spring game.

Lakewood Ranch High football coach Shawn Trent wanted his varsity newcomers to experience a baptism by fire Friday against Arcadia DeSoto to give them an idea what they'll be up against in the fall.

The time of Friday's spring football game at Joe Kinnan Field at Hawkins Stadium has changed.

Two former Southeast High football stars headed north of the border in an effort to return to the NFL.

Manatee High will be hosting Manatee Hurricanes Football Camp, beginning Monday, June 23 and running through Friday, June 27. The camp will be from 10 am-2 p.m. each day.

Saint Stephen's will get an early start to the 2008 football season.

Palmetto High's 2008 football schedule gives local fans their chance to see the team's newest rival.

Manatee High's football team will be looking for the ultimate treat on Halloween - a dose of sweet revenge.

The Lehigh Senior High School football team got help from two former players during this year's spring practice.

Naples High fullback Carlos Hyde has given a verbal commitment to Ohio State, said Bill Kramer, Naples' football coach.

Cypress Lake High School quarterback Christian Parsons passed for the equivalent of nearly a mile and a half last season.

North Fort Myers High School football player Tommy Bohanon has verbally committed to play at Wake Forest University.

Former Gateway Charter quarterback Patrick Ryan signed a letter of intent Thursday to play football for West Virginia State University.

BRADENTON — A high school football star from southwest Florida is charged with fatally shooting a man during a robbery.

Crew members with Ballard Sports were out early Tuesday to work on laying down the artificial turf on the Naples High School football field.

A month before last year’s spring football season, Steve Pricer had just been named the new head coach of Lely football. This spring season, he had a bit more time to prepare his squad, and because most of them had a full season of experience under their belts with Pricer at the helm, the result was a 24-17 win over Clearwater-Countryside High School last week.

Three of Southwest Florida's high school football teams kicked off their offseasons this week at Florida Atlantic University.

In 2004 senior Shawn McMann and his Lely teammates were cherishing the Trojans first successful season in a number of years. He was a key offensive lineman who opened holes for running back Fafa Alce, helping the Trojans go 7-4 after a 1-10 season the year before. Both received All-Star honors. Alce was named Lely’s Overall MVP, while McMann was the Offensive MVP.

“When do we get to tackle?” “Can I leave my helmet on in fun time?” “Mouthpiece. You can’t play without your mouthpiece.” Those were often-heard remarks at the Lely Youth Football Camp at Winterberry Park this week.

Sadly, coach Merv Ward never got his silver-screen fame the way high school football legend Harold Jones did in the heart-rendering movie “Radio.”

All Derrick Morse wanted was a chance. The Cleveland Browns were happy to oblige.

Collier County has lost a prep football legend. Merv Ward, architect of the Lely program and the first to coach an area school to a state championship game, passed away on Tuesday evening at the age of 68. Kathy, his wife of 32 years, discovered him outside the pair's East Naples home, a night before a scheduled check-up to address her husband's declining health over the past month. "From what we can tell, it was his heart," she said.

The Magician pulled some football tricks in his time, sure, but no one seemed surprised with Merv Ward's final act -- when he turned memorial service tears into gridiron grins and fond football memories. "You know how some wakes are about saying goodbye?" said Lely High athletic director Paul Ruby, who was a senior under Ward in 1987, when he led Lely to the Class 3A state title game.

Nick Alajajian could have gone anywhere, but like the lifelong Miami fan said on Tuesday, "Just 'cause I like 'em, that doesn't mean I have to go there."

Cheers, groans and friendly trash talk emitted from the Lely High weight room as the footballers got in their workout on Thursday.

This weekend, the Gulf Coast High School football team will look to make it 2-for-2 in summer seven-on-seven camps. Only this time, the Sharks hope winning a trophy will bring some national recognition.

Both the Cypress Lake and Gulf Coast high school football teams went 2-2 on the first day of the adidas 7-on-7 tournament at the University of Central Florida in Orlando on Saturday.

Naples High graduate Cleannord Saintil caught eight passes -- two for touchdowns -- for 95 yards to help the San Jose Sabercats to a 65-41 victory over the Colorado Crush in the Arena Football League's divisional playoffs on Saturday.

Last summer, Cleannord Saintil, collector of touchdown receptions and fine jewelry alike, earned his first championship ring as a professional athlete.

Two of South Florida's traditional powerhouse football programs were disqualified from a 7-on-7 tournament Saturday following a brawl at the end of their game.

Naples High graduate Cleannord Saintil and the San Jose Sabercats are going back to the Arena Bowl.

A high school football star from Lakewood Ranch is charged with fatally shooting a man during a robbery. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said 18-year-old Timothy Brooks, who plays quarterback and running back for Lakewood Ranch High School outside Sarasota, is charged in the Sunday night shooting death of 19-year-old William White Jr.

Gulf Coast High graduate Corey Small, a cornerback at Florida Atlantic University, has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.

No team in the Coastal Division has an easier path to the ACC championship game than Miami. A shorter trip, anyway.

A look at the local players at the state schools whose coaches spoke Thursday at the FSWA College Football Media Days.

Former Lely High School football player Ereck Plancher had sickle cell trait, which led to his death shortly after football practice at the University of Central Florida on March 18, according to an autopsy report released by the District 9 Medical Examiner’s office in Orlando on Thursday. Plancher was 19. He played wide receiver at Lely through fall 2006, when he was named offensive MVP after gaining 1,027 yards of total offense.

A look at the local players at the state schools whose coaches spoke Thursday at the FSWA College Football Media Days.

Webber International College doesn’t get much attention when it comes to college football programs in Florida, but perhaps it should.