Busy summer for FSU hoops commit Okaro White

FSU hoops commit Okaro White has not had much time off from basketball since leading Clearwater to the Class 5A state championship game in March.

The past four months have been a whirlwind for White, who has traveled the country playing in offseason basketball camps and tournaments. Last month, he was in the NBA top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Va. From there, White went to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemire’s Nike Elite Camp. Last week, he was in Akron, Ohio for LeBron James Skill Camp.

It doesn’t end there.

White was in South Carolina this past weekend for the Nike Peach Jam. He also has camps and showcases in Phoenix and Las Vegas this month.

“It’s been pretty hectic,” White said. “I’ve had a lot of trips on airplanes and I’ve been sleeping in hotel rooms. But it’s been a good experience.”

Read more HERE.

Florida State's Mike Martin Jr. named top ACC assistant

Florida State's Mike Martin Jr. was named the ACC assistant baseball coach of the year by SEBaseball.com

Martin Jr., who just finished his 12th season on his father's staff, helped the Seminoles' hit .321. He was a candidate to take over at Wake Forest.

Meanwhile, the site recognized second baseman Jason Stidham, shortstop Stephen Cardullo, outfielder Tyler Holt, ace Sean Gilmartin and pitcher/outfielder Mike McGee as first-team all-ACC picks. Third baseman Stuart Tapley was honorable mention by SEBaseball.com.

Five Florida State Seminoles named to U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association all-academic team

Javier Garcia-Tunon, Gonzalo Barroilhet, Bryan Howard, Matt Leeder and Travis Whitfield were named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association men's all-academic track and field team.

Florida State soccer coach Mark Krikorian names new assistant, Mike Bristol

Florida State soccer coach Mark Krikorian named Mike Bristol the team's new assistant who will work with the goalkeepers.

Bristol, who has been an assistant at Illinois State and Maryland, spent the last six seasons with the Eclipse Select Soccer Club in Libertyville, Ill. At FSU, Bristol has three talented goalkeepers to develop -- sophomore Erin McNulty, who sat out last year while she played for Canada's national team, redshirt junior Kimberly Diaz and heralded freshman Kelsey Wys.

"Having three very good goalkeepers coming into preseason training, we felt it was essential to find the very best goalkeeper coach possible,'' Krikorian said. "We know that Mike will come in and help our players continue to develop and grow in our program.''

Bristol takes over for Paul Rogers, who left after two years to become the goalkeeper coach for St. Louis in the Women's Professional Soccer League.

Former Florida State Seminole Hassan Jones charged

Fomer Florida State Seminoles football player Hassan Jones was arrested on charges related to an incident involving his wife and daughter. Jones, 45, faces charges of aggravated assault and felony domestic battery after police say Jones grabbed a Callaway Big Bertha driver, waved it at his wife and daughter and screamed that he was going to strike each of them in the head. He also used the club to hit walls near the victims, the police reports said.

Jeff Bowden talks about his experience since leaving Florida State football

Jeff Bowden hasn't been to Doak Campbell Stadium in 2 1/2 years since shortly after he left the coaching staff. He talks extensively about his time away for the first time in an interview today with the Orlando Sentinel. "I don't look back," he said. "And I'm not bitter about it. I'm really not."  

Also, we told you last week about "A Day with the Bowdens," a fund raiser for the University of North Alabama, featuring Bobby Bowden and his coaching sons, Tommy, Terry and Jeff. It's today in Florence, Ala. Terry is the new head coach at North Alabama and Jeff is on his staff. The event is billed as the first time the four have been featured speakers at an event.

Florida State soccer players busy with national teams

It's a busy week time for Florida State soccer players. Forwards Toni Pressley and Tiffany McCarty and midfielder Casey Short are in training camp with the U.S. Under-20 national team in Colorado as it continues its preparation for the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Meanwhile, incoming freshmen Kelsey Wys (goalkeeper) and Alex Crown (midfielder) are in Colorado with the U-18 national team camp.

The U-20s play Canada's U-20 team today and Thursday, while the U-18s play the Canadian U-20 team on Sunday.

So much for summer vacation, huh?

2009 Florida State Seminoles football countdown: N.C. State

We're counting down to the 2009 Florida State Seminoles football season, which starts in less than two months. We're taking a daily look at this year's opponents. Today, North Carolina State.

Oct. 31: Florida State vs. North Carolina State, TBA
2008 records: FSU 9-4, 5-3 ACC; North Carolina State 6-7, 4-4

Last meeting: Florida State beat N.C. State 26-17 Oct. 16 in Raleigh.

Wolfpack outlook: Coach Tom O'Brien still is trying to rebuild. QB Russell Wilson is key to the offense when he can stay on the field, but injuries were a problem in his freshmen season. The defense was woeful last year but has seven starters back. Whether that proves to be a good thing is yet to be determined.

Former Florida State star linebacker Marcello Church gets probation in sex case

Former Lakewood High and Florida State star Marcello Church, arrested in April on a charge of sex with a minor, was sentenced to four years probation in a plea deal that followed a poignant letter of support from the alleged victim.

In her 2 ½ page letter to the state attorney’s office, the young woman, who was 17 when St. Petersburg police say she had sex on four separate occasions with Church, 27, asked authorities not to prosecute the case.

“What this young lady did showed a lot of courage,’’ said James Eckert, Church’s attorney. “She knew it was going to be used in open court.’’

She wrote that she wasn’t a victim by any definition and she in fact was the “aggressor.’’ She said her father was the "only person adamant about pressing charges because he feels as though Marcello took advantage of me'' and that she and Church have learned from their mistakes in judgment and both have suffered enough.

“Marcello, because he was arrested his record is forever tarnished,’’ she said, “and me, because in the back of my mind, I am perpetually the underlying cause of this whole situation.’’

Despite warnings that she could be prosecuted, she would not participate further and would not testify if the case proceeded.

“I am 18 now so I hope that I am able to have a voice in the outcome of this case,’’ she said.

Church pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of child abuse. An adjudication of guilt was withheld and, in addition to the probation (that can’t be terminated early), Church was ordered not to have any contact with the young woman and to pay $550 in court costs.

2009 Florida State Seminoles football countdown: North Carolina

We're counting down to the 2009 Florida State Seminoles football season, which starts in less than two months. We're taking a daily look at this year's opponents. Today, North Carolina.

Oct. 22: Florida State at North Carolina, 8 p.m.
2008 records: FSU 9-4, 5-3 ACC; North Carolina 8-5, 4-4

Last meeting: Florida State beat North Carolina 38-16 in 2004.

Tar Heels outlook: North Carolina has high hopes for its front four of DEs E.J. Wilson and Robert Quinn and DTs Marvin Austin and Cam Thomas. Although QB T.J. Yates returns after starting six games last season, he lost his top receivers, so the Tar Heels may struggle to establish an offense.