Minus Minnis, Florida State receivers catching up

MIAMI (AP) _ Right now, they're known as Florida State's other receivers. By the time the Orange Bowl is over, that could all change. <br><br>At least, Chris Weinke hopes so. <br><br>With All-American

Saturday, December 30th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ Right now, they're known as Florida State's other receivers. By the time the Orange Bowl is over, that could all change.

At least, Chris Weinke hopes so.

With All-American flanker Snoop Minnis out of the game because of messed-up academics, Weinke already is planning on picking out new targets.

``I call them the no-namers,'' the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback said Friday. ``It's not like everyone in the country knows the Javon Walkers and Atrews Bells and Anquan Boldins.''

Not yet, anyhow. A big show Wednesday night against No. 1 Oklahoma would take care of that.

``We're the only game on TV that night. The whole nation will be watching,'' Walker said. ``They'll see what we can do.''

On a team that throws the ball more than it runs, Minnis already had made his mark. The senior led the Seminoles with 63 catches for 1,340 yards and 11 touchdowns, including a 98-yard grab for the longest pass play in school history.

Minnis had hoped to end his college career by helping third-ranked Florida State win its second straight national championship. In his hometown, no less.

Now, the best he can imagine is standing on the sidelines while his teammates take over. It's not even certain if he'll be there.

Minus Minnis, who did not make the required grades on final exams and was declared ineligible on Dec. 20, the Seminoles will count on their deep platoon of speedy receivers.

They've done it before.

Last year, after NFL-bound Peter Warrick and Laveranues Coles were arrested in a shopping mall scam in midseason, Weinke was forced to find other targets.

``Chris just spread the ball around a little more, and we didn't miss a lick,'' coach Bobby Bowden said. ``Can we replace 11 touchdown catches? I don't know. There could be a dropoff there, unless somebody decides he wants to play as good as he did.''

Said Weinke: ``Yeah, we're going to miss him. But it's not like I always picked him out to get him the ball. I throw it to who's open.''

Wide receivers coach Jeff Bowden, son of Bobby, said the Seminoles have made some switches in formations to make up for Minnis, yet nothing drastic.

There haven't been any motivational speeches about his absence, either.

``You can't coach them to `Win one for Snoop,''' the older Bowden said.

Tailback Travis Minor was second on the team with 42 catches, although Boldin (41), Bell (37) and Walker (20) turned in more big plays through the air.

Robert Morgan, who averaged almost 20 yards per play on his 19 catches, also could find himself in the mix.

``You've got the Heisman Trophy winner back there and big-play receivers on the perimeter,'' Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said.

Bell, a former walk-on who blossomed to catch 10 TD passes this season, is sure the Seminoles can cover for Minnis.

``The coaches know what they have here,'' he said.