More Players Missing From Bowls

Team violations, academic ineligibility, injuries and other factors are stripping teams of key players for bowl games. <br><br>The latest absentee was Derek Watson, South Carolina's first 1,000-yard

Sunday, December 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Team violations, academic ineligibility, injuries and other factors are stripping teams of key players for bowl games.

The latest absentee was Derek Watson, South Carolina's first 1,000-yard rusher in four years, who will sit out the Outback Bowl against Ohio State. Jan. 1 for violating team policy.

Watson missed several practices and the team's Fan Appreciation Day Dec. 3. Watson and team officials said the absence was because of a death in the family.

Last week, Watson was unhurt when the car he was driving crashed at 3 a.m. Watson said a blown tire caused the accident. The police report said Watson was ticketed for driving too fast and driving with a license suspended for failing to pay a traffic ticket.

``It's unfortunate that Derek chose not to abide by the standards that our players must uphold,'' coach Lou Holtz said Saturday.

The most high-profile player to miss a postseason game will be Florida State receiver Marvin ``Snoop'' Minnis. He was declared academically ineligible last week, knocking the All-America receiver out of the Orange Bowl. The third-ranked Seminoles meet top-ranked Oklahoma Jan. 3 in the BCS national championship game.

Minnis was Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke's favorite target during the season, catching 63 passes for 1,340 yards and 11 touchdowns. Minnis was nine hours from graduation but did not satisfy the semester's requirements.

Another missing All-America will be Mississippi State cornerback Fred Smoot.

He was declared academically ineligible for the Independence Bowl game against Texas A&M on New Year's Eve.

Smoot failed to meet Southeastern Conference standards by not passing at least 50 percent of the minimum hours required for full-time student-athletes.

``I feel bad,'' Smoot said. ``I let more than myself down, I let my teammates, coaches and Mississippi State down. But it's all about education first and then football. And you can't have one without the other.''

Smoot was one class short.

``I thought I had everything under control,'' he said. ``But I came up short.''

Smoot led the Bulldogs with five interceptions, and had 55 tackles, 19 pass breakups, 2 tackles for losses and a blocked PAT.

Ohio State also will be without one of its top players, receiver Reggie Germany. He was declared out because of academic problems, reportedly for missing classes.

Germany was Ohio State's second-leading receiver with 22 catches for 366 yards and a touchdown.

Among others who won't be around for kickoff are:

â€” Georgia cornerback Tim Wansley sat out Sunday's Oahu Bowl game against Virginia because of a violation of the school's class attendance policy.

``He missed too many classes,'' coach Jim Donnan said.

Wansley led the SEC in interceptions with six, returning two for touchdowns.

â€” Auburn defensive end Alton Moore and free safety Roshard Gilyard. They will miss the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl game between the No. 20 Tigers and No. 17 Michigan because they failed to pass six credit hours â€” the SEC minimum for a bowl appearance.

â€” Michigan safety Justin Fargas and cornerback James Whitley. Fargas, a highly touted running back, was transferring. Whitley, Michigan's senior captain, was kicked off the team following an arrest on a concealed weapon charge.

â€”Florida defensive lineman Thad Bullard and offensive lineman Tommy Hillard. Bullard was declared ineligible for the Gators' Sugar Bowl matchup against Miami Jan. 2 for undisclosed reasons. Hillard quit the team after his third concussion.

â€”Clemson defensive ends Marcus Lewis and Nick Eason. Eason, who led the Tigers with seven sacks, has an Achilles' heel injury; Lewis, a freshman who was set to replace Eason, has a torn ligament. Clemson plays Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl Jan. 1.

â€”Boston College running back William Green and defensive back D.J. Sutton. Both were suspended for unspecified rules violations and will not play in the Aloha Bowl Monday against Arizona State. Green led the Eagles in rushing with 1,164 yards and 14 touchdowns.