Seminoles without 36 players for bowl

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Thirty-six Florida State players won’t be going to the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl against Kentucky because of an academic cheating scandal, other violations of team rules or injuries.

Linebacker Dekoda Watson, cornerback Patrick Robinson, who had six interceptions, and three top defensive tackles were among the players sidelined either as a result of the ongoing investigation into an academic cheating scandal at the school or some other violation of team rules.

“It is very important that the media make clear that those missing the bowl trip are not included because of either injury or for a violation of team policy,” associate athletic director Rob Wilson said in a statement accompanying the travel list. “It would be irresponsible to imply or state that any or all of the student-athletes will miss the trip for one particular reason.”

The school announced earlier this week that 25 of its players were included in its ongoing investigation of academic wrongdoing by the athletes. It didn’t identify which students.

A violation of team rules could range from poor class attendance to a run-in with the law or failing a drug test, among many other things.

The Florida State roster was so thinned by the academic scandal that the team had room for 17 players on the traveling party who are either redshirt freshmen or athletes who suffered season-ending or career-ending injuries this season. Only 43 scholarship players area available to coach Bobby Bowden for the game.

Junior quarterback Xavier Lee, who started three games for the Seminoles, was among offensive players not traveling. The offensive line was also hit hard with tight ends Caz Piurowski and Charlie Graham, offensive tackle Damon Rose and guard Jackie Claude not making the trip.

The absence of defensive tackles Letroy Guion, Budd Thacker and Paul Griffin, linebacker Marcus Ball and defensive ends Neefy Moffett and Justin Mincey could lead to a big day for Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson.

The team’s top two tacklers — linebackers Derek Nicholson and Geno Hayes — will play.