Page 12 - HOH

A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 29 november 2023

No. 4 Florida State heads to ACC title game looking to add to ‘Sod

Cemetery’ and ‘finish for 13’

By Mark Long that for you.’ He’s smiling
Associated Press and just feels genuine joy.
(AP) - Kneeling in the south Even though he wasn’t on
end zone at Ben Hill Griffin the field with us, he was still
Stadium, Florida State run- there.”
ning back Trey Benson tried Travis really got FSU’s spe-
to cut out a chunk of grass cial season started last
with scissors. It wasn’t work- December when he an-
ing on the orange-painted nounced he would return
turf, so teammate Jared for a sixth year, the last five
Verse stepped in to help. in Tallahassee after begin-
Together, and despite a ning his college career at
police officer trying to dis- Louisville. Standout receiv-
suade them from finishing er Johnny Wilson made a
the task, they found suc- similar announcement the
cess with their bare hands. following day and then
They ripped out a keep- Benson joined them two
sake destined for the pro- days later.
gram’s famed “Sod Cem- Verse waited until January
etery” in Tallahassee. to declare his intentions. A
It could be the first of sev- first-team All-ACC selec-
eral souvenirs for the fourth- tion after leading Florida
ranked Seminoles (12-0) State with 14 1/2 tackles for
over the next month. Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach (4) celebrates with defensive lineman Patrick Payton loss in 2022, including 7 1/2
Nearly a year after several (11) after he intercepted a Florida pass late in the second half of an NCAA college football sacks, Verse turned down
key players opted to stay game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) NFL millions to run it back
in school and chase cham- with teammates.
pionships Verse and star the College Football Play- mantra that is a shoutout to put on (a show) for him. We All those guys surely helped
quarterback Jordan Travis off on the line, and even Travis’ jersey number and gave everything we had. I coach Mike Norvell land
led the way FSU is on the with Travis now a spectator all he has done for the pro- feel like everybody hit an- stud transfers like receiver
verge of another one. The because of a gruesome left gram. other mental gear, anoth- Keon Coleman (Michigan
‘Noles will play No. 15 Lou- leg injury sustained in the “It means a lot,” Verse er physical gear, that we State), tight end Jaheim
isville (10-2) in the Atlan- team’s home finale Nov. said. “The whole season, 11 don’t talk about enough. Bell (South Carolina), de-
tic Coast Conference title 18, players and coaches games, he was there every That’s what we’re capable fensive tackle Braden Fiske
game Saturday in Char- refuse to settle for any- step of the way. … He’s still of. “After the game, you (Western Michigan) and
lotte, North Carolina. thing less. They have even there. It means so much look him in the eyes and cornerback Fentrell Cy-
Florida State has a spot in embraced a “finish for 13” for us to go out there and we’re like, ‘Hey, we did press II (Virginia).q

Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates advance to semifinal stage for

Pro Football Hall of Fame

By Josh Dubow Johnson, Torry Holt, Patrick Peppers and Gates were
Associated Press Willis, Willie Anderson and both college basketball
(AP) - Three-time All-Pros Darren Woodson all looking players before finding their
Julius Peppers and Antonio to get in after falling short a greatest success in football.
Gates were chosen as semi- year ago. Peppers was one of the
finalists for the Pro Football The other semifinalists are league’s most dominant
Hall of Fame’s class of 2024 Eric Allen, Anquan Boldin, linemen after being picked
in their first year of eligibility. Jahri Evans, London Fletch- second overall by Carolina
Peppers and Gates head- er, Eddie George, James in 2002 following a two-
line a group of 25 mod- Harrison, Rodney Harrison, sport career in college at
ern day semifinalists an- Robert Mathis, Steve Smith North Carolina.
nounced Tuesday by Sr., Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, He had 12 sacks as a rookie
the Hall of Fame from a Ricky Watters, Reggie and never really slowed
group of 173 nominees an- Wayne and Vince Wilfork. down in a 17-year career
nounced in September. The 25 semifinalists will be that included stops in Chi-
The only other player who reduced to 15 finalists be- cago and Green Bay be- Carolina Panthers’ Julius Peppers looks on from the sidelines
advanced to the semifinal fore the final voting process fore ending with the Pan- during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa
stage for the first time was in January. The 15 finalists thers. He was an All-Pro in Bay Buccaneers in Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 24, 2017.
running back Tiki Barber. will be trimmed to 10 and 2004, 2006 and 2010. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone, File)
Eight players who made it then five during the selec- Peppers finished his ca- Hall of Famers Bruce Smith Gradishar, Steve McMi-
to the final stage of 15 in tion meeting early next reer with 159 1/2 sacks (13) and Reggie White (12) chael and Art Powell in the
the class of 2023 return as year. The final five candi- the fourth most since they had more. Four finalists senior category.
semifinalists this year with dates will need to get 80% became official in 1982 previously announced are They also will get in if they
Jared Allen, Dwight Free- of the votes from the panel and had 10 seasons with Buddy Parker in the coach- get support from at least
ney, Devin Hester, Andre to get into the Hall. double-digit sacks. Only ing category, and Randy 80% of voters.q