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SPORTS PHOTO OF THE DAY..
Friday
Serena Williams of the U.S. falls to the court after trying to reach for a shot from her sister Venus during their match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York, September 3, 2008. REUTERS/Shaun Best
Thursday
Minnesota Twins base runner Nick Punto steals second base ahead of the tag by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop John McDonald (top) during the fourth inning of their MLB American League game in Toronto September 2, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Cassese
Wednesday
Camilo Villegas of Colombia lines up a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship golf tournament in Norton, Massachusetts September 1, 2008. REUTERS/Adam Hunger
Tuesday
River Plate's Radamel Falcao Garcia (L) is fouled by San Lorenzo's Sebastian Mendez during their Argentine First Division soccer match in Buenos Aires, August 31, 2008. REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian
Monday
Russian heavyweight boxer Nikolai Valuev (R) delivers a punch to his challenger John Ruiz of the U.S. during their WBA heavyweight boxing title fight in Berlin August 30, 2008. REUTERS/Michael Dalder
------------------ More About Tom... Tom Morgan has been 540 WFLA’s sports guy the station first went on the air (1/27/01). Since 1994, he's been apart of the play-by-play team of the Arena League's Orlando Predators. Tom also has been the studio host on UF football and basketball games. He did the play by play of the Gator basketball games in Las Vegas, including the top five matchup with Kansas, in 2006. Tom is also does play-by-play on the High School Football Game of the Week on Brighthouse TV each fall.
CORAL GABLES -- The last time Robert Marve played in a game, he led Tampa Plant high school to a victory over Nease in the Class 4-A state title game in 2006. Saturday night in the Swamp, Marve will make his collegiate debut at quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes when they go up against fifth-ranked Florida.
Marve, who was considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country two years ago, did not play in Miami's season opener last week because of a suspension. He was injured in an automobile accident last year and was redshirted. He says he's fortunate to be able to play Saturday night against the Gators.
"The car crash was pretty serious," said Marve. "To be able to go out there when some doctors said they didn't know if I would be able to play, its just a blessing to be out there. I'm going to have fun at it."
Florida coaches have had to watch tape from past Tampa Plant games to analyze Marve's performances.
Miami is a 21 point underdog to the Gators, who will try to end a six-game losing streak in the series. Kickoff is slated for 8 o'clock and the game will be nationally televised by ESPN.
In other state sports news...
--- Alex Rodriguez had another monster home run - and it didn't have to be reviewed by instant replay - but the New York Yankees still came up short against Tampa Bay 7-5. Willy Aybar homered and drove in three runs to back the pitching of Scott Kazmir as the Rays upped their lead over Boston in the AL East to 3 1/2 games. Kazmir allowed just one hit in six innings for his 11th win of the season. [ More ]
--- Daunte Culpepper has called it quits. The former UCF quarterback, who suffered a major knee injury in 2005, announced his retirement after nine seasons in the NFL. Culpepper played for the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders. [ More ]
Thursday 09-04-2008 6:12am ET
Jimbo Picks Ponder
TALLAHASSEE -- Christian Ponder has won the starting quarterback job at Florida State. Ponder will start Saturday's game against Western Carolina.
FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher picked Ponder over last year's starter Drew Weatherford and D'Vontrey Richardson Wednesday morning.
Weatherford, a senior, has started 33 games for the Seminoles, while sophomores Ponder and Richardson have yet to start their first game.
Fisher said Ponder was the most consistent in the quarterback competition. He also said Ponder can make plays with his legs and his arm.
In his only game experience at FSU, Ponder relieved Weatherford in last November's game at Virginia Tech. He completed 8 of 18 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 51 yards on 5 carries.
In other state sports news...
--- Jacksonville Jaguars lineman Richard Collier remains hospitalized in critical condition from a shooting Tuesday morning. The Jaguars, meanwhile, returned to practice still thinking about their teammate, who is fighting for his life less than two miles away.
--- The Florida Marlins' fans have apparently lost interest in their team. Fewer than 600 fans showed up for Wednesday afternoon's 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. The ballpark was so quiet that home plate chatter could be heard. [ More ]
--- The New York Yankees knocked off the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight game, 8-4. Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a ninth-inning homer that was upheld by instant replay. That's the 549th career homer for A-Rod, who passed Mike Schmidt for 12th place on the all-time list. The loss trimmed Tampa Bay's lead over Boston in the A-L East to three games. [ More ]
Wednesday 09-03-2008 6:37am ET
UCF Not a USF Rival
TAMPA -- The battle of words continues as 17th ranked USF and UCF get ready for their Saturday showdown in Brighthouse Networks Stadium in Orlando. The series between the two schools separated by 100 miles ends with this game. South Florida routed UCF in last year's game 64-12.
"We have Miami next year, so maybe we'll start something there," said Groethe. "I think more of a rivalry between us is West Virginia or Louisville or Cincinnati. I'd rather have them as a rivalry than UCF anyways."
Groethe said he's not concerned that UCF may use some of his comments after last year's game as Bulletin Board material this week.
Saturday's game kicks off at 7 pm and will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
In other state sports news.
--- Florida's star receiver Percy Harvin had a second good day of practice and he expects to play in Saturday's game with Miami. Harvin has been brought along slowly by the medical staff after his offseason heel surgery. In other Gator news, kick returner Brandon James was named the SEC's Special Teams Player of the Year. [ More ]
--- Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier remains hospitalized in critical condition after being shot early Tuesday morning. According to authorities, Collier and a former teammate were waiting in a car for some women outside of an apartment when they were attacked. [ More ]
--- Mike Mussina picked up his 17th win and Alex Rodriguez and Xavier Nady homered as the New York Yankees slowed the Tampa Bay express with a 7-2 victory over the Rays. Tampa Bay's lead in the AL East was trimmed to four games over Boston, which beat Baltimore 14-2. [ More ]
--- Florida lost a slugfest with the Atlanta Braves 16-14. Kelly Johnson had four hits and four rbi's for the Braves, who banged out 21 hits. The Marlins had 15 hits in the loss. [ More ]
Marve, who was considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country two years ago, did not play in Miami's season opener last week because of a suspension. He was injured in an automobile accident last year and was redshirted. He says he's fortunate to be able to play Saturday night against the Gators. 
FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher picked Ponder over last year's starter Drew Weatherford and D'Vontrey Richardson Wednesday morning.
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