National Spring Time Moments

[sea o' red]

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=804028

• While touring the Florida football offices, four-star tight end prospect Orson Charles posed for a photo with the Heisman Trophy won by Tim Tebow. In the process, he accidentally bumped into a table that held the Gators' 2006 national championship trophy. The $35,000 trophy toppled over and broke. Fortunately, it was insured, and another one is on the way. Ironically, Charles' high school coach had described him as a "bull in a china shop."

• Kansas State paid a quarter-million dollars to avoid a game against Fresno State. That's a Big 12 team paying $250,000 to cancel a home game against a WAC team. Of course, said WAC team whacked K-State 45-29 last year. In need of a replacement opponent, K-State offered $350,000 to Montana State, a Division I-AA program that went 6-5 in 2007. Meanwhile, Fresno State raised its level of competition by replacing Kansas State on its schedule with Rutgers.

• Florida State's best offensive player, wide receiver Preston Parker, was arrested in late April in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. The weapons charge is a felony, and Florida State's athletic code of conduct says any athlete facing felony charges isn't allowed to participate in games until the case is resolved in court. Parker was the Seminoles' MVP in 2007 after catching 62 passes for 791 yards and accumulating 1,513 all-purpose yards.

• Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk petitioned the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. The NCAA allows players five years to complete four years of eligibility, but in some circumstances will grant a sixth year. Mauk sat out a redshirt year in 2003 as a freshman at Wake Forest and played only one game in 2006 before enduring a season-ending injury. Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has tried to help Mauk by sending letters to the NCAA, but the NCAA denied Mauk's petition and his appeal. Mauk isn't giving up: He is trying one more appeal.

• Injuries are an accepted part of football, but Tennessee fullback David Holbert's broken leg would make even the most grizzled football observers squeamish. Holbert, who was coming back from last season's torn ACL, was hurt early in the Volunteers' first spring scrimmage. He was trying to catch a tipped pass when a hit by a defender caused his leg to break backward at a horrific angle. Photos circulated on the internet, but a word of warning to the morbidly curious: The image isn't for the faint of heart.