TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State quarterback Chris Rix was suspended for the Nokia Sugar Bowl on Tuesday because he overslept and missed a final exam.
The move leaves the Seminoles without their top two quarterbacks for the Jan. 1 game against Southeastern Conference champion Georgia. Backup Adrian McPherson was kicked off the team last month after being accused of stealing a check.
Rix slept through a religion exam, an automatic suspension under a rule established after former Seminoles star Deion Sanders played in the 1989 Sugar Bowl despite not taking any final exams.
"It's an academic decision, there's no chance for him to play in the Sugar Bowl,'' coach Bobby Bowden said.
Rix, a sophomore, said he overslept because of a "personal family issue, which was weighing heavily on me.'' He did not elaborate.
"I apologize to my teammates, coaches and the fans as this is a difficult price to pay,'' he said in a statement released by the school. "I'm in good academic standing and am on track to graduate on time.''
Bowden said sophomore Fabian Walker from Americus, Ga., would start when the Seminoles (9-4) play the Bulldogs (12-1). Matt Henshaw becomes No. 2 and wide receiver Anquan Boldin, a high school quarterback, would be third string.
Walker played in three games, completing 5 of 8 passes for 74 yards.
You miss a bowl game because you overslept ...wow
Scott with info
The move leaves the Seminoles without their top two quarterbacks for the Jan. 1 game against Southeastern Conference champion Georgia. Backup Adrian McPherson was kicked off the team last month after being accused of stealing a check.
Rix slept through a religion exam, an automatic suspension under a rule established after former Seminoles star Deion Sanders played in the 1989 Sugar Bowl despite not taking any final exams.
"It's an academic decision, there's no chance for him to play in the Sugar Bowl,'' coach Bobby Bowden said.
Rix, a sophomore, said he overslept because of a "personal family issue, which was weighing heavily on me.'' He did not elaborate.
"I apologize to my teammates, coaches and the fans as this is a difficult price to pay,'' he said in a statement released by the school. "I'm in good academic standing and am on track to graduate on time.''
Bowden said sophomore Fabian Walker from Americus, Ga., would start when the Seminoles (9-4) play the Bulldogs (12-1). Matt Henshaw becomes No. 2 and wide receiver Anquan Boldin, a high school quarterback, would be third string.
Walker played in three games, completing 5 of 8 passes for 74 yards.
You miss a bowl game because you overslept ...wow
Scott with info
