College Football Notebook: Miami, Florida St. square off tonight
By The Associated Press

Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford and Kyle Wright, his counterpart from Miami, are about to take center stage in one of college football's greatest rivalries.

Both will be making his first career start tonight when the ninth-ranked Hurricanes open the season against the 14th-ranked Seminoles in Tallahassee. Fla. - College Football -

What a way to make a first impression.

Wright took hold of the No. 1 spot in the spring and secured the starting job in the preseason. Ten of the last 11 Miami quarterbacks have won their first start. Ryan Clement's loss to Florida State in 1995 is the only blemish. - College Football -

Weatherford, meanwhile, didn't know until last week he'd be Florida State's starter.

The job came open when Wyatt Sexton was sidelined for the season with Lyme disease, and Weatherford outplayed Xavier Lee to earn the start.

Mississippi State

Mississippi State scrapped its smoke-filled sprint to the sideline before its season opener for a solemn, single-file walk to pay respects to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Before facing Murray State in Starksville, Miss., Saturday, players had their helmets cradled in their right arm, exposing stoic faces hardened by a week of tragedy. - College Football -

The Bulldogs paid their respects with a sobering pre-game processional to show their thoughts were with those along the Gulf Coast, in New Orleans and in countless shelters.

"This [past] week has never been all football -- it's all been in the backs of our minds," Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said. "You can't get away from it. I don't think the players did, and I know I didn't." - College Football -

Kentucky

Kentucky senior receiver Glenn Holt was taken off the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter of yesterday's game against Louisville after landing hard on his left shoulder. He was being defended by cornerback William Gay when he leaped to make a catch along the Louisville sideline. He landed on his left shoulder.

Holt lay motionless for about five minutes. A medical crew put Holt on a stretcher and he was wheeled off the field. Kentucky football sports information director Tony Neely said Holt was able to move his arms and legs. - College Football -

South Carolina

Former South Carolina coach Lou Holtz made headlines from Atlanta to Columbia two weeks ago when he predicted the Gamecocks would beat Georgia Saturday. Yesterday, current South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier wondered whether Holtz still felt the same way.

"I think that was before he saw us play and before he saw Georgia play," Spurrier said with a laugh. "Y'all go ask him now who he thinks is gonna win it, OK? Ask him who he's picking, and ask him how much he'd be betting on it if he could bet." - College Football -

South Carolina had to hang on to beat Central Florida -- winless last season -- 24-15 in its season opener Thursday in Columbia, S.C. No. 13 Georgia throttled No. 18 Boise State, 48-13.