Wednesday, September 24, 2003

FSU's Rix parks car in wrong spot once again



The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State quarterback Chris Rix was ticketed again Tuesday for a parking violation, this time for leaving his vehicle in a spot reserved for patients at the school's regional rehabilitation center, university police said.

Rix was ticketed last week for parking in a handicapped-only spot and was fined $100. Tuesday's offense, which will cost Rix $20, was reported by a student who took several photos of Rix's vehicle, university officials said.

"We have no explanation," vice president for university relations Lee Hinkle said. "Ask Chris Rix."

Rix refused to comment about the latest incident after Tuesday's practice. University police said the player's vehicle was ticketed at 11:10 a.m., school officials confirmed.

Team officials imposed a punishment of extra running drills against Rix this week, in response to the previous ticket. More penalties are possible, coach Bobby Bowden said Tuesday.

"He's not above the rules and he apparently hasn't learned that yet," Bowden said. "Obviously running him every morning hasn't helped it sink in so we'll use a stronger method to get the point across."

NOTRE DAME: Carlyle Holiday and Brady Quinn will compete this week for the starting quarterback job. Coach Tyrone Willingham stopped short Tuesday of calling it a tryout, saying the decision on who would start Saturday against No. 22 Purdue would be based on how they practice and their "previous history."

TEXAS CHRISTIAN: TCU suspended assistant coach Willie Mack Garza on Tuesday following his weekend arrest on charges of driving while intoxicated and failing to render aid to an injured person.

ALABAMA: A judge plans to dismiss most of Mike Price's $20 million lawsuit over his firing as Alabama's football coach, a job he lost over claims of drunken behavior in Florida.

Ruling during a hearing Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler said the University of Alabama and its trustees were immune from being sued over Price's dismissal last spring.