Rix Ineligible After Missing Final Exam

Florida State on Tuesday declared starting quarterback Chris Rix ineligible for the Sugar Bowl because the former Santa Margarita High player had overslept and missed a final exam last week.

“I know we, as players, are aware of the rule about not missing an exam,” Rix said in a prepared statement. “Due to a personal family issue, which was weighing heavily on me, I slept through an early final exam. I apologize to my teammates, coaches and the fans, as this is a difficult price to pay.”

The disciplinary action was required by a state policy, said Jeff Purinton, a spokesman in the Florida State athletic department. Known as the “Deion Sanders rule,” the policy was adopted after Sanders had played in the 1989 Sugar Bowl without having taken any final exams.

“It’s an academic decision, there’s no chance for [Rix] to play in the Sugar Bowl,” Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden said.

Purinton said Rix, a redshirt sophomore who was the Atlantic Coast Conference’s freshman of the year in 2001, was enrolled in four courses. Purinton would not confirm reports that the final exam Rix missed was in a religion course, and said Rix had not elaborated about the family issue.

Sophomore Fabian Walker, who has thrown eight passes in three games, will start at quarterback in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in New Orleans, where the 16th-ranked Seminoles (9-4) will play No. 4 Georgia (12-1). Walker played high school football in Americus, Ga., and chose to attend Florida State over Georgia after setting state records in yards passing, 8,281, and touchdown passes, 81.

“I don’t know really what happened, but I am excited to get to start,” Walker said.

Rix began the season as starting quarterback but completed only 13 of 32 passes in a 34-24 home loss to Notre Dame and was replaced in the next four games by sophomore Adrian McPherson.

Rix returned to the starter’s role in the season finale against Florida when McPherson was dropped from the team Nov. 25 for involvement with a stolen check that led to criminal charges.

In the regular-season closer against Florida, Rix threw for two touchdowns in a 31-14 victory. He practiced with the Seminoles on Monday, delivering two long passes to receiver Dominic Robinson, according to the university’s practice notes.

“I had no clue this was going to happen; I don’t think anyone did,” Robinson said. “[Rix] wasn’t out there [Tuesday], and people were really whispering about it when [starting receiver] Anquan Boldin was asked to take snaps with the second team.”

Tight end Matt Henshaw will be the Seminoles’ other quarterback option against Georgia.

Said Rix: “I talked to the university about my circumstances, but the decision had already been made.”