FSU's Warrick Won't Start Sat.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden did something Friday that North Carolina's defense can only hope to do Saturday. He slowed down Peter Warrick.

Warrick, who is averaging almost 20 yards a catch for the fifth-ranked Seminoles, will not start Saturday against the Tar Heels because he skipped practice Thursday without being excused by the coaches.

However, Warrick will play.

Bowden has already said he can hardly wait to see how his star junior receiver does against North Carolina All-America cornerback Dre' Bly.

"I just want to see the show," Bowden said. ``It'll be an interesting battle."

Bly's 18 career interceptions are an ACC record and have persuaded most teams to stay away from him. He's also broken up seven passes this year to rank among the league's leaders in that category.

"In situations where we feel like it gives us a better chance to be successful, we'll tell Dre' to go stay with him," first-year North Carolina coach Carl Torbush said.

Warrick has caught 44 passes for 855 yards and nine touchdowns for the Seminoles, who will be seeking their seventh straight victory since being upset in early September at North Carolina State.

Florida State (7-1, 4-1 ACC) is 26-0 at home against league foes since joining the conference in 1992 and has never lost a game to North Carolina in nine previous meetings, although the teams tied in 1986.

The Seminoles will be without their top two tacklers as senior linebacker Lamont Green remains out with an elbow injury and tackle Jerry Johnson will probably sit out the game to rest a pulled muscle from last week's 34-7 victory at Georgia Tech.

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