Florida State's Warrick may play if judge approves plea agreement

Warrick's lawyer postponed a hearing today after the university's president expressed concern about the plea.

The agreement would allow Warrick to play for the No. 1 Seminoles on Saturday against Clemson and then go to jail next year.

Warrick was a leading Heisman Trophy candidate until his arrest on a felony grand theft charge. The wide receiver had hoped to have his case reduced to a misdemeanor in county court today.

Warrick's lawyer, John Kenny, asked for the postponement so he could speak with school officials.

The agreement would require Warrick to spend 30 days in jail, donate to charity clothing he acquired in three trips to a Dillard's store, pay $295 in court costs, stay away from the department store and serve a year's probation.

"I don't feel very good about somebody having a sentence hanging over them and playing," Florida State president Sandy D'Alemberte told the Tallahassee Democrat.

Warrick was suspended Oct. 7 and has missed the Seminoles' last two games.

"I think he's suffered enough," Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke said. "He deserves to be on the football team and I can't wait for his return."

Florida State does not let athletes compete if they have been charged with a felony.

"It is my understanding that the president and the athletic director will certainly confer on this before any announcement is made," D'Alemberte spokesman Frank Murphy said today.

D'Alemberte, who is out of town, spoke with athletic director Dave Hart and the school's general counsel, Alan Sundberg, by phone today.

Warrick and former teammate Laveranues Coles were charged with buying more than $400 of designer clothes Sept. 29 for $21.40 from a store clerk, who is also charged. A security camera recorded the transaction.

"They wanted the 30 days to offer a misdemeanor," Kenny said Tuesday. "That's pretty standard when looking at felony cases. They worked very hard to look at Mr. Warrick not as a football player."

Warrick could have avoided jail time, but not if he wanted to have a shot at playing again this season.

"He looked at the options of going to trial to prove it was a petty theft, but those are not viable options when Peter wants to make himself available to the university as quickly as possible," Kenny said. "The judge still needs to accept it."

Florida State's Peter Warrick was a prime Heisman candidate before his arrest on a felony theft charge. Now, Warrick can only hope to plea bargain a deal that allows him to play against Clemson this weekend and postpone his jail time until next year. .

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