A quick look at newsmakers around the Florida State sports universe:

FSU President T.K. Wetherell is attending the inaugural Football Forum in Dallas on Thursday and Friday. Wetherell is serving as one of seven panelists at the event, titled “College Football: Today and Tomorrow.”

Wetherell

Several members of the media are also expected to participate in the discussion.

In the press release announcing Wetherell’s trip, the FSU president said he is “looking forward to the discussions and establishing a healthy dialogue with the media, where ideas can be exchanged and information can flow freely in what promises to be an informal and relaxed session.”

Cool, Mr. President. Does this mean you’ll return my next call?

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Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton became the first Florida State player ever named to the NBA All-Rookie First-Team on Wednesday, joining Seattle’s Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, Atlanta’s Al Horford and Houston’s Luis Scola.

Thornton averaged 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 79 games, including 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds in his 31 starts.

The only other FSU player ever to earn NBA All-Rookie honors is Dave Cowens, named second-team in 1971.

Thornton

That got us to wondering who was on that team with Cowens, so we did the research to see which team we’d take in an FSU rookie-team showdown.

The lineups:

2008 (1st Team) vs. 1971 (2nd Team)
Kevin Durant vs. Pete Maravich
Al Thornton vs. Calvin Murphy
Jeff Green vs. Geoff Petrie
Luis Scola vs. Dave Cowens
Al Horford vs. Bob Lanier

No contest. Pistol Pete’s fancy ball handling, Cowens’ rebounding, Murphy’s defense and Lanier’s size 23 sneakers make the 2008 rooks like silly.

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Unfortunately, I never had a chance to meet former FSU video coordinator Billy Vizzini. From all accounts, Vizzini was a class act and important part of FSU’s athletic program.

He died Oct. 29 after a short battle with cancer. However, Vizzini’s years of dedication to his craft and FSU athletics is not forgotten.

Last week, the Collegiate Sports Video Association (CSVA ) awarded Vizzini its Bob Matey National Video Coordinator of the Year. Vizzini served as CSVA vice president since 2003 and played an integral part in organizing the organization’s annual convention.

A 1993 FSU graduate, Vizzini spent his entire professional career working for his alma mater. The award was accepted by his mother, Yolanda, father, Bill, stepmother, Ann, and members of the FSU video department, Craig Campanozzi and Michael Bracken.

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Quote of the Week:

“It felt natural. If I work hard at it, it will be all right.’’ –-

A) FSU coach Bobby Bowden on taking up drinking beer
B) Former FSU quarterback Xavier Lee on playing tight end
C) Jimbo Fisher on making speeches to FSU boosters
D) Noles receiver Greg Carr on wearing No. 18, not 89

Lee

Answer: B.

Yep, that was Lee after lining up at tight end during Baltimore’s rookie mini-camp, a position he had no interest in playing at FSU.

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FSU softball sports information director Katy Baker provided a neat note to highlight the Seminoles’ game today against Jacksonville State in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

FSU freshman Allison Collins will see a familiar face in the Jacksonville State dugout. Actually, most of the Noles will. Allison’s older sister, Kayla, is a former FSU player who transferred to Jacksonville State two years ago.

Both Collins girls wear No. 77, the same number their father Doug wore when he played football at Alabama under Bear Bryant.

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The FSU men’s golf team is playing in the NCAA West Regional Championship today through Saturday in Bremerton, Wash.

The Seminoles earned a third consecutive regional berth by winning the first Atlantic Coast Conference title in school history on April 20, defeating Duke by three strokes behind the play of Jonas Blixt and Matt Savage.

Blixt and Savage each finished 8-under par, tied for third in the individual standings.

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What would a Seminoles Report be without a little football?

The Good: FSU defensive end Everette Brown and safety Myron Rolle were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list earlier this week. The award is given annually to the best defensive player in college football.

The Bad: This could actually be classified as good news since it’s a step closer to a resolution, but the fact Preston Parker is even in this situation is really bad news. Regardless, Parker has a court hearing Monday in Palm Beach County related to his arrest April 21. Parker was charged with a felony for carrying a concealed firearm and a misdemeanor for possession of marijuana. Parker’s legal team is hoping to reach an agreement that reduces the charges and allows Parker to rejoin the Seminoles next season.

The Norm: FSU players started offseason conditioning drills Monday, mostly involving lifting weights and doing cardio training under the limited supervision of the strength and conditioning staff.

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A final word:

Prior to Monday, PTI co-host Tony Kornheiser had probably never heard of FSU catcher Buster Posey, a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s MLB draft.

But in the 24-hour news cycle we live in today, Posey playing all nine positions in Monday’s 10-0 win over Savannah State actually became material suitable for debate on PTI, a popular show on ESPN anchored by Kornheiser (who by the way, has accepted a buyout from the Washington Post) and his Post colleague, Michael Wilbon.

Kornheiser blasted FSU coach Mike Martin for allowing Posey to play all over the field.

Two things come to mind: 1) It must have been a real slow news day; 2) I bet if Kornheiser walked by Posey in the hallway today, he wouldn’t recognize him.