NEW ORLEANS -- Bobby Bowden enjoys his trips to the Nokia Sugar Bowl, even though Florida State's last three visits have come with plenty of outside distractions.

Six years ago it was accusations by former Florida coach Steve Spurrier that the Seminoles were coached to hit his quarterback after the whistle.

Three years ago the national championship game against Virginia Tech was a backdrop for Peter Warrick's low-cost shopping history and Sebastian Janikowski's antics on Bourbon Street.

This year the Seminoles, with four losses, are seen as undeserving of a BCS bowl. And they have lost their top quarterbacks: one overslept and missed a final exam; the other was kicked off the team after being accused of stealing a check, a criminal case that has led authorities to check rumors of possible gambling on games on the Florida State campus in Tallahassee, Fla.

"When we have things happen to us that have happened ... it challenges me more to get the darned thing straightened out,'' Bowden said. "It might be stimulating.''

Junior linebacker Michael Boulware said Friday he believes the team is focused on its New Year's night assignment against No. 4 Georgia (12-1) and not on all the noise.

"We hear it, but you've got to block that stuff out,'' said Boulware, the younger brother of Baltimore Ravens star Peter Boulware. "We can talk about the rest of that after the game.''

Bowden said sophomore Fabian Walker from Americus, Ga. has progressed in practice at quarterback since the school announced earlier this month that starter Chris Rix was suspended from the bowl game for missing a final exam.

Walker threw for more than 8,000 yards and 81 touchdowns in high school, but has had just 18 snaps as the third-team quarterback this year.

Georgia coach Mark Richt, who recruited Walker to Florida State during his years as the Seminoles offensive coordinator, described the first-time starter as a polished passer with great fundamentals.

"Now he's got to handle the emotions of this opportunity,'' Richt said. "I think he's got a very bright future.''

Backup quarterback Adrian McPherson, who started four games late in the season, is off the team and faces legal charges for taking a check -- which was later made out for $3,500 and cashed -- from a business owned by a Florida State booster.

So the Seminoles (9-4) go into the game against their former offensive coordinator with a quarterback about to make his first start.

No one is more concerned about Florida State's distractions than Richt, who has reminded the Bulldogs that the Seminoles handled Florida -- the only team that beat Georgia.

"I'm very concerned about the psychology of the game,'' he said Friday. "One of the things I admire most about him (Bowden) is how he handles ... bumps in the road.''

"I want to be sure our kids understand what they're going to walk into on the night of the first,'' Richt said. "No one wants to give Florida State a chance in this game. That's ridiculous.''

Meanwhile, Bob Minnix, Florida State's associate athletic director for compliance and legal affairs, said Friday he's heard nothing further from authorities about any developments on their investigation in gambling rumors.

"I was told they were going to wrap it up in December,'' said Minnix. He said he has kept the NCAA advised of the investigation by school, local and state authorities.