Florida State coach Bobby Bowden placed a gag order on quarterback Chris Rix on Tuesday, forbidding the Seminoles' starter to talk to the media for the entirety of spring practice.

Bowden has said Rix let the team down when he was suspended for January's Nokia Sugar Bowl after missing a final exam. Rix enters the spring as the Seminoles' lone healthy and experienced quarterback.

"I want him to win the respect of the players back and not be a spokesman right now," Bowden said. "It is time to win the team back."

Benched for four games last season following a 34-24 loss to Notre Dame, Rix returned to start a 31-14 victory in the season finale against Florida before missing the Sugar Bowl, a 26-13 loss to Georgia.

Rix was just one Florida State quarterback to have discipline problems last season. Adrian McPherson, who took over at quarterback when Rix was benched, was kicked off the team in November amid stealing and gambling charges.

Bowden has decided to bring back players from past teams to talk to this year's players. Florida State had a string of 14 straight 10-win seasons snapped in 2000 and has gone just 17-9 over the last two seasons.

Former Seminole and current Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Corey Simon spoke to the team before practice Tuesday. Bowden said Simon, an All-American with Florida State in 1999, would not be the last player invited to speak this spring.

"We plan to bring in some of the guys that went through the great years," Bowden said. "It means a little bit more hearing it from a former player than hearing it from a coach all the time."