West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez gives a "thumbs-up" Friday, Dec. 8, 2006, during a news conference in Morgantown, W.Va. The Gator Bowl always seems to bring distractions for West Virginia. A player's suspension for the 2003 game, talk before the 2004 game about two star players leaving for the NFL. And this year, there's the aftermath of coach Rich Rodriguez's much-publicized flirtation with Alabama's vacant coaching job.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Distractions and bad luck seem to follow West Virginia to the Gator Bowl.

Maybe this visit to Jacksonville, Fla., will be an exception.

"The guys seem to be pretty focused," said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez. "But what do you know until you play?"

No. 13 West Virginia departed Monday on its third trip to the Gator in four years. In both the earlier games there were problems — a player's suspension and reinstatement before the 2004 bowl and a top-secret injury and NFL draft talk leading up to the 2005 game.

This time, the only jolt came earlier this month with Rodriguez's flirtation with Alabama's vacant coaching job. Instead, he agreed to a contract extension with the Mountaineers. As far as his players are concerned, it's forgotten.

"There's not been any more talk in the lockerroom, around here, or even in the city," defensive back Vaughn Rivers said. "It's pretty much been over with. He's here and we're ready to move on."

Last year's 38-35 win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl made everyone forget that West Virginia had lost 11 of its previous 12 bowl games. A return to Jacksonville to play Georgia Tech (9-4) next Monday brings back memories of those not-so-great bowl moments.

West Virginia (10-2) is 0-5 in the Gator and Rodriguez is 1-3 in the postseason since taking over in 2001. He knows there's no carry-over for coaching from previous bowls and no magic formula for preparation.

"I think you've got to have a sound plan as far as when you're practicing, how much you're going to practice and how long you meet. You make a few adjustments," he said.

Just like the 2005 and 2004 games, West Virginia departed on Christmas Day, is staying at the same resort in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and practicing at the same facility, the University of North Florida.

In the end, it comes down to playing well. And the Mountaineers hardly showed up at Alltel Stadium, losing by double digits to Florida State on Jan. 1, 2005, and to Maryland the previous year.

"I think it was definitely we were outplayed. But some things like that do, they tend to roll over into the game. They've been big distractions," said Rivers, a senior. "This year, I don't think we have any of that — hopefully."

In the 2004 season, wide receiver Chris Henry was as much a diversion on and off the field as he was a playmaker in setting a school record with 12 touchdown catches. Henry had been suspended for the regular-season finale, a loss at Pittsburgh, for violating team rules but was allowed to play in the Gator Bowl.

In the weeks leading up to the 30-18 loss to Florida State, Henry and cornerback Adam Jones, both juniors, filed preliminary paperwork for entry into the NFL draft.

During bowl week, quarterback Rasheed Marshall hurt his ribs but the team didn't tell anyone about it. Marshall played well early but couldn't get the Mountaineers into the end zone in the second half — he said his pain medication had worn off by the fourth quarter.

Henry wasn't a factor in the game, either, and Jones' fumble on a kickoff led to a Florida State field goal.