VERO BEACH, Fla. - They say patience is a virtue, and when it comes to football, patience is an attribute that can separate players and teams. Having patience can be difficult, but understanding the need to allow things to progress at their own pace, and then taking advantage when the time is right, can win ball games. For Demetris Murray, the patience is paying off.

A Georgia state player of the year, Murray entered USF only to redshirt in 2008. He saw time in 11 games as a redshirt freshman, but it was mainly on special teams. Then, when the coaching staffs changed at USF, Murray started to battle for carries in the backfield, all the while, keeping a positive attitude and always looking out for the team first.

"When we came in, he bought in to what we had to offer and put his trust in us," offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said. "He played a vital role for us last year, splitting time with Mo Plancher, after really only playing on special teams the year before."

Even when Murray wasn't seeing as much time in the backfield, he never stopped growing as a running back. He took the time to make sure he knew everything that was involved in the offense because he believes that to be a complete running back, you have to understand the entire offensive concept.

"He's one of the smarter guys we have on offense," Fitch added. "He knows what the quarterback is supposed to do. He knows the blocking schemes. He doesn't make many mental mistakes. He's pretty reliable in that sense. You have to know what to expect when the ball is snapped. He's one of those guys that is maximizing his abilities."

Murray, who increased his attempt and yard totals from 14-for-77 as a redshirt freshman to 120-for-542 last year, came in well prepared, having played for one of the more successful high school programs in Georgia. He's continued to develop and because of his smarts and instincts, he's making life difficult for opposing defenses and his own teammates in practice.

"It's tough as a linebacker, playing against a guy like Murray," said junior LB Michael Lanaris. "You think you have everything accounted for, but, then you have a smart back like him, who chips a d-end and then goes out for a pass and gets 10 or 15 yards. It's kind of frustrating but that shows what kind of ball player he is."

The key for Murray is to focus on what you're doing, take care of all the little things and let everything else fall into place. It's one of the reasons the coaches have so much faith in him.

"What he's learned is if you take care of your business and you do what we ask you to do, then you're going to find a role," Fitch noted.

Murray continues to do what the coaches ask of him, day in and day out, and the patience he has shown has turned him into a player that the other guys in the locker room respect.

Lanaris summed it up best.

"He always gets the job done and you can count on him. He's always in the right place and he's always doing the right things."

Of the 22 coaches that took over new programs last year, only Skip Holtz and four others led their teams to at least eight wins and only four coaches, including Holtz, led their teams to bowl victories.

Today's question from Stuart A. DeMattia on Facebook:
My question for coach Holtz. What influenced your decision to come to USF? 

Answer: 
Thanks for sending in a question Stuart. There were a lot of reasons to come to USF, but the three that stick out most to me were potential, opportunity and family. This is a school that plays in the BIG EAST, a BCS conference, is the ninth-largest school in the country and in the 12th largest media market. There are great facilities and recruiting base, which provides such a great opportunity. I look at what this program is and what it can become and I get excited. In addition, my parents are over in Orlando and my wife's family is from Port Charlotte, so it was an opportunity to be closer to our families, which is really important to us.