By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
VERO BEACH - Mother Nature has thrown USF a
curveball, but the Bulls are more than ready to handle it.
Thunderstorms washed out practice on Friday at Vero Beach
Sports Village, altering the Bulls' schedule for when they get back to Tampa to
complete training camp. Instead of just a two-a-day on Tuesday, USF will go
twice on Monday and Wednesday at the Frank Morsani Practice Complex.
But before the Bulls get back on the bus to go home, the
team will go through another scrimmage on Saturday that will help coaches
decide what players will make up the first and second teams once the season
begins Sept. 1 at home against UT-Chattanooga.
"There are a lot of guys competing for positions. There are
a lot of things we want to see. I want to evaluate offensively and
defensively," head coach Skip Holtz said.
USF's first scrimmage of the fall took place Monday and was
used to evaluate what the team's newcomers could do in a controlled game
environment with the offensive units limited to just eight plays apiece. Fans
coming out to camp on Saturday will get to see something that resembles a true
game experience.
"If there is a turnover, the field won't flip. The next
group is up and we're going the short way," Holtz said. "It's about keeping
jobs alive and making first downs. It's about how penalties hurt you in a drive
offensively and defensively, where up until this point was just personnel. This
one is trying to put this team together a little bit more."
Fans interested in purchasing tickets will have a chance to
chat with USF representatives that will be on hand to answer questions. The
scrimmage also will be an opportunity for fans to win prizes like tickets,
sideline passes and USF gear that will be given out periodically.
Bittersweet Experience in Vero Beach
This is linebacker Sam Barrington's third camp stay in Vero
Beach and the senior is both happy and sad to be leaving once the Bulls
complete Saturday's scrimmage.
"Everybody is still in high spirits and we're ready to get
back to Tampa and turn it up a notch even more," he said. "I'm happy that we're
going back, but I'll probably never come back to Dodgertown again let alone
Vero Beach."
Looking Forward to Fan Fest
The Bulls will practice on Sunday before headlining an event
that the players really look forward to at Raymond James Stadium. Fan Fest is
scheduled for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and it's a chance for USF faithful to not only
reserve their seats for the season, but also to meet the players they'll be
cheering for once the season kicks off.
"It always lifts me up and makes me happy to see that we can
bring joy to people doing something like playing a sport. I always like seeing
the kids," senior linebacker Mike Lanaris said. "They might be nervous when
they come up to the table, but I always ask how they are and make it about
them. It's so important because they are so important to us."
The event is free for all attendees with parking
available in Lot 4 (enter stadium through Dock B on the ground level). There
will be plenty of opportunities for autographs and pictures with your favorite
Bulls. In addition, the field at Raymond James will be filled with interactive
experiences.
"I just like a day dedicated to our fans," Lanaris said. "I like them being able to get close to us and be able to interact
with us to see that we're just people, too. It's always a day I look forward
to."
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