Spring Practice - QB POLL !

[E.T.]

USF Puts Health Of Players First

By BRETT McMURPHY bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: Apr 10, 2004

TAMPA - With as many as six players doubtful for today's annual Green and White game, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt doesn't want to risk further injury.

So quarterbacks Pat Julmiste, Ronnie Banks, Evan Kraky and Anthony Severino will be considered down when touched by a defender.

``I'm looking for great effort, everyone to stay healthy and have fun,'' Leavitt said of today's 1 p.m. game at Raymond James Stadium.

Players who might be held out because of injuries include three senior starters - offensive tackle Derrick Sarosi (shoulder), defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon Jr. (hip) and defensive end Craig Kobel (hamstring). Another starter, running back Billy Henderson, was lost for the 2004 season after suffering a torn ACL on March 23.

Backup strong safety Johnnie Jones (shoulder, neck) will not play. Backup center John Miller (knee) is doubtful.

The teams were determined by a draft. The assistant coaches alternated drafting all available players at a position before moving to another position, meaning each team should have an equal split of starters and backups.

``You don't get a lot of continuity by drafting,'' Leavitt said. ``It might be more fun for the players and coaches this way. It makes the game pretty competitive.''

Quarterbacks coach Rod Smith's Green team drafted Julmiste, who won the starting position this spring.

``The biggest thing I'm looking for [today] is making sure they all make the right reads and are fundamentally sound,'' Smith said.

``The quarterbacks have gotten better, but they are still a long way away. Pat's making progress, Ronnie has game experience, but we have to get him healthy [after undergoing knee surgery]. Evan has done some good things.''

Leavitt will be an observer allowing the assistants to coach.

Joining Smith on the Green staff: Wally Burnham, Carl Franks, Greg Frey, Rich Rachel and Ryan Hearn. The White coaching staff: Lawrence Dawsey, Mike Hobbie, Rick Kravitz, Earl Lane, Kevin Patullo and Travis Ochs.

``The game's a tossup,'' Smith said. ``Last year I thought we had the better team, and we got smoked [31-6].''

[E.T.]

'Old Man' is Set to Take One Last Shot

With big aspirations on his mind, South Florida's Lee Roy Selmon Jr. appears ready for his final spring game.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer

Published April 10, 2004

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TAMPA - If it has happened in South Florida football, Lee Roy Selmon Jr. probably could tell you about it.

This fall, Selmon begins his sixth season with the Bulls. He will wrap up his fifth spring practice today in the Green & Gold game at 1 p.m. in Raymond James Stadium.

Selmon was starting at defensive tackle for USF in the fall of 1999, the program's third season, when members of this fall's incoming freshman class were in eighth grade. He had collected his first college degree before most of them had taken the SAT.

He is USF's resident old man.

"Old man? (He laughs.) I just feel like I'm getting better," Selmon said. "I've got another shot to get back out there. This is what I love. I'm looking forward to getting after it. We've got one more shot at (the) Conference USA (title)."

Selmon had two major knee surgeries that led to two lost seasons, in 2001 and 2002. A medical waiver granted him another year of eligibility.

He is ready to take advantage of it. Despite missing all of the previous two seasons, Selmon generally was considered USF's top defensive lineman in 2003 and stepped up as a team leader.

"I've always tried to be somewhat of a leader," said Selmon, who has a degree in criminology and is finishing a second in communications. "I've never been a very vocal person, but through my actions on the field and in the classroom I try to lead through example.

"For me, it's a blessing from God to have this last year."

This fall, the 5-foot-11, 285-pounder expects to play at an All-Conference USA level in USF's final season in the league before joining the Big East. Coach Jim Leavitt said Selmon was having a strong spring until a hip flexor strain slowed him the past week.

Spring practice has yielded a few changes on the depth chart. Pat Julmiste is ahead of Ronnie Banks as the No. 1 quarterback entering the fall. Evan Kraky has returned after missing last season due to ankle surgery and occupies the No. 3 spot.

The top five receivers are Joe Bain, Bruce Gipson (who has moved back from cornerback), S.J. Green, Allynson Sheffield and J.B. Garris. The offensive line is intact from a year ago. Walkon Mike Ruegger was awarded a scholarship in January and is the No. 1 tight end, with Mark Feldman and Derek Carter close behind.

Brian Fisher missed several practices with legal issues stemming from suspicion of failing to pay child support, but he practiced Wednesday and is expected to play today. Leavitt said he and Trae Williams will be at running back pending the arrival of junior college star Andre Hall and several freshmen in the fall. Billy Henderson could miss the season after sustaining a torn knee ligament. Also, Clenton Crossley is expected to graduate in August and earn another season of eligibility.

A surprise at the moment is at defensive end, where Leavitt said 2003 starters Terrence Royal and Tim Jones are behind Jon Simmons and Tavarious Robinson. Craig Kobel has moved from tackle to end and also is in the mix. Cedric Battles and junior college transfer Antonio Searcy have joined Selmon as the top three at defensive tackle.

The starting linebackers are Pat St. Louis and Stephen Nicholas outside and Devon Davis in the middle. Josh Balloon, Ronnie McCullough and Ben Moffitt are the top backups and expected to push for starting spots in the fall.

In the secondary, Kenny Robinson has moved from cornerback to first-string strong safety in the absence of Johnnie Jones (gunshot wounds). Javan Camon is the free safety, Mike Jenkins and D'Juan Brown the cornerbacks and Sidney Simpson the nickelback.

The specialists are intact and unchallenged: kicker Santiago Gramatica, punter Brandon Baker and long snapper Justin Daniel.

[E.T.]

Just look out for #50 !

Get 'em E.T.

Go BULLS !!!

[E.T.]

Of the 3, I give Banks the nod ... Kraky did avoid pretty well, but passes were off ... Julmiste played well

[smazza]

gotta staRT WITH JUMISTE though i wasn't at practice.

gotta try something new

[bulls96go]

is the O line going to show up this year?

[bulls96go]

is coach ryan hearn a former player?

[E.T.]

I'm sure he's the same ... former WR ... had 3 Hearns on BULL rosters in the past ... Colby Hearn is currently # 87, Soph.

Ryan may be a Grad. Asst.

Go BULLS !!!

[E.T.]

Green Prevails in Spring Game

By Thomas Simonetti

Staff Writer

April 12, 2004

Senior Brian Fisher, who played primarily at running back and led all rushers with 95 yards on 14 carries, scored on his team's first play from scrimmage with a 40-yard fake reverse touchdown run in Saturday's spring game at Raymond James Stadium to lead the Green team, which also included sophomore quarterback Pat Julmiste and senior safety Javan Camon, to a 10-6 win against the White team.

"A win is a win so we're happy," quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator and Saturday's head coach of the Green team Rod Smith said. "But we've got a long way to go."

The coaches were quick to downplay the particulars of a game that dragged along with 23 total punts and 11 sacks. The coaches' comments, instead, focused on the spring as a whole.

"For the overall spring I feel good," Smith said. "But we're not where we want to be. Not yet."

Julmiste, who was named USF's starting quarterback earlier this spring, completed just 4 of 16 passes for 40 yards and one interception.

"He's had a good spring," Smith said. "I don't want this (game) to be the thing that defines this upcoming season."

"This spring I felt like I took a couple steps forward," Julmiste said. "I feel like I got a little experience under my belt from last season, so I feel motivated and confident (going) into (the fall) season.

"I'd say (I did) below average (Saturday). I'm kind of hard on myself because I want to improve each day."

Both offenses struggled to move the ball in the game that was dominated by defense.

"We've made some progress (this spring), and we've gotten a tougher mental attitude about playing football," co-defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said. "I think you could see it in some of the hits out there today."

Freshman defensive back A.J. Brant set the defensive tone early when he intercepted quarterback Evan Kraky, who finished 4 of 14 for 15 yards, on third down of the White team's opening possession, leading to Fisher's touchdown run.

"I wasn't so much looking at the mistakes," Leavitt said. "I was looking at the good plays. The guys running with the ball; the effort, I thought was very good. (I) saw a couple (of) pretty good catches, a great run by Brian Fisher at the beginning and he had another nice run at the end, and Stephen Nicholas made a big interception at the end. I see good things. I don't see all the mistakes. There weren't that many penalties, really. So I saw good things."

The White team's only score came in the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Ronnie Banks connected with senior wide receiver Allynson Sheffield in the end zone for a 14-yard score with 11:50 left in the game. Banks completed all four of his passes for 61 yards on the drive.

But senior kicker Santiago Gramatica missed the extra point, meaning the White team needed a touchdown at the end of the game to tie.

Though the White team got the ball back for one final drive, sophomore linebacker Stephen Nicholas intercepted Banks, allowing the Green team to run out the clock.

Banks was the top-passing quarterback on the day, completing 9 of 18 passes for 93 yards.

Junior punter Brandon Baker punted 12 times for a 42.7-yard average, including a 62-yarder that was downed at the 3-yard line on his first punt of the day.

EXTRA NOTES: Sophomore wide receiver S.J. Green had two receptions for 23 yards and junior Joe Bain added two receptions for 17 yards to lead the Green team. ... Senior defensive end Time Jones and senior defensive lineman Craig Kobel each had two sacks for the Green team. ... Sheffield had a game-high five catches for 50 yards, while senior Bruce Gipson, who Leavitt said will play both ways this fall, had four catches for 49 yards to lead the White team. ... Redshirt freshman defensive back A.J. Brant and sophomore linebacker Stephen Nicholas each had five tackles for the Green team. ... Senior defensive back Kenny Robinson and redshirt freshman linebackers Josh Balloon and Ronnie McCullough each had five tackles for the White team. McCullough also had an interception.

CAPTAINS: Senior offensive linemen Alex Herron and Derrick Sarosi, senior defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon Jr. and senior safety Javan Camon were voted captains by their teammates for the 2004 season.

Oracle Sports Editor Adam Adkins contributed to this report

[bulls96go]

WTG

but i want JL to see the mistakes and fix then before sept 4 or 6