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USF-Cincy moves to Halloween

It will be homecoming and Halloween with the Bulls and Bearcats on ESPN2.

USF had a third game picked up by ESPN. The home game against Cincinnati was moved up a day to Oct.31, a Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30.

"National exposure for our football program is crucial to our growth strategy, and we felt like this was an opportunity we needed to accept," athletic director Lee Roy Selmon said.

While the relatively late move to Friday and Halloween is expected to hurt attendance - and require adjustments in homecoming planning - the nationally broadcast game will boost TV revenue. Fox Sports Net was going to broadcast it in Florida.

"That's good. We knew we had a possibility," coach Jim Leavitt said. "Any time there's an opportunity to play on TV and you know how hard you work, you never turn it down."

USF's season opener Aug.30 at Alabama and an Oct.10 home game against TCU (a Friday) also will be carried by ESPN.

"It must be a record. A team's third year (in Division I-A) and we're on ESPN three times," Leavitt said.

PREPARATION DAY: The Bulls completed two light workouts before today's full scrimmage. "We've got to play with great effort," Leavitt said. "You never know when you're ready until the first game. You just play it."

YOUNG AND DEEP: Redshirt freshman Stephen Nicholas and sophomore Devon Davis are locked in a tight battle to fill the opening at weakside linebacker. But they may have to start looking over their shoulder. Leavitt said Pat St. Louis, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound freshman from Miami, has had a solid preseason and is in the running for the starting job.

ON THE FIELD: Freshman receiver J.B. Garris of East Bay was cleared to practice by associate athletic director/compliance Steve Horton. Garris still awaits clearance from the NCAA.

- PETE YOUNG, ROB BRANNON

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State tailback Greg Jones, returning from reconstructive knee surgery, had contact in practice for the first time.

"It felt good," he said. "I'm still second-guessing myself a little bit, but other that, it felt all right."

Coach Bobby Bowden found it encouraging and said he wants Jones to touch the ball more.

JONES OUT FOR SEASON: Willie Jones, a sophomore defensive end who was injured in practice Thursday, will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles'. Jones was projected to back up Eric Moore and Kamerion Wimbley on the right side.

BOOKER, JOHNSON RETURN: Lorenzo Booker participated in contact drills after being limited since spraining an ankle Monday. Travis Johnson, who was acquitted of sexual battery Thursday, returned.

- BRIAN LANDMAN, ZACHARY SPAIN

GAINESVILLE - Thirteen practices in 10 days have taken a toll on the Gators as several players nurse injuries. Among them are redshirt freshman linebacker Taurean Charles. He sprained his neck and will have an MRI. Offensive tackle Mo Mitchell had an MRI Friday morning to determine the extent of a knee injury.

Freshman defensive end Julian Riley of Lakewood High fell and injured the bursa sac in his leg. Because punter Eric Wilbur was sidelined with a serious infection after a similar injury, Riley was held out for observation.

Coach Ron Zook said at this point in the preseason, injuries are expected. "The majority of them are the younger guys that aren't accustomed to this kind of intensity," he said. "The older guys are pushing through."

VICKERS RETURNS: Receiver Reggie Vickers was back at practice for the first time in a year. Vickers missed the 2002 season with a knee injury, then academic and personal issues led to a suspension that kept him off the team. Zook would not say if Vickers will be eligible for the opener.

PRESEASON HONOR: Offensive lineman Mike Degory was selected as one of 38 candidates for the Dave Rimington Trophy, presented to the nation's top center.

- ANTONYA ENGLISH

CORAL GABLES - Miami linebacker Roger McIntosh had knee surgery and likely will miss the season opener Aug.28 at Louisiana Tech. The sophomore, an expected starter, could return Sept.6 against Florida. Miami also will be without starting wide receivers Jason Geathers (hamstring) and Roscoe Parrish (knee) for the opener.

- Associated Press