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Bulls nab more TV time

TAMPA - It will be hard to miss South Florida on TV in October.

USF will play four televised games that month after Fox Sports Net picked up the Bulls' Oct. 25 game at Southern Miss. FSN also will carry the Oct. 4 game against Louisville.

Two Friday night games will be aired nationally, Oct. 10 versus TCU on ESPN and 31st versus Cincinnati on ESPN2.

66 PLUS: USF can take more than 66 players to the Aug. 30 opener at Alabama because it is a nonconference game. Coach Jim Leavitt said he expects to take a few more than 66 and one of them might be Chris Iskra. The starting receiver dislocated his elbow Aug. 6 and was projected to return Sept. 27 at Army.

SPECIALISTS: Junior Justin Daniel will be the long snapper on kicks for the third straight season and punts for the second straight, backed up by tight end Casey Cobb. Punter Brandon Baker is the holder, backed up by safety Kevin Verpaele.

ON THE RETURN: Junior receiver Brian Fisher has the inside track on replacing graduated DeAndrew Rubin as primary punt returner. Safety J.R. Reed, cornerback Kenny Robinson and receiver Travis Lipp also are possibilities.

- PETE YOUNG

TALLAHASSEE - The tailback triumvirate of Greg Jones, Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker continues to improve, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said.

Jones, who had contact in practice again and is returning from a knee injury, is "running a little more enthusiastically each day," Bowden said.

Booker, who was limited by an ankle sprain last week, and Washington also have earned the confidence of Bowden.

"Those other two guys (Washington and Booker) are running good and I wouldn't be afraid to start either one of them," he said.

HEAT RETURNS: After almost two weeks of cloudy skies and regular storms, 90-degree heat returned, giving several players problems. Starting linebacker Michael Boulware (cramps) and center John Frady spent time in a tub of ice water near the end of practice and later were carted to the locker room. Tight end Matt Henshaw also was carted off the field because of the heat. Guard Bobby Meeks was sent to the locker room because of asthma problems.

DAVIS HURT: Receiver Chris Davis, who sprained his ankle in practice Monday, sat out.

- ZACHARY SPAIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

GAINESVILLE - With less than two weeks before Florida kicks off the season, coach Ron Zook still has no starting quarterback.

"I'm not going to worry about it, I really am not," said Zook, who acknowledged that Ingle Martin, Chris Leak and Gavin Dickey had moved ahead of freshman Justin Midgett. "The worst thing we can do right now is to make a decision too fast."

Preseason favorite Martin remains confident about his play. "They haven't told us anything," he said. "Everyone has been saying what they heard or what they read or something. I don't read it or hear it. ... We're all out here trying to do our best and we all put in our time. Hopefully, the coaches will make the right pick."

INJURIES: Zook said offensive tackles Jonathan Colon and Anthony Guerrero had "tweaked" knees, but doesn't think the injuries are serious. Others banged up included OL Shannon Snell (stinger), RB Ciatrick Fason and WR Jemalle Cornelius.

- BRIAN SHAFFER