USF senior running back Brian Fisher was arrested in Tampa early Wednesday morning, his fourth arrest since March relating to delinquent payment of child support.
Fisher was stopped by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 12:44 a.m. and charged with driving with a suspended license and operating an unregistered vehicle, both misdemeanors. He was released from jail at 1:37 p.m. Wednesday on $500 bond.
The charges stem from Fisher's delinquency in regard to $18,469 in child support payments due to two women in Pensacola. In both cases, the most recent payment came as a result of a cash purge required for release from jail after arrests in March and June.
Fisher was pulled over because his car's license plate was obstructed, according to police reports. He had no driver's license with him, and a check showed that his license had been suspended for the nonpayment of child support and for failure to pay a traffic fine. He was also charged for not registering the car with the state of Florida. He told police he was only driving because a friend needing a ride had called him.
USF coach Jim Leavitt said Fisher's latest arrest doesn't change his status with the team, reiterating that the senior will not practice until he can resolve his legal troubles. Fisher, who could not be reached for comment, does have a redshirt year remaining, which would allow him to work out the child-support issues and potentially return in 2005.
NOT EXACTLY: Newspaper reports that Southwest Miami High senior lineman Chris DeArmas made an oral commitment to South Florida are incorrect, according to his coach, Pat Burrows.
"That's not the case at all," Burrows said. "He told me about that, and it was funny to him that the rumor was floating around like that."
DeArmas, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound tackle touted among the state's top offensive line prospects, visited USF's campus in June and has been offered a scholarship by the Bulls, Burrows said, but he likely won't make a decision until after football season.
"He was intrigued by the facilities, and the coaches were great to him, but he's not committed anywhere," said Burrows, who said his lineman is being recruited by Florida, Florida State and Miami as well.
USF has commitments from Armwood defensive back R.J. Anderson and Lake Gibson quarterback Matt Grothe, the Lakeland Ledger's 2003 Player of the Year.
THIS AND THAT: Sophomore Pat Julmiste enters the preseason as USF's starting quarterback, but backup Ronnie Banks has dropped 20 pounds since late last season, making him more mobile at 225 pounds. "It's Pat's position to lose, but it's not like it's a big gap," Leavitt said. ... USF's newest incoming freshman is an import: Marten Towe, a 6-7, 310-pound offensive tackle from Hamburg, Germany, signed with the Bulls and will report late next week, missing only the first few days of practice. Of the 105 players on the Bulls roster, only tackle Jerome Springfield (6-8, 320) is taller or heavier.
