TALLAHASSEE - With little more than a week until the Seminoles play Miami in the Orange Bowl, the starting jobs at punter and long snapper are still up in the air.
With the graduation of Jesse Stein (Shorecrest Prep), junior Chris Hall was expected to take over. But Zephyrhills' Brett Cimorelli , a placekicker who left school to play baseball after the 2002 season, has returned for his final year of eligibility and opened the competition.
"This week is going to be vital for them," coach Bobby Bowden said Saturday. "The thing I haven't seen is anything nailed down. I wish somebody would just nail it down so we could say, "That's the guy.' "
Meanwhile, Jesuit's Garrison Sanborn is challenging Myles Hodish as snapper in punting situations. They are vying to replace Brian Sawyer , a four-year starter.
It appears that Hodish has cemented his place for field goals. Kicker Xavier Beitia has worked all summer with Hall at holder and Hodish as snapper.
INJURY UPDATE: The Seminoles seem to be healing from their preseason bumps and bruises, but face the possibility of being short-handed on the offensive line against the Hurricanes.
While center David Castillo (unspecified injury) and guard Bobby Meeks (ankle) have been able to participate in low intensity drills in practice and remain confident that they will play in the opener Sept. 6, Bowden is not so optimistic.
"Castillo's got something that even if he tried to play, it could recur," Bowden said. "Meeks, it's just according to how strong that ankle gets. He can't drive off that ankle.
"When you play Miami, you have got to have wheels. That's a running contest when you play them. They can run good and we can run good, and the guy that's a step behind because he limps, it's risky."
- ZACHARY SPAIN, Times correspondent
UF: It's a wrap
GAINESVILLE - Coach Ron Zook and the Gators officially wrapped up their preseason camp. After an early walkthough session, the players were released and will have some down time before Florida's game-week schedule begins on Monday.
"I think back to two years ago after this scrimmage, I didn't know what was going to happen," Zook said. "Last year was a little bit better, but this year, it has just been amazing how much difference the third year makes. Everybody knows where to go and what to do."
When players report Monday, they will work more on the operation of their first opponent, Middle Tennessee State.
"That's the focus - the game plan," Zook said. "Up until this point, they have been responsible for everything that we have got in. Now, it's going to be simplified."
INJURIES: Zook was pleased that the team ended camp relatively healthy. Tight end Dane Guthrie (ankle) is the only player whose status remains uncertain for Week 1.
Linebacker Todd McCullough (ankle), offensive lineman Tavares Washington (knee), running back DeShawn Wynn (strep throat), linebacker Javier Estopinan (ankle) and defensive end Tranell Morant (ankle) are expected to be ready for the opener, Zook said.
- BRIAN SHAFFER, Times correspondent
USF: An upbeat day
TAMPA - A crowd of about 600 watched the end of practice and greeted players and coaches.
The line to meet coach Jim Leavitt stretched 30 yards deep a half-hour into the postpractice session, and sophomore quarterback Pat Julmiste got a workout posing for photos with children, signing footballs and getting his first taste of celebrity.
"It's all right. It comes with the job," said Julmiste, who has held off senior Ronnie Banks in the battle to be the starting quarterback. "If I don't do my job, it's also part of the job where people are riding me."
FINAL SCRIMMAGE: The team held its second full scrimmage of about 75 plays, and the only significant loss was No. 2 tight end Mark Feldman of Clearwater, who suffered a knee injury that Leavitt said "may be serious."
Several starters were held out, allowing reserves, such as Clearwater's Nick Capogna , the team's No. 3 center, and Crystal River's Will Bleakley , a reserve tight end who caught a touchdown, to see significant action.
USF will take today off, hold a light practice Monday then begin game-week preparations for the opener Sept. 6 against Louisville.
