College football

Bulls take a break after 'feisty' drills

By Times staff writers
Published December 23, 2005

TAMPA - USF coach Jim Leavitt can tell his players are eager for another game by the way they have gone at each other in their second week of practices for the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

"They're a little feisty, a few guys going at it," Leavitt said after Thursday's practice, the last one before resuming drills Monday. "You hit for quite a while, and that's normal. You get to this time where you just want to play. It's similar to the end of two-a-days, so it's not a bad thing."

The Bulls have three days off, then will go back to preparing for North Carolina State on Dec. 31 in Charlotte. USF will practice in Tampa on Monday and Tuesday before traveling to Charlotte for two days of practice there.

For Leavitt, playing in a bowl has made his December a little busier than in the past decade.

"On the 24th, I want to go out and do a little shopping," said Leavitt, who will spend Christmas day at his parents' home in St. Petersburg. "Probably a lot of gift certificates. ... The 25th, I don't think I'll work. I'll probably get away from the office."

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

Redshirt freshman safety Kenny Ingram, a heralded football and basketball prospect out of Orlando Edgewater, has left the team for academic reasons and will not return. He had appeared in all 12 games on special teams and had 10 tackles. ... Receiver Willie Reid (offense), nose guard Brodrick Bunkley (defense), and safety Kyler Hall (special teams) were voted by teammates as permanent captains.

BASKETBALL: Senior point guard Todd Galloway had a career-high six steals in Tuesday's win against Stetson, giving him a team-leading 19 entering Thursday night's game against Campbell. That put him on pace to finish with 64 steals.

BASEBALL: Former Jesuit star outfielder Shane Robinson, who was Collegiate Baseball's national player of the year as a sophomore in 2005, is featured in the soon-to-be-released USA Baseball junior national team box set of 25 cards. For more information, go to www.usabaseball.com

- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

GEORGIA: Wide receiver Sean Bailey will miss the Sugar Bowl after injuring his right knee during practice. He caught two touchdown passes in Georgia's SEC championship game victory over LSU.

OHIO STATE: Offensive lineman Andree Tyree was suspended for violating team rules and will not play in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2. No other details were revealed.

RUTGERS: Coach Greg Schiano agreed to a seven-year contract extension just days before the Scarlet Knights play in their first bowl game in 27 years. He is in his fifth year at the school.

SOUTHERN MISS: Sean Merrill, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive lineman from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, signed a letter of intent.

TEMPLE: Mississippi assistant George DeLeone resigned to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

[Last modified December 23, 2005, 01:14:13]