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Bucs Training Camp

By FRANK PASTOR

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 3, 2001

Weakest Link

In the spirit of the Weakest Link, each day of training camp one Buc will get to vote on who or what should be thrown out: Ronde Barber votes off the breakfast cook.

"I think the breakfast here is the weakest link. It's the same old eggs and it just doesn't taste good."

Fresh faces

NAME: Jamie Wilson

HT/WT: 6-1; 212

COLLEGE: East Carolina

POSITION: Running back

NFL EXPERIENCE: Rookie

HOMETOWN: Greenville, S.C.

BACK IN THE DAY: As a junior high school player, Wilson dreamed of growing up to become the next Brady Anderson (I didn't even like football," he said. "It was contact. I wasn't even trying for that."). He became a star centerfielder at D.H. Conley High, but switched to football after finding he could not play both at East Carolina. He rushed for 865 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior, including 183 yards and two touchdowns against West Virginia. A pulled abdomen limited him to seven games as a senior. "That (junior season) was one of the years I really showed myself," he said. "I was looking forward to a great senior season, but, unfortunately, I got hurt."

BRUSH WITH GREATNESS: Wilson met Shaquille O'Neal and rapper Jay-Z, but nothing compares with the first time he walked into the Buccaneers' locker room. There, he saw players he admired, such as Warrick Dunn, Keyshawn Johnson and Warren Sapp. Best of all, he found his locker next to that of quarterback Brad Johnson. "That really hit me," Wilson said. "I'm in the league."

TO MAKE THE TEAM: In Aaron Stecker, Mike Chaney and Pepe Pearson, Wilson has plenty of competition for one of the backup running back spots behind Dunn. Even if he makes the 53-man roster, it is unlikely Wilson will see much time on offense this season. His best chance to make the team could come on special teams.

WHAT'S HIS TAKE: "I think my ability's good enough to play. I just have to go out there and show it. I think if I go out there and play my best, I think I'll get on somewhere. Hopefully, I'll be part of the 53(-man roster). Practice squad is good, but you want to be one of the 53, to go out there and participate on Sunday."

Quotable

"Throwing, running, it doesn't matter as long as I stay out on the field more and we can be a much more productive and efficient offense." -- MIKE ALSTOTT, fullback on his role this season.

Practice schedule

TODAY: 8:30 a.m., pads; 3:30 p.m. shells.

SATURDAY: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

* Practices are free and open to public.

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