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By Compiled by ANTONYA ENGLISH
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000
Player profile/Vassay Marc
When he first heard the news, the emotion that followed nearly overwhelmed him.
The kid from Miami whose parents refused to let him play until he was a high school sophomore was now hearing his name mentioned among the best linebackers in the nation.
Vassay Marc's recognition as one of 70 players on the Butkus Award watch list rendered him humbled and honored.
"When I first heard it, I was about to cry," Marc said. "I'm looking at it like, wow, there are so many people around the nation and they nominated me as possibly one of the best linebackers in the nation. It almost put tears to my eyes."
Marc, a 22-year-old senior, started 10 games last season, finishing with 53 tackles, including three for losses. He also had his first career interception Oct. 10, which set up a USF touchdown.
Even before the Butkus honor, he said he had decided he wanted to be the go-to defensive player for the Bulls.
"I sat down at the beginning of the season with a bunch of the seniors and basically I told them I want to be their leader on defense," Marc said. "If something goes wrong, I want to be the one to pick the team up. If they are going to throw the ball, I want them to throw it my way because I want to be the one that they put all the burden on. I just want to take the responsibility so that if something goes wrong they can point the finger at me, not anybody else. I want to have that burden. It feels like it's my responsibility to lead the team on like that."
As a captain and team leader, Marc already has accomplished two of the goals he set when he began on the Bulls' inaugural squad. His final goals are to lead USF to a successful season, then play in the NFL.
Oh. And that Butkus nomination? That's just icing on the cake.
"It makes me know that everything I will accomplish will be for good," Marc said. "Being the best linebacker in the nation is an honor, but just the nomination is great. I'm so happy. So happy. Hard work does pay off."
Here are a few encouraging facts for Bulls fans looking for a good omen for Saturday night's season opener:
18 -- The Bulls are 18-10 in games that begin at 6 p.m. or later. Saturday's game is at 7.
5 -- USF is 5-2 in games where the temperature is 80 or higher at kickoff. It's expected to be in the 90s Saturday, dropping to the high 70s by the end of the game.
2 -- The Bulls have more wins than losses on opening day with a 2-1 record in their brief history.
14 -- The number of players who remain from the inaugural recruiting class at USF.
"The biggest concern I have, and it's not a concern, but it's important for our football team to play well. We can't control Jacksonville State; we can't control what they do. We can only control what we do."
-- USF coach Jim Leavitt on his concerns and expectations for Saturday's opening game.
USF backup quarterback Mike Usry will be able to look across the field Saturday night and see a familiar face. Usry was a backup QB to Mike Bobo in 1996 at the University of Georgia. Bobo is a Jacksonville State assistant coach.
WHO: Jacksonville State
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Saturday, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa TV: none