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Bulls Preparing For Cold Conditions

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2007

TAMPA - When the University of South Florida visits Pittsburgh on Saturday, forecasts call for a high of 40 with a low of 29. And that's not a good thing since the Bulls never have won when the temperature is below 45 at kickoff.

However, USF QB Matt Grothe said he prefers the cold.

"I like to play in the cold weather," Grothe said. "The sun will be out, so it won't be too cold. It's just a matter of playing football. Weather's not going to be a factor.

"I think I play better in the cold because you always have to move around. If you stop moving you get cold."

USF coach Jim Leavitt said in the past he considered having his team practice on an ice rink to prepare for cold weather.

"We don't play a lot in cold weather," Leavitt said. "I don't really particularly want to bring it down here to practice in it. We just have to mentally envision coldness during practice. I don't know what you really do.

"We could have all our guys wear earmuffs during practice just to simulate psychologically coldness and then work with them all on those things maybe. I haven't really sat and thought about all the different things you do. We have won in some cold games and we have lost in some cold games."

BOWL BOUND: Last week's win against Louisville clinched a bowl berth for USF. Leavitt said now the most important thing is to keep winning.

"It is real important winning games," Leavitt said. "We know we are going to the bowl now, I feel pretty solid about that.

"Any bowl for me is an honor. I think the more you win, usually there is more discussion. You are certainly going to have more opportunity at discussion by winning than losing. This game is big. It is big for a lot of reasons. It is going to be a great game against a very good team."

Brett McMurphy
Parker 'Likely' To Start Again At Running Back

TALLAHASSEE - If Preston Parker's second start at running back goes as well as his first, the FSU sophomore wide receiver will have a memorable debut at The Swamp. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said Parker "most likely" would start Saturday's game at No. 12 Florida.

The sophomore rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown Saturday against Maryland in his first career start at tailback. Parker replaced Antone Smith (shoulder). Smith returned to practice this week and is also expected to play. "They'll be playing so much, you'd think they both started," Fisher said.

EMOTIONAL RESCUE: FSU QB Drew Weatherford struggled in his first trip to The Swamp, a 34-7 loss in 2005. He learned a valuable lesson that day: Keep your emotions in check.

"At this point in my career, I've played in a lot of big games, and I understand getting caught up in the emotions of it is the worst thing that you can possibly do," Weatherford said. "It's not just like any other game, but you have to treat it like that."

NOLE NUGGETS: FSU coach Bobby Bowden is 0-2 against Florida coach Urban Meyer. ... FSU has been outscored 75-34 in losing three consecutive games to the Gators.

Scott Carter

Players Get Brief Thanksgiving Break

GAINESVILLE - Those tires you heard squealing to the north Thursday were peeling out of the parking lot directly across from Florida Field.

Florida football players left their morning practice and piled into cars to either head home or join teammates heading home for a brief Thanksgiving break. Coach Urban Meyer said the players are required to be back in Gainesville by 3 p.m. today to prepare for Saturday's game against Florida State.

Those who elect to stay in Gainesville have an open invitation to feast on turkey at the homes of several members of the Gators' coaching staff. Meyer said he doesn't expect a large crowd to stick around Gainesville.

"Most of our guys go," Meyer said. "I always ask them to come to his house but I think they'd rather go hang out with their boys a little bit."

SENIOR DEJA VU: Even though Saturday will be Meyer's seventh senior day as a head coach, he still hasn't grown accustomed to the realization that he is about to say goodbye to another group of players he has grown to love. Fourteen Gators are expected to play their final home game against FSU.

So don't be surprised, Meyer said, if he gets a little choked up before kickoff.

"I get awfully close to these players," he said. "I think it's real emotional."

Andy Staples

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