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Mompremier Returns To Tampa

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2008

MIAMI - University of South Florida senior LB Brouce Mompremier, who was injured during Saturday's game at Florida International, returned to Tampa on Sunday after being released from Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Doctors at Memorial Hospital ruled out any severe spinal injuries, USF assistant AD Chris Freet said. He will meet with USF's doctors in the next few days to determine his specific injuries and a timetable for recovery. He is expected to miss at least USF's next two games. It's unknown when - or if - he will be able to return.

Mompremier, who has started 16 of his past 17 games for USF, was momentarily knocked unconscious when his helmet collided with teammate Carlton Williams' hip. On-field medical personnel initially feared Mompremier suffered a spinal injury and he was airlifted to Memorial Hospital.

USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said Sunday he was still trying to figure out who would replace Mompremier in the starting lineup.

HISTORIC WIN: Not only was Saturday's contest the first played for FIU in its new on-campus stadium, but USF's 17-9 victory also was significant for the Bulls.

The victory ended the Bulls' 20-game losing streak when scoring fewer than 21 points. Since moving to Division I-A in 2001, the Bulls are 2-24 when scoring fewer than 21 points.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Despite the lackluster performance, the Bulls did win the game. The defense held FIU to 126 yards on 51 plays until the Golden Panthers' lone TD drive in the final two minutes of the game. Until allowing a 61-yard pass on that drive, FIU's longest play from scrimmage was 13 yards. "I have to go back and look at every play, we were disgusted," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "We won a game, though. We're 4-0, there's some good things out of that, I guess, huh?"

WHAT WENT WRONG: The offense totaled 320 yards, but scored only 10 points on five possessions in the red zone, including four inside the 20. The Bulls were stopped on fourth-and-inches on a QB sneak, had a 21-yard field goal blocked (Maikon Bonani also missed a 26-yarder but it was nullified by an FIU penalty) and RB Jamar Taylor lost a fumble on the game's fourth play.

INJURY UPDATE: Besides Mompremier, the Bulls had four other defensive starters injured: Williams (hip), DE George Selvie (ankle), NT Terrell McClain (ankle) and CB Tyller Roberts (ankle). Selvie said his was only a sprain and he could play "tomorrow."

CHALLENGE AHEAD: In a rematch of the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl, the No. 13-ranked Bulls (4-0) visit N.C. State (2-2) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU).

Brett McMurphy

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