Leavitt getting in game mode

USF returned to practice Sunday afternoon after a three-day holiday break. Bulls coach Jim Leavitt, still gasping for air after running sprints with players, felt the team came back with the right attitude and focus.

"I was really impressed," Leavitt said. "The guys bounced around, we ran quite a bit ... the guys worked their butts off. They really did."

Since closing the regular season with a loss at Connecticut on Dec. 5, Leavitt has spent most of his time paying closer attention to the younger players who will be back next season. That changes this week as USF (7-5) begins preparing to play Northern Illinois (7-5) on Saturday in the International Bowl.

The Bulls hold their final practice in Tampa this morning, then head to the airport to fly to Toronto. USF will practice in Toronto on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

"It's not young guys now," Leavitt said. "It's game week. We worked all the older guys hard."

Roots Canada

In Toronto and all across Canada, Roots is a popular athletic clothing brand similar to Nike and Under Armour in the U.S. However, Leavitt has different Canadian roots.

His maternal grandfather, the late Cecil Taylor, was born in Toronto.

"That's kind of neat," Leavitt said. "The people were great (during my trip up there). It's just exciting to play there."

Leavitt made his first trip to Toronto earlier this month when he attended an International Bowl news conference.

Meyer reaction II

Leavitt was on the practice field when news broke Sunday that Florida coach Urban Meyer, who announced his resignation Saturday night, had changed his mind and planned to take only a leave of absence after the Gators face Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.

When informed of Meyer's change of plans, Leavitt said: "Whatever Urban is going to do, whatever he feels is right, is right by me. I think the world of him."

Leavitt has known Meyer since the early 1990s when he was an assistant at Kansas State and Meyer was an assistant at Colorado State.