Bulls head off to Vero Beach to avoid distractions, build team chemistry

Posted Aug 8, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Aug 8, 2010 at 07:45 PM

By Phil Neary
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA— USF coach Skip Holtz’s primary goals in moving a large portion of fall camp to Vero Beach are eliminating distractions and helping the team bond in a more tight-knit community than the campus of a major university.

The Bulls finished their fourth practice of camp Sunday afternoon before departing for the Vero Beach Sports Village, where the team will practice until Aug. 19.

“I’m excited about it from the football standpoint,’’ Holtz said. “No distractions. It’s very hard here on campus. We have a lot of young men living in their apartments. As soon as they break (from practice), they’re all going home and they’re just coming back. (This camp) is more of a professional atmosphere. I think it’ll be something new and something fresh for them.’‘

So, besides football, what exactly will the trip entail?

“I don’t have a lot of limitations on them,’’ Holtz said. “You give them free time in the afternoon. I’d rather them take a two-hour nap than play a two-hour game of Madden.’‘

Holtz said laptops and cell phones are permitted, but that video games are banned. The team, which will be housed in the complex’s 89 hotel-style villas, won’t be allowed to leave the premises of the Vero Beach Sports Village, formerly known as Dodgertown.

“It’s something new that we all haven’t done and we always talk about adversity,’’ sophomore receiver Evan Landi said. “I’m sure being away from home, some things are going to come up and rooming with random people here and there, you have no choice except to bond with your teammates. I think it’s going to be a good thing for us.’‘

The team will practice in full pads for the first time on Monday, with a two-a-day scheduled for Tuesday, Holtz said. A scrimmage is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 14. The trip marks the first time the football team will spend a portion of fall practice away from campus.

“If you can react well in a different environment, that’s always going to be a good thing,’’ sophomore linebacker Sam Barrington said. “Coach Holtz is doing some different things, something that we’re just not used to. We’ll see how the team reacts. I think it’s a good idea.’‘

ERSKIN TEARS ACL: Holtz said an MRI on Saturday evening revealed that senior wide receiver Colby Erskin, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility in the offseason, suffered a torn ACL during Saturday’s practice, the fourth ACL tear of his USF career.

“You’re stomach is in your throat. You don’t know what to say,’’ Holtz said Sunday. “You feel awful for the young man because he was working extremely hard. To me, he was one of those ones who was showing a lot of promise at the wide receiver position. I just hate it.’‘

Erskin, who recovered from a third torn ACL suffered last fall, caught two passes for 13 yards last season before returning to the team as a walk-on this fall.

Holtz said he expressed concern over Erskin attempting to come back after a third surgery, but said it was hard to say no to giving him another chance due to Erskin’s persistence in his quest to rejoin the team.

“He wanted to do it. When you look at the young man’s eyes and see the fire, the intensity, the passion he has for the game, it’s really hard to say no,’’ Holtz said.

BULLS BITS: Senior Faron Hornes appears to be the early frontrunner for punt-return duties. “He’s got the experience from last year. He did a good job of catching it a year ago and hes continued that in camp this year,’’ Holtz said ... The battle between Maikon Bonani and Eric Schwartz for kicking duties is still a dead heat, according to Holtz ... USF’s first practice in Vero Beach is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.; all practices in Vero Beach are open to the public.