Daniels Learning to Slide and Other Nuggets

Posted Nov 3, 2009 by Scott Carter

Updated Nov 3, 2009 at 03:22 PM

I just got back to the home office from USF’s media day luncheon. I’ll have more details later, but for now, here is a quick list of highlights:

—- Defensive coordinator Joe Tresey raved about the defense’s performance in Friday’s win over West Virginia, reporting the Bulls tackled at an 88 percent clip. They held the Big East’s leading rusher, Noel Devine, to 42 yards – or 88 yards below his season average.

“Our goal was to make sure to keep their explosive plays to a minimum. Our kids executed really well in [stopping] the running game,’’ Tresey said.

—- I asked QB B.J. Daniels whether the coaching staff has talked to him about learning to slide to avoid taking hits. Daniels sheepishly acknowledged that they have talked about it and that he is working with the softball coach on his sliding techniques. Daniels plans to spend time learning to slide after the Bulls’ finish football practice. He said he never slid much in high school.

—- Coach Jim Leavitt shared a good story about how when walk-on K Eric Schwartz first came out to practice, that he kept waiting for him to miss so he could send him on his way. Schwartz kept making field goals and now he is the Bulls’ starting kicker. I’m working on a story about Schwartz for tomorrow’s Tampa Tribune, so hope you’ll check it out.

—- Men’s basketball coach Stan Heath stopped in to talk about the Bulls’ exhibition game against Florida Southern tonight. Heath is especially interested in watching the first-year players getting into the mix, most notably junior transfer Jarrid Famous, a 6-foot-11 center/forward from Bronx, N.Y.

I’ll have more from Leavitt and Co. in my inaugural USF beat column later this week.