Lou Holtz visits camp; Popek goes down with knee injury

Posted Aug 11, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Aug 11, 2010 at 09:52 PM

VERO BEACH – Former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, father of USF football coach Skip Holtz and now an ESPN commentator, made his first appearance at USF’s fall camp on Wednesday.

The elder Holtz spoke to the team for about 20 minutes prior to practice and then for a couple of minutes after practice.

“He talked to them about a lot of things, but probably the key message is what qualities that championship teams possess and what you try to get done in camp,’’ Skip said. “I asked him to come in here and give us the view from 30,000 feet.’’

Lou made one appearance during spring practice to check out his son’s newest team, showing up wearing Kent State gear. On Wednesday, he was decked in a USF hat and shirt to support the Bulls.

What does he think of the Bulls?

“It’s hard to evaluate a football team in just one day,’’ Lou said. “I listen to Skip. They’ve got a chance, but they’ve got a ways to go. But I love the attitude and I love the way they work.’’

Skip Holtz said Wednesday’s practice was probably the most sluggish of camp so far due to mental fatigue.

“Mentally, they hit the wall,’’ Skip said. “It’s from doing this day after day after day. It’s much more mental than it is physical.’’

POPEK HURT: USF’s offensive line has been without starting RT Jake Sims since moving camp to the Vero Beach Sports Village due to lingering concussion-like symptoms.

Near the end of Wednesday night’s practice, USF potentially lost another offensive tackle when sophomore Mark Popek went down with a right knee injury during live drills. Bulls coach Skip Holtz and trainers rushed to check on Popek after players waved them over once the pile cleared.

“I just know he was engaged in a block and somebody rolled into his knee,’’ Holtz said. “I don’t know the severity.’’

The 6-foot-7, 288-pound Popek started five games as a true freshman last season and entered fall camp at No. 2 on the depth chart at left tackle. Meanwhile, Holtz said Sims was scheduled to have more tests Wednesday night to see if he can return to practice.

INJURY REPORT: TEs Jeff Hawkins and Chase Griffiths missed their third consecutive day of practice in Vero Beach due to concussion symptoms. Both are day-to-day … CB Quenton Washington sat out Wednesday’s practice nursing a hamstring injury … WR Sterling Griffin, who suffered a fractured ankle and lower leg injury in the offseason, is no longer walking in a protective boot.