USF Notebook: Bulls Practice in Bubble

Posted Dec 29, 2009 by Scott Carter

Updated Dec 29, 2009 at 09:06 PM

Here is a notebook I wrote for Wednesday’s edition of The Tampa Tribune:

TORONTO—The Bulls conducted their first practice on international turf Tuesday, working out for two hours underneath a bubble covering a large portion of the University of Toronto’s Varsity Centre Stadium. To check it out, click on this cool USF photo gallery.

With temperatures hovering near single digits, the bubble provided a nice escape from the rigid air. After practice, the Bulls had the rest of the day off for bowl festivities. Many members of the USF and Northern Illinois traveling parties visited the Casa Loma Castle, former home of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier, industrialist and military man in his day.

DANIELS STAYS STEADY: Compared to the on-the-job training freshman QB B.J. Daniels received during the regular season, the three weeks of practices leading up to Saturday’s International Bowl are a nice change of pace.

“We’re staying with our same play, doing the same things we’ve been doing,’’ Daniels said. “I’ve had more time to focus on what I’ve done this season and try to get better as a whole.’’

Daniels started the final nine games of the season after senior starter Matt Grothe suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game. Daniels wants to finish strong like the way he started when he led USF to an upset victory at FSU in September.

“This is more important right now than anything else,’’ Daniels said. “If we come out with a win in this one, I can say my season was alright.’’

Once the game ends Saturday, Daniels plans to turn his attention to basketball and join the team as a reserve sophomore guard.

“I don’t know when I’ll be on the court, but I know I’ll be out there working with them right after the bowl game,’’ he said.

COOL RECEPTION: The hot sports story in Toronto on Tuesday was the Maple Leafs changing up their lines. Yep, you could say the Bulls learned about Canada their first full day north of the border.

Other than a local news photographer shooting USF’s first practice at the University of Toronto, there was little media presence. However, that should change today according to USF sports information director Chris Freet, who said multiple reporters had called to set up player interviews during today’s practice at the Rogers Centre.

BULL BITS: Senior defensive starters George Selvie, Nate Allen Jerome Murphy all accepted invitations Tuesday to play in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 30 in Mobile, Ala. … USF is scheduled to practice from 10:30 to 12:30 Wednesday, getting their first glimpse of the Rogers Centre, site of Saturday’s game.