USF’s Hine calls players-only meeting

Posted Nov 7, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Nov 7, 2011 at 08:21 PM

With USF mired in the worst losing streak in program history, Bulls senior center Chaz Hine, one of the team’s four captains, called a players-only meeting and addressed the team prior to Monday’s practice.

“Chaz does a great job leading, and I know he’s one guy in particular that when he speaks everybody listens,” junior linebacker Sam Barrington said. “For him to get up and lead that team meeting today was powerful, and I know I listened and it was great. It actually motivated me today in practice and I think it’s going to do great things for us throughout the course of the rest of this season.”

Sophomore defense end Ryne Giddins said Hine “came up, pointed some people out, spoke up for the team and told everybody they needed to get their stuff together,” but added it’s a positive sign to see a veteran player show that initiative.

“It helps a lot because you see they’re trying. When you don’t see no seniors stepping up saying nothing, it’s like, ‘What’s going on?,’” Giddins said. “When he’s stepping up and then other seniors are stepping up, that’s showing us that they still want to fight, and we’re going to fight for them.”

The shared sentiment among the players who spoke to the media Monday was that even though USF coaches may address the team in a similar manner, it can carry a bit more weight when the words are coming from one of their peers in the locker room.

“It does,” sophomore linebacker DeDe Lattimore said. “That’s just like my big brother talking to me, and basically I don’t want to let my big brother down.”

Added Barrington: “A guy that’s going to war with you, it’s just powerful when a guy can just get up and talk like that.”

BULLS BITS: Junior running back Darrell Scott (wrist, head) was held out of Monday’s practice. Also, junior linebacker Armando Sanchez (ankle) is questionable for Friday’s game. … Redshirt freshman linebacker Reshard Cliett, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, is expected to play Friday. … Lattimore was named to the Big East honor roll after the best game statistically of his career (11 tackles, 3.4 for loss, 2.5 sacks) in Saturday’s loss to Rutgers.