Monday injury update: Harris still in boot

USF defensive tackle Aaron Harris, who missed three quarters of Saturday's win at Syracuse with an ankle injury, was still wearing a walking boot on his injured ankle Monday night as the Bulls returned to practice, correspondent Brendan Galella reports.

Defensive line coach Dan McCarney said after Saturday's game that he expects both Harris and defensive end George Selvie (knee) to play in the final home game against Louisville. Senior receiver Amarri Jackson, who has missed the last two games with a bone bruise to his knee, is working out on the side but not practicing with teammates. Other players who missed Saturday's game with injuries, such as running back Ben Williams (ankle), tackle Walt Walker (knee) and receiver Dontavia Bogan (hip), are practicing, Galella reports.

Comments

[steve oneal]

It would sure be nice to see these guys back especially Walker on the OL. Hey Greg maybe you could explain exactly what broadcasters meant Saturday when they said this win makes Bulls bowl guaranteed. Did they mean bowl eligible?

[G.A.]

Basically, a BCS conference team with seven wins is locked up for a bowl. The bowls with conference ties must choose a seven-win team before they pick any six-win team. Similarly, a bowl making an at-large pick must take a seven-win team if one is available. I'm sure there are scenarios where there are more teams with seven or more wins than there are bowl slots, but for the most part, getting seven wins locks up a bowl for a team in a BCS conference.

[nickdelray]

I would say the word "boot" describes USF Football 2007.We may lead the NCAA in players wearing "boots". 2 words....Holy Smoke

[Tom]

Good to see everyone getting back. I kind of hope Ford still gets most of the carries despite B. Williams being back.

[nybullsfan]

Hey Greg,

Just watched the DVR'd replay, and the ESPN announcer repeated it so often, it almost seemed a mantra. But at least one (very possible) scenario I ran yesterday shows USF at 7-5 without a bowl - is this really an NCAA rule, or just a rule of thumb?

UCONN beats SU and WVU >> (10-2) >> BCS
WVU beats UC and Pitt >> (10-2) >> SUN
UC beats SU >> (9-3) >> Meineke
UL beats USF and RU >> (7-5) >> PapaJohn's
RU beats Pitt >> (7-5) >> International
USF loses both >> (7-5) No Bowl!!

Navy's already eligible, and if they beat EITHER Northern Illinois or Army, they'd be (7-5) and a lock for the Poinsettia - so it's unlikely we'll be invited there.

The PAC10 looks like it'll have 6 eligible teams (6-6) or better for their tie-up bowls after all - would one of them really have to take a (7-5) USF over a (6-6) PAC 10 team? Seems unlikely.

What would happen in this case?

Side note:

If USF and WVU both win out, however, we're likely to go to the SUN. Here's an interesting take on Missouri's trip to the Sun Bowl last year - the school was so worried about travelling well, they started giving away free tickets and offering $100 travel packages.

http://marketpower.typepad.com/market_power/2006/12/another_reason_.html

Think we can get USF to do the same?

Go BULLS! Beat the Cards!

[Ari]

Hopefully Amari stays on the sidelines for the betterment of our football team.

Guy couldn't catch a cold if it was thrown to him over the middle.

[JoeB]

Navy already accepted the Poinsetta Bowl, so scratch them off the list.

[G.A.]

There's no way at this point that you can guarantee every seven-win BCS team gets to a bowl. Again, very likely, but not a guarantee.

[gdp]

Hey Greg, any updates on Gregory and Teachy????

[Adam]

Ari-

It's alright to think someone isn't a good football player, but seriously, you are hoping that Amarri can't play on Senior Day? He has been a big part of this team for the last three years, and you really want him to have to sit on the sidelines on Senior Day?

Let's not turn into those fans.

How about, if Amarri plays, you pull for him to have the best game of his life (which would pretty much have UL shaking in their cleats).

I get very sick of reading garbage like that. Show a little class. Amarri is a big emotional leader on this team (see images of him pumping up Delbert at Auburn). We need him on the field. If Amarri plays the whole game against UConn and Cincy, we are 9-1 right now. He may not have caught much, but Mitchell/Hester wouldn't be playing against their best corners, so they would have been able to get more open.

Try to look at the whole game, not just singling out one guy that has had a few drops. When the chips are down, I wouldn't want to see the ball going to anyone other than Amarri or Taurus Johnson. Our other receivers are talented, but I'll take experience any day of the week.

[Brian]

Although probably the biggest under-achieving talent on the field I agree on Adam about Amari ... hope he makes the field some during senior day. He may not have the most sure hands but he creates ridiculous matchup problems and I can't count how many times you have heard the other receivers talking about what they have learned "working" with him. He is a leader and has had some explosive plays for us in the past. What we are seeing is that the athletes sitting on our bench are more talented than the veterans on the field. This is a good problem to have when your experienced leaders graduate. To draw a line from our friend Cee ... when these "1 and 2 star" athletes that happen to be making for a heck of a team move on and are replaced by the recruits we have acquired since the conference change ... who have been learning behind these guys ... it is a good thing.

I agree with you on one thing ... I'll take Mitchell on the field over any of the other receivers anytime. Almost as tall as Amari with better speed and hands. Three more years of this kid is going to be very exciting. However ... I can't say what offensive coordinator wouldn't like 2 6'4"-6'5" receivers running routes against 5'10" corners instead of one at some point in a game.

[J]

Amari drops way too many balls and I wouldn't want to go to him on third down (leave that to Hester or Mitchel), but the guy is always open. When Amari is on the field he gives you a first down threat that Louisville's corners can't match. If he plays the whole game and catches half of the balls that are thrown to him you're looking at 2 TDs. And, like Adam said, Amari is a huge emotional leader on the team. Having him on the field makes Hester and Mitchel better.

[G.A.]

My understanding is that Gregory and Teachey will both be fine for this week's game. Teachey pulled a muscle in his kicking leg, but should be able to handle kickoffs. Still haven't gotten an exact place for Gregory's laceration, but should have that today and he should be fine.

[Ari]

Adamn,

I agree. Lets put the guy on the field for senior day, he deserves it. Maybe he can drop one more pass for us and then look back at Grothe and complain that the ball wasn't where it should be.

I will never forget Sean McDonough from ESPN calling the game verse WVA and making the play by play -- "Ball thrown over the middle to Jackson, droped, Amari looking back at Grothe on that one. CATHE BALL AMARI, PLEASE!"

It was an instant classic.

[cee]

a lot of injuries to report. the training tactics of our coaching staff is pathetic. we've been dealing with these issues since the start of the season.

[Windbane]

cee = WVU fan.

Every school is dealing with injuries. What's worse is dealing with you.

[cee]

windbane, how can a USF alum be a WVU fan? not under my watch. you don't "deal" with injuries, you prevent them from happening.. or you're supposed to, at least. someone needs to remind our coaching staff that it is a priority.