Teachey, Grissom, Herzhauser done for '08

Senior kickoff specialist Justin Teachey and two reserves who have played sparingly will not play again this year due to season-ending injuries.

Teachey, a former walk-on from Palmetto who has handled kickoffs throughout his four seasons at USF, hasn't played since the Syracuse game, limited by an injured quad. He's best remembered for his strong leg -- 45 touchbacks in 210 career kickoffs -- and his rugby-style punting as USF's primary punter during the 2006 season. Freshman Maikon Bonani has handled kickoffs since Teachey's injury, but has only one touchback in 11 kickoffs.

Cory Grissom, a true freshman defensive tackle who drew high praise from coaches in the preseason, overcame a lower leg injury to earn playing time against Florida International, but played only 12 snaps because of the injury. He hasn't played since, and USF coach Jim Leavitt said he will petition for a medical redshirt for Grissom, which would give him a full four years of remaining eligibility. He is the third true freshman in position to seek a medical redshirt, following quarterback B.J. Daniels and walk-on linebacker LaDre Watkins.

Walk-on guard Joe Herzhauser, who has played in six games on special teams and as part of the second-team offensive line, will not play again due to a knee injury. The Lakewood graduate, one of the oldest players on the team at 25, served two years in the Air Force before enrolling at USF.

NO EXCUSES: Offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said the offense should be as healthy Saturday against Rutgers as it's been all season, with everyone but freshman tackle Danous Estenor expected to be available to play.

"I think there's a good chance we'll have them all," Gregory said. "We haven't been that bad. We've been OK. In my opinion, injuries haven't even been a factor."

WATCH THE PASS: A big part of Rutgers' last two wins against USF was running back Ray Rice, now with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, but the Bulls are well-aware of Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel.

Teel has thrown for just two touchdown passes in his two victories against USF, but defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said the passer is coming in on a tear, with nine touchdown passes in his last two games after throwing just three in the first seven games.

"No doubt, he is hot as a firecracker," Burnham said. "He's done a great job. They don't do a whole lot of different routes. They do a lot of formations, but they run the same stuff. Every time, it's the same reads, and every once in a while, he throws it to (receiver Kenny) Britt as far as you can throw it. They've changed a bunch from what they were last year, when it was Ray Rice, Ray Rice."

Comments

[Tom]

Teachey was one of our best players on special teams. = (

"Trying to care," that's ironic. If you didn't care you wouldn't have posted a comment.

[Richard Todd]

I don't know how Gregory can say injuries have had no part in the games. Sounds like Coach speak but from my perspective when your top two running backs are home in Tampa and you are on the road that is not a good sign. When you have to pull out your program to figure out "Who are those three guys on the OL ?" that is not a good sign. I said it early this year that when Mike Ford got the high ankle sprain that it may impact him the whole year and it sure seems that it has.

PS: can you add spell check here cause I am the worst - you can ask my Mom.

[Mike]

beautifully prosed b**ch slap
for 'trying to care' cry babe
this is why I read

[BullScott]

Greg, I really appreciate the way you cover my beloved BULLS--thanx for all the info. You report like you care about the BULLS unlike someone from the Tribune who can come across as negative.

[Pierre Roche]

Schiano and Rutgers have ZERO respect for USF. So USF needs to post some sick numbers on the scoreboard like they did against UCF last year. This is the game to make a statement!
Hopefully Gregory and CJL watched Texas Tech or Oklahoma during their time away and remembered that you have to go out there and Score Score Score every time you get the ball. Crush teams when you can early. A BIG WIN on Saturday and hopefully our fence sitter fans will start coming back.

[Bulliever]

GO BULLS!!

I just read yesterday about the Seniors getting together and having a players meeting.

I am glad the players have not given up! I have not given up on our team either. I still believe we have a shot at the GATORBOWL...Most of all I just hope that we stop taking this all too serious and just have some fun...

[SRQ Steve]

As tough as it was to watch those past games, there is a lot to potentially look forward to. A win Saturday is a must for the season and confidence. The UConn game will be the biggest game left if we can win this Saturday. Because of the bye week in between UConn and WV, we will compete with WV if a good bowl game is on the line, and we are healthy. A good showing this week is very important to salvage this season though.

[Mike Lakeland]

Greg Auman just owned Trying to Care's face.

That's a shame about Teachey. That guy always worked hard.

[Mack]

Wrong week... This one is the right one

http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/entry/9249838/11609854

[Mack]

Trying to care,

The better question is where is your beloved UCF now...

http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/entry/9249838/11074739

Read the bottom. ROFL

[561]

Trying to care,

Where is Kansas now?
Since you don't follow college football I'll tell you. They play in the Big 12 with teams like Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma St. There's 114 teams in Div 1 that would love to be right behind these teams. Does that answer your question?

[G.A.]

Just to ask, for curiosity's sake ... if they're irrelevant, why are you here? Why go to a site that covers a team you find irrelevant? Had you already been to every site covering every team you find relevant and still had time on your hands? And if, given that free time, you still came here, what does that say about your own relevance?

I fully accept that USF is irrelevant to a huge portion of the world. Much the same way, there are a great many things that are irrelevant to me. I just don't feel a need -- or have the time -- to track those things down and tell them they're irrelevant to me.

[Trying to care]

Who cares? The Bulls are irrelevant. The good news is that your sorry team is the reason that there are few Big East teams clinging on to the bottom of the top 25. Your most impressive win was against Kansas... where are they now?

[Terry Lucas]

We will destroy Rutgers this weekend.

[G.A.]

DT's right. Teachey and Alvarado each had two kickoffs go out of bounds this season, but it was Alvarado in the Pittsburgh game. Thanks for the catch.

[Windbane]

DT, that's what I thought.

[Mack]

Gregory better show some new stuff if he wants to keep his group motivated and Leavitt needs to throw a trick special teams play or two to get his pride back.

[DT]

Teachey did not play in the Pitt game. He was injured before the NCState game and did not play again until the Syracuse game.He did not complete the game b/c he reinjured the quad. He has not played since. Alvarado kicked the ball out of bounds not Teachey.

[561]

Nice update Greg.
It sounds like their saying Ford and Taylor are ready to go? I'll believe it when I see it. Mike hasn't been right all year with that ankle. I think Theo could be a threat Saturday if he's good though.
I'm also quite confident in Wally and his game plan, especially with 16 days off.

[Windbane]

I'm glad Grissom and Daniels should get medical redshirts.

[Windbane]

I thought Teachey was injured for that Pitt game?