Bulls rush to prep for Illini after Irma delay
TAMPA — Having mostly weathered Hurricane Irma, the Bulls returned to practice this week to face a challenge far less significant and sobering but sturdy in its own way.
Preparing for a Big Ten opponent in three days.
The Bulls gathered for their first formal meeting of game week Tuesday afternoon before holding their first practice in five days. The impact of Irma has caused a short week — a Friday night ESPN game — to get even shorter, forcing the team to condense some of its preparation.
“Last week, we didn’t get to play that game [at Connecticut], so now we take last week and some of the things we were going to use game plan-wise, we’re just going to take them into this week,” USF coach Charlie Strong said.
“You’re right, we only have three days to prepare. But our guys want to go in there and play, and I know it’s been hard to sit for two weeks. Even knowing what's happened around us, not saying that isn’t important, but we needed to get back also.”
Middle linebacker Auggie Sanchez said the extended layoff may have been a mixed blessing, giving nicked-up players a little extra time to recover.
“You've just got to change your mentality; you've got to change your mindset,” said Sanchez, a Northeast High alumnnus who reported that his family survived the hurricane mostly unscatched (except for some minor structural damage).
“You've got to come in here; you've got to give a little extra because the game has to be played. You've just got to come in here, watch a little bit more film, spend a little less time at home. But I think we'll be ready to go.”
As one might expect, Lovie Smith's return to Tampa brings a profound pewter backdrop to IllinoisUSF. Eight of the coaches involved in Friday's game played or coached for the Bucs.
USF has secondary coach Blue Adams (Bucs defensive back from 2005-06), running backs coach Shaun King (Bucs quarterback from 1999-2003) and receivers coach Charlie Williams (Bucs receivers coach from 1996-2001).
Illinois counters, of course, with Smith (Bucs head coach from 2014-15, linebackers coach from 1996-2000), safeties coach Donnie Abraham (Bucs cornerback from 1996-2001), defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson (Bucs linebacker from 1993-99, linebackers coach from 2014-15), defensive line coach Mike Phair (Bucs scout from 2002-04, assistant defensive line coach in 2014) and receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker (Bucs receivers coach from 2014-15).
With a victory Friday, USF ties the program record of eight consecutive wins established in the 2006-07 seasons . ... With one rushing TD, quarterback Quinton Flowers ties the school's career mark held by Marlon Mack (32) . ... With 319 career tackles, Sanchez needs eight to pass Stephen Nicholas for fourth on the Bulls' career list. Sanchez is 48 shy of all-time leader Kawika Mitchell . ... With two TDs Friday, Flowers ties Mack (198) for third place in career points scored at USF.
Defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary confirmed redshirt freshman linebacker Andre Polk Jr., whose left knee was in a brace at practice late last week, won't be available for the game.
“They're gonna do some more tests on him,” JeanMary said. “He kind of tweaked his knee, so we're gonna wait to see what the end result is on some of the scans and stuff right now, but he's not gonna be with us this week.”