By Kevin Brafford, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — USF coach Skip Holtz didn't name a starting quarterback Tuesday for Friday's Meineke Car Care Bowl.
And he gave strong indication that he won't name one today, and he might not name one Thursday.
All of this is okay with B.J. Daniels and Bobby Eveld, one of whom eventually will be the answer to the question that everyone's asking.
"I'm 100 percent and ready to go," said Daniels, a redshirt sophomore who hasn't played since injuring his quadriceps in the first half of a Nov. 27 upset of Miami. "I'm just trying to prepare myself for Friday."
As is Eveld, a freshman walk-on who opened eyes in the second half against the Hurricanes and the regular-season finale against Connecticut.
"We're getting the same number of reps and splitting everything up," Eveld said. "And B.J.'s right there helping me as much as he can. Whatever ends up happening, it's going to be fine."
Holtz believes that to be true.
"It's only fair to Bobby to give him every chance to keep developing, and B.J. already has proven himself," he said. "It's a nice situation to have, that's for sure."
Will it be a game-time decision?
"I don't know," Holtz said. "We'll start to address it (today) as we put in our game plan, and we'll just go from there."
A welcome sight: The sun broke through in Charlotte early Tuesday afternoon, and it was a welcome sight for the Bulls, who were forced indoors to practice Monday in the aftermath of the city's first Christmas snow in more than four decades.
The team's practice schedule continues to be in a state of flux. The Bulls and Clemson worked out on a Carolina Panthers' practice field, and USF is scheduled to practice today at a high school southeast of the city — if its field can be cleared.
"It's a bit of a logistical nightmare," Holtz said. "I mean, picking up 105 guys and moving them around isn't the easiest thing to do, but we're managing."
For Friday's noon kickoff, the weather should be more to the Bulls' liking — the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the upper 50s.
Going racing: Among the rewards for receiving a bowl bid are the opportunities to mix business with pleasure.
And while USF players enjoyed a visit to Levine Children's Hospital on Tuesday morning, today's schedule has them giddy.
In the morning, they'll take three-lap spins in stock cars with professional drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway, plus compete against members of the Clemson team in a tire-changing contest.
Several Bulls said they couldn't wait to see the larger linemen attempt to wiggle in and out of the stock cars, which have no doors.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how Sampson Genus does," Daniels said of the 6-foot-1, 315-pound senior center. "He's a wide guy.''
And at night, they'll attend the NBA game between the Bobcats and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Time Warner Cable Arena, which is five blocks from Bank of America Stadium, the site of Friday's game.
Notable: Having spent the previous five years 250 miles east in Greenville, it's understandable that Holtz will have someone record East Carolina's bowl game against Maryland this afternoon — as he'll be in the middle of practice. "I'm pulling for them," he said of the Pirates. "I sat in their living rooms, so I know them. I hope they play well." … Senior FB/TE Kevin Gidrey missed practice to attend the funeral of his grandfather in Jacksonville. Holtz said he's expected back today and is likely to start Friday.
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