Times wires
Wednesday, November 9, 2011

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State University fired its legendary and beloved football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier late Wednesday amid growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.

The shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno, 84, announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season.

But the outcry after the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on molestation charges proved too much for the board to ignore. One key question has been why Paterno and other top school officials didn't go to police in 2002 after being told a graduate assistant saw Sandusky assaulting a boy in a school shower.

Paterno says he should have done more. Spanier has said he was not told the details of the attack. Sandusky, who retired from Penn State in 1999, has denied the charges.

Rodney Erickson will serve as interim school president, and defensive coordinator Tom Bradley as interim coach. Penn State, 8-1 so far this season, plays its final home game this year Saturday against Nebraska.

"Right now, I'm not the football coach, and that's something I have to get used to," Paterno said of his firing.

Paterno broke down in tears when he informed the team Wednesday afternoon of his plans to retire at the end of the season. He said he hoped his players could finish the season with "dignity and determination.''

Paterno said he was "absolutely devastated" by the case, in which Sandusky faces 40 charges covering the molestation of eight boys between 1994 and 2009, including some at the Penn State football complex.

"This is a tragedy," Paterno said in a statement Wednesday. "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.

Paterno has been criticized for not taking more action after Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant and now the receivers coach, came to him in 2002 and reported seeing Sandusky in the Penn State showers with a 10-year-old boy. Paterno notified the athletic director, Tim Curley, and a vice president, Gary Schultz.

Curley and Schultz have been charged with perjury and failing to report the incident to authorities. Paterno hasn't been accused of legal wrongdoing.

"I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief,'' Paterno said. ''I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: to serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today."

The statement was not released through the school, and it did not appear on the university's main website.

Paterno was in the last season of a contract that paid him $1 million annually. He met with his coaching staff and players for about 10-15 minutes Wednesday. Players gave him a standing ovation when he walked out.

"In all the clips I've seen of him, I've never seen him break down and cry. And he was crying the whole time," quarterback Paul Jones said. "He said it's the best decision."

Asked what was the main message of Paterno's talk, cornerback Stephon Morris said: "Beat Nebraska." Paterno then oversaw the team's afternoon practice.

Paterno came to Penn State as an assistant in 1950. He became coach in 1966 and turned it into one of the game's best-known programs. National titles in 1982 and 1986 — under defenses run by Sandusky — cemented him as one of the game's greats. In all, Paterno guided five teams to unbeaten, untied seasons. Paterno won 409 games, a record for major college football.

Paterno's program bore the motto "Success with Honor," requiring not just success, but adherence to a moral code.

Sandusky, who retired from Penn State in June 1999, maintains his innocence. Paterno has defended his decision to take the news to Curley and Schultz. Paterno said it was obvious McQueary, was "distraught," but said he was not told about the "very specific actions" of the sexual assault in the grand jury report.

After Paterno reported the incident to Curley, Sandusky was told to stay away from the school. But critics say Paterno should have done more.

"When an institution discovers abuse of a kid, their first reaction was to protect the reputation of the institution and the perpetrator," John Salveson, former president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said this week.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 9, 2011

TAMPA — Brett Connolly said he muttered to himself only a little after each of the two prime scoring chances he missed Wednesday night.

More important, he said, was to "keep plugging away."

It paid off for the Lightning rookie, who scored 2:30 into overtime to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 victory over the Flyers at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"I was happy for myself and happy to get the win for the guys," Connolly said. "It was a good feeling."

The victory was the third straight for Tampa Bay (8-5-2), each in either overtime or a shootout. It was its fifth straight win at home and, with 18 points, the Lightning tied the Capitals for first in the Southeast Division.

The Lightning held the league's top offensive team to just 15 shots, and did it without left wing Ryan Malone and defensemen Mattias Ohlund and Victor Hedman, all injured.

It overcame Philadelphia's questionable stalling tactics used seven times in the first period and several times thereafter to try to draw Tampa Bay out of its 1-3-1 trapping defense. Several times the Flyers held the puck in their zone for 50 seconds, waiting for Tampa Bay to make a move that never came.

Marc-Andre Bergeron's power-play goal 7:41 into the period, on a blistering slap shot, tied the score. And goaltender Dwayne Roloson made it stand up with a glove save on Scott Hartnell's wrist shot from the slot with 1:00 left.

"We're sticking to the game plan," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "When we have the puck we're aggressive with it, and when we don't have the puck we dedicate ourselves to being above the puck instead of chasing from behind. It tells me guys are buying in."

The team needed it with Ohlund and Hedman sidelined. It also needed, and got a commitment from, its forwards to play team defense, and Vinny Lecavalier (24:56), Marty St. Louis (26:48) and Steven Stamkos (26:44) all had season highs of ice time.

"There's a ton of character here," Connolly said. "It shows the type of guys we have in this room and how bad everyone wants to win."

Connolly just wanted to forget about the first-period scoring chance he missed when the puck went through his legs, and the open shot from the slot on which he whiffed in the third.

So in overtime, when the rebound of Dominic Moore's backhander came to Connolly in the slot, he scored his third goal of the season.

"It was a smart play by (Connolly) to follow up the play and be in the right place at the right time," Moore said.

"You can't get frustrated," Connolly said. "You have to keep plugging away."

First Period—None. Penalties—Lecavalier, TB (tripping), 6:15; Hartnell, Phi (hooking), 6:45; Carle, Phi (boarding), 9:28.

Second Period—1, Philadelphia, Hartnell 6 (Voracek, Timonen), 9:34 (pp). Penalties—Thompson, TB (high-sticking), 1:03; Brewer, TB (interference), 3:24; Kubina, TB (tripping), 9:17; Pronger, Phi (slashing), 15:01; Pronger, Phi (high-sticking), 17:27; Roloson, TB, served by St. Louis (delay of game), 19:51.

Third Period—2, Tampa Bay, Bergeron 3 (Stamkos, Lecavalier), 7:41 (pp). Penalties—Coburn, Phi, major (fighting), 3:09; Downie, TB, major (fighting), 3:09; Voracek, Phi (tripping), 6:17; Timonen, Phi (interference), 13:17; Hartnell, Phi (kneeing), 16:05.

Overtime—3, Tampa Bay, Connolly 3 (Moore, Kubina), 2:30. Penalties—None. Shots on Goal—Philadelphia 6-4-4-1—15. Tampa Bay 7-6-9-2—24. Power-play opportunities—Philadelphia 1 of 5; Tampa Bay 1 of 7. Goalies—Philadelphia, Bryzgalov 6-4-2 (24 shots-22 saves). Tampa Bay, Roloson 5-3-1 (15-14). A—19,204 (19,204). T—2:36.

Times wires
Wednesday, November 9, 2011

I love Coach Paterno, so am I emotional. People you love and care about, this is a hard thing for him, I'm sure. So it hurts me when someone you love hurts.

Greg Schiano Rutgers coach and former Penn State assistant

This is not about the sad end of a legend. This is about the frightening number of assaults that allegedly occurred during the years of Paterno's silence. Save your pleas for the future of those children whose pleas were never heard. Save your tears for those who need them.

Bill Plaschke Los Angeles Times

I stand behind Coach Paterno. He's a guy who has kept players out of games for missing class, so for people to think that he did anything in terms of covering this up, I don't necessarily think that's his M.O.

Jeremy Kapinos Steelers punter and former Penn State player

So intertwined is Joe Paterno with Penn State that it is no descent into hyperbole to equate the relationship … to that of a charismatic leader and his cult followers. For Joe Paterno to remain on the job for even one more second would have been beyond merely tone deaf or clueless. It would have been madness. It suggested that the leader of the cult had lost the capacity to think clearly.

Bob Ryan Boston Globe

The Board of Trustees had been dared by Paterno to try — just try — to keep him from coaching on Saturday. The Board of Trustees called that bluff.

Gregg Doyel CBSSports.com

Penn State should forfeit Saturday's game against Nebraska. … The entire university community and fan base would be better served spending this Saturday seriously reflecting about their unflagging worship of an athletic program that enabled a suspected serial pedophile.

Drew Sharp Detroit Free Press

Paterno, before the weekend's dumbfounding revelations, was the winningest football coach in NCAA Division I-A history. He still is. Except now that hardly matters. Now his epitaph is sealed, and it will be his sad response to the Sandusky scandal: "With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

Greg Cote Miami Herald

By Mark Puente, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada didn't need ace hurler Mariano Rivera to close the deal on his opulent mansion in Tampa's Avila neighborhood.

Posada did need 611 days to sell the 9,788 square-foot estate for $4.5 million.

The Mediterranean-inspired home sold last week after being originally listed for $7.2 million in January 2010. Posada dropped the price to $6.5 million in September, according to My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service data.

Windstar Homes built the mansion for Posada in 2003. The estate has six bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, a library, theater, game room, wine room, exercise room, and "state of the art" gourmet kitchen. On the outside, the home has a designer pool with grotto spa, waterfalls and slide, according to MLS.

Dina Sierra Smith of Smith & Associates represented Posada in the deal but declined to talk about the sale. David and Joann Abraham bought the home, Hillsborough County records show.

Posada said Wednesday evening that it's unlikely he'll return to the Yankees in 2012 for an 18th season in pinstripes, according to published reports.

He is currently a free agent and had spent his entire career with the Yankees. Posada, 40, said his agents had heard from about six teams expressing interest but will probably wait until January or early February to decide, reports say.

Posada has five World Series rings, has won seven American League championships and played in five All-Star Games.

Rivera, Major League Baseball's all-time saves leader, owns a 9,250 square-foot mansion in the Avila neighborhood.

Mark Puente can be reached at mpuente@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8459. Follow him at Twitter at twitter.com/markpuente.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Here on the bloodied rocks, the view is always familiar. If you follow the USF football team, you have crashed here before.

Over there, on the big jagged rock, is where the team landed in 2007 after climbing to No. 2 in the country. There, on the big flat rock, is where the team fell in '08 after reaching No. 10. Up there, on those cliffs near the top of the mountain, is where the team fell in '09.

And now, here the Bulls are again after their most recent plummet.

If you didn't know better, you might say the collapse is more painful, and more frustrating, than ever.

For all of the times it has climbed, and for all of the times it has crashed, this is the worst. Over the years, USF has fallen farther, but it has never landed harder. Never has so much faith been lost along the way, and never has so much good will been squandered.

This time, for the first time, USF has managed to lose four straight games, three of which were winnable. Playing mediocre teams in a mediocre conference, the Bulls have whiffed four times in a row.

They have lost on offense, they have lost on defense, they have lost on special teams. They have blown leads, they have botched kicks, they have misplaced opposing receivers. Just like that, all the excitement over beating Notre Dame, all of the passion that had fans talking about trophies, has disappeared.

Until they can stop the sliding, until they can change the outcome, this is who USF is. They are good enough to get off to a fast start, and they are big enough to get a signature win (Auburn, FSU, West Virginia, Miami, etc.), and they are good enough to get ranked. But they are not good enough to finish in the top 25 or to challenge for the Big East title.

So, yeah, if you are a USF fan, you have every right to be frustrated. It's the price of caring about a program that cannot finish.

"I certainly understand how the fans feel,'' said USF coach Skip Holtz. "I feel awful for them. What's frustrating to me is where we are. We are literally three plays away from being 7-1 and ranked No. 15 in the country.

"I haven't been here in the past, but I know the history. Climb and then drop. But this isn't going to be built in a day. It isn't going to happen because Skip Holtz showed up. We have to build this. And that's what encourages me, what keeps me from saying, 'Here we go again.' I know just how close we are to going around that corner.''

It wears on Holtz, too. He admits he doesn't sleep much these nights. He doesn't eat well. Before his last game, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano made a statement about how much weight Holtz had lost.

"Try losing three in a row,'' Holtz said.

Or, as it turned out, four.

Oh, Holtz can tell you about the difference in winning and losing. His favorite moment of the season, he says, is watching his kids celebrate in the half-hour after the Notre Dame game. The worst moments?

"Watching guys who can't breathe because they're crying so hard.''

A play here, a play there, and things could have been different in the Rutgers game, or the UConn game, or the Cincinnati game. That is true, of course. On the other hand, being close is not a consolation when a team was finally supposed to be a contender for the conference championship. In some ways, it makes losing more bitter. Fans, too. In the middle of another collapse, no one wants to hear about almost winning.

That's the thing here. Losing teams always tell you how close they are. Winning teams never measure. And this program will never be what it aspires to be until it can avoid the midseason mediocrity. There will always be a big play in the fourth quarter to win. Good teams make those plays.

"We're going to get this straight,'' Holtz said. "I'm an optimist. I understand there are some negatives to be fixed, but I still believe in this team. I still believe this program can be as good as any in the country.

"If we had been beaten by 21 points, I would say, 'Okay, we're not good enough yet.' But it isn't like we're light years from where we want to be. We're still coaching, and these guys are still working.''

They have not been good enough. In a season that should have been better, they have underachieved. They cannot hold a lead, or make a big play, or close out an opponent. They have stumbled, again.

Such is the identity of the Bulls. They always seem good enough to beat somebody, and they always seem to trip over nobody.

Friday night, they play Syracuse in a grand effort to avoid last place.

Somehow, it seems as if a bigger goal should be at hand.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Here on the bloodied rocks, the view is always familiar. If you follow the USF football team, you have crashed here before.

Over there, on the big jagged rock, is where the team landed in 2007 after climbing to No. 2 in the country. There, on the big flat rock, is where the team fell in '08 after reaching No. 10. Up there, on those cliffs near the top of the mountain, is where the team fell in '09.

And now, here the Bulls are again after their most recent plummet.

If you didn't know better, you might say the collapse is more painful, and more frustrating, than ever.

For all the times USF has climbed, and for all the times it has crashed, this is the worst. Over the years, USF has fallen further, but it has never landed harder. Never has so much faith been lost along the way, and never has so much goodwill been squandered.

This time, for the first time, USF has managed to lose four straight games, three of which were winnable. Playing mediocre teams in a mediocre conference, the Bulls have whiffed four times in a row.

They have lost on offense, they have lost on defense, they have lost on special teams. They have blown leads, they have botched kicks, they have misplaced opposing receivers. Just like that, all the excitement over beating Notre Dame in the opener, all the passion that had fans talking about trophies, have disappeared.

Until they can stop the sliding, until they can change the outcome, this is who the Bulls are.

They are good enough to get off to a fast start, and they are big enough to get a signature win (Auburn, Florida State, West Virginia, Miami, etc.), and they are good enough to get ranked. But they are not good enough to finish in the Top 25 or to challenge for the Big East title.

So, yeah, if you are a USF fan, you have every right to be frustrated.

It's the price of caring about a program that cannot finish.

"I certainly understand how the fans feel,'' said coach Skip Holtz. "I feel awful for them. What's frustrating to me is where we are. We are literally three plays away from being 7-1 and ranked No. 15 in the country.

"I haven't been here in the past, but I know the history. Climb and then drop. But this isn't going to be built in a day. It isn't going to happen because Skip Holtz showed up. We have to build this. And that's what encourages me, what keeps me from saying, 'Here we go again.' I know just how close we are to going around that corner.''

It wears on Holtz, too. He admits he doesn't sleep much these nights. He doesn't eat well. Before Holtz's last game, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano made a statement about how much weight Holtz had lost.

"Try losing three in a row,'' Holtz said.

Or, as it turned out, four.

Oh, Holtz can tell you about the difference between winning and losing. His favorite moment of the season, he says, has been watching his kids celebrate in the half-hour after the Notre Dame game. The worst moments?

"Watching guys who can't breathe because they're crying so hard.''

A play here, a play there, and things could have been different in the Rutgers game, or the UConn game, or the Cincinnati game. That is true, of course. On the other hand, being close is not a consolation when a team was finally supposed to be a contender for the conference championship. In some ways, it makes losing more bitter. Fans, too. In the middle of another collapse, no one wants to hear about almost winning.

That's the thing here. Losing teams always tell you how close they are. Winning teams never measure. And this program will never be what it aspires to be until it can avoid midseason mediocrity. There will always be a big play to be made in the fourth quarter to win. Good teams make those plays.

"We're going to get this straight,'' Holtz said. "I'm an optimist. I understand there are some negatives to be fixed, but I still believe in this team. I still believe this program can be as good as any in the country.

"If we had been beaten by 21 points, I would say, 'Okay, we're not good enough yet.' But it isn't like we're light years from where we want to be. We're still coaching, and these guys are still working.''

They have not been good enough. In a season that should have been better, they have underachieved. They cannot hold a lead, or make a big play, or close out an opponent. They have stumbled again.

Such is the identity of the Bulls. They always seem good enough to beat somebody, and they always seem to trip over nobody.

Tonight, they play Syracuse in a grand effort to avoid last place.

Somehow, it seems as if a bigger goal should be at hand.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Newly-acquired defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, fresh off his first workout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, expressed optimism about his chances for success in the Tampa Bay defense, saying he's excited about playing in coach Raheem Morris' defensive system.

Having a chance to return to the "3 technique" defensive tackle position he played so dominantly for the Titans three years ago, Haynesworth relishes the opportunity.

"It feels great," he said. "It's unbelievable. Just to get off the ball and wreak havoc. That's awesome. Everybody can say, 'Oh, you're in a 4-3 defense.' But just because you're in a 4-3 defense doesn't mean (it is) what I did in Tennessee.

"I guess I had to learn that the hard way."

After a tumultuous two-year stint in Washington marked by acrimony with coach Mike Shanahan, and an 8-week stretch with the Patriots that ended with his release on Tuesday, Haynesworth has much to prove. He spoke highly of the New England organization but felt he had more to offer than the limited role he had.

"I felt like I could still play," Haynesworth said. "I just want to prove myself. That was a great place. Coach (Bill) Belichick is a great guy and it's a good system. But I just wanted to play more. I wanted to practice more and get more reps. The more reps you get, the better I'd get. I just wasn't getting a lot of reps so they made the decision to let me go."

Haynesworth nearly wound up in Tampa in the spring of 2009, when he declined the Bucs' lucrative free-agent offer and opted to sign a $100 million deal with the Redskins. He admits that was a fateful decision.

"I'm excited," he said. "This is where I should have been like three years ago. I think all good things come to somebody who waits."

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Could this game go to overtime? USF (4-4, 0-4 Big East) just played an extra session in a loss at Rutgers, and Syracuse (5-3, 1-3) has played overtime in three home games already this season, beating Wake Forest and Toledo and losing to Rutgers. Syracuse beat the Bulls in Tampa last year to end a five-game losing streak, but the Bulls are 3-0 in the Carrier Dome, having won by an average score of 34-10. USF's defense can only hope to play as it did against Syracuse in 2009, when the Bulls picked off QB Greg Paulus five times in a 34-20 victory. USF outscored Syracuse 20-0 in the third quarter of that victory.

Watch out for …

Syracuse has gotten strong play from QB Ryan Nassib, who has 18 touchdown passes against just six interceptions, along with 1,960 yards. USF QB B.J. Daniels has thrown for a career-best 2,027 yards and has 12 touchdown passes, two short of his career-best there. The Bulls may go without top rusher Darrell Scott, who has been limited by concussion-type symptoms this week. If he can't go, it's more carries for junior Demetris Murray and sophomore Marcus Shaw.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

Times staff
Thursday, November 10, 2011

The New York Yankees announced today in a news release that the club has scheduled 33 Major League spring training games in 2012, along with one additional home exhibition against college opposition. The first spring exhibition game will take place on March 2 at 1:05 p.m. vs. USF at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.

The Yankees will play their first Major League spring game on March 3 at 1:05 p.m. against Philadelphia at Bright House Field in Clearwater and their first Major League spring home game on March 4 at 1:05 p.m. vs. Philadelphia.

Season tickets for 2012 Yankees Spring Training home games are on sale now at www.steinbrennerfield.com or www.yankees.com. Individual-game spring tickets will go on sale on December 2 at 10:00 a.m. at the Steinbrenner Field box office, online at www.yankees.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

For ticket information, fans can call (813) 879-2244 or visit www.yankees.com.

Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on February 19, with their first workout scheduled for February 20. Position players are scheduled to report on February 24, with the club's first full-squad workout scheduled for February 25.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

TAMPA — While much as been said about the Texans' dynamic duo of RBs Arian Foster and Ben Tate, their most dangerous weapon could be their revamped defense.

In the first year under veteran defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Houston boasts the top ranked unit in the NFL, and has allowed fewer than 175 total yards in each of the past three games.

"Very few weaknesses, to be honest with you," Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "Very athletic. They move very well and when I say movement, they do a lot of movement with their defensive line to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They look very, very athletic, very fast and get up the field very well. Good all around."

The Texans (6-3) had the 30th ranked defense a year ago, but after switching to the 3-4 and adding pieces like CB Johnathan Joseph and S Danieal Manning to the likes of star LB Brian Cushing, they've put everything together. They allow just 91.4 yards rushing and 182.6 yards passing, with 24 sacks.

Bucs G Davin Joseph points out the Texans offense plays a role, with one of the league's top rushing attacks keeping the defense off the field (opponent's time of possession is 26:17, lowest in the league).

"But when they play," Joseph says, "they play hard."

Said Texans QB Matt Schaub: "We knew coming out of camp they were going to be something special, we just didn't know how special. To watch them pull things together over the season, it's been fun to watch."

STEPPING IN: The Bucs worked on nickel blitzes during Thursday's padded practice, which means it was a big day for RB LeGarrette Blount. Olson said Blount needs to improve on pass protection and recognizing blitzes to develop into a back they can trust on third downs.

"We'll continue to look at him," Olson said. "We're comfortable with Kregg Lumpkin in that role and comfortable with Earnest (Graham). And as LeGarrette does it more, we'll be more and more comfortable with LeGarrette."

MEDICAL MATTERS: The Bucs got some good news on the injury front, with WR Mike Williams (thigh) and S Tanard Jackson (hamstring) returning to practice after missing Wednesday. G Jeremy Zuttah (knee) practiced for the second straight day, a good sign that he may return to the starting lineup Sunday. Meanwhile, Texans WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) missed practice again and is likely to miss his sixth straight game, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

TAMPA — While much has been said about the Texans' dynamic duo of RBs Arian Foster and Ben Tate, their most dangerous weapon could be their revamped defense.

In the first year under veteran defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Houston boasts the top ranked unit in the NFL, allowing fewer than 175 total yards in each of the past three games. The Texans visit the Bucs on Sunday.

"Very few weaknesses, to be honest with you," Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "Very athletic. They move very well and when I say movement, they do a lot of movement with their defensive line to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They look very, very athletic, very fast and get up the field very well. Good all around."

The Texans (6-3) had the 30th-ranked defense a year ago, but after switching to the 3-4 and adding pieces such as CB Johnathan Joseph and S Danieal Manning to the likes of star LB Brian Cushing, they've put everything together. They allow just 91.4 yards rushing and 182.6 yards passing, with 24 sacks.

Bucs G Davin Joseph points out the Texans offense plays a role, with one of the league's top rushing attacks that keeps the Houston defense off the field (opponent's time of possession is 26:17, lowest in the league).

"But when they play," Joseph says, "they play hard."

Said Texans QB Matt Schaub: "We knew coming out of camp they were going to be something special, we just didn't know how special. To watch them pull things together over the season, it's been fun to watch."

STEPPING IN: The Bucs worked on nickel blitzes during Thursday's padded practice, which means it was a big day for RB LeGarrette Blount. Olson said Blount needs to improve on pass protection and recognizing blitzes to develop into a back they can trust on third downs.

"We'll continue to look at him," Olson said. "We're comfortable with Kregg Lumpkin in that role and comfortable with Earnest (Graham). And as LeGarrette does it more, we'll be more and more comfortable with LeGarrette."

MEDICAL MATTERS: The team got some good news on the injury front, with WR Mike Williams (thigh) and S Tanard Jackson (hamstring) returning to practice after missing Wednesday. G Jeremy Zuttah (knee) practiced for the second straight day, a good sign that he might return to the starting lineup Sunday. Meanwhile, Texans WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) missed practice again and is likely to miss his sixth straight game, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Challenged to find answers for how opposing offenses have consistently made plays late to rally for wins during USF's four-game losing streak, Bulls players and coaches have often found themselves at a loss.

"It's tough. I can't put words on it," senior safety Jerrell Young said of the team's late struggles. "To hold them to three, 10 points the whole game, then the last drive they score, it's tough. When they need to do it, they make plays. They do what they need to do to win."

What's confounding, of course, is that more than any team in college football this season, USF's opponents find themselves dropped for a loss. USF leads the nation in tackles for loss — 72 negative plays created in eight games — but that consistent ability to get into opposing backfields hasn't translated to success on the scoreboard yet.

"We're doing some good things, but we're not satisfied. We need to keep progressing," said linebacker Sam Barrington, who has 5.5 tackles for loss among his 50 tackles this season.

The Bulls (4-4, 0-4 in Big East) play at 8 tonight at Syracuse, hoping to get back on track after losing leads in the final 90 seconds of their past two losses. USF led Cincinnati by 10 points in the fourth quarter, giving up 20 points in the final period, and the Bulls had a 17-3 lead on Rutgers with less than eight minutes remaining before giving up a late touchdown and losing in overtime.

If USF is to end its losing streak, the key on defense is finding ways to sustain strong play early — from first down to third down, from the first quarter until the end of the game.

USF's leader in tackles for loss, sophomore defensive end Ryne Giddins, has had his best numbers in the first half, as he did with eight tackles before halftime in the Rutgers loss. He did the same thing with 11 tackles in the first half at Connecticut, but in both games wasn't able to keep up the produciton in the second half.

"It's (similar) in practice. If we go 24 periods, the first 10 I'm on fire, the next 10 I'm starting to slow down," Giddins said. "I've got to pick the other 10 periods up so that leads over to the games. First half I'm going to do good, second half I'm going to do good. ... I hate coming out, but at the same time, I have to let Claude Davis or another defensive (lineman) get in and make plays, because they're just as good."

Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said his quandary on the sideline early in games is whether to take out starters who are playing at a high level, hoping to save more energy for big plays late in the game.

"It's a matter of rolling them and keeping them fresh," Snyder said. "The hard part is when you're on the sideline with these guys, you look at them and they're frothing at the mouth. They don't want to come out. It's hard to pull them out, because you don't want to lose their swagger."

Opponents have consistently been able to dig themselves out of holes created by USF's penchant for tackles in the backfield. Consider Rutgers' final drive on Saturday — twice, linebacker DeDe Lattimore dropped Scarlet Knights quarterback Chaz Dodd for sacks on the drive, only to see Rutgers convert from the longer distance. The play before the tying touchdown, a chop-block penalty had backed Rutgers up 15 yards, but the Knights didn't blink and scored on a 34-yard touchdown pass to tie the score, setting up an overtime win.

"Right now, every phase of the team needs to look at themselves with missed opportunities and what we can do to get better," coach Skip Holtz said. "How can we make up this one play on defense ... on offense and special teams? … We just have to get some things cleaned up."

Times staff
Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Thursday on Facebook that the organization will pay Ticketmaster fees for its upcoming home games if fans buy tickets by noon Friday.

According to a video on the team's website, you can use the Bucs fan code "GOBUCS" to save as much as $50 on ticket fees for a family of four. The games are Sunday against the Texans and Dec. 4 against the Panthers. There's a link from the video page to buy the tickets.

The home finale against the Cowboys on Dec. 17 is sold out.

By Jay Mastry, Times Correspondent
Thursday, November 10, 2011

What's hot: This northwest wind will muddy nearshore waters and force kingfish and mackerel a bit offshore for a few days. As soon as the weather settles and we return to easterly winds, waters will clear and action will heat up. Monster kingfish have been caught between these recent fronts.

Technique: Our typical kingfish trolling spread consists of baits offered at varying depths on downriggers. We stagger a couple of flat lines, one short and one long. The one that provides the most spectacular strikes is in the prop wash. A frisky bait (shad or blue runner) 10 or 15 feet behind the motor, cutting back and forth will often entice a bite that other lines won't get. Hook the bait just behind the head to allow it to dig with its nose down.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor
Thursday, November 10, 2011

By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors/Fitness Editor
Thursday, November 10, 2011

First, the good news: Anglers may soon fish year round for spotted seatrout.

Now, the bad news: State officials may also expand the commercial season for Florida's most popular sport fish.

"We are worried about increased commercial pressure on this popular species," said Don Roberts, chairman of the Coastal Conservation Association Florida. "We would really like to see spotted seatrout some day get game fish status, like snook and redfish."

Few would disagree that spotted seatrout are the mainstay of Florida's recreational fishery. You can catch this member of the drum family just about anywhere on just about anything.

"They are not like redfish or snook, which take a little more skill to catch," said Roberts, a longtime angler from Tampa. "You can hook a seatrout wading, fishing off a sea wall, pier or boat. They are the people's fish."

Next week in Key Largo, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to adopt new rules that will do away with the confusing, zoned closures that have been in effect since 2000. For example: Anglers fishing waters south of the Fred Howard Park Causeway in Tarpon Springs cannot keep trout in November and December while those fishing waters just north off Pasco and Hernando counties can only catch-and-release in February.

The closures, along with conservative bag and size limits, have helped the state's spotted seatrout stocks exceed management goals in all areas of the state. As a result, state officials are considering allowing anglers in the Northeast Region of the state to keep an extra fish. If approved, the bag limit would increase from five to six fish per angler.

But the proposed change to the commercial regulations has prompted the CCA and other fishing organizations to call on supporters to oppose the new rules that would:

• allow new gear, specifically beach and haul seines, with a "bycatch" of 75 fish;

• change the commercial vessel limit from 75 to 150 fish if two licensed fishermen are on board;

• allow commercial fishermen to target fish during the colder months when trout are most vulnerable to cast nets;

• and permit the commercial sale of seatrout 12 months a year.

Roberts said Florida could follow the lead of other states (Texas, South Carolina and Alabama) that already have banned the sale of seatrout. Georgia makes its commercial fishermen follow the same rules as recreational anglers.

Instead, Florida is expanding the state's commercial seatrout fishery. Roberts and others in the CCA argue that seatrout are more valuable as a recreational than commercial species.

"It doesn't make sense," he said. "This is a step in the wrong direction."

Sport fishermen pump about $31 billion into the U.S. economy each year, according the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Florida leads the nation with a $16.7 billion recreational fishery. Texas ranks second ($3.2 billion), followed by California ($3 billion).

Anglers still have time to weigh in on this issue. Another group, the Recreational Fishing Alliance, has asked the governor's office to intervene. The FWC meets Nov. 16 in Key Largo, but you can comment by going to http://www.myfwc.com/contact/staff-contacts/senior-staff/commissioners.

If approved the new rules will not take effect until Feb. 1, 2012.

Catch and release

With the trout biting during the closed season, anglers should land their catch as quickly as possible. If possible, leave the fish in the water and unhook it using a pair of pliers or a dehooking tool. If the hook is too difficult to remove without tearing additional tissue, wet a rag and use it to lift the fish out of the water. Back the hook through the original wound or, if that fails, cut off the barb of the hook and try again.

If the hook has been swallowed or is deeply embedded, cut the leader as close to the shank as possible and leave it in the fish. Most non-stainless steel hooks will dissolve in a few days.

If you want to take a photograph of your catch, do so quickly. The sooner you release the fish, the better its chances of survival.

A little history

The state designated seatrout as a restricted species in 1989 and set a 14-inch minimum and 24-inch maximum size limit as well as a 10-fish bag limit. In 1996, the state imposed the first regional closed seasons, reduced the bag limit and increased the size limit to 15 inches. In 2000, the state modified the regional closed seasons, dropped the maximum size limit to 20 inches and reduced the bag limit once again to four per person per day in the South Region and five per day in the Northeast and Northwest regions. Those regulations remain in effect today.

The spotted seatrout season in Tampa Bay is closed now, but it will reopen Jan. 1 in the South Region, which includes all waters south of the Flagler-Volusia counties line in the Atlantic and south of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway, which is about 1.17 miles south of the Pinellas/Pasco counties line in the Gulf.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tonight

USF women vs. No. 14 Florida State

When/where: 4:30; Ocean Center, Daytona Beach

Radio: taped, 9 p.m., 1010-AM

Notable: USF opens with three games in the Women's Basketball Invitational Tipoff Classic: the Seminoles, Arkansas on Saturday and Minnesota on Sunday. The Bulls will have their hands full with FSU, which is led by 6-foot-4 center Cierra Bravard, who had team-high averages of 15 points and 7.8 rebounds last season.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Imagine this: A slugger steps up to the plate in a baseball game. The defense goes into an exaggerated shift in an attempt to prevent a hit. So the batter steps out and refuses to hit until the defense goes back to its normal spots. Ridiculous, right?

That's essentially what the Flyers did Wednesday night when the Lightning, missing several regulars, sat back in its 1-3-1 (prevent) defense hoping to slow the league's top-scoring team. In protest, the Flyers took their puck and tried to go home. They skated figure eights, played with the puck and made little attempt to attack the goal.

Then they whined about the Lightning's tactic, as did the Versus announcers calling the game nationally. That outrage became hockey's hot topic across the United States and Canada on Thursday.

And somehow, the Lightning is the bad guy.

Never mind that Sabres coach Lindy Ruff estimates half the league plays a form of the 1-3-1. Never mind that Lightning coach Guy Boucher was hailed as an innovator for introducing this style to the NHL more than a year ago. Never mind the Lightning held the Flyers to a mere 15 shots, half their normal output. Never mind the Lightning won the game 2-1 in overtime.

Versus analyst (and former Flyer, by the way) Keith Jones called the Lightning's style "embarrassing,'' said Boucher "should be embarrassed,'' applauded the Flyers' work stoppage and summed up his comments by saying the Lightning should be "punished.''

Punished? Punished how? And for what? For winning? Exactly what rules were broken?

Meantime, Jones' sidekick, Mike Milbury, who thinks that the louder he talks, the more right he is, walked off the set during the second intermission in protest of the Lightning's style. (Gee, if I'd known that's what it took to get him off the air, I would've paid someone to play the 1-3-1 years ago.) Before he left, Milbury ripped into the Lightning and said, "The objective of the game is to score goals.''

Wait, isn't the objective to win the game? Milbury's definition of the game's purpose might be the reason the former coach now spends his time in a broadcast studio instead of behind a bench.

Stanley Cup-winning coach (Devils, 1995) and Hall of Famer Jacques Lemaire, often criticized for his neutral-zone trap that suffocated offenses, said, "Are we supposed to coach so we please the people? We please the people who are announcing the game? Is that a new style, or what? Do we have to please Milbury when we coach? It's the first time I hear this.''

Boucher's defense was less sarcastic but more direct: "I'm paid to win games, and our rink is full, and (GM) Steve Yzerman is happy.''

As for the Flyers, see: Yap, shut your.

For much of this season, the Lightning's 1-3-1 defense has looked like a none-3-none defense. Entering play Thursday, the Lightning was tied for 24th in the league in goals allowed, which suggests the other teams on its schedule figured out a way to score against Tampa Bay. Yet the big, bad Flyers, the Broad Street Bullies, would rather belly­ache than come up with the brains to figure out an antidote and the brawn to execute it.

Maybe someday the league will have a rule outlawing the 1-3-1. But how can you blame a team for putting in a legal game plan it believes is best suited for success and then having it succeed? Isn't that the point?

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 10, 2011

No. 8 Florida vs. Jackson State

When/where: 7; O'Connell Center, Gainesville

TV/radio: FSN; 620-AM

Notable: The Gators open the season ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll, their highest since the 2006-07 season. UF shot 20-for-40 from 3-point range in its exhibition win against Catholic University. The Gators are looking to extend their season-opening win streak to 21 and make it 16 in a row under coach Billy Donovan. After this, UF travels to play No. 3 Ohio State on Tuesday.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

Times wires
Thursday, November 10, 2011

SYDNEY — Tiger Woods topped the leaderboard for the first time in nearly a year after a second-round 5-under 67 today in the Australian Open, an Australasia Tour event.

Woods was at 9-under 135. Peter O'Malley (66) was one back.

If his lead held through the afternoon, it would be the first time Woods had led after a round since the third round of the Chevron World Challenge in December. And it would be the first time he had led after a round in a full-field event since his last victory, two years ago this week in the Australian Masters.

In the first round Thursday, Woods shot 4-under 68, his first bogey-free round in nine months. Thousands of fans stood atop sand dunes to watch Woods, playing in his first tournament in Sydney in 15 years.

The last time he played bogey-free was the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Feb. 11.

John Daly had a first-round meltdown. On the par-4 10th, Daly tried to drive the green. He thought his ball was in the front bunker, but after blasting out he realized he had hit a practice ball from the adjacent range. That's when he was told his ball was in the back bunker, and with two penalty strokes and a three-putt, he wound up with a triple bogey.

Annoyed, Daly hit his second on the 11th into the water. Then he hit six more into the water, running out of balls. Daly turned over his scorecard and walked off, then posted on Twitter: "when u run out of balls u run out of balls."

Hunter Mahan withdrew because of shoulder soreness.

LPGA: Juli Inkster shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead with Suzann Pettersen in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico. Inkster, 51, is trying to become the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history. Beth Daniel was 46 when she won the 2003 Canadian Women's Open. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot par 72.

woods endorsement: Woods signed an endorsement with Fuse Science Inc., a Florida sports nutrition company that will be displayed on his bag. Terms were not disclosed. Woods has not had an endorsement on his bag since AT&T dropped him nearly two years ago.

hall of fame: Phil Mickelson was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, getting 72 percent of the votes. The minimum needed is 65 percent. Fred Couples received 38 percent, and Davis Love III and Mark O'Meara each received 29 percent. Induction is May 7 in St. Augustine.