By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2011

TAMPA — Steven Stamkos has had one fight in his NHL career, so when the Lightning center Thursday night threw punches at the head of Pittsburgh's Matt Niskanen, it was worth noting.

The dustup with 52 seconds left in Tampa Bay's 4-1 victory over the Penguins at the St. Pete Times Forum was Stamkos' reaction to seven cross-checks (a couple to the head) from Niskanen and Matt Cooke while on his back.

"I had enough," Stamkos said, "so I took it into my hands a little bit."

Tampa Bay (9-7-2) took things into its own hands against the No. 1 team in the East to snap a two-game losing streak and extend its home winning streak to six.

"A good team win," Stamkos said.

The game went as the Lightning likes — and how it wishes it played on the road, where it is 3-6-2 — with a five-man defensive commitment, including a season-best 25 blocked shots led by Victor Hedman's five. Goaltender Dwayne Roloson also was terrific with 33 saves.

Tampa Bay was outshot 34-18, including 14-6 in the second period, when Pittsburgh took 11 straight shots. But the Lightning, 6-1 at home, made its shots count with two goals by Vinny Lecavalier, one shorthanded into an empty net, and power-play goals by Brett Connolly and Steve Downie.

Including its Nov. 4 win over the Blackhawks, the Lightning has beaten the top team in both conferences.

"When you play against the best team in the league, you're pumped for it," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "We were ready for this game."

Boucher said he challenged his newly constructed line of Lecavalier, Stamkos and Marty St. Louis to be at its best defensively.

"And they showed the way for everybody that defense came first," Boucher said. "And they got their offense because of it."

Even when on the bench as Stamkos gave Connolly his stick after Connolly lost his during a second-period power play. Connolly, with that stick, scored to make it 2-0 with a deflection of Dominic Moore's shot.

"(Stamkos) was awake on the bench and the only one who had his stick out, so I just grabbed it," Connolly said. "It was a good play."

And an appropriate reaction by Stamkos, Boucher said, when he was mugged in front of the Lightning net.

"It was ridiculous," Boucher said. "One of the best players in the league is on the ice and you have two guys cross-checking him."

"Maybe they were just frustrated," said Stamkos, who got only a cross-checking penalty for retaliating before punching Niskanen, who was called for slashing. "But we're going to stick up for ourselves and each other."

First Period—1, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 7, 8:38. Penalties—Stamkos, TB (tripping), 6:10; Adams, Pit (interference), 10:21; Shannon, TB (goaltender interference), 12:02.

Second Period—2, Tampa Bay, Connolly 4 (Moore, Bergeron), 4:08 (pp). Penalties—Kennedy, Pit (high-sticking), 2:29; Hedman, TB (hooking), 9:20; Cooke, Pit (hooking), 10:13; Hedman, TB (holding), 13:59.

Third Period—3, Tampa Bay, Downie 2 (Brewer, Stamkos), 2:04 (pp). 4, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 8, 15:49 (en). 5, Pittsburgh, Kennedy 2 (Martin, Staal), 16:49. Penalties—Engelland, Pit (boarding), 1:06; Letang, Pit (cross-checking), 11:43; Purcell, TB (hooking), 13:31; N.Thompson, TB (high-sticking), 13:35; Neal, Pit (goaltender interference), 15:14; Brewer, TB (delay of game), 15:39; Niskanen, Pit (slashing), 19:08; Stamkos, TB (cross-checking), 19:08. Shots on Goal—Pittsburgh 7-14-13—34. Tampa Bay 5-6-7—18. Power-play opportunities—Pittsburgh 0 of 7; Tampa Bay 2 of 6. Goalies—Pittsburgh, Fleury 10-3-1 (17 shots-14 saves). Tampa Bay, Roloson 6-4-1 (34-33). A—18,509 (19,204).

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2011

TAMPA — Given the Lightning's uneven play recently, it might be close to promoting a player from AHL Norfolk.

"It's definitely something to consider at this time," GM Steve Yzerman said Thursday. "How do we make our team better? How can we play better? We've got some guys in the minors who could potentially help us."

Yzerman said he will not bring up a player to simply shake things up.

"I'm going to call somebody up because it's the right thing to do," he said. "They're going to go in the lineup and play."

Who is most likely to be called up? Process of elimination says it might be RW Dana Tyrell.

F Carter Ashton is having a terrific season with 11 goals and 17 points in 16 games, and LW Cory Conacher has eight goals and a team-best 18 points in 15 games.

But Ashton is "learning his trade" in his first full AHL season, Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. And Conacher has a minor-league contract. Tyrell, 22, played last season with the Lightning, so the team knows what he brings — energy and reliability — and he does not need to go through waivers to be recalled.

If a player comes up, one likely will have to go down. Who is most at risk? Again, read between the lines.

F Blair Jones, who made the team because of his strong finish last season with Norfolk, his gritty postseason for the Lightning and because he came to camp in tremendous shape, has just one assist in nine games entering Thursday while averaging 7:34 of ice time. Eight times, he has been scratched.

Bottom line, Yzerman said of a possible move: "I can't say I'm entirely pleased with how we're playing, so it's a consideration."

CENTURY MARK: When Boucher was told he would coach his 100th regular-season game Thursday, he celebrated with a mocking "whoopee-do."

Seriously, though, Boucher said his first 100 games have demonstrated how the NHL is unlike any other league.

"Circumstances can have a much greater impact in this league than in junior or other leagues," he said. "If you're tired, you're not the same team at all; the size difference between your team and another team.

"You can get away with that in the lower ranks and other leagues, but in the NHL it's incredible. You make a mistake or have a weakness, you're in major trouble because most teams are pretty much equal."

Said Yzerman of Boucher, whose record entering Thursday was 54-32-13: "He's learned a lot in these 100 games about what works and what doesn't. He's doing very well, and I think he's going to continue getting better."

MEDICAL MATTERS: LW Ryan Malone (upper body) missed his fourth straight game but said he might play Saturday against the Devils. … RW Teddy Purcell played after missing Wednesday's practice with a stomach virus. Purcell said he woke about 6 a.m. Tuesday and began vomiting.

ODDS AND ENDS: Rays OF Matt Joyce, on the ice before the game, received a Lightning jersey. … C Steven Stamkos' three goals against the Penguins (in 12 games entering Thursday) were his fewest against East opponents. … D Bruno Gervais was scratched, meaning Boucher reverted to a lineup of 12 forwards and six defensemen.

Times wires
Thursday, November 17, 2011

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — With ESPN reporting that Syracuse police are investigating longtime Orange assistant coach Bernie Fine on allegations of child molestation, the university placed Fine on administrative leave Thursday.

Sgt. Tom Connellan said police received information on the case Thursday and an investigation is in the early stages. Connellan would not say who provided the information.

ESPN said Fine is accused of molesting former Syracuse ball boy Bobby Davis, who is now 39. Davis told ESPN the abuse began in 1983 and occurred at Fine's home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips, including the 1987 Final Four in New Orleans.

Fine is in his 35th season as an assistant to coach Jim Boeheim. Neither could be reached.

Kevin Quinn, Syracuse's senior vice president for public affairs, said the university will cooperate fully.

ESPN said it first investigated the accusations in 2003 but did not to run the story because there was no independent evidence to corroborate the allegations.

Recently, a second man contacted ESPN, alleging that Fine also molested him. That person said he decided to come forward after seeing the recent coverage of allegations of child abuse at Penn State.

Syracuse said it spent four months in 2005 investigating the first allegation and found no evidence of wrongdoing.

No. 4 UConn 80, Maine 60: Alex Oriakhi had 16 points and eight rebounds for the host Huskies (3-0).

no. 16 alabama 62, mD. 42: Tony Mitchell scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half and had 11 rebounds to lead the Tide (3-0) in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan. The Terrapins (1-1) shot 13 of 49, 2-for-12 on 3-pointers.

Miss. St. 69, No. 19 Texas A&M 60: Dee Bost scored 20 as the Bulldogs (3-1) beat the Aggies (2-1) in the semifinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer event in New York.

northwestern 88, LSU 82: John Shurna scored a career-high 37 to lead the Wildcats (2-0) past the Tigers (1-2) in the Charleston (S.C.) Classic.

seton hall 69, vcu 54: Herb Pope had 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Pirates (2-0) beat the Rams (1-1) in the Charleston Classic.

Louisville: Point guard Peyton Siva, whom coach Rick Pitino considers his best player, has a severely sprained left ankle and is doubtful for Saturday's game at Butler.

Times wires
Thursday, November 17, 2011

Syracuse placed associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine on administrative leave Thursday night after a former ball boy for the team told ESPN that he was molested by Fine.

Syracuse police are investigating the allegations in which Bobby Davis, 39, said that Fine molested him "hundreds of times" beginning in 1983.

"We're in the early stages of an investigation," police spokesman Tom Connellan said. "We take these matters extremely seriously … but the allegations are old."

ESPN said another man — a relative of Davis — made similar allegations. It is unknown if police are investigating that claim. Davis told ESPN that the alleged abuse occurred at Fine's home, in the Syracuse basketball facilities and on team trips. Davis told ESPN that he reported the alleged abuse to Syracuse police in 2003 but was told that the statue of limitations had run out.

In a statement, the university said that "an adult male" came to them in 2005 and the university started a four-month investigation that turned up no evidence of wrongdoing. The statement said that Fine "vehemently denied the allegations." Fine is in his 35th season as an assistant to coach Jim Boeheim.

"I've known Bernie Fine for 45 years, and there's absolutely no way that I believe any of this could possibly have happened," Boeheim said.

ESPN and the Syracuse Post-Standard investigated Davis' claims in 2003 and could not confirm his claims.

No. 4 UConn 80, Maine 60: Alex Oriakhi had 16 points and eight rebounds for the host Huskies (3-0).

no. 16 alabama 62, mD. 42: Tony Mitchell scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half and had 11 rebounds to lead the Tide (3-0) in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan. The Terrapins (1-1) shot 13 of 49, 2-for-12 on 3-pointers.

Miss. St. 69, No. 19 Texas A&M 60: Dee Bost scored 20 as the Bulldogs (3-1) beat the Aggies (2-1) in the semifinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer event in New York.

NO. 17 MICHIGAN 59, WESTERN ILLINOIS 55: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16 for the host Wolverines (3-0).

NO. 24 MISSOURI 83, NIAGARA 52: Marcus Denmon scored 22 to lead five players in double figures, and the Tigers (3-0) rode a hot-shooting first half to an easy win.

Louisville: Point guard Peyton Siva, whom coach Rick Pitino considers his best player, has a severely sprained left ankle and is doubtful for Saturday's game at Butler.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Kenny Boynton scored 20 points, Erving Walker added 17 and No. 7 Florida bounced back from a loss at Ohio State to beat overmatched North Florida 91-55 Thursday night.

Freshman Bradley Beal chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Gators (2-1), who won their eighth consecutive home game - and this one was completely one sided from the opening tip.

Florida built a double-digit lead in the first eight minutes, opened a 17-point cushion by halftime and pulled ahead 70-34 on Mike Rosario's 3-pointer from the corner midway through the second half. Florida coasted from there, turning to its reserves for the final minutes.

Parker Smith led the Ospreys (2-2) with 17 points.

The only blemish for Florida was free-throw shooting. The Gators finished 16 of 29 from the charity stripe, the second consecutive game filled with misses for coach Billy Donovan's team. Florida was 13 of 21 from the line in an 81-74 loss against the No. 3 Buckeyes two nights earlier.

Donovan took the blame for the misses, saying he hadn't had his team work on free throws enough in practice.

But they were hardly a factor against North Florida.

Boynton was solid from the start, scoring from behind the arc, on drives, on jumpers and from the free-throw line. Rosario added 15 points, including a 4-of-6 performance from 3-point range. Walker overcame a rough start and finished with six rebounds and five assists.

The Gators were 11 of 29 from behind the arc, and had 18 assists on 32 baskets.

North Florida shot 34.5 percent and was 2 of 14 from 3-point range. Smith was 2 of 11. Travis Wallace finished with 12 points, and Andy Diaz added 10 for the Ospreys.

North Florida committed 21 turnovers, struggling to beat Florida's press and having trouble with Florida's size in the paint. Patric Young had seven points and five rebounds for Florida, and fellow forward Erik Murphy added 13 points.

The Gators played without forward Will Yeguete, who sat out because of a concussion.

Former Florida stars Joakim Noah and Jason Williams were in attendance.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE— With a little more than 24 hours to recover from a loss at Ohio State and an unexpected layover in Ohio on Tuesday, Florida coach Billy Donovan's main concern heading into Thursday night's game against North Florida was whether his team could shake the loss mentally.

His worry was unwarranted.

The No. 7 Gators shot 48.5 percent from the field en route to a 91-55 victory in front of 10,013 at the O'Connell Center.

"As a basketball player, I think actually us playing again right away was good so it doesn't linger with you," said senior guard Erving Walker, who had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.

"You just want to get right back out there so you can forget about Ohio State. We've played another game now, so that Ohio State feeling is gone."

With forwards Erik Murphy and Cody Larson in foul trouble early, Donovan went to a four-guard rotation of Walker, Mike Rosario, Kenny Boynton and Bradley Beal.

It's the lineup many believe could be the difference-maker for the Gators this season, but Donovan said it's a work in progress.

"I've got to try to do a better job with that because a lot of times with that lineup, (center) Patrick Young was taken out of the offense and we've got to find ways to incorporate him more," Donovan said.

All four guards scored in double figures and had a combined 22 rebounds, led by Beal's 10.

Florida's next game is against Wright State at 7 p.m. Monday at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa (Sun Sports).

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2011

TAMPA — Bucs coach Raheem Morris refused to make excuses right after Sunday's loss to the Texans.

A few days later, however, he is prepared to offer an explanation for losing four of the past five games: the schedule.

During their 1-4 stretch, the Bucs have played two games against the 7-3 Saints and lost to the 49ers (8-1), Bears (6-3) and Texans (7-3). It won't get easier Sunday when they travel to Green Bay to play the 9-0 defending Super Bowl champion Packers.

However, it doesn't exactly justify the Bucs being outscored 48-3 by the 49ers and 37-9 by the Texans.

"Without making excuses, we are playing a tougher schedule," Morris said Thursday. "We are playing tougher teams. There's no doubt about it, you can look at the guys we've lost to. … Houston is a tough team. The Saints are tough. Nobody knew the San Francisco 49ers were that tough, and they are. They didn't just beat our butts, they beat some other teams, too. And Detroit has shown they're pretty good."

After Sunday's game, the Bucs will likely have played the league's toughest schedule based on opponents' records.

In pointing out the schedule difficulty, Morris might have also inadvertently admitted that last year's surprising 10-6 record was the product of a relatively soft schedule as Tampa Bay beat only one team — the Saints in Week 17 — that posted a winning record.

JACKSON INJURY: After not playing football for 56 weeks while he was suspended from the NFL, S Tanard Jackson has made an immediate impact, with two interceptions in his first two games after being reinstated Oct. 11.

But Jackson injured his left hamstring during an interception return against the Bears on Oct. 23 in London and has been limited ever since. For the second straight day, Jackson was unable to practice Thursday and will most likely not play Sunday at Green Bay.

"I'm not in the preservation mode. He's hurting," Morris said. "He's been fighting for a while, and he hasn't been able to practice the last two days. We've got to see if he's got anything going (today) and if not … we've got to get ready to go with Larry Asante and (Corey) Lynch."

Lynch started two games at free safety this season after Cody Grimm sustained a season-ending knee injury against Atlanta on Sept. 25. Asante has played in eight career games with the Bucs and has five tackles and one interception.

HAYES REGAINS HIS JOB: LB Geno Hayes has spent most of the past two games anchored to the bench, replaced in the starting lineup by Adam Hayward.

But Morris, having determined that Hayes has sufficiently received his coach's message about playing within the scheme and making impactful plays, is returning the former Florida State standout to the starting lineup.

"It did open my eyes," Hayes said. "I have to raise my play to help this team win. I feel great. I'm happy to be back, and I'm ready to start playing again."

Still, the move does not suggest that all is well at the linebacker position. Tampa Bay is sorely lacking the kind of splash plays from the position that had once become synonymous with Bucs linebackers.

"I saw what (Morris) was trying to pull out of me and it let me see what was going on," Hayes said. "I have to take advantage of it. I have to take it up to another level. Without question."

INJURY UPDATE: DT Frank Okam, who missed the past two games with a calf injury, returned to practice. DE Michael Bennett (groin) had full participation. DT Albert Haynesworth (knee), who was excused from practice Wednesday, returned to workouts. LB Dekoda Watson (groin), who missed last week's game against the Texans, did not participate in practice. T Donald Penn was added to the injury report and had limited participation with a foot issue.

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

Times wires
Thursday, November 17, 2011

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Rick DiPietro made 24 saves in relief of Evgeni Nabokov to lead the Islanders past the Canadiens 4-3 Thursday. New York had lost four in a row (0-3-1).

DiPietro replaced Nabokov 7:55 into the game after the starter injured a groin while making a pad save on Yannick Weber. Nabokov, who made two saves, is scheduled to be evaluated today.

The Islanders built a 3-0 lead in a span of 9:08 in the second period and led 4-2 at intermission. P.A. Parenteau opened the scoring 41 seconds in with a backhander that went in off of Peter Budaj. Jay Pandolfo tipped a centering feed from Josh Bailey past Budaj 2:20 later. It was Pandolfo's 100th goal of his 15-year career. Mark Streit made it 3-0 off a pass from Matt Martin while driving toward the crease.

Montreal cut it to 3-2 with goals from Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole in a span of 2:36. Pacioretty one-timed Lars Eller's pass past DiPietro with 5:08 left in the period. Eller intercepted Mike Mottau's clearing pass and found Pacioretty. Cole then flipped a puck over a prone DiPietro.

Just as it seemed Montreal had wrestled momentum away from New York, Matt Moulson ripped a drive from the right circle with 1:45 remaining to make it 4-2.

Game highlights: Matt Read knocked in a rebound with 18.6 seconds left to lift the host Flyers past the Coyotes 2-1. It made a winner out of Ilya Bryzgalov, who spent four seasons with Phoenix before his rights were traded and he signed a nine-year, $51 million deal. … Rich Peverley and David Krejci scored in the shootout as the host Bruins beat the Blue Jackets 2-1 for their seventh consecutive victory.

Prosecutors decide not to charge Chara

QUEBEC CITY — Quebec's prosecutor said Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara won't face charges for his hit on Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty in March. Pacioretty broke a vertebra and was out for the season after being shoved into a stanchion by Chara.

Chara received a game misconduct but was not suspended. The ensuing uproar in Montreal prompted the police investigation. But the prosecutors office said it does not believe a court would find Chara guilty of a crime.

Bruins president Cam Neely said the team considered the matter closed and no one from it would comment further. Pacioretty, who has returned to play this season, previously was critical of the NHL's handling of the incident but called police involvement unnecessary.

Chara was unavailable for comment

Around the league: Flyers wing Jaromir Jagr, who has six goals and 11 assists in his return from Russia, left Thursday's game with an undisclosed lower body injury. His status is unknown. … Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill was hospitalized with what the team called only a virus. He has missed three games and is not expected to return for Saturday's. … Stars forward Adam Burish, who has three goals and five assists, will miss at least four weeks with a broken left hand sustained Tuesday when he was hit by a shot. Dallas did get back forward Steve Ott. Ott, who has two goals and six assists, missed six games with a hip injury.

First Period—None. Penalties—Palushaj, Mon (boarding), 2:07; Streit, NYI (holding), 2:59; Staios, NYI (tripping), 7:13; Weber, Mon (interference), 11:43.

Second Period—1, N.Y. Islanders, Parenteau 3, :41. 2, N.Y. Islanders, Pandolfo 1 (Bailey, Martin), 3:01. 3, N.Y. Islanders, Streit 2 (Martin), 9:08. 4, Montreal, Pacioretty 9 (Eller), 14:52. 5, Montreal, Cole 5 (Diaz, Plekanec), 17:38. 6, N.Y. Islanders, Moulson 6 (Tavares, DiPietro), 18:15. Penalties—Emelin, Mon (holding), 5:29.

Third Period—7, Montreal, Gionta 5 (Cammalleri, Plekanec), 15:42 (pp). Penalties—Grabner, NYI (tripping), 10:49; Staios, NYI (boarding), 14:02. Shots on Goal—Montreal 10-11-8—29. N.Y. Islanders 11-9-13—33. Power-play opportunities—Montreal 1 of 4; N.Y. Islanders 0 of 3. Goalies—Montreal, Budaj 1-2-0 (33 shots-29 saves). N.Y. Islanders, Nabokov (2-2), DiPietro 2-1-2 (7:55 first, 27-24). A—9,928 (16,234).

First Period—None. Penalties—Columbus bench, served by Prospal (too many men), 14:15.

Second Period—1, Columbus, MacKenzie 3 (Nikitin, Clitsome), 2:49 (pp). 2, Boston, McQuaid 1, 4:24. Penalties—Campbell, Bos (high-sticking), :50; Boll, Clm, major (fighting), 8:35; Thornton, Bos, major (fighting), 8:35.

Third Period—None. Penalties—Pouliot, Bos (roughing), 1:57.

Overtime—None. Penalties—Vermette, Clm (slashing), 1:05; Ference, Bos (boarding), 4:08.

Shootout—Columbus 1 (Nash NG, Letestu G, Vermette NG), Boston 2 (Seguin NG, Peverley G, Krejci G). Shots on Goal—Columbus 5-14-8-4—31. Boston 6-8-8-5—27. Power-play opportunities—Columbus 1 of 3; Boston 0 of 2. Goalies—Columbus, Sanford 0-0-1 (27 shots-26 saves). Boston, Rask 3-3-0 (31-30). A—17,565 (17,565).

First Period—None. Penalties—Briere, Phi, double minor (high-sticking), 7:10; Torres, Pho (holding stick), 12:36.

Second Period—1, Philadelphia, van Riemsdyk 7 (Giroux, Hartnell), 12:37. Penalties—Chipchura, Pho, major (fighting), 3:38; Rinaldo, Phi, major (fighting), 3:38; Timonen, Phi (high-sticking), 15:02; Whitney, Pho (hooking), 17:17.

Third Period—2, Phoenix, Boedker 3 (Gordon, Korpikoski), 3:38. 3, Philadelphia, Read 6 (Talbot, Voracek), 19:41. Penalties—Giroux, Phi (hooking), :33; Vrbata, Pho (goaltender interference), 4:21; Rinaldo, Phi, misconduct, 13:12. Shots on Goal—Phoenix 16-6-9—31. Philadelphia 12-17-13—42. Power-play opportunities—Phoenix 0 of 4; Philadelphia 0 of 3. Goalies—Phoenix, Smith 8-3-3 (42 shots-40 saves). Philadelphia, Bryzgalov 8-4-2 (31-30). A—19,610 (19,537).

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2011

TAMPA — It seems as if not long ago, Bucs linebackers were standard-bearers. They were some of the best in the business, players who set an emotional tone while they put ball carriers on their backs.

Standouts Derrick Brooks, Hardy Nickerson, Shelton Quarles and, to a lesser extent, Barrett Ruud, have moved on. But now, the question remains: Can those who have replaced them distinguish themselves?

The Bucs' current linebackers are struggling with consistency and making the sort of game-changing plays that had come to be expected from the position. So much so that coach Raheem Morris, also the defensive coordinator, benched starting weak-side linebacker Geno Hayes the past two games for uneven performances. Hayes, Morris said Thursday, will return to the starting lineup Sunday at Green Bay.

The task is clear. But can Hayes, Quincy Black and rookie Mason Foster step up to this significant challenge?

"It's in us," Hayes said. "We have the talent level there. We have guys who have all the physical attributes of being a linebacker and having the same characteristics of those linebackers in past days. We can't be Derrick Brooks. We can't be Shelton Quarles. But there's a certain talent level within us that we know we can achieve."

The player under the most scrutiny, perhaps, is Black. He is in his fifth season and was retained as a free agent (whereas Ruud was not) via a $29 million contract extension before the season. He was talked up by management and coaches as a player capable of making the sort of plays that have been missing.

Black battled an ankle injury early in the season but hasn't been the sort of dominating presence the Bucs were hoping for. After beginning the season as the strongside linebacker in the base defense and the middle linebacker on passing downs, Black has been relegated mostly his strongside duties, primarily a first- and second-down role.

Middle linebacker Foster, who leads the Bucs in tackles with 66, has been mostly solid but predictably has had issues with getting off of blocks and still is finding his way in pass coverage. He has had to fill the shoes of Ruud in his first season without the benefit of offseason workouts. But he understands what's expected of linebackers in Tampa Bay.

"You can tell from the way the older guys talk about those guys and from how Raheem holds you to a high standard," he said. "You can definitely feel it."

So, how is he measuring up?

"I feel like I'm playing solid football and making the plays that come my way," Foster said. "You can't force splash plays. You have to take them as they come, and they will."

Hayes, who plays the same position as five-time All-Pro Brooks, his mentor and a fellow Florida State product, knows his role is to make impact plays. "I have to take it up to another level," Hayes said. "Without question."

The way Hayes and others can do that is by making so-called splash plays. Hayes made them with regularity in 2010, finishing with 15 tackles for loss and six passes defensed. He now has five tackles for loss and no passes defensed through nine games.

"(Splash plays) are something we're going to be harping on very heavy from here on out," Hayes said. "When we're not getting splash plays, we're not getting sparks, we're not getting any energy in our defense. We have to be the guys who carry the banner and pick up the defense."

The next Brooks probably isn't roaming the halls of One Buc Place now. But the current group of linebackers seeks to establish itself as a unit that can create a legacy of some kind.

So, what about these guys? The jury is still out.

"The expectation won't change," Morris said. "They have to go form their own identity."

Tougher slate

Coach Raheem Morris notes the difficulty of facing teams with good records this season. 3C

Up next

Bucs at Packers, 1 p.m. Sunday TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 103.5-FM Line: Packers by 14

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Early Thursday, Florida senior center Azania Stewart sent a text to her teammates reminding them that their game against rival Florida State would most likely be won or lost in the paint.

Stewart was right. The Gators outscored FSU 44-30 in the paint on their way to a 72-58 upset of the No. 21 Seminoles at the O'Connell Center.

UF (2-1) last beat FSU (2-2) in 2009. Gator seniors got their first home win over the Seminoles.

"Obviously I'm just thrilled to death for our team, and in particular our seniors and our post players who worked really, really hard," Florida coach Amanda Butler said. "Florida State is a fantastic team and very well-coached. That's not just an NCAA Tournament team, that's a team that's going to advance in the NCAA Tournament. This was a great win for us because it was truly, truly a team win."

Junior forward Jennifer George shot 9 of 11 and had a team-high 18 points and four rebounds. Steward added 10 points and six rebounds. FSU forward Cierra Bravard had a game-high 22 points, fouling out late.

"Florida played with a lot more heart and passion than we did," FSU coach Sue Semrau said.

USF romps at home

TAMPA — Kaneisha Saunders led three players in double figures with 14 points as USF cruised past North Florida 76-41 before a home-opener crowd of 577 at the Recreation Center.

"I'm looking forward to next year playing in the Sun Dome, but then again this rec center isn't too bad," Saunders said.

USF (2-2) tied a season high with seven 3s in the first half on the way to a 41-16 advantage.

North Florida (0-2) made only seven field goals in the first half and committed 11 turnovers.

No. 1 Bears, No. 2 Irish win, meet Sunday

WACO, Texas — Brittney Griner had 18 points with 14 rebounds and Odyssey Sims scored 22 for top-ranked Baylor in an 83-50 victory over No. 22 UCLA that set up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in the preseason WNIT championship game.

The Bears (3-0) host No. 2 Notre Dame on Sunday. The host Irish beat Hartford 98-43. Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel each scored 22 for Notre Dame (3-0).

No. 6 Texas A&M 83, Arkansas-Little Rock 54: Kelsey Bone had 16 points and eight rebounds for the visiting Aggies (3-0).

No. 7 Miami 107, Prairie View 26: Shenise Johnson scored 25 and the host Hurricanes (2-1) set a school record for margin of victory. The previous record was 100-20 over Homestead Air Force Base on Jan. 14, 1976. Prairie View, a 2011 NCAA Tournament qualifier from the Southwest Athletic Conference, was held without a field goal until a short jumper with 9:40 left in the first half made the score 39-4.

No. 9 L'ville 77, Eastern ky. 53: The visiting Cardinals (2-1) overcame Shoni Schimmel's 5-for-20 shooting in her debut. The point guard, a transfer from North Carolina, was suspended for two games for playing in a nonsanctioned summer event.

Del. 80, No. 11 Penn St. 71: Elena Delle Donne had 40 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks as the Blue Hens beat the Nittany Lions (2-1). Penn State is the highest-ranked team Delaware defeated.

No. 12 Georgia 73, College of Charleston 48: The host Bulldogs (3-0) took an 18-0 lead. The Cougars missed their first five shots, their first four free throws and turned the ball over seven times before scoring.

No. 16 Purdue 54, Bowling Green 53: Courtney Moses scored after inbounding the ball off a defender to herself with 13 seconds left to lift the visiting Boilermakers (2-0).

No. 17 UK 81, Northeastern 47: The host Wildcats (3-0) forced 37 turnovers in their victory.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Times wires
Thursday, November 17, 2011

DENVER — Tim Tebow's 20-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds left capped a 95-yard drive and sent the Broncos to a 17-13 victory over the Jets on Thursday.

Tebow saw the blitz, outflanked safety Eric Smith around the left edge, cut back and bulled his way into the end zone. The Broncos (5-5) are 4-1 since Tebow replaced Kyle Orton.

Mark Sanchez's desperation pass was batted down as time expired as the Jets (5-5) lost for the second time in four days.

"We have a resilient team," Tebow said.

Nick Folk's 45-yard field goal broke a 10-10 tie with 9:14 left, and the Broncos later got the ball with 5:54 left at their 5.

Jets safety Jim Leonhard could have throttled Denver's drive on the first play when he wrapped up Eddie Royal in the end zone on a throw to the right flat, but Royal wiggled free for 8 yards.

Tebow ran just twice for 11 yards until the final drive, when he carried seven times for 58 yards. After completing just two passes in a win at Kansas City four days earlier, Tebow completed 9 of 20 for 104 yards Thursday.

"I said before, I trust him. I trust him with everything," Broncos linebacker Von Miller said about Tebow. "No matter how many interceptions he throws, no matter how many touchdowns he throws. I'm going to ride him to the end. I hope he shut up a bunch of his critics."

The debate across the NFL is: Can the option keep working?

"I want to run whatever's going to work," Tebow said.

Suspended Packer gets six years in prison

HOUSTON — Suspended Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly was sentenced to six years in prison for violating the terms of his probation for a drug conviction.

State District Judge Denise Bradley imposed the sentence despite tearful pleas from Jolly and his mother, Phyllis Jolly, to allow the 6-foot-3, 325-pound lineman to be treated for his addiction to codeine.

"I want to go to rehab to get help," Jolly told the judge as he wiped away tears with a tissue.

Jolly, 28, was charged with possession of a compound containing codeine, a controlled substance, after a traffic stop in Houston in October.

The arrest put Jolly in jeopardy of receiving prison time because in April he pleaded guilty to a codeine possession charge in a deal that wiped out an earlier charge and spared him from prison unless he stumbled again.

Lion fined: Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch was fined $7,500 by the NFL for hitting Bears running back Matt Forte while he was on the ground, ESPN.com reported.

Bears: Receiver Earl Bennett was fined $10,000 for wearing orange cleats last weekend, ESPN.com reported.

Bills: Stevie Johnson (left shoulder) returned to practice on a limited basis, but coach Chan Gailey has not yet determined if the receiver will play

Eagles: Quarterback Michael Vick didn't practice for the second straight day because of broken ribs, and it remains uncertain if he will play.

49ers: Running back Frank Gore practiced without a brace on his right knee and expects to play against the Cardinals.

Friday, November 18, 2011

KISSIMMEE — Berkeley Prep's 15th state volleyball championship was about more than just a number.

It was about more than setting a new standard for the sport in the Tampa Bay area. It was about a fitting end to the high school careers of the program's best two players. It was about executing a team effort to beat one of the nation's best teams.

And for Berkeley coach Randy Dagostino, in his 28th year, it was about rebounding.

A day after Dagostino said the Buccaneers "laid an egg" in a four-game Class 4A state semifinal win, Berkeley Prep returned to Silver Spurs arena Thursday to finish their mission.

The Buccaneers (30-2), ranked No. 6 in the nation by MaxPreps, ended the season with their third straight state championship, beating MaxPreps No. 8 Orlando Bishop Moore 25-15, 25-18, 15-25, 25-16.

It was the program's 15th state crown, tying Tampa Prep for the most in bay area history.

"They were so confident as a group that they want to do much better," said Dagostino, wearing a pink team T-shirt with No. 15 on the front. "I just had a very, very good feeling about tonight."

It marked the third title for seniors Jordan Burgess (team-high 15 kills and 13 digs) and Mackenzie Dagostino (30 assists, 13 kills, eight digs and eight blocks), who ended their Berkeley careers as the school's leaders in kills and assists, respectively.

"This was business," said Mackenzie Dagostino, who will play at Maryland next year. "This is what we worked for. It was a news flash (Wednesday). If we had played like that today, Bishop Moore would have had us.

"We knew we had to step our game up. And we had a flash of that in the third set when we just let points go. In a match like this you can't ever take a point off."

Playing in front of a pro-Bishop Moore crowd, Berkeley got perhaps its most complete team effort when it needed it the most. Junior middle blocker Jessica Silva's eight blocks took Bishop Moore's top hitter, junior Lindsey Owens, out of her game. Senior Katie O'Drobinak had 13 digs and three service aces.

The Buccaneers — who earned their 59th straight win against in-state competition — grabbed momentum early, taking 13 of the opening game's final 14 points. And despite a hiccup in the third, Berkeley ran out to a 6-0 lead in the fourth and never looked back.

On the last point of the match, Burgess, a Stanford recruit, stepped behind the serving line and nostalgia hit her.

"I thought to myself that this is the last point I will ever play in a Berkeley uniform," she said. "I got a little emotional."

Burgess' serve then shot through the Bishop Moore defense for an ace, and the Berkeley players fell to their knees in celebration.

"Hopefully, we set a precedent for what's to come next," said Burgess. "Hopefully we can get a fourth straight championship next year. That's what I'm hoping for. I know I'll be following."

Friday, November 18, 2011

KISSIMMEE — The last time Tarpon Springs appeared in the state volleyball tournament, Spongers players Kelsi Collins and Ashlyn MacGregor hadn't been born.

And heading into this season, the Spongers didn't think they had a chance of playing in the state tournament at Silver Spurs Arena. But Thursday night they were in the spotlight — their first state appearance since 1993 — playing state power Fort Myers in the 6A semifinal. It was a far cry from Tarpon's home gym, which Collins termed as "cozy."

"Walking in here it was like, 'Wow, we're playing in here?' " Collins said. "But once we stepped on the court it was just volleyball from there. There weren't any distractions. The crowd is load but we have that at our place. The lights are bright, but we have that, too. Once you start playing, it's volleyball."

The Spongers weren't distracted early, taking a quick 7-1 lead on the Green Wave in the opening game. But that's when experience took over.

Three game later, Tarpon Springs was sent home, 25-20, 25-21, 25-18.

"We have a taste of it now," Collins said. "Who would think Tarpon Springs would be in the state playoffs? I know I didn't. I wanted to, but I didn't think so. Now that we've got a taste, I think we'll train a little harder to get back."

"A catalyst," Tarpon coach Patrick Sneed called it.

MacGregor led the Spongers (25-4) with nine kills and seven blocks. Collins added six kills and 18 digs, while setter Jenn Smith has 18 assists, 11 digs and four blocks. Kelly Lorenz also had 18 digs.

But Tarpon didn't have an answer for the Green Wave's middle hitters. Six-foot-2 sophomore Chelsea Oliver had 12 kills and 5-11 senior Alyssa Goldenhart had 10 kills. Rachel Schaaf led Fort Myers with 14 kills.

"We just gave them too many easy balls back and anybody will tell you, once you're in system and you have your studs up there, they know what to do with it," Sneed said. "They had the advantage because they were more consistent to it than we were."

Berkeley Prep wins 15th title

Berkeley Prep (30-2), ranked No. 6 in the nation by MaxPreps, ended the season with its third straight state championship, beating MaxPreps No. 8 Orlando Bishop Moore 25-15, 25-18, 15-25, 25-16.

It was the program's 15th state crown, tying Tampa Prep for the most in bay area history.

It marked the third title for seniors Jordan Burgess (team-high 15 kills and 13 digs) and Mackenzie Dagostino (30 assists, 13 kills, eight digs and eight blocks), who ended their Berkeley careers as the school's leaders in kills and assists, respectively.

"This was business," said Dagostino, who will play at Maryland next year. "This is what we worked for. It was a news flash (Wednesday). If we had played like that today, Bishop Moore would have had us.

"We knew we had to step our game up. And we had a flash of that in the third set when we just let points go. In a match like this you can't ever take a point off."

Junior middle blocker Jessica Silva's eight blocks took Bishop Moore's top hitter, junior Lindsey Owens, out of her game. Senior Katie O'Drobinak had 13 digs and three service aces.

The Buccaneers grabbed momentum early, taking 13 of the opening game's final 14 points. And despite a hiccup in the third, Berkeley ran out to a 6-0 lead in the fourth and never looked back.

On the last point of the match, Burgess, a Stanford recruit, stepped behind the serving line and nostalgia hit her.

"I thought to myself that this is the last point I will ever play in a Berkeley uniform," she said. "I got a little emotional."

Associated Press
Friday, November 18, 2011

The stakes are about as high for Virginia (7-3, 4-2 ACC) as they've been in a long time. The Cavaliers could win their first ACC Coastal Division title and qualify for next month's league championship game against Clemson if they can defeat the Seminoles (7-3, 5-2) and then intrastate rival Virginia Tech on Nov. 26. Florida State is trying to land an attractive bowl date sometime in late December.

Associated Press

WATCH OUT FOR...

Virginia's offensive line vs. the Florida State pass rush, which ranks 10th nationally with 31 sacks. Virginia's offensive line has allowed only eight sacks this season to rank 10th in protecting its quarterback. The Cavaliers have not surrendered a sack in their last 86 pass attempts. A trio of Seminole ends — Cornelius Carradine, Brandon Jenkins and Bjoern Werner — have combined for 14.5 of the sacks, and sophomore LB Telvin Smith has three.

No. 23 Florida State Seminoles vs. Virginia Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2, 1040-AM, 820-AM

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 18, 2011

TAMPA — The relaxed, laidback calm that B.J. Daniels now carries himself with on the football field may best be seen in a meaningless play early in last week's win at Syracuse, when the Bulls offense held a 3-0 lead.

Coming out of a Syracuse time out, Daniels lined up as an inside receiver on the left side, surprising not only the Orange defense but his own coaches as well. After an intriguing second or two, he jogged back over behind center, took the snap and threw an incomplete pass on third down.

"We try to throw the defense off," Daniels says, laughing. "They were actually yelling, 'Wildcat!' and we've never run that this entire year."

Skip Holtz, you see, preaches to his players not to show their formation too early coming out of a timeout, and this was his quarterback's way of obliging his coach. Holtz and his staff have heard criticism from fans who don't like to see Daniels smiling and even joking with opponents late in games back during the Bulls' four-game losing streak. Make no mistake: The coaches are happy to see their quarterback at ease on the football field.

"You'll hear people say, 'He's too relaxed,' " quarterbacks coach Peter Vaas said this week, preparing for today's home game against Miami. "That's been a conscious effort to get him to be that way, to get him to play calm and under control. That doesn't mean you're not concentrating or not focusing. You're more just 'Aaaahh. I can handle this.' I want him to smile. I want him to be relaxed. That's part of his personality. It shows he's in control."

Even with the Bulls just 5-4 this season, Daniels has taken major steps forward, cutting down on the mistakes that limited his first two seasons as starter. After 22 interceptions in those two years, he has just five this season. The lack of turnovers is what fans see as the biggest difference in Daniels this season, but the coaches say there's a bigger transformation that has taken place internally.

"The No. 1 thing with his play that people don't see on a day-to-day basis is he's learned how to manage his emotions," offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said. "He's a high-strung athlete. A thoroughbred, I used to say last year. In the past, when things weren't going well, he was on the bench and pouting. But he's learned to slow his mind down, learned how to communicate with people around him, and how to play the next play, good or bad. That's where I think he's really grown."

Statistically, Daniels is vastly improved, on pace to set many USF single-season passing records. Vaas said the most obvious difference is that Daniels is reading defenses better, and as a result, isn't throwing risky passes anymore.

"A year ago, you'd see B.J. make a throw and you'd go, 'Oh my God, what the heck is he looking at?' " Vaas said. "Whereas this year, he won't make the throw, and you'll ask, 'Why didn't you throw that?' and B.J. will say, 'I saw the linebacker coming in,' and when you watch it on tape, that's exactly it."

Vaas sets a reasonable expectation for his quarterbacks of one interception for every 50 passes attempted, something Daniels fell well short of the past two years.

"A year ago, B.J. threw one interception for every 18 passes that he threw. That's horrendous," Vaas said. "Now this year, I don't know it off the top of my head, but my guess is like 1 out of 60 (it's 1 in 60.6). Those kind of numbers are very, very good. We need to keep it up."

Combine the emotional maturity with the familiarity in his second year in the same offense, and Holtz sees an entirely different player leading his offense.

"The game was moving in fast-forward. The way the game has slowed down for him, it's slowed down his blood pressure, his heart rate," Holtz said. "He's standing back there in the pocket. He's poised. He's making good decisions. He's relaxed, comfortable, confident. I think it's a real testament to the way he's grown as a person, as a leader. ... I've never had a quarterback that has made the progress from one year to the next as B.J. Daniels has from last year to this year. I don't know that we could ask any more from him."

Daniels politely disagrees, saying his success as a quarterback only goes as far as the success of the team he's trying to lead. With a 5-4 record and three games remaining, he's determined to finish the season strong, knowing USF's next win gets the team bowl-eligible for the seventh year in a row.

"I always feel like quarterbacks are measured by wins," he said. "I'm trying to help my team and put us in a position to win, but we have to continue to put up Ws."

Daniels has struggled against Miami in the past, with just 157 yards of total offense in six quarters against the Hurricanes, limited by injury to a half last season. But as has been the case throughout this fall, USF's coaches are confident they have a different quarterback leading the Bulls today.

"Everybody matures at different times," Fitch said. "The emotion, the maturity, the preparation, the understanding, all those things have kind of clicked."

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 18, 2011

WATCH OUT FOR ...

USF's B.J. Daniels isn't the only quarterback who has fixed an interception problem. Miami's Jacory Harris, left, threw 32 interceptions in the previous two seasons, and like Daniels, he has just five this season to go with 19 touchdown passes. USF's secondary will have to contain Hurricanes WR Tommy Streeter, who has eight touchdown receptions and is averaging 20.4 yards per catch. That starts with pressure from a defensive unit that ranks third in Division I-A in sacks.

USF vs. Miami, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU, 970-AM, 1470-AM

The winner gets not only bragging rights but bowl eligibility, something to salvage as both teams had higher expectations for this season. The Bulls (5-4) won in overtime in Miami last year, so a victory would validate their rise in the state's hierarchy and serve as a boon in recruiting efforts as well. USF's running game has gone for 220-plus yards the past two games and gets a boost from the healthy return of leading rusher Darrell Scott, who missed last week with concussionlike symptoms. USF finishes the year with three straight home games, hoping to build off the momentum of last week's win at Syracuse. With the Hurricanes (5-5) as a draw, the Bulls should have an announced crowd of more than 50,000, their biggest at home since the 2009 season.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

Friday, November 18, 2011

On the Web: Friday Night Rewind

Hosts John C. Cotey and Joey Knight, as well as the rest of the Friday Night Rewind gang, are back for Season 5 of our award-winning football video series. Check out highlights from the bay area's top matchups at tampabay.com/hometeam. Miss a game Friday night? We've got complete coverage from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. Find game recaps, photo galleries, team standings and more at tampabay.com/hometeam.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 18, 2011

The Gators' bowl-eligibility hopes may well ride on a victory. This is the regular-season finale for the Division I-AA Paladins (6-4), who are coming off a 41-34 loss to Elon last week. Interestingly, the Paladins are also in must-win mode. Last week's loss means Furman most likely needs a victory over the Gators (5-5) to earn a spot in the 20-team I-AA playoff field.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

Florida vs. Furman, 1 p.m., pay-per-view, 620-AM

WATCH OUT FOR ...

The Gators defense has had trouble stopping the run and with quarterbacks who can throw. Furman QB Chris Forcier leads I-AA in passing efficiency and has passed for 2,099 yards. Junior RB Jerodis Williams is the Southern conference's second-leading rusher. The Gators are looking for consistency on offense and better production in the red zone. Florida has scored just 14 touchdowns in 31 trips inside the 20-yard line. Furman is giving up nearly 200 rushing yards per game, which could bode well for a healthy Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, on right with QB John Brantley.

Friday, November 18, 2011

On the Web: Friday Night Rewind

Hosts John C. Cotey and Joey Knight, as well as the rest of the Friday Night Rewind gang, are back for Season 5 of our award-winning football video series. Check out highlights from the bay area's top matchups at tampabay.com/hometeam. Miss a game Friday night? We've got complete coverage from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. Find game recaps, photo galleries, team standings and more at tampabay.com/hometeam.

Friday, November 18, 2011

On the Web: Friday Night Rewind

Hosts John C. Cotey and Joey Knight, as well as the rest of the Friday Night Rewind gang, are back for Season 5 of our award-winning football video series. Check out highlights from the bay area's top matchups at tampabay.com/hometeam. Miss a game Friday night? We've got complete coverage from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. Find game recaps, photo galleries, team standings and more at tampabay.com/hometeam.