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Boise State cannot regain scholarships

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

BOISE, Idaho — The NCAA rejected Boise State's appeal to restore football scholarships on Wednesday.

The NCAA ordered the Broncos to cut scholarships from 85 to 82 for this season and 2013-14. The school self-imposed the three scholarship losses for last season.

Boise State argued the sanction was excessive when compared to past infraction cases, but the NCAA said this case had no direct comparison.

The infractions involve about 75 athletes over several sports. They range from recruiting infractions to impermissible transportation and lodging and prompted the departure of athletic director Gene Bleymaier.

Wazzu Zombies: Washington State coach Mike Leach questioned the leadership of his seniors, comparing them to "empty corpses" and "zombies." The Cougars are 2-4 in their first season under Leach and haven't had a winning season since 2003. "Some of them have had kind of this zombielike, go through the motions, everything is like how it's always been, that's how it'll always be," he said. "Some of them … have an empty-corpse quality. That's not pleasant to say or pleasant to think about, but that's a fact."

Duke: Quarterback Sean Renfree, who sat last week with a sore throwing elbow, practiced. His status for Saturday hasn't been determined.

Oklahoma: Receiver Jalen Saunders was declared eligible to play by the NCAA. The school asked for a waiver so he would not have to sit out a season after he transferred from Fresno State during the offseason.

Stanford: Ty Montgomery, second on the team in catches, likely will sit out Saturday against Notre Dame with an undisclosed knee injury.

Obituary: Tom Coyle, a three-year starter at right guard for Michigan, died Tuesday in Tampa, the school announced. The Wolverines went 30-3 from 1970-72, including 10-1 in 1972, when Mr. Coyle was a co-captain.

Men's basketball: Virginia senior guard Jontel Evans, an All-ACC defensive pick last season, had surgery last week for a stress fracture in his right foot. He will miss six weeks, putting in doubt his status for the regular season, which starts Nov. 9.


Sports in brief

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Times staff, wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

NHL

Talking goes on, not progress

NEW YORK — Five hours of talks in two sessions between the NHL and the players association did little to move the sides closer to a deal to end the nearly one-month lockout.

The league's top two executives — commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy Bill Daly — met with the union's main negotiators — executive director Donald Fehr and special counsel Steve Fehr — on Wednesday morning to assess where the sides were in negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement. An afternoon session centered on player health and safety issues, and legal topics, not the economic issues at the lockout's core. The sides will meet again today, which should have been opening day of the season. The league canceled games through Oct. 24 last week. Daly estimated the NHL has lost $240 million to $250 million from the cancellation of the preseason and regular-season games.

HALL TO EUROPE: Lightning right wing Adam Hall signed with Ravensburg in Germany and expects to report Friday. He will return to Tampa when the lockout is resolved.

Tennis

Federer unfazed by threats, wins opener

Roger Federer ignored death threats from a Chinese blogger and won his opening match at the Shanghai Masters, beating qualifier Lu Yen-Hsun 6-3, 7-5 in the second round. Federer, under heavy security, said he felt fine and was aware the blogger had recently apologized.

Novak Djokovic also advanced, beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-2. Two-time defending champion Andy Murray received a walkover after the withdrawal of Florian Mayer because of a rib injury.

Japan open: Top seed and Tampa resident Sam Stosur advanced to the quarterfinals in Osaka, beating Virginie Razzano 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Et cetera

NBA: Before free agency began last summer, Nets point guard Deron Williams told GM Billy King not to wait to see if he could acquire Dwight Howard from the Magic, King said. " 'We can't wait and not have a team,' " King said Williams told him. … Howard was cleared for limited five-on-five scrimmages with the Lakers in his latest step back from offseason back surgery. Kobe Bryant was a late scratch from Wednesday's exhibition game against the Trail Blazers with a right shoulder strain. … Seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady said he will play in China and posted a goodbye letter of thanks to the NBA on his blog.

Soccer: Defenders Fabian Johnson (flu) and Edgar Castillo (foot) will miss the U. S. World Cup qualifier at Antigua and Barbuda on Friday, the latest players ruled out of a critical match for the Americans.

Damian Cristodero, Times staff writer; Times wires

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report: Lance Armstrong at center of doping program

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Times wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Lance Armstrong said he wanted to see the names of his accusers. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency gave him 26, including 11 former teammates.

The world's most famous cyclist said he wanted to see the hard evidence he was a doper. The agency gave him that, too: 202 pages of vivid details, from hotel rooms transformed into blood-transfusion centers to the way Armstrong's then-wife rolled cortisone pills into foil and handed them out to the cyclists.

In all, an agency report released Wednesday gives the most detailed, unflinching portrayal yet of Armstrong as a man who spared no expense — financially, emotionally or physically — to win the seven Tour de France titles the agency has ordered taken away.

Armstrong won the Tour as leader of the U.S. Postal Service team from 1999-2004 and again in 2005 with the Discovery Channel as primary sponsor. He and his teams were part of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," agency chief executive Travis Tygart said in releasing the report.

Armstrong played a key role by not only doping but supplying doping products and demanding his top teammates dope so he could succeed, the report says.

Armstrong, 41, said in August he would not fight the agency's charges but again insisted he never cheated. He agreed to forgo an arbitration hearing at which the evidence would have been aired, possibly publicly. The agency banned him for life from competitive cycling and all other Olympic-related sports, and stripped him of his Tour titles.

Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, had no comment on the report, his spokesman told the New York Times.

His attorney, Tim Herman, called the report "a one-sided hatchet job, a taxpayer-funded tabloid piece rehashing old, disproved, unreliable allegations based largely on axe-grinders, serial perjurers, coerced testimony, sweetheart deals and threat-induced stories."

In some ways, the report simply pulls together and amplifies allegations that have followed Armstrong since he was declared free of testicular cancer and won his first Tour. But it is the most extensive, groundbreaking layout of his alleged use of banned performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions, bolstered by new interviews, financial statements and laboratory results.

It includes sworn testimony from 26 people, including the ex-teammates who said they saw Armstrong doping and-or doped, too. That group includes some of the best cyclists of Armstrong's generation: Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde, Tyler Hamilton and George Hincapie, one of the most respected U.S. riders and a close friend of Armstrong's. Hincapie was the only cyclist with Armstrong for all his Tour wins.

Hincapie had not admitted publicly to doping until Wednesday, in a statement on his website. He wrote it became clear, early in his pro career, "given the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs by cyclists at the top of the profession, it was not possible to compete … without them. I deeply regret that choice."

Hincapie, who retired this year after a record 17th Tour, said he has been clean since 2006.

He did not mention Armstrong in his statement. Of his testimony, he said, "I would have been much more comfortable talking only about myself but understood that I was obligated to tell the truth about everything I knew. So that is what I did."

Though she didn't testify, Armstrong's ex-wife, Kristin, is mentioned 30 times in the report.

In one episode, Armstrong asks her to wrap banned cortisone pills in foil to hand out to his teammates.

"Kristin obliged Armstrong's request by wrapping the pills and handing them to the riders. One of the riders remarked, 'Lance's wife is rolling joints,' " the report says.

Attempts to reach Kristin Armstrong for comment by the Associated Press were unsuccessful. The couple divorced in 2003 after five years of marriage.

There is a question of whether the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency or the cycling's governing body has the ultimate authority to take away the Tour titles. The governing body said it wanted to see the agency's case before it agreed with the findings.

Yankees 3, Orioles 2, 12 innings

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Times wires
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

NEW YORK — Joe Girardi had seen enough of Alex Rodriguez. His decision, perhaps the boldest of his managerial career, wound up saving the Yankees.

Raul Ibanez lined a tying solo home run while pinch-hitting for Rodriguez in the ninth then hit a leadoff homer in the 12th, giving New York a stunning 3-2 win over the Orioles on Wednesday night for a 2-1 lead in their AL Division Series.

Batting for baseball's highest-paid player, Ibanez homered to right-center with one out in the ninth inning off major-league saves leader Jim Johnson to tie it at 2. He connected on the first pitch from Brian Matusz in the 12th.

Ibanez became the first player to homer twice in a postseason game in which he didn't start, STATS LLC said.

Baltimore had won 16 straight extra-inning games and had been 76-0 when leading after seven.

"It was a great experience. We do it as a team. We stay after it," Ibanez said. "I'm blessed to come up and have the opportunity like that."

It was the first time A-Rod had been pinch-hit for in the postseason, according to STATS.

"You have to make some decisions sometimes that are tough decisions. I just had a gut feeling," Girardi said.

From centerfield, the Orioles' Adam Jones said, "(the switch-off to Ibanez) caught me off guard, pinch-hitting for a guy who's half a billionaire."

Rodriguez, who has 647 career home runs, was 1-for-12 with no RBIs and seven strikeouts in this series when pulled.

"He said, 'Do what you got to do,' " Girardi said of Rodriguez's reaction. "You're going to be asked a lot of questions if it doesn't work."

"I love Joe," Rodriguez said. "I'm a leader of this team; maybe 10 years ago I might've had a much different reaction. But right now it's team, team, team. That's all we care about."

Rodriguez said Ibanez's two home runs "couldn't have happened to a better guy."

The Orioles appeared poised to move within a game of their first trip to the AL Championship Series since 1997.

But Ibanez hit a 1-and-0 pitch into the seats in the ninth, setting off a raucous celebration in what had been a demoralized crowd. Rodriguez led the cheers, raising an arm in the dugout and high-fiving injured star Mariano Rivera.

"He said great job. A-Rod is a great teammate and great team player," Ibanez said. "He's the first one on the top step congratulating you. It's about winning. It's about the Yankees and continuing."

Sports on TV/radio

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Times staff
Thursday, October 11, 2012

TODAY

Autos

Nationwide: Dollar General 300 practice, 2 p.m., ESPN2

Sprint Cup: Bank of America 500 practice, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

Nationwide: Dollar General 300 practice, 6 p.m., ESPN2

Sprint Cup; Bank of America 500 qualifying, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Baseball: Division series

NL Game 5: Giants at Reds, 1 p.m., TBS; 1250-AM

NL Game 4: Cardinals at Nationals, 4 p.m., TBS; 1250-AM

AL Game 4: Orioles at Yankees, 7:30 p.m., TBS; 620-AM

AL Game 5: Tigers at A's (if needed), 9:30 p.m., TNT; 620-AM (in progress)

College football

Western Kentucky at Troy, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU

UTEP at Tulsa, 8 p.m., FSN

Wayne State at Saginaw Valley State, 8 p.m., CBSSN

Arizona State at Colorado, 9 p.m., ESPN

College soccer

Women: Virginia Tech at Florida State, 8 p.m., Sun Sports

Women: Rice at Memphis, 8 p.m., FSC

Golf

PGA Europe: Portugal Masters, 9 a.m., Golf

PGA: Frys.com Open, 4 p.m., Golf

Web.com: Miccosukee Championship (taped), 7:30 p.m., Golf

LPGA: Sime Darby Malaysia (taped), 9:30 p.m., Golf

High school volleyball

Longwood Lyman at Oviedo Hagerty, 7 p.m., BHSN

NFL

Steelers at Titans, 8:20 p.m., NFL; 98.7-FM, 1010-AM

Tennis

ATP: Shanghai Masters, 6 a.m., Tennis

ATP: Shanghai Masters, 2 a.m. Thursday, Tennis

WNBA conference final

East Game 3: Indiana at Connecticut, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

TV: BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; CBSSN: CBS Sports Network; FSN: Fox Sports Net; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s concussion ends his Sprint Cup title hopes

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Times wires
Thursday, October 11, 2012

CONCORD, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a concussion and will sit out the next two Sprint Cup races at Charlotte and Kansas.

The injury ends NASCAR's most popular driver's championship chances this season.

Hendrick Motorsports says Earnhardt Jr. was diagnosed Wednesday afternoon. He sustained the concussion in the 25-car pileup on the last lap of Sunday's race at Talladega.

Regan Smith will replace Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Chevrolet in the next two events.

Improbable punter Kyle Christy puts Florida Gators in good position

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By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2012

GAINESVILLE — The way Kyle Christy recalls it, there was never really a request, more like a statement of fact. The punter at Brownsburg (Ind.) High was graduating and the Bulldogs were in desperate need of a replacement. Coach Brett Comer decided Christy was his guy.

He'd never punted in his life, but he was a football player who had also played some soccer. And, frankly, he was the best option at the time.

"After my sophomore year he told me, 'We're going to need you to punt next year,' " Christy said. "So I worked with a lot of coaches (during the summer) and watched a lot of film. And I taught myself how to punt."

Four years later, Christy has transformed himself into one of the nation's best.

The sophomore leads the SEC with a 46.5 yard average on 24 punts for 1,115 yards. Nine of his 24 punts have been over 50 yards. He ranks fifth in the nation among punters.

"He's had a tremendous impact on our football team," Florida coach Will Muschamp said. "When we went to Tennessee, early in the game we get pinned back inside our 5-yard line and he punts it all the way back to their 30. His leg and him being able to flip the field and control the vertical field position has been critical to our success this season and why we are where we are. He is an outstanding punter."

Although he was ranked the No. 2 punter in the nation by Scout.com coming out of high school, Christy's options were limited when it came to college choices. He attended numerous camps, hoping to showcase his talent to college coaches. In the end, his only offers were Florida and LSU.

"LSU offered me at the beginning of the summer and Florida's camp wasn't until the end of the summer," Christy said. "So after I got the LSU offer, I kind of crossed off a bunch of camps that I was planning on going to. I showed up here, did really well. And Urban (Meyer) was still here and he offered me about a week later."

Against LSU last week, Christy pinned the Tigers inside their 10-yard line on three of his four punts in the first half, including a season-long 61 yarder. He also has punts of 51, 53 and 57 yards. He is making life easier for the Gators' entire team.

"I think he's done a terrific job," defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. "Any time you can change field position like he can with the big hit like he's had at times this year, especially when you're backed up. I think those are the punts he's had that have been the most impressive to me, whether he's kicking out of his own end zone or backed up where, now the field position has switched, as compared to, okay they're 15-20 yards away from field goal range at the start of the drive. He has been a valuable performer for us."

"I know he's in the back of our mind," offensive coordinator Brent Pease added. "Sometimes, like the other day, when it's third-and-17, I said, 'Hey, let's get 5 to 8 yards and let him flip the field. He's a weapon."

Christy's success hasn't come overnight. He didn't earn the starting job until five games into the 2011 season. He's on his third long snapper. And he spent countless hours in the offseason perfecting his technique.

"I kind of struggled with operation time last year," he said. "I was a little slow with my hands. Coach Durkin (D.J., special teams) and coach (Will) Muschamp were always getting on me about it and during the offseason I worked a lot on that. I changed my drop a little bit and I also just caught a bunch of snaps, and using the jugs machine I had people shoot that and I worked on catching balls over, and over, and over getting my drop right."

With Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel as his roommate, Christy is acutely aware of the attention offensive stars garner. Sheepishly, he admitted he's enjoying his now.

"It's kind of cool to get that recognition," he said. "I like when I get a lot of the credit and it feels good to help the team out."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com.

ESPN broadcaster Beano Cook dies

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Times wires
Thursday, October 11, 2012

PITTSBURGH — The folksy ESPN college football commentator Carroll "Beano" Cook has died.

The 81-year-old commentator had worked for the sports network since 1986 and was the sports information director at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1956 to 1966. The university announced Thursday that Cook had died in his sleep.

"He was one of a kind," ESPN executive chairman George Bodenheimer said. "There never was and never will be another Beano. His combination of humor, passion, love of college football and his engaging personality left an indelible mark on the sport and touched anyone who knew him."

Cook grew up in Pittsburgh before graduating from the university in 1954, and was known for his love of the college game and, in particular, championing the cause of northeastern teams including Penn State and Pitt before either school was a nationally known power.

"Beano Cook was an American original. His passion, depth and breadth of knowledge, and humor were unique," ESPN host Chris Fowler said. "He was an invaluable early mentor to me and friend. His imprint can still be seen on GameDay each week."

Cook was ABC Sports' press director for the NCAA after leaving the SID job at Pitt, and later worked four months in 1974 as a writer at the St. Petersburg Times. He left the Times in July 1974 to become public relations directo of the Miami Dolphins and later worked for the Mutual Radio Network and CBS before joining ESPN.

"Beano was a unique human being and he was college football at ESPN. I am indebted to him. Beano was a tremendous help at the start of my television career and I would not be where I am today without him," ESPN analyst Lee Corso said. "I am forever grateful to Beano and the time we spent behind the GameDay desk."

Cook received his distinctive nickname as a youth, when his family moved from Boston to Pittsburgh. A neighbor of the Cook family said, "Oh, from Boston, like the beans" and tabbed the seven-year-old "Beano."


Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs to be blacked out in Tampa Bay area

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Bucs have confirmed that Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs will be blacked out in the Tampa Bay area.

Per NFL rules, when sales do not reach a minimum threshold — in the Bucs' case, 85 percent of nonpremium seating — at least 72 hours prior to kickoff, games are not permitted to be aired in television markets within 75 miles.

The Bucs have had just two regular-season games aired on local television in the past two seasons, with all eight regular-season games blacked out in 2010.

This season, in order to address the trend, the NFL allowed teams to reduce the number of ticket sales necessary to lift blackouts. Formerly, clubs had to sell 100 percent of their nonpremium seats to lift blackouts. The Bucs settled on 85 percent — the minimum the NFL would allow.

San Francisco Giants beat Cincinnati Reds 6-4, win NLDS

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Times wires
Thursday, October 11, 2012

Buster Posey hit the third grand slam in Giants' postseason history, and San Francisco completed its startling comeback by holding off the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 Thursday in the decisive Game 5 of the NL division series.

The Giants won the final three games, all in Cincinnati, and advanced to the NL championship series. They will face either St. Louis or Washington.

Ahead 6-0, San Francisco saw the Reds rally throughout the late innings. Cincinnati scored once in the ninth before Sergio Romo struck out Scott Rolen with two runners on base to end it.

Captains corner: More inshore shots at gag grouper

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By Ed Walker, Times Correspondent
Thursday, October 11, 2012

What's hot: Fall has always been the best time of year for shallow-water grouper fishing. As the water cools, increased numbers of gags move in from offshore to capitalize on the abundant food. In October it's common to find good-sized gags within 2 miles of shore in water as shallow as 10 feet. Just about anyone with a boat has a good chance of catching a grouper dinner before the season closes at the end of the month. This week we landed our boat limit in one or two stops within sight of shore.

Tackle adjustments: Gag fishing in such shallow depths requires a different approach than traditional bottom fishing. When the water is less than 20 feet and clear, grouper can be skittish. Parking the boat directly over the fish will scare many away. Instead, anchor the boat up current from the rocks and cast back toward them. This also affords anglers a better chance of keeping hooked fish from getting them snagged.

We use heavy spinning reels spooled with 40-pound-test monofilament line. Braided line, while stronger, has proved to reduce the number of strikes due its high visibility. Sinkers should be a half ounce to 2 ounces. Heavier sinkers merely cause more snags. In many cases we do not use a sinker at all, just a section of 80-pound leader, an 8/0 circle hook and free-lined pinfish.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs. He can be contacted at lighttacklecharters.com or at (727) 944-3474.

Outdoors news and notes: Stone crab season, marine cleanups

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By Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors/Fitness Editor


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Making news

Stone crab season set to Open Monday

The folks north of us may have their fall foliage this time of year, but here in Florida we have stone crab season, which opens Monday. The stone crab has the distinction of being the only commercially harvested marine animal in the nation that doesn't have to die to provide food for humans.

When a scuba diver or recreational stone crab hunter grabs the tasty claw, the animal simply lets it go. Most people scuba dive for stone crabs around bridges and causeways. But one of the most popular ways to catch these crustaceans is to wade a rocky shoreline. Crabs hide in holes under rocks and other debris. They especially like rocky outcroppings near sea grass beds. Wait for low tide, then wade until you find a burrow; the entrance is often marked by discarded shells. Use the flat end of a crowbar to coax the crab out. Bring a dip net and a bucket or bag to carry claws.

The season runs through May 15. The bag limit is 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less. The claw must measure 2 3/4 inches. For more stone crab regulations, visit myfwc.com.

Volunteers

Two bay cleanups are set for Oct. 20

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful needs help with two of its biggest events, the annual Hillsborough River Cleanup and the Coastal Cleanup, which have been combined into one day of community service on Oct. 20. Volunteers will remove litter and debris, and the data will be collected to help the Ocean Conservancy in an ongoing project. To preregister, go to keeptampabaybeautiful.org.

Solunar chart

AM PM

Minor Major Minor Major

10/12 3:10 9:20 3:30 9:40

10/13 3:55 10:05 4:15 10:30

10/14 4:45 10:50 5:00 11:15

10/15 5:30 11:40 5:50 0

10/16 6:25 12:10 6:50 12:40

10/17 7:30 1:15 8:00 1:45

10/18 8:30 2:20 9:05 2:50

How Tampa Bay Lightning fans can find their hockey fix

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2012

Craig Brush has an invitation for Lightning fans frustrated by the NHL lockout:

Come to Estero, the president and general manager of the Florida Everblades said, and join the party.

Especially Friday night at Germain Arena, where before the season-opening game with the Orlando Solar Bears the banner for the Everblades 2011-12 Kelly Cup championship will rise.

Lightning fans can take pride, Brush noted, as the Everblades are Tampa Bay's East Coast Hockey League affiliate.

"So, we would love to have Tampa fans come down," he said. "Tickets are available."

That's more than can be said for the NHL, which Thursday night was supposed to open its regular season but instead is close to losing more than the two weeks of the season already canceled.

Tampa Bay area fans still can find their hockey fix. They just can't look in the obvious places.

"There's hockey out there," Lightning forward Tom Pyatt said. "You've just got to find it."

The Everblades and Solar Bears, reborn after an 11-year absence, are the pro options.

But the University of South Florida and University of Tampa have competitive club teams in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, and 18 Tampa Bay area high school club teams play in the Lightning Conference of the Florida High School Hockey Association.

Pyatt can tell you all about the ECHL, which is two rungs below the NHL, having spent a month and a half of the 2007-08 season with the Charlotte Checkers.

The selling point, he said, is the desperate effort from players trying to get to the next level.

"Guys are working their hearts out down there."

Added Solar Bears chief operating officer Bob Ohrablo: "It's almost like every night is an audition. They don't have long-term contracts, so they could be gone tomorrow if they're not performing. It makes it a competitive brand of hockey."

It could be even more so if a rivalry between Orlando and Florida takes off. Six games to start the season (two exhibitions and the first four regular-season games) should help.

The Solar Bears have a notable history in Orlando, where they played from 1995-2001 in the International Hockey League. Winners of the 2001 Turner Cup championship, they folded with the league.

The reconstituted franchise is an affiliate of the NHL's Wild and plays in the Amway Center, home of the NBA's Magic.

"It's like the team never went away," Ohrablo said. "People very much remembered the Solar Bears brand and craved it. We knew that was the case when we did our business plan, but we had no idea it was as strong a brand as it really is."

Fledgling brands are those of the club teams from USF, whose home ice is the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, and University of Tampa, which plays at the Ice and Sports Complex in Ellenton.

Tampa coach Steve Kucera said more than 1,000 watched last season's game between the teams at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. He expects more for the Nov. 12 rematch.

"They're all student-athletes. They play for the love of the game," Kucera said. "They really want ice time so they go all out in games to try to do a really good job for their team and fans who are there. It's really enjoyable."

And that is the point, Brush said. "There's always someone who says, 'I only came for one game and now I'm buying season tickets.' It's a game people can get hooked on."

As Ohrablo reiterated: "Everybody is invited."

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@tampabay.com.

Greg Schiano anticipates that Da'Quan Bowers will return to Bucs this season

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2012

TAMPA — While it's not clear exactly when DE Da'Quan Bowers will return, coach Greg Schiano said Thursday he anticipates it'll be this season.

Bowers, who suffered a torn Achilles in May, has been on the physically unable to perform list and is rehabbing from surgery. Bowers is eligible to come off the PUP after this week's games, when the team can use a two-week roster exemption period to watch him in practice before deciding whether to place him on the 53-man active roster.

While Schiano isn't sure when Bowers, the 2011 second-round pick, will return to practice, he's been very encouraged by his progress.

"He's improving, there's no doubt about that," Schiano said. "We're going to be very, very conservative and not going to rush that situation. We're going to make sure he's well. But I can tell you from the things I've seen, I'm really encouraged. When he comes back, I do anticipate him coming back here in the forseeable future — if that's three weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, I'm not sure right now."

With DE Adrian Clayborn, the team's first-round pick in 2011, suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, getting Bowers back would be a big boost to the Bucs defensive front. DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim has filled in for Clayborn in recent weeks.

Bowers said a few weeks ago that he was making a lot of progress and that it'd be up to Schiano and GM Mark Dominik if they allowed him to come back when eligible. Schiano said they're going to make sure that when Bowers returns, there's no risk of further injury, but the first-year coach feels much better about the situation than he did in the offseason.

"You hear a guy has to get his Achilles operated on, you're like "Oooh,"' Schiano said. "But watching the stuff he's done out there on the field in rehab, that's good stuff."

MAN IN MIDDLE: DT Roy Miller did not participate in Thursday's practice due to a back injury. It's something to watch since he wasn't on the injury report earlier in the week, but did deal with back pain last season. Miller, the starting nose tackle, has been a big part in the Bucs success stopping the run.

QUINN IN: With Chiefs QB Matt Cassel officially ruled out Thursday due to concussion, QB Brady Quinn has been named their starting quarterback against the Bucs on Sunday. And Tampa Bay's coaches expect a slight difference in his play in comparision to Cassel.

Schiano said Quinn's mobility and size could factor into the game plan a bit, if Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll attempts to take advantage.

"(Quinn) has played quarterback in this league. The thing that may be different in his skill set is that he's a more mobile guy, maybe a little stouter guy," Schiano said. "Does that mean more moving pocket stuff? Maybe."

FAMILIAR FACE: Rookie CB Leonard Johnson is looking forward to a Largo High reunion Sunday, when his former Packers teammate, Chiefs WR Dexter McCluster, returns to Raymond James Stadium.

Johnson, who played with McCluster for two seasons at Largo, said the two haven't faced each other since little league. McCluster, a 2010 second-round pick out of Ole Miss, did offer guidance about pre-draft and agent selection to Johnson after he came out of Iowa State this past year.

"I was talking to (Largo coach Rick) Rodriguez, I was asking him, which one of us is he going to be cheering for?" Johnson said, smiling. "He said, 'I can't cheer for either one, just hope you do well and he does well also.' "

Times staff writer Stephen Holder contributed to this report. Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com

Tidbits on life of Beano Cook and reaction to his death

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Times staff, wires
Thursday, October 11, 2012

PITTSBURGH — The folksy ESPN college football commentator Carroll "Beano" Cook has died.

The 81-year-old commentator had worked for the sports network since 1986 and was the sports information director at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1956 to 1966. The university announced Thursday that Cook had died in his sleep.

"He was one of a kind," ESPN executive chairman George Bodenheimer said. "There never was and never will be another Beano. His combination of humor, passion, love of college football and his engaging personality left an indelible mark on the sport and touched anyone who knew him."

Cook grew up in Pittsburgh before graduating from the university in 1954, and was known for his love of the college game and, in particular, championing the cause of northeastern teams including Penn State and Pitt before either school was a nationally known power.

"Beano Cook was an American original. His passion, depth and breadth of knowledge, and humor were unique," ESPN host Chris Fowler said. "He was an invaluable early mentor to me and friend. His imprint can still be seen on GameDay each week."

Cook was ABC Sports' press director for the NCAA after leaving the SID job at Pitt, and later worked four months in 1974 as a writer at the St. Petersburg Times. He left the Times in July 1974 to become public relations directo of the Miami Dolphins and later worked for the Mutual Radio Network and CBS before joining ESPN.

"Beano was a unique human being and he was college football at ESPN. I am indebted to him. Beano was a tremendous help at the start of my television career and I would not be where I am today without him," ESPN analyst Lee Corso said. "I am forever grateful to Beano and the time we spent behind the GameDay desk."

Cook received his distinctive nickname as a youth, when his family moved from Boston to Pittsburgh. A neighbor of the Cook family said, "Oh, from Boston, like the beans" and tabbed the seven-year-old "Beano."


San Francisco Giants beat Cincinnati Reds to advance to NLCS

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Times wires
Thursday, October 11, 2012

CINCINNATI — Not just any comeback would get San Francisco back to playing for a pennant. It would take one of Giant proportions.

And Buster Posey believed it could happen. Even after the Giants left the West Coast down two games to none to the Reds in their best-of-five National League Division Series, the NL batting champion insisted his team could pull off a comeback. With one swing, he got everyone else believing it, too.

Posey hit the third grand slam in Giants postseason history Thursday, and San Francisco pulled off an unprecedented revival, moving into the championship series with a 6-4 victory over the Reds.

"You don't want to be in a lose-and-you're-out scenario," reliever Jeremy Affeldt said. "We've been in that situation for three days. We're probably going to sleep well tonight."

The Giants play either Washington or St. Louis for the NL pennant starting Sunday.

The Giants became the first NL team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the division series, which began in 1995. Major League Baseball's changed playoff format this season allowed them to become the first to take a best-of-five by winning the last three on the road.

Posey's second career grand slam, off Mat Latos, put the Giants up 6-0 in the fifth and sparked a joyous scrum in the dugout. For the first time in the series, the Giants could exhale.

"I don't think anybody gave up," Posey said.

Will Clark, in the 1989 NLCS, and Chuck Hiller, in the 1962 World Series, hit the other Giants slams in the postseason.

Matt Cain and the bullpen held on, with more help from Posey. The All-Star catcher threw out Jay Bruce at third base to snuff out a sixth-inning rally that cut the Giants' lead to 6-3. The Giants had a pair of diving catches that preserved the lead in the eighth.

There was more drama in the ninth. Ryan Ludwick singled home a run off Sergio Romo. With two runners aboard, Romo fanned Scott Rolen to end it.

The Giants raised their arms and hugged by the mound, bouncing in unison. "It was a spectacular moment," outfielder Hunter Pence said.

In Cincinnati, the homefield meltdown had a sickeningly familiar feeling. The Reds haven't won a home playoff game in 17 years. They hadn't dropped three straight at home all season.

"You get tired of the disappointments, but then you get over it," manager Dusty Baker said. "It hurts big time."

Lightning fans can find their hockey fix

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2012

Craig Brush has an invitation for Lightning fans frustrated by the NHL lockout: Come to Estero, the president and general manager of the Florida Everblades said, and join the party.

Especially tonight at Germain Arena, where before the season opener, the banner for the 2011-12 Kelly Cup championship will rise.

Lightning fans can take pride, Brush said. The Everblades are Tampa Bay's ECHL affiliate.

"So we would love to have Tampa fans come down," he said. "Tickets are available."

That's more than can be said for the NHL, which Thursday night was supposed to open its regular season but instead is close to losing more than the two weeks of the season already canceled.

"There's hockey out there," Lightning forward Tom Pyatt said. "You've just got to find it."

The Everblades and Solar Bears, reborn after an 11-year absence, are the pro options.

But USF and Tampa have club teams in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, and 18 bay area club teams play in the Lightning Conference of the Florida High School Hockey Association.

Pyatt can tell you all about the ECHL, which is two rungs below the NHL, having spent a month and a half of the 2007-08 season with the Charlotte Checkers.

The selling point, he said, is the desperate effort from players trying to get to the next level.

"Guys are working their hearts out down there," he said.

Said Solar Bears chief operating officer Bob Ohrablo: "It's almost like every night is an audition. They don't have long-term contracts, so they could be gone tomorrow if they're not performing. It makes it a competitive brand of hockey."

It could be even more so if a rivalry between Orlando and Florida takes off. Six games to start the season (two exhibitions and the first four regular-season games) should help.

The Solar Bears have a notable history in Orlando, where they played from 1995-2001 in the International Hockey League. Winners of the 2001 Turner Cup, they folded with the league.

The reconstituted franchise is an affiliate of the NHL's Wild and plays in the Amway Center, home of the NBA's Magic.

"It's like the team never went away," Ohrablo said. "People very much remembered the Solar Bears brand and craved it. We knew that was the case when we did our business plan, but we had no idea it was as strong a brand as it really is."

Fledgling brands are those of the club teams from USF, whose home ice is the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, and the University of Tampa, which plays at the Ice and Sports Complex in Ellenton.

Tampa coach Steve Kucera said more than 1,000 watched last season's game between the teams at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. He expects more for the Nov. 12 rematch.

"They're all student-athletes. They play for the love of the game," Kucera said. "They really want ice time, so they go all out in games to try to do a really good job for their team and fans who are there. It's really enjoyable."

And that is the point, Brush said.

"There's always someone who says, 'I only came for one game, and now I'm buying season tickets.' It's a game people can get hooked on."

As Ohrablo reiterated: "Everybody is invited."

Bucs coach Greg Schiano anticipates Da'Quan Bowers will return this season

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2012

TAMPA — Though it's not clear when DE Da'Quan Bowers will return, Bucs coach Greg Schiano said Thursday he antici­pates it will be this season.

Bowers, who tore his right Achilles in May, has been on the physically unable to perform list and is rehabilitating after surgery. He can be activated after Sunday's game against the Chiefs, then practice for two weeks before the team must put him on the roster or season-ending injured reserve.

"He's improving," Schiano said of the 2011 second-round draft pick who had 30 tackles and 11/2 sacks as a rookie.

"We're going to be very, very conservative and not going to rush that situation. But I can tell you from the things I've seen, I'm really encouraged."

With DE Adrian Clayborn, a first-round pick in 2011, sustaining a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, getting Bowers back would be a big boost. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim has filled in for Clayborn.

Bowers said a few weeks ago he was making a lot of progress and it would be up to Schiano and GM Mark Dominik to allow him to come back. Schiano said he feels much better about the situation than in the offseason.

"You hear a guy has to get his Achilles operated on, you're like 'Oooh,' " Schiano said. "But watching the stuff he's done out there on the field in rehab, that's good stuff."

Another injury: DT Roy Miller did not practice Thursday due to a back injury. He also dealt with back pain last season. His status for Sunday had not been determined.

QUINN IN: The Chiefs ruled out QB Matt Cassel due to a concussion, leaving Brady Quinn the starter Sunday. Tampa Bay's coaches expect a slight difference in quarterback play with Quinn in.

The mobility and size of Quinn, whose last start was Dec. 12, 2009, with the Browns, could factor into the game plan, Schiano said.

"(Quinn) has played quarterback in this league," Schiano said. "The thing that may be different in his skill set is that he's a more mobile guy, maybe a little stouter guy. Does that mean more moving pocket stuff? Maybe."

FAMILIAR FACE: Rookie CB Leonard Johnson is looking forward to a Largo High reunion with Chiefs WR Dexter McCluster. Johnson, who played two seasons with McCluster at Largo, said the two haven't faced each other since youth league.

McCluster, a 2010 second-round pick out of Mississippi, offered guidance about the draft and agents when Johnson came out of Iowa State.

"I was asking (Largo coach Rick) Rodriguez which one of us is he going to be cheering for," Johnson said, smiling. "He said, 'I can't cheer for either one; just hope you do well and he does well also.' "

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report. Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

Hernando Youth League football teams wind down season

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By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Thursday, October 11, 2012

Hernando Youth League football teams compete in the Timucua Pop Warner Conference, which includes nine leagues from four counties.

In the Mitey Mite (ages 7-9) Division, the Leopards Gold team won on Saturday, 19-12, over the Villages Buffaloes Black squad. The victory moved the HYL team to 4-3 and in seventh place, behind the undefeated, first-place Inverness Storm Black (6-0).

In the Jr. Pee Wee (8-10) Division, the Leopards fell back to .500 at 3-3 last weekend with their second straight loss. HYL couldn't muster any offense against the South Sumter Wolf Pack, losing 7-2. The program is now tied for fourth with Crystal River and the Villages, behind first-place Belleview (6-0).

HYL is tied for first in the Pee Wee (9-11) Division after a 44-18 victory over South Sumter on Saturday. The win brought the Leopards' record to 6-1, the same record as Dunnellon and the Villages.

This weekend's games will mark the final week of the regular season before the conference playoffs.

HYL BASKETBALL: Hernando Youth League will launch its basketball season this month with registration at Tom Varn Park in Brooksville.

Volunteers will be on hand at the park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 20.

The following weekend, on Oct. 27, evaluations will take place at Tom Varn Park, starting 10 a.m.

For information, call Michael Bennett at (352) 585-6596.

SHOOTING COMPETITIONS: The Hernando Sportsman's Club, on U.S. 19 north of Weeki Wachee, hosts sport shooting events on a weekly basis.

On Saturday, the contests continue with the action rifle match at 9 a.m. On Sunday, the United States Practical Shooting Association pistol match is scheduled for 9 a.m.

The 100-yard high-power rifle match will be at 8 a.m. and the International Defensive Pistol Association pistol match at 9 a.m. on Oct. 20. The International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association pistol and .22-gauge rifle silhouette match will take place at 9 a.m. Oct. 21. The classic fast draw with single-action Western revolvers will be at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 21.

On the final weekend of the month, the two-gun (pistol/shotgun) match and the international pistol match are both scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 27. The bulls-eye pistol match is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 28.

Practice times are available during the week. The competition schedule is subject to change. Go to hernandosportsmanclub.com online for updated times.

FIREARMS CLASSES: The Hernando Sportsman's Club, on U.S. 19 north of Weeki Wachee, is offering firearms safety classes.

The next class dates are Oct. 20, Nov. 7 and Nov. 17. All classes run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The course covers lessons about the basics of firearm safety around the home and the fundamentals of pistol shooting. The class includes practice time on the range. Completion of the class provides the required documentation to apply for a Florida concealed carry permit.

Advance registration is required; the fee is $60 per person.

For information, call (352) 597-9931 or visit hernandosportsmansclub.com.

HERNANDO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION GOLF: The second-annual Maurice Black Golf Invitational, hosted by the Hernando Builders Association, will be at the Dunes Golf Club, on U.S. 19 north of Weeki Wachee, on Wednesday.

Sponsored by Universal Soil Solutions, the event will include lunch by Pit Boss Bar-B-Q at 11:30 a.m., an hour before tee-off at 12:30 p.m. Sign-ins will begin at 11 a.m.

The format is four-person team scramble with a shotgun start. There will be four hole-in-one prizes sponsored by Rick Matthews GMC, a putting contest, team and individual awards and cash prizes, and other drawings for gifts. Prize money will be based on the number of entries.

Early registration is discounted at $300 per four-person team and will continue through today. After that, the price will increase to $400 per foursome. Entry fees include lunch, cart, green fees, refreshments on the course and gifts for each team member.

The tournament is named for Maurice Black, the first president of the Hernando Builders Association and a local builder for many years. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to HPH Hospice.

For information, call the HBA office at (352) 596-1114 or visit hernandobuilders.com.

RUN FOR NEW BEGINNINGS 5K: Youth and Family Alternatives in Brooksville is sponsoring the Run for New Beginnings 5K on Nov. 3 in downtown Brooksville.

Registration packets may be picked up at SunTrust Bank, 1 E Jefferson St., Brooksville. The kids fun run will begin at 7:30 a.m., with the 5K starting at 8 a.m. Awards will be handed out in each age division for the top three finishers.

The 5K entry fee is $25 for all runners who sign up prior to Monday. After that date, the fee increases to $30. The fun run fee is $15 prior to Monday, then $20.

T-shirts and participation medals are guaranteed to all runners who register before Monday. Forms may be filled out at active.com.

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS: Ace Performance Tennis is holding registration and open play for the fall/winter U.S. Tennis Association Junior Team Tennis season on Nov. 20 at Nature Coast Technical High School, south of Brooksville.

Sign-ups for the 12-and-younger division will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Registration for the 13-to-18 division will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Fees are $60 per player.

Registration forms are available on the website. Players must be USTA members to participate in the sectional tournament in January.

For information, visit louisedowney.usptapro.com or call Louise or John Downey at (352) 666-0658.

ALZHEIMER'S GOLF BENEFIT: The Alzheimer's Family Organization will have its 12th-annual Charity Golf Tournament on Nov. 10 at Seven Springs Country Club in New Port Richey.

Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The event will consist of 18 holes of golf in a four-person scramble format. Also included with the $80 fee is breakfast provided by IHOP, lunch provided by Argento's Italian Bistro, goody bags, raffles and door prizes.

Prizes will be awarded for the top three teams, the longest drive, closest-to-the-pin and a hole-in-one.

A new car and other prizes will be provided by Ed Morse Auto Plaza. Players also will have a chance to win $5,000 or a Woody driver, sponsored by the National Cremation and Burial Society. Full Circle Financial will sponsor a putting contest for a chance to win $10,000.

The Alzheimer's Family Organization serves Citrus, Hernando, northern Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, northern Pinellas and Sumter counties.

For information, contact community service coordinator Kathy Montero at (727) 848-8888, toll-free 1-888-496-8004 or kathy@alzheimersfamily.org.

BADDEST MUDDER: The Baddest Mudder 5K is coming to Brooksville on Nov. 3-4.

Baddest Mudder is a group that runs obstacle races around the Suncoast. It will be holding its first event at the Hernando County Fairgrounds on U.S. 41 in Brooksville.

The race is open to all ages, teams and skill levels. Sign-up prizes will be offered to all participants. The event includes a well-marked and defined course, food, drinks, music, and field games.

The two-day event starts at 7 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m. each day.

Participants may sign up at baddestmudder.com. There are discounts for groups, and early-bird registration is currently open for $49.95 per runner.

Kids are welcome; organizers are offering a kids-only "Mini Mudder" pit for free.

Contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.

USF board of trustees chairman calls out Bulls football program

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 11, 2012

TAMPA — The one-line email was fired off at 3:26 p.m. Saturday, within a minute of the end of USF's humbling 37-28 loss at Temple, and it was sent to the chief of staff of USF president Judy Genshaft.

"Disgusting and unacceptable," it read. "We have major problems with our football program."

By Monday morning, that email was forwarded to athletic director Doug Woolard, with another one-line note: "Hope things are better. Make sure you have conversation with the Board Chair. Thanks."

Yes, the sentiment of the email echoed that of dozens of others sent to Woolard by USF fans in recent days and obtained by the Tampa Bay Times through a public records request, but the sender was notable: John Ramil, a USF graduate, the president and CEO of TECO Energy, and more important, a powerful man on campus as the chairman of USF's board of trustees.

"I was expressing the same feeling of frustration as all the USF fans are feeling," Ramil told the Times on Thursday. "I personally want what's best for all the USF programs, whether academic or sports. I also believe in candid feedback, and I think the president and the athletic director and the coaches need to have that kind of feeling of feedback from all the fans. I've given them feedback on good stuff, too."

The Bulls (2-4, 0-2 Big East) have lost four in a row, and 10 of their past 11 conference games, and while most of the losses have been closely contested, USF is in danger of not playing in a bowl game for the second year in a row.

Public criticism of Holtz and his players has been strong enough that Woolard issued a statement Tuesday, saying the wins and losses are "disappointing to everyone involved" but that the coaches and players are working hard, the season is only half over and he would "evaluate the status" of the football program after the season. Holtz, who is 15-16 in his third season at USF, has been accountable for the team's struggles and is optimistic of a rebound, saying "that falls on me as the head football coach."

"I don't coach football. I don't know what the answers are," Ramil said Thursday. "This Saturday was a pretty complete loss, with all three parts of the team failing in critical points. I don't know that it was a tipping point, but a time for me to say my piece as a fan.

"When you look at the season so far and that last game, we had challenges on offense, challenges on defense, and at the very end in the most glaring way, challenges on special teams (a blocked go-ahead field goal). We need to be looking at things differently, doing some things differently. I think it's gotten everybody's attention. … I have my fingers crossed for them. I'm rooting for them. I hope they do find some answers and we can do a whole lot better in the second half of the season."

Ramil said he likes Holtz as a coach, was "totally impressed" with him in his personal interactions, and he fully supports Woolard's decision in June to give Holtz an extension through the 2017 season despite a 1-6 record in the Big East in 2011, citing interest from other top programs in hiring the coach away.

"He was a person in demand," Ramil said. "There were a couple of significant openings where he had ties to. I think it was a good, smart move. If we'd have lost him at the end of the season, the reaction would have been, 'Oh, my God, he lost four or five games in the last minute, he's got a great record. Why'd you let him get away?' "

Ramil said he often points to USF football's academic progress under Holtz, how nearly all the team's seniors will have graduated by December, how that improvement parallels higher standards for the university's overall admissions in recent years.

"Right now, given everything in balance, while I wasn't happy after the game, I think I should be patient. I think we all should be patient," Ramil said. "I think Doug Woolard's plan to work on things we can during the season and assess at the end is the right thing to do."

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@tampabay.com and at (813) 226-3346. Check out his blog at tampabay.com/blogs/bulls.

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