Dawsey, Clark happy to stay at USF

[aly20xx]

December 12, 2006

Dawsey, Clark happy to stay at USF

It is certainly nice to be able to talk with assistant coaches again.

I've been trying to take some vacation days in the last week or two, but was able to answer one lingering question after Monday's practice: USF receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey says he's not interested in joining the coaching staff at his alma mater, Florida State.

His name has been bandied about since Jeff Bowden got his $537,000 buyout, leaving an opening after more potential coaching shakeups in Tallahassee. Here's Dawsey verbatim on the issue:

"I've been getting a lot of the rumor mill going on, but there ain't nothing to that. This has been home since '91, since I got drafted. Most definitely. I'm happy. I've got no complaints."

To shoot down another one before it makes the hypothetical rounds: You could argue that first-year defensive line coach Bernard Clark would be a viable candidate for Miami's defensive coordinator job, vacated when Randy Shannon was promoted to head coach. Clark played with Shannon at Miami for three years and was defensive coordinator at Florida International in Miami before he came to USF this season. He too said Monday he's happy to be at USF, saying he'd left a message on Shannon's cellphone to congratulate him but otherwise hadn't talked to him since he got the Hurricanes job.

"I'm happy here. Everything's going well. We had a great year, bowl year. I haven't talked to anybody, contacted anybody. Being around my mother and father and stuff like that, that has a lot to do with it. My wife loves being back home."

"We're close, but I haven't talked with Randy. He got there in '84, I got there in '85. He's 40, I'm 39. I'm sure Randy's not even thinking about this until after they play their bowl game. That's what the situation boils down to. I haven't talked to anybody and I'm happy where I'm at."

More intriguing news: Some Bulls fans might remember the name Tyrone McKenzie from the summer of 2005, when the former Riverview standout considered transferring to USF from Michigan State. He wound up at Iowa State, where he racked up 129 tackles this fall as a sophomore, ranking eighth in the nation and earning second-team All-Big 12 honors (9.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles).

Here's the scoop: McKenzie is transferring closer to home due to a family illness, and USF has gotten a release from Iowa State and is actively recruiting him. He's already sat out one season from his last transfer, so it's huge that he might be able to land a hardship waiver allowing him to play immediately, rather than sit out another season, which would leave him with only one year of eligibility. USF is a good match, then, for two reasons: the Bulls have one opening for a starting linebacker, and he really can't play the need-to-get-close-to-home card any more convincingly than with the Bulls. He's 6-2, 230 pounds, put up some insane numbers with the Cyclones and could be on campus next month. He played middle linebacker at Iowa State but would move outside at USF, where Ben Moffitt will return as a senior in the middle in 2007. Nothing's official until McKenzie sets foot on campus, but it's looking good for the Bulls right now.

We'd told you a while back about South Sumter star Jarrod Fleming, who plans to enroll in January and walk on with the Bulls, and Fleming told me this weekend that another local from the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) is also planning on returning home and walking on with the Bulls. It's former Plant City quarterback Jason Brown -- speedy, athletic kid, but was listed at or about 5-foot-8, 160 pounds in high school, which realistically limits him to receiver or returns on the major-college level. Haven't been able to reach Brown myself, but it's another promising walk-on to watch.

One more note: former USF quarterback Carlton Hill, who helped Pearl River Community College to the national juco championship game this weekend, said Sunday he will not return to USF in January, though he is still considering returning to the Bulls next fall.

Hill could have rejoined the Bulls after one semester, but said he wants to get his associate of arts from Pearl River, something he said he can do by the end of next summer, which would give him two years of eligibility at the Division I level. Hill said he has no idea what he wants to do, said he has kept in semi-regular contact with USF coaches and wouldn't rule out a return. He isn't sure what position he wants to play, how big a school he wants to transfer to, lots of questions to be answered between now and next fall. Again, I hear nothing but high praise for Donte Spires, the former USF signee who played his first season at Pearl River this fall and will join the Bulls next summer with three years of eligibility.

I'd reported here last week that walk-on running back Shawn Cannon was no longer on USF's football team, but he is in fact still on the roster and was wearing a No. 5 jersey Monday as part of the Bulls' scout-team efforts. I apologize for the error there, and can also report that redshirt freshman Danny Tolley was getting reps as the first-team right tackle Monday, with Marc Dile on the left side. Offensive coordinator Rod Smith said it was just a case of giving younger players more reps during the bowl preparations.

Speaking of which, Dawsey had high praise for his redshirting freshmen, led by Carlton Mitchell and Jason Sherman. He said the four freshmen (with Ed Alcin and A.J. Love) will push the returning veterans in the spring, as will sophomore Jessie Hester, who redshirted this season. Dawsey said Hester's redshirting had much to do with wanting to put more weight on his frame, and the year off has helped him put on about 10 pounds, putting him up around 175. Hester has the speed to join Taurus Johnson as the receivers who will take over for the graduating Ean Randolph, with Mitchell and Sherman among the leaders to step in at senior S.J. Green's position.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/

[E.T.]

[highlight]Greg is the MAN !!! This blog is the best and LOADED with info ![/highlight]

USF assistant coaches happy where they're at

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer

Published December 12, 2006

TAMPA - USF receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey has heard his name linked to the same job at his alma mater, Florida State, but the former Bucs player said Monday he isn't going anywhere.

"I've been getting a lot of the rumor mill going on, but there ain't nothing to that," said Dawsey, in his third year at USF.

The promotion of Randy Shannon to coach at Miami leaves an opening at defensive coordinator, but first-year USF defensive line coach Bernard Clark, who played three seasons with Shannon at Miami, said he has enjoyed returning to his hometown.

Clark, a Leto graduate, was defensive coordinator at Florida International in Miami before coming to USF. "I'm happy here. Everything's going well here."

COMING HOME: The Bulls could land an impact transfer next month in former Riverview star Tyrone McKenzie, who is transferring closer to home after finishing eighth in the nation with 129 tackles as a sophomore at Iowa State.

The Bulls have received a release, and coach Jim Leavitt confirmed USF is recruiting McKenzie, who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors. He is transferring because of a family illness and will seek a hardship waiver to play immediately with two seasons of eligibility.

[flsportsfan83]

great to hear. I am surprised. This is great news.

Plus we may have a new LB. What a great day to be a Bull

[HaulingBull Sucks]

Me thinks that Greg has the job that ET would love to have.

[E.T.]

8-)

I enjoy reading his work ... I wish I had the contacts Greg has  

[alau255]

not exactly the terms you want to get a player...but i'll take it.  I hope that his family illness gets better but he still comes here.

[JDBull]

IMO, the quotes from Clark and Dawsey reveal nothing with regard to their intent.  Coach speak is an art form and these guys are working under a head coach who could offer a doctorate program on the subject.  

Does anyone honestly think that if Randy Shannon called today and offered the DC position to Clark at twice his current salary that he would turn it down? But, but...you said in the paper that you were happy in Tampa???  

When the receivers coach or every asst. coaching position with UM has been filled with names other than Dawsey and Clark....THAT is when I'll be confident they are not going any where.

[SANJAY]

Bernard Clark did a great job with that young DL this year.

[E.T.]

Bernard Clark did a great job with that young DL this year.

He sure did !

[Bullpride08]

IMO, the quotes from Clark and Dawsey reveal nothing with regard to their intent.  Coach speak is an art form and these guys are working under a head coach who could offer a doctorate program on the subject.  

Does anyone honestly think that if Randy Shannon called today and offered the DC position to Clark at twice his current salary that he would turn it down? But, but...you said in the paper that you were happy in Tampa???  

When the receivers coach or every asst. coaching position with UM has been filled with names other than Dawsey and Clark....THAT is when I'll be confident they are not going any where.

Honestly, given the comments I'd believe more of a chance for Clark to book then Dawsey.  Like I said before Lawrence has some serious ties in Tampa, he'll eventually leave but not for a lateral move, he doesn't have to.  Dawsey is fine financially and making pretty good money at USF as well.  

Clark was an interesting connection.  I'd love to keep him here for another 2 or so years.  Frankly this staff would be great to keep intact for another couple of years.   It really gelled this year.