The Oracle WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014 I VOL. 52 NO. 22
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Tampa General, USF give honorary roles to executives to strengthen relationship. n
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Anime Club welcomes new and old viewers alike. Page 4
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S PORTS Pierre copes after career-ending condition. BACK
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By Wesley Higgins N E W S
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The chief executive officers at Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and USF Health exchanged leadership roles earlier this month in an effort to repair the bridges burnt by past leadership. Dr. Charles Lockwood, dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and vice president of USF Health, takes the title of TGH executive vice president and chief academic officer. TGH CEO Jim Burkhart takes the title of senior associate dean at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine “It’s a moment of time that’s been reached that requires great-
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er levels of collaboration with a nice mix of personalities,” Lockwood said. “I like Jim very much, personally, and I’d like to think he’d say the same about me.” Both Lockwood and Burkhart took the helm of their respective organizations after conflicts between USF and TGH were reported in a 2013 Tampa Bay Times article. In the article, letters were published revealing differences between the organizations’ management. Dr. Stephen Klasko, the former dean of USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, wanted to partner with Lakeland Regional Medical Center to create a residency program, which would potentially draw USF residents away from TGH. Meanwhile, TGH changed its psychiatric services to no longer treat psychiatric patients involuntarily committed under the Baker Act, risking USF’s medical school
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Floridians will head to the polls in November to decide the next governor of Florida, but for state workers, including USF’s faculty and staff, the race may come down to a single issue: the future of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The debate over what should happen to the FRS and how new state employees should be compensated after they retire has caught the attention of the more than one million state workers currently enrolled in the system. The $149 billion pension fund currently has an unfunded liability of less than 15 percent, a rate considered healthy by most experts, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts.
This didn’t stop Florida Governor Rick Scott from spending his last three years in office pushing to reform the pension system by cutting back the state’s employer contribution and attempting to force new state employees into the 401(k)-style “defined contribution” plan. Opponents of pension reform, such as USF’s faulty and staff unions, have criticized Scott for what they see as an unnecessary attack on a relatively healthy pension fund. It was under Scott that state workers began contributing an extra 3 percent to the retirement fund in 2011. The university’s faculty and staff unions, United Faculty of Florida (UFF) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), saw the forced contribution as, essentially,
SG Senate reprimands Cocco By Wesley Higgins
Pension question could play pivotal role in governor’s race
By Roberto Roldan
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a 3 percent pay cut. “The FRS is a sound, healthy pension fund and it should not be touched for any reason. The 3 percent that employees are contributing should be stopped and we do not, in any way, shape or form, support Governor Rick Scott,” said Hector Ramos, Region 3 director of AFSCME. For UFF, the uncertain future of the state retirement fund is an impediment to their ability to attract talented faulty from outside the state, UFF Executive Director Ed Mitchell said. “We don’t hire faculty from only within Florida; we are hiring faculty from across the United States and internationally,” Mitchell said. “If we are not competitive in terms of our salaries, our retirement benefits and our health care benefits,
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Student Body President Jean Cocco was censured Tuesday night by the Student Government (SG) Senate after refusing to step down from his position on the Local Fee Committee. Under SG statutes, the student body president cannot to sit on the Local Fee Committee, a position Cocco appointed himself to on Aug. 15. The Local Fee Committee makes recommendations regarding fee increases for the Athletic, Activity and Service, and Health fees. The statute forbidding this was passed during the final SG Senate meeting last spring. On Aug. 15, a grievance was filed against Cocco and was investigated by the Judiciary and Ethics Committee (JEC). After two hours of deliberation, they found Cocco in violation of SG statutes and recommended the SG Senate Executive Committee issue a notification of non-compliance. SG Attorney General Alexander Johnson issued a legal opinion four days later, stating the statute was unconstitutional and the grievance against Cocco should be stricken from the record. The Judicial Review Panel stated there were no grounds to strike the grievance. Dean of Students Michael Freeman said Cocco is eligible to sit on the committee and recommended the SG Senate not pursue action against Cocco. Cocco was notified Aug. 23 to step down from the Local Fee Committee or face censure. Cocco did not comply and SG Senate voted Tuesday
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we are not going to be able to attract and retain the best.” For many of the state’s lowest paid workers, Maria Peas, secretary treasurer of USF’s local chapter of AFSCME, said fighting back against future pushes for pension reform is less about hiring and more about survival. “I know several people who had foreclosure start on their house
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within three months after that 3 percent pay cut …” Peas said. Before the $2,000 raise USF staff received over the last two years, AFSCME said the staff had not seen a raise for nearly seven years. The average rate of pay for a staff member at USF is $15.50 per hour, according to AFSCME. “I know the 3 percent cut doesn’t seem like a lot, but for workers who have gone a while without seeing a real raise, it hurts,” Ramos said.
Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, who during his time in office made no effort to change the state’s retirement system, has already begun rallying the support of public workers unions. In May, the Florida Education Association came out in support of Crist and AFSCME has signed on to a political action committee fund that has given over $1 million to Crist’s campaign. The former governor has also been invited to attend AFSCME’s statewide convention in Altamonte Springs this weekend. “Florida needs a governor who respects public employees and the work that they do … Charlie is committed to keeping Florida’s public pension system strong,” said Crist’s Campaign Communications Director Brendan Gilfillan. While Scott’s push for state pension reform has pushed many state workers into the arms of Crist, it has also won him the support of Republican legislators and interest groups, who say the $500 million Florida spends each year to cover future liabilities are better spent elsewhere. Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a conservative interest group that has over 146,000 members in Florida, has been a long-time supporter of reforming the defined benefit system and of Scott. AFP-Florida Deputy State Director Abigail MacIver said Tallahassee should encourage new state employees to invest in their own future through the defined contribution plan and end the defined benefit pension plan that is “not fiscally sound and puts the Florida taxpayer at a substantial risk.” “Florida still ought to protect those who bought into the old system, but desperately needs to change the plan new employees are offered,” MacIver said. “A system that compensates retirees based on what they choose to invest in their own futures would attract talent to Florida without burdening the public with a tremendous, unpredictable liability.” The Florida House of Representatives has introduced a number of bills over the last two years to try and close the defined benefit system or steer more new hires toward the 401(k)-style plan, but all of the pension reform bills have died in the Legislature. While neither candidate has put the FRS at the forefront of their campaigns, the worry over the future of the pension fund is sure
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Further cuts to the state pension system is worrying state employees and workers unions. ORACLE GRAPHIC/ROBERTO ROLDAN VIA INFOGR.AM to hover above public workers and after employees’ benefits because retirees ahead of the November there was an unspoken agreeelection. ment: Public employees will make “(Scott’s) running against an ex- less than private sector employees, governor that was not considered a but we make it up in benefits,” friend of labor, but that never went Ramos said.
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accreditation. Lockwood said the principal source of conflict was likely Klasko’s desire to build his own hospital on USF Tampa’s campus. “It seemed like those types of initiatives were at odds with the best working relationship possible,” Burkhart said. “We’re not going to do that, we’re going to sit down in a room and know what the other is doing and pull together.” Lockwood and Burkhart will act as ambassadors to communicate realistic collaborations between the two organizations. “Part of the job is advocating for USF,” Lockwood said. “Part of it is putting myself in (TGH’s) shoes and understanding their pressures.” Burkhart said the cooperative relationship benefits the Tampa community and USF, which currently supplies 60 percent of TGH physicians. “Having us pulling in the same direction versus pulling in the opposite, as some perceived, will make the community feel we’re spending health care resources more carefully,” Burkhart said. Already, Lockwood said, USF and TGH are consolidating outpatient records to provide more efficient health care to the community. “This is designed to facilitate
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evening to censure him with a vote of 23-3 with 2 abstentions. In an interview with The Oracle, SG chairman of the senate committee on appropriations and audits Chris Johnson said he voted to censure Cocco, as he believes no SG official should be held above the rules. “I like Cocco as president, but if you’re an idealistic person, sometimes you put the product before the process,” he said. “It was very much a constitutional issue, and you don’t throw away the constitution.” Johnson and many other senators at the Tuesday meeting voiced the need to amend statutes so future student body presidents won’t be penal-
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a much more collegial, collaborative and synergistic relationship,” he said. The cooperation is possible, Lockwood said, because his philosophy on where medicine should go is different than his predecessor, who saw an opportunity for profit in opening a hospital. An all-encompassing monthly insurance fee will likely replace the current model that makes patients pay for services after each visit. Whether a procedure is performed or not, such as a surgery or a lab test, the hospital won’t receive extra money. “TGH is an outstanding hospital with nationally-ranked programs,” he said. “Why would I want to hurt them or try to build a competitive program that would make us both weaker?” Burkhart said the partnership doesn’t mean TGH and USF will always agree, but understanding one another’s goals and opinions is vital to a healthy friendship. “There’s a symbolism of showing that we are connected,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with the dean.” Lockwood said the partnership began back in May when the two new leaders extended olive branches to set an example for Tampa’s health community. “It’s kind of like any friendship: it started with little interactions,” he said. “I might credit Jim. Jim might credit me. It was very much a partnership.” ized for serving on the Local Fee Committee. Senators also expressed disapproval that they were asked to file public record requests when inquiring about the censure in the week leading up to the meeting. In an interview with The Oracle, Cocco said he has a right to sit on the committee. “The Dean said I can sit on this committee,” he said. “It was knowingly ignored.” Cocco said student body presidents from other Florida state schools and former USF student body presidents, such as William Warmke and Brian Goff, sat on equivalent committees. Should the issue remain unresolved or Cocco refuse to step down from the Local Fee Committee in the next week, the SG Senate will begin impeachment proceedings.
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Students get animated with Oushi Anime By Katie Lamont C O R R E S P O N D E N T
“The Devil is a Part Timer.”
SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
Anime is often brushed off as a bunch of childish cartoons. Only those who take the time to watch and enjoy it realize that it is actually a unique form of art and storytelling that can be complex and evocative. Oushi Anime at USF is dedicated to celebrating that art form. The club, whose name means “bull” in Japanese, meets Saturdays at 7 p.m. in room 3711 of the Marshall Student Center. It has been at USF for 11 years and is back for another year to gather anime and manga fans alike to hang out, watch their favorite series and maybe get some frozen yogurt.
When the members come together, they throw around fairly dirty inside jokes about various anime, but are ready and willing to explain to an interested outsider exactly what’s so funny. They will spout off the titles of various series like they’re speaking a new language, but are quick to help beginners find a starting point. They advise newbies to avoid super long series and any sports anime, unless you’re “really into said sport.” Anime, for most novices, can be loosely characterized by “Pokemon” or “Dragon Ball Z,” but that doesn’t even begin to touch on the variety. An average anime runs between 26 and 52 episodes. “Anywhere from vampire
romance to anime all about cars,” said Michael Klima, a junior majoring in business and the club’s president. “The stuff you see in anime, you most likely won’t see anywhere else. It’s got some unique aspects.” Unique is a fitting word for the club. Klima said Oushi Anime attracts everyone from athletes to hardcore gamers. “It’s a place to find new people,” Klima said. “We’re really trying to open it to everyone.” The club does not limit itself to watching anime. They also read manga, Japanese graphic novels, and attend conventions such as Tampa’s annual Metrocon. “This year we’re really getting into costume-making — lots of cosplay,” Klima
said. “You can come by and we’ll help you out with it.” Cosplay has become a major part of convention and anime culture and can involve very elaborate and expensive homemade costumes. Interested students can simply show up to one of Oushi Anime’s meetings or join the club’s Facebook page for more information. “When people hear anime, they think cartoons, and when they think cartoons they don’t think of deep story lines with relatable characters that you fall in love with,” said Erin Westacott, a junior premed major. “A lot of good anime is focused on morals, problems in society, so it can truly open your eyes.”
“Kill la Kill.”
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Oushi Anime’s Top 5 1.“The Devil is a Part Timer” 2. “Tokyo Ghoul” “Code Geass.” SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
3.“Angel Beats!” 4.“Code Geass” 5.“Kill la Kill”
“Tokyo Ghoul.” SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
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Men’s soccer
USF hosts Georgia Southern By Chris Villar C O R R E S P O N D E N T
Senior midfielder Lucas Baldin has recorded an assist in each of USF’s last three matches. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
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senior year,” Pierre said. Not qualifying for the team dulled Pierre’s interest in football and he began thinking of different paths to pursue in his life. He ended up graduating Agape Christian Academy with no set plans for the future, especially regarding football. That all changed for Pierre when he received a phone call from his brother just after graduation. “My brother called me and asked me if I wanted to play football again, so I said: ‘Sure, why not?’ So I flew out to California,” Pierre said. Despite his lack of football knowledge and experience in games at or above the high school level, Pierre quickly adjusted to life at Golden West. “I was fast and there weren’t too many fast people out there, so I just ran really,” Pierre said. He won the starting job before the season began and used his raw speed to give fits to junior college defenses. The 5-foot-10, 202-pound Pierre rushed for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns on 227 carries over his two-year stint with the Rustlers, winning two bowl games in the process. His success at Golden West drew offers from schools such as East Carolina, USF, Cal-Berkley, Texas Tech and Washington State. While Pierre was back living back in his hometown of Winter Garden after he returned from California, Todd Fitch and for-
mer coach Skip Holtz went down to Agape Christian Academy to recruit him. “They told me I could play right away because Darrell Scott was leaving, so I had a chance to win the starting job, so that’s why I came,” Pierre said. Pierre worked toward learning the game and conditioning his body for Division I football over the next two seasons, which included redshirting in his first (2012). He regularly stayed after practice or went through drills by himself to prepare himself for the starting role, whenever it would be presented to him. “He always put in the extra work,” Lockette said. “Whether that was staying late to watch film, out there doing footwork drills. Anything that we told him he needed to work on in practice, he would stay late and work on it. He was just a good kid to coach.” Coach Willie Taggart said Pierre’s hard work easily stood out from his teammates’. “He was out here by himself sometimes, running drills in the heat of the day,” Taggart said. “You look out the window and think, ‘Wow, that’s a kid committed to getting better.’” The fruits of his labors could be seen in the spring. The coaching staff was so impressed by his newfound knowledge and performance that they tabbed him as the starter before summer practice began. “He ran the ball hard,” Taggart said. “He was our best pass protector as a running back. He understood the running game so much better and did a great job
Just four days after opening conference play with a win against UConn, the Bulls look to carry momentum into Wednesday night when they face Georgia Southern at Corbett Stadium. After winning four of their last six games, USF enters Wednesday’s game ranked No. 22 in the nation. The Eagles are entering the game after a disheartening 3-0 loss to Jacksonville. They kept a 0-0 score line with the Dolphins, heading into the second half, but after the first goal, the Eagles were unable to react as the running the ball in the spring.” But when it was discovered that he had spinal stenosis, the coaches were left to look for a new running back and Pierre had to find a new plan for his life. “I didn’t come outside for about a month,” Pierre said. “Coach T told me he wanted me to be a (graduate assistant) instead of just staying in the house.” Pierre barely interacted with the team throughout the summer as he struggled to come to grips with the realization he would never play the sport he had only just discovered a passion for. “It was tough at first,” Lockette said. “His grades slumped during the summer, he didn’t really want to go anywhere. He didn’t want to be around the team because he felt like he ain’t really doing nothing to help, so that guilt set in on him.” Taggart insisted Pierre join the staff as a graduate assistant so he could still earn his degree and keep his scholarship. Pierre said being a part of the team again has helped him come around, but it’s tough to be a permanent spectator. “It’s really different because when I see a guy out there running the ball, I think: ‘Damn, I’m supposed to be out there,’” Pierre said. “It hurts, but ain’t nothing I can do about it, really.” As a graduate assistant, Pierre helps with keeping statistics and coaching the running backs during practice. For home games, Pierre stands on the sideline and tries to provide encouragement for his teammates. “I’m sure there’s still some
Dolphins scored two more times. In order to succeed against Georgia Southern’s defense, the Bulls will have to maintain possession and avoid turnovers, a troublesome task in their last game against the Huskies. Through seven games, Georgia Southern has more goals scored (16) than USF (9), but the Eagles have also allowed 12 goals, compared to USF’s seven. USF did not allow more than two goals in any of its games last season and, so far this year, the Bulls have continued that trend. Senior Lucas Baldin is improving as the season wears on. He has made an assist in three straight
games this season after not recording any during of his first three years at USF. The Bulls (4-3) will look to continue spreading the ball around against the Eagles (4-3). Nine USF players have recorded a point so far this season and five have scored a goal. However, these stats may not be a big factor heading into Wednesday’s game, as Georgia Southern’s highest ranked opponent was No. 193 Gardner-Webb, as opposed to USF’s highest ranked opponent, Akron, who ranked 24th before the Bulls beat them. The Bulls play the Eagles tonight at 7:30 in Corbett Stadium.
In his first season on the field, former running back Michael Pierre rushed for 114 yards on 41 carries in 2013. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM
days he wishes he could play, but I like seeing him on the sideline, getting excited with his teammates, congratulating them and pushing them along,” Taggart said. With his playing days over, Pierre turned his focus toward helping the younger running backs with the knowledge he developed from his time at USF. He isn’t sure if he wants to continue coaching after college, but he’s currently planning on graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminology in December. Taggart invited him to stay on board with the staff when he begins to pursue his master’s degree in the spring. Even though Pierre had his dream taken from him, Taggart
said he tries to emphasize to him there’s more to life than the game of football. “It’s important to be able to get your education and be able to carry your kids around when you have them and just live your life,” Taggart said. In the meantime, Pierre is learning the ins-and-outs of coaching, but he still deals with the emotions that come with the abrupt end to a promising career. “I feel like I don’t have a legacy,” Pierre said. “I didn’t get to prove myself. I finally had a shot to prove myself as a starter and everyone told me about how I was going to have a big season and be great, and then this happened.”
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What you said Correspondents Katelyn Montagna and Sebastian Contento asked students if they believe the bachelor’s degree is losing hiring power.
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“Yes. Everyone needs a degree because it’s competitive out there, you need the degree and something extra that will separate you from competitors.” — Asahi Hossain, a freshman majoring in biomedical sciences “Absolutely, a bachelor’s will get you by, but a master’s will get you more opportunity.”
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Notebook
Bye week gives Bulls a much-needed breather By Jacob Hoag A S S T .
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Coming off a second half collapse against No.19 Wisconsin, coach Willie Taggart and the team have a bye week to take a step back and evaluate where they need work going forward. Room for improvement “For me it’s just getting back to fundamentals,” Taggart said during the AAC’s weekly teleconference. “Sometimes you get away from those things and we need our guys to get to where they’re playing with good technique. If we get better with that, we’ll get better on the football field.” The Bulls played a fundamentally sound first half against Wisconsin, but were unable to stop the Badgers’ offense, let alone get their own rolling. “We didn’t have the ball much,” Taggart said. “In the second half we only had the ball 6:23. A lot of the things we wanted to do offensively, we couldn’t do because we didn’t have the ball enough.”
The Bulls have two weeks to prepare for their homecoming matchup with AAC foe East Carolina, and Taggart has nailed down his two areas of focus for the off week. “Penalties are one, and we have to be better on third down,” Taggart said. “If we can get better in those two areas, we’ll have a pretty good football team.” USF had 11 penalties for 90 yards and converted only two of nine third-down attempts (.222) in its 27-10 loss to Wisconsin. “We’re getting in team situational periods working on third downs,” junior guard Thor Jozwiak said. “We have to know whether it’s third-and-long or if it’s thirdand-short and we have to understand those assignments in order to get the job done.” Davis is back Senior wide receiver Andre Davis will return to game action following the off week. Davis has been sidelined for most of the season after bruising his sternum on a diving catch in USF’s season
opener. “I had a bit of trouble breathing, not able to control it,” Davis said. “I was breathing hard, but coming out running was a problem for me. Now my breathing is back to 100 percent and I’m fine.” Davis was fully dressed for practice yesterday, but wore a bright red jersey to emphasize that he is still non-contact. Though he isn’t participating much in hitting drills, Davis worked with other receivers and ran all routes without hesitation. “I’m 100, ready to go, 100 percent,” Davis said. Davis is closing in on a few school records this season and said, even with the time lost, those goals are still attainable for him. A glimpse of East Carolina USF will take on East Carolina following the bye week. The Pirates have exceeded expectations so far this season; scoring 70 points against UNC last week, bringing them to (3-1) on the season. “I’ve studied East Carolina,” Taggart said. “They are a really
Senior wide receiver Andre Davis is back on the field after missing four weeks with a bruised sternum. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU good football team. They have some really talented athletes that can not only run, but run after the catch and they’re playing with a lot of confidence.” The Pirates boast a high-powered offense with plenty of NFL talent, including senior wide receiver Justin Hardy and senior quarterback Shane Carden who leads the conference in total yards.
“They have a couple guys that could play in the NFL,” Taggart said. “They’re a really talented football team and our guys are looking forward to this challenge.” USF plays its homecoming game against East Carolina on Oct. 11 at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
Football
Adjusting to life on the sideline n Former
running back Michael Pierre copes with career-ending condition.
By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S
Michael Pierre was tabbed as the starting running back going into the 2014 season before discovering he had spinal stenosis. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/TONY GORDON
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When Michael Pierre went in for a routine physical before the beginning of summer practice this year, he mentioned to the doctors that his shoulder had been itching uncontrollably. Pierre assumed it was a rash, but upon examining him, the doctors quickly became concerned. “I told them and their eyes got wide and they started doing tests on me,” Pierre said. “They kept
saying that my right side was weak. They did an MRI and that’s when they found out that I have spinal stenosis.” Pierre was born with the condition, which causes the spinal cord to compress. This then leads to pinched nerves in the back and a vulnerable spine and neck. The condition could cause paralysis or even death if Pierre were to be hit with enough force in a weak spot on his back or neck. At first, Pierre was told he could opt to surgically repair the spinal stenosis, but the risk involved was too high to take the chance. “When he was diagnosed, we thought there was a way that we could get him back through surgery, but it was life-threatening,” running backs coach Telly Lockette said. “We didn’t want
to take it that far and play with someone’s life. One hit and you can lose your life.” When he learned of the severity of his condition, Pierre was crushed. “That s--- hurt,” Pierre said. “I was crying. It was my senior year and it was taken just like that and I didn’t even get a shot.” He was desperate to make an impact for the Bulls in his senior season, especially after his chance was taken away in high school. Pierre was on his high school football team at Agape Christian Academy, but never played a down of competitive football. “I played the spring game (in high school), then I found out I couldn’t play my senior year because of grades; so I sat my
n See SIDELINE on PAGE 5