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U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F LO R I DA
The DACA decision leaves DREAMers and their supporters concerned
DACA supporters unite during a protest in a sign of solidarity for those entering the U.S. as a part of the program. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE By Nadaa Hussein C O R R E S P O N D E N T
You’ve lived in the U.S. for as long as you can remember, but you weren’t born here. Every Fourth of July you had a barbecue and watched fireworks with your friends, celebrating the independence of your country and you never felt out of place. You can’t remember an existence before your life as an American. Then someone tells you to leave and return to your country of origin. Home to you has always been the U.S. This is not just a tale, but a reality for students who have been living under the protection of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) for years and will now be left with no place to call
home. On Sept. 5, 2017 President Donald Trump repealed DACA, an immigration law originally passed as an executive order by former President Barack Obama in June 2012. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DACA protects over one million individuals from deportation, as of 2016. DACA allows them to work, study and live in the U.S. legally. The recipients of this bill are called DREAMers — from the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM act), a predecessor of DACA that ultimately failed to pass. To request DACA, applicants must meet a list of requirements. They are required to have entered
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the U.S. before 2007, before they were 16, be younger than 31 as of 2012, be enrolled in school or the armed forces and have no felonies or misdemeanors. The $495 application lasts for two years and is renewable, as long as the applicant continues to meet the criteria. In response to the nullification of DACA, USF’s Office of Multicultural Affairs scheduled a community hour on Sept. 5, right after Trump announced his plans to renounce the program. The purpose was to discuss how this affects students and their loved ones. Stacy Pippen, Director of the Office of the Multicultural Affairs opened the hour with a speech about the importance of DACA. “Just know that no matter
where you stand on this case or these decisions or where you come from there are lots of feelings and emotions that may be different from your own,” Pippen said. “There is a human side to this decision and there is a human impact in this decision.” While Trump isn’t completely ending DACA, new applicants are no longer being accepted. Applications for renewal must be complete by Oct. 5. This gives current participants at least two years of protection from deportation and time to apply for citizenship. Trump’s DACA decision stirred a controversy on both ends of the political spectrum, with many representatives offering their opinions and views and trying to
OTL applications open for students
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find solutions. U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D) represents Florida’s 14th Congressional District. She is the creator of the American Dream Awards, which recognizes highachieving immigrant students. “DREAMers represent the best of America as they have built productive lives, attended school, are working and are committed to our great country,” Castor said in a press release on Sept. 5. “I plan to return to congress and press my colleagues to pass legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers” Aida Vazquez-Soto, president of Turning Point USA at USF, said she would support reform of DACA. “I understand that DACA was
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DiMarco was born for golf Page 10
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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Student Health Services to be fully operational Monday
Maria upgraded to a hurricane Sunday The summer hurricane saga continues as Maria was upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane Sunday. The storm is taking aim at the Caribbean islands, following a similar path to Maria’s predecessor, Irma. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Maria was approximately 125 miles east-northeast of Barbados Sunday evening. The NHC reported the storm to have 80mph winds and to be traveling at a rate of 15mph, classifying it as a Category 1 hurricane. Current projections have Maria hurling over Puerto Rico Wednesday afternoon, at which time, it is anticipated to strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane. A hurricane warning is generally issued 36 hours before the storm reaches the region under the notice. Tropical islands such as Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Martinique, Nevis and St. Kitts were all issued hurricane warnings Sunday evening. Heavy rains are expected and could cause flash flooding and mudslides in affected areas.
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By Ashley Jablonski C O R R E S P O N D E N T
Protestors support DREAMers and the DACA program. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
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not something passed into law,” Vazquez-Soto said. “It was an executive order and the way it was being enforced was through executive action. The executive branch isn’t supposed to write a law, that is the legislative branch’s job. I don’t think it was wrong for Trump to pull back on DACA because DACA isn’t actually going to end for 6 months.” The issue millions of DREAMers face is that they are all registered in a government database. This gives them a high chance of deportation. In fact, deportation of individuals covered by DACA has already occurred. Juan Montes was deported on Feb. 17, 2017 despite his DACA coverage, and currently resides with his aunt and uncle in Mexico, according to USA Today. USF students expressed concern for those who are threatened with the possibility of deportation. Marlene Aboytes, a senior majoring in social work, shared her support for DREAMers. “I think they belong here just as much as I do, and it’s a huge injustice,” Aboytes said. “I want to ensure that love is more powerful than anything and that I’m here for them.” USF faculty and staff members are also working to do what they
can to protect students who might be affected by this decision. Jerry Staples, Assistant Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, offered assistance to those who face the threat of deportation. “We have facilitated the UndocuALLY training, which is a training hosted by our office to help educate people on how to help undocumented students,” Staples said. “We also have a list of resources and scholarships that we have collected from different places. (We are) a launching pad for folks who come in that need somebody to help them get to the resources they want.” The Associate Dean of Students, Winston Jones, also offered his office’s support. “We are here to do what we can to help,” Jones said. “Hopefully we will preserve and make it through this as well as we can.” While the end of DACA is near, the effects of it are still not completely clear and Pippen urges people who are interested to look into resources and programs related to immigration. “If you have not attended an UndocuALLY meeting I encourage you to pick up one of the index cards or look us up on our website or our Facebook page,” Pippen said. “If you are looking to find more information about these decisions, the legislation, the impact on students, the livelihood of individuals, attend an UndocuALLY session, where you can easily register on BullSync.”
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D) said on Sept. 13 that she and colleague Chuck Schumer (D) made a deal with Trump that would replace DACA and gets rid of the proposed wall. However, Trump would falsify these claims in a tweet Thursday. “No deal was made last night on DACA. Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote,” Trump said via Twitter. The idea of bipartisan efforts is controversial in today’s political climate. Vazquez-Soto said it’s a little bit disappointing that Trump doesn’t have a lot of conservatives on his side right now. Trump is not keeping on his promises, like the wall being built. However, she said the Democrats are now praising him and he is working with them. Either way, Vazquez-Soto said she believes his base is going to follow him wherever he goes. Jones concluded the community hour by thanking students, faculty and staff for being a support system for one another. “Our faculty and staff are here to support our students … and work with our students [to] support them in any way that we can,” Jones said. “We appreciate the support and the care of the staff and their help in organizing and developing this as they have.”
Student Health Services (SHS) has been working to provide more services to students. The decision to start renovations was made in January and the work physically began in July. Construction is estimated to be complete by Sept. 18. Dr. Joseph Puccio, the medical director of SHS, said the renovation will make the space more efficient for patients by adding two exam rooms and an office. Puccio said the renovation are estimated to cost between $125,000 - $130,000. The SHS renovation utilizes preexisting space and are not an expansion. According to Puccio, the unused space is being renovated because of a change in laboratory services offered. With a growing demand for exam rooms and office space, SHS officials said it would be best to repurpose the space to better accommodate students’ needs With the renovations, the facility will be able to hire another physician and to reduce wait times. Puccio said he has not heard of any negative effects to students from the construction and no student has been turned away
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Opinion
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This season’s hurricanes are strengthened by climate change
By Samantha Moffett C O L U M N I S T
This year’s challenging hurricane season has made one thing clear: The discussion around hurricanes needs to shift focus from reacting to unexpected tragedies to educating the public on its connection to climate change. This is the only way the public can hope to mitigate such hostile weather in the longterm. With hurricane season only halfway complete, it has already been a record-breaking year. Hurricane Harvey had record rainfall with 50 inches of water in some areas of Houston. Additionally, economic losses due to Hurricane Irma have already accumulated to approximately $10 billion, according to Public Radio International. Additionally, there are more storms forming in the Atlantic. Hurricane Maria is the current focus of meteorologists, according to The Weather Channel. She is currently expected to develop into a Category 4 by Tuesday and continue on a track toward the U.S. through Friday, according to Bay News 9. It is too soon to make further predictions. Dennis Feltgen from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also explained this year’s temperatures and storms have been “unprecedented.” While hurricanes are nothing new to this planet, the impact and frequency of devastating storms is increasing, according to the NOAA. The debate on whether this
It’s time to acknowledge the root cause of stronger and more frequent hurricanes to help recovery. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE increase is at least partially due to climate change is not controversial: It’s simple physics. With the Earth’s average oceanic and atmospheric temperatures climbing, harsher and larger storms occurring at an increasing rate because of energy from warmer waters. These trends have been identified in multiple studies registered with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This means Harvey and Irma’s devastation could be but a glance at what is to come if humans fail to curb their carbon emissions and continue to exacerbate global warming.
In June, Chris Pruitt, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, explained in a statement at The White House, “It is insensitive to discuss climate change in the midst of deadly storms.” If we are not going to talk about it now and implement an environmental sustainability plan, then when? The discussion on climate change needs to be broadened so people can better understand how warming temperatures could create more storms if we do not transition to more sustainable lifestyles. Pruitt also explained that
finding a cause and effect while people are struggling is wrong. While it is inarguable that funding should go to relieving those who were tragically effected, it is also our policy makers’ responsibility to educate the public on climate change mitigation to protect us from these disasters long-term. President Donald Trump has been known to call climate change a hoax in tweets and while campaigning. But how could anyone deny that the climate here on Earth is changing when Scientific American showed that 2017 could be one of the hottest years on record?
While it is the Earth’s natural process to move in temperature cycles, mankind’s environmental footprint has dramatically sped up that process, as reported by NASA. It is time for governmental policy and public discourse to reflect this dire consensus because the facts show Irma could be small in comparison to what is to come. There is simply no more time to skirt this discussion because if we do not act soon, there could be a point of no return. Samantha Moffett is a sophomore majoring in mass communications.
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Student Health Services is expected to debut two new exam rooms and an office space Monday. ORACLE PHOTO/CHAVELI GUZMAN
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during the process. Rather, the number of rooms in use decreased. Wait time during construction has been 25 minutes, according to Puccio. Cassidy David, a sophomore double majoring in psychology and bio-medical sciences, previously visited SHS. “As long as they have enough people working there, then I think they will be more efficient in tending to their patients,” David said. She visited when she needed stitches and dealt with a frustrating wait time. “It was confusing when I walked in and didn’t know who to talk to first,” David said. “It did seem like a long (wait) time to me because I was in pain.” Olivia Weber, a sophomore majoring in mass communications, received treatment from the SHS for a case of mono. “I wish that they would have emergency or walkin appointments because it makes it difficult when you have an urgent illness,”
Weber said. “I hope it (the renovations) brings faster service to more urgent cases.” With the addition of another physician, SHS staff is hopeful the office will run more efficiently moving forward. “It has allowed us to hire another physician, so that we will be able to see more students and to get students through Student Health Services at a faster pace,” Puccio said. Ad a m Bakst, a sophomore studying mass communications, went to SHS last year and experienced the offices before the renovation. “I think it’s important that the students are healthy, so any improvements to USF students will be a fan of,” Bakst said. “The wait times were bad during the beginning of each semester because that’s when people are getting sick.” Bakst also said he is hoping that the renovations will bring more expertise and shorter wait times. Puccio said after the current renovation, there are no further plans to do future renovations.
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LIFESTYLE
Orientation Team Leader applications open 6
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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By Jessica Garby
C O R R E S P O N D E N T
As a new wave of hopeful Bulls prepare their admittance applications, the role of Orientation Team Leader (OTL) is also accepting student applicants for the 2018 academic year. OTLs are pillars in the campus community. As a result, many students are interested in filling the positions that may be open. Troy Causey, a junior majoring in business management, is a current OTL for Team Global for Orientation 2017-18. Causey applied for the position for the year before and was recommended to apply this year. “Orientation Leaders are the first person students get to make a deep connection with,” Causey said. Being an OTL not only entails devoting the entire summer to working orientation sessions, but also becoming a full time leader and role model on campus throughout the year. “Orientation Leaders know what you need to do to succeed here,” Causey said. “We answer questions that students have and provide resources for all students.” C a u s ey ’s ex p e r i e n c e applying for the position twice taught him to be persistent and to take the year to grow as an individual and as a leader. He encourages all students who apply and don’t get the position to stay connected with the Office of Orientation. “Even if you don’t get the
Applications for the positions of Orientation Team Leader close Sept. 29. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/OFFICE OF ORIENTATION FACEBOOK position as Orientation Leader, the Office of Orientation can lead you to another position that might be more fitting for you,” Causey said. Nick Albenga, a junior majoring in communications and a current OTL and Student Engagement Leader, is on Team Bull Market for Orientation 2017-18. Orientation is a place for incoming students to grow, but also a chance for leaders to gain insight on how the relationship between students and leaders impacts the entire USF community. “It makes you think about yourself, why you do things, why you are good to people,
and why you do what you do,” Albenga said. “Orientation is the truest expression of oneself.” Cristian Flores, a junior double majoring in biomedical sciences and psychology, is a current Orientation Leader for Team Intramurals for Orientation 2017-18. Flores became a commuter student his sophomore year and said he felt himself becoming less involved on campus. “I needed to find my root here,” Flores said. “Being an Orientation Leader was the easiest way to integrate myself into the University. It gave me so much more than
I expected.” By becoming a part of the orientation team, Flores not only become a prevalent face on campus, but he also gained a sense of leadership, even when not wearing his widelyrecognizable orientation uniform. “We are always representing the office,” Flores said. “Over the past few years, the orientation brand has been built up. A lot of people want to be apart of the team and know more about what we do. We have to live up to that standard and pass it along to students.” Jasmine Conner, a freshman majoring in marine biology,
recently applied to be an Orientation Leader. “My Orientation Leader really inspired me,” Conner said. “I saw how connected she was to every student at orientation. She was the person who made everyone feel comfortable and less intimidated.” As the application period carries on, the Office of Orientation encourages students to apply. Applications are due Sept. 29 at the end of the day. “We are incoming students’ first interaction and impression of USF,” Flores said. “Our job is to pass the torch.”
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Classifieds UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
To place a classified ad go to HELP WANTED ACTIVISTS NEEDED!!!! PAID DAILY!!!! Circulate Petitions!! Earn $15-$30/hr++ PT/FT/Anytime!! 813-803-8033 Companion for special needs student (highschool) Prefer student interested in special education or behavioral studies. Need help transporting student in mornings to transition program at high school a few days a week. Other hours are needed at times during week, vacations or weekend hours as well. Email Autisticangels@yahoo.com
Gymnastics Instructors LaFleur’s is now hiring Gymnastics Instructors. Must love kids and be enthusiastic. No experience necessary. To apply go to: LaFleursTampa.com/Contact or Call: (813) 264 - 5000
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he did the same for the program. “My kids will have a lot of opportunities, you just hope that you raise them right,” Chris DiMarco said in an interview with GolfDigest. Already the Bulls No. 1 golfer and Unanimous American all-conference selection last season, DiMarco is still working to achieve more. “My coach, Adam Schriber and I, we’ve been working on some good stuff and it’s finally starting to click,” DiMarco said. “I just want to give myself a chance to win as much as possible and all the AllAmerican stuff will all come with it.” DiMarco said he understands that each accolade is a steppingstone to his final goal. “We just try to take it one step at a time, one tournament at a time, one round at a time,” DiMarco, who tied for the lead at the end of regulation and finished second at the American Athletic Conference Championship last season, said. “If I do all that, I know I can compete with anybody. Long goals will happen if I meet my smaller goals.” The goals include graduating from USF with a degree in Communications before pursu-
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ing a professional golfing career. He aims to go to the Canadian Qualifying School, which is a tour of tournaments in which players compete to earn their pro cards and become a part of the PGA. “I don’t want to say I’ve bursted on the scene because I haven’t accomplished everything I want to yet,” DiMarco said. “Until last spring, I hadn’t really done anything special in college golf.” Since the spring, DiMarco has won multiple tournaments and won the state amateur championship. He went from a good golfer in high school to a collegiate athlete who will be competing for professional status in a year’s time. “I’ve been focused since last spring,” DiMarco said. “I got a girlfriend, Jordyn Listro (USF soccer alum), and she really kinda pulled the reigns and got me to play better.” DiMarco’s golf career started because he has been surrounded by the game his entire life. “I don’t know what its like to live without golf,” DiMarco said. “People don’t compare me to my dad, at least not to my face they don’t. It’s a challenge that I like. (My Dads past success) raises the bar for my play and keeps me focused.”
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Sports
Maintaining the family tradition Offense UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
The Rundown Football
Men’s Golf
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Growing up with a PGA tour golfer as a dad, DiMarco was raised on the course.
AAC reschedules games to ensure full conference slate The American Athletic Conference announced last Thursday the rescheduling of numerous games that will allow for USF and other conference members to play a complete conference schedule after numerous cancellations due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The rescheduled games effecting USF are: USF vs. UConn, previously scheduled for Sept. 9 in Connecticut, will now be played on Sat., Nov. 4 in Connecticut. The USF vs. Houston game, previously scheduled for Nov. 4 in Tampa, will now be played on Sat., Oct. 28 at Raymond James Stadium. The USF vs. Cincinnati game, previously scheduled for Oct. 28 in Tampa, will now be played on Sat., Oct. 14 at Raymond James Stadium.
Men’s Soccer ends losing skid After losing three straight road games against ranked opponents, USF got back on the winning track Sunday night defeating Loyola Marymount (1-5-2) 1-0 at Corbett Stadium. The lone goal was scored in the final seconds of the first half by sophomore Stephen Rudderman. USF is now 2-0 at home in 2017 and will face the UNF Ospreys at Corbett Stadium on Wednesday night. The game against Stetson — that was originally scheduled for last Thursday but was cancelled due to Irma - will not be rescheduled.
Football
comes to life in win for Bulls
By John Black
C O R R E S P O N D E N T
Cristian DiMarco was the only Bull to compete in all 34 rounds last season. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS By Sam Newlon C O R R E S P O N D E N T
At the age of 9, Cristian DiMarco was already playing golf on a daily basis at Heathrow Country Club in Orlando. His father, Chris DiMarco, was one of the top golfers on the PGA tour during his prime with three career wins and finishing second behind Tiger Woods at the 2005 Masters Tournament. Now, after a stellar junior season at USF and a productive summer, DiMarco is ready to finish his collegiate career on the top of his game and follow in his father’s footsteps to join the PGA Tour. “I’ve had a club in my hand since I could walk,” DiMarco said, minutes after completing a oneunder par performance at a qualifying round at TPC Tampa Bay earlier in September. With golfing in his blood, it was only natural that his father would have some influence over his future. Legendary PGA golfer Tiger
Woods was playing golf at a young age and made appearances on television at the discretion of his father, and DiMarco was no different. He picked up the game naturally and was able to spend time with the game and his father at the same time. “I started taking it more seriously and going to the golf course every day around 9 or 10 years old,” DiMarco said. DiMarco went to Lake Mary Preparatory School, where he joined the golf team and started playing competitively in the 7th grade. DiMarco played basketball and tennis as a freshman in high school, but focused on golf as he developed as a player. As a senior, Cristian and his teammate Austen Truslow - who is now in pursuit of joining the PGA tour - led their team to a state title. “Our team was really good,” Dimarco said. “Another guy, Austen Truslow, me and him went back and forth between one and two. All our top five are playing division one golf.”
After leaving his mark in high school and establishing himself as a dominant individual golfer, DiMarco took an opportunity to play golf at the University of Kentucky before he became a twotime American Athletic Conference champion at USF. Surprisingly enough, weather played a factor in his decision to return to his home state. “I went to Kentucky and loved it,” DiMarco said. “But the winters just weren’t for me. Snow four months of the year and hitting off mats indoors, I just couldn’t get better there.” In addition to the warmer weather, DiMarco ultimately chose USF because coach Steve Bradley gave DiMarco a chance despite an uneventful freshman season as a Wildcat. “Coach Bradley gave me an opportunity to play here and it has turned my game around.” DiMarco said. While USF helped change DiMarco’s golf game for the better,
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The Bulls returned to action Friday night after missing last week’s game against UConn due to the threat of Hurricane Irma. Facing off against its first and only Power 5 conference opponent in the Illinois Fighting Illini, USF saw this game as an opportunity for validation. The game at Raymond James was played in front of an announced 35,000 fans in the stadium along with a national audience in USF’s first ESPN game of the season. “Any time you get a national audience and a Big Ten opponent, it helps you,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “The way we played, it was a really good, solid game with big numbers.” By far the Bulls best offensive outing of the young 2017 campaign, USF totaled 680 yards en route to their 47-23 victory. Led by senior quarterback Quinton Flowers’ 386 total yards and five total touchdowns (280 passing yards, 106 rushing yards), the Bulls were finally able to reignite their explosive offense. “When you have a leader in your quarterback and the things he does, he doesn’t say anything he just goes about his work and guys just follow him,” Strong said. Maybe the most important moment in the game, late in the first half, Illinois running back Mike Epstein ran
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for a 45-yard TD that brought the Fighting Illini within seven points of the Bulls. After getting the ball back with approximately two minutes left in the half, USF sprinted down the field.
Flowers threw a 32-yard pass to Deangelo Antoine that brought USF to the Illinois six with only eight seconds remaining. On the following play, the Bulls’ offense didn’t develop how they drew it up, but Flowers scrambled and ran the six yards for the TD that boosted the Bulls’ lead to 14
entering the half. “I did the best thing and that was use my legs like I always do and we came out with a touchdown,” Flowers said. Strong was a fan of Flower’s improvisation to close the half. “You don’t coach that at all,” Strong said. “It just makes
the coach look good.” Coming into the second half, USF never let up as they scored 24 more points and put up 300 additional yards. Although Illinois has been at the bottom of the Big Ten ranks the past few years, Flowers found motivation in the match up against USF’s only Power 5 conference opponent. “They (Power 5 games) mean a lot to me,” Flowers said. “A lot of people doubted me coming out of high school, a lot of people doubted me coming into college, a lot of people still do.” Flowers was a four-star recruit coming out of high school, but as an athlete, not as a quarterback. USF was the only major program that allowed Flowers the opportunity to continue his quarterback career. “I’m just going to go out there and be myself,” Flowers said. The Bulls’ senior quarterback began the year on the watch list for the 2017 Heisman Award — the award handed out to the best player in college football. However,
due to the team’s slow start in the first two games, Flowers began to drop out of the conversation. “At the end of the day I just do what’s best, I don’t care about what people say,” Flowers said. His performance in Friday’s game may have brought him back into the conversation. Flowers has become known for keeping plays alive, and he may just be doing the same thing with his Heisman candidacy. “With Quinton Flowers, you have to stay alive,” running back Darius Tice said. “That guy is amazing, he does stuff on video games. He surprises me every day.” Flowers joins only Louisville quarterback and reigning Heisman trophy winner Lamar Jackson as the only two quarterbacks to be in the top 50 in both rushing and passing yards. “He deserves credibility and respect,” Tice said. “No doubt he belongs in that conversation. He deserves to be in the Heisman talk.”
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