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Adam Lane, MVP of Birmingham Bowl, granted UF release

 
Published Aug. 10, 2015

Florida sophomore running back Adam Lane was granted his release from his scholarship because of family issues, the team announced Sunday.

"Adam Lane has some family issues that he is dealing with and wants to be closer to home," coach Jim McElwain said in a statement. "As you've heard me say many times, family comes first in this program, and we will grant him his release and we will do everything we can do to help him."

The Winter Haven native was expected to compete for carries behind Kelvin Taylor.

Lane's biggest contribution came in the Birmingham Bowl in January, when he earned MVP honors after rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown in UF's win over East Carolina. He had only 72 other yards in his other six games during his redshirt freshman season.

Lane missed some practices in the spring with a quadriceps injury.

USF: Run it off

TAMPA — While most players adjourned to the locker room after USF's fourth preseason practice, defensive coordinator Tom Allen didn't let his group enjoy the comfort of air conditioning right away.

Dissatisfied with their performance in a scrimmage, in which they had two takeaways but let quarterbacks Quinton Flowers and Steven Bench throw several touchdowns, Allen lined his players on the sideline for a long series of gassers in the sweltering heat.

"The tougher it gets, the better we play," he shouted to his players. "Every game you won last season, you won in the fourth quarter. We will win the fourth quarter."

For Allen, it was a chance to motivate his group, which is learning his new 4-2-5 scheme.

"We made mistakes in executing the defense and they scored, which is great for tape," Allen said. "As a coach, I was looking for an opportunity to do what we just did, and it's powerful. It's going to be a great, teachable time."

Junior free safety Devin Abraham of East Lake High said the team has responded well to Allen's techniques.

"He gets on us, but then he'll tap us on the butt and tell us he loves us," Abraham said. "It just gets us up. When we make a mistake, it'll be, "Next play, next play.' That's all he's saying. It just motivates us to just do better."

Harley gone: Linebacker LeGrande Harley withdrew from school for personal reasons during the offseason, team officials confirmed. The rising senior, who transferred from Georgia Military College last spring, had 23 tackles in 10 games.

Hit show: The Bulls will suit up in full pads today for the first time this fall. Practice starts at 3 and is open to the public.

Around the nation

Charlotte assistant dies: Charlotte offensive line coach Phil Ratliff died Sunday, six days after a cardiac event. He was 44. He had a heart arrhythmia on Monday, according to several media reports. The school's associate athletic director Tom Whitestone says he was told of Mr. Ratliff's death by the coach's wife, Jenni. Mr. Ratliff was also the recruiting coordinator for the 49ers, who played their first game in 2013 and are moving up to Division I-A this season.

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Basketball: Pittsburgh guard Josh Newkirk will transfer closer to his home in North Carolina while continuing to rehab from surgery on his left knee, the school announced.

Times correspondent Jeff Odom and Times wires contributed to this report.