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Bucs start summer vacation as rookie camp and workouts end

 
Published June 13, 1991|Updated Oct. 13, 2005

The getting-ahead portion of the Tampa Bay Bucs' off-season is over. Now it's time to get away. The Bucs on Wednesday closed their eight-day indoctrination camp for rookies and pulled the plug on their off-season workout program. With just more than four weeks to go until the start of training camp, Tampa Bay coach Richard Williamson is entering the off-season's down time in a very upbeat mood.

"I think it was very productive. We got to show them a lot of things and that's what we intended to do," said Williamson of the rookies camp, which was attended by 14 draft picks and 20 free agents. "We've had a lot of guys working hard this off-season, a lot of older guys, too. More than we've ever had. I think it's been beneficial and it'll pay off for us come September. We're not close to being ready to play, but we're a lot closer than if we hadn't done this."

Considered a head start for both rookies and the new coaching staff, the indoctrination camp included both classroom and on-field drills and instruction.

"It was mostly a learning situation," said fullback Robert Wilson, the Bucs' second third-round draft choice. "We were trying to learn as much as possible without getting overloaded. They gave us everything they could, as much as we could handle, so that when we come to training camp in July we won't be as far behind the veterans."

As of today, Bucs coaches are off until July 9.

Bucs notes: Last month's Bucs Family Funfest didn't live up to 1990's record-setting standards, but the Bucs did add 1,123 new names to the season-ticket rolls at the one-day Tampa Stadium event. Last year, the Bucs sold 2,246 season tickets at the Family Funfest. The 1991 season-ticket count now approaches 33,100, director of ticket operations Terry Wooten said.

Williamson will be the speaker today at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Sabal Park Holiday Inn. The luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. and $10 tickets will be available at the door. For details, call 689-1221.