TAMPA, Fla. – Those of a certain age may recall the 1980s U.S. Army commercial touting, “We do more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day.”
Bryce Archie is not parachuting from helicopters, though a good chunk of his day is complete by the time some of us have digested our bowl of Cheerios. Indeed, the two-sport performer earns his sleep at night when the spring football and baseball schedules collide as they currently do.
Archie gets up about 6 a.m. and grabs a little breakfast before making his way to the Selmon Athletic Center for treatment. Soon enough, it is time to take the gridiron for practice, which is followed by lunch. He then walks across Elm Drive for baseball practice, which begins in earnest about 2 p.m. and generally wraps up in two hours.
Following practice with Mitch Hannahs’ club, Archie finally has a little down time. Not that he can afford to get too comfortable because, before he knows it, it is time for football meetings. After closing the playbooks, he opens his schoolbooks before getting some sleep and starting the cycle all over again, at least on football practice dates.
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“They worked together to figure out what was the best plan for me physically and mentally,” the quarterback/pitcher said of football coach Alex Golesh and Hannahs. “I can’t thank them enough for the schedule they have for me right now. It should work out pretty well.”
It was difficult at times navigating the schedule demands a year ago. After all, it was his first time through such a grind as he did not play baseball in 2023, his first year at USF, or as a freshman at Coastal Carolina in 2022.
“Last year, when we got to the end of June, you could see he was physically and mentally worn down,” said Golesh, whose team commenced spring practice Tuesday. “We have tried to do a really good job this year of balancing what he has to do.”
It allows Archie to focus on what matters most.
“This year it is more physical,” he said. “Trying not to put my head in two different spots, staying where I am and doing what I have to do right now. The physical part is trying to minimize soreness.”
Archie started eight games as the Bulls’ quarterback last season after Byrum Brown went down due to injury. Last Saturday at UAB, the 6-foot-3 and 215-pound right threw 103 pitches in relief to pick up his second straight win out of the bullpen after beginning the season as a starter.
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“I know I am still going to get to my pitch count no matter if I start the game or come on in the fourth inning,” he said, of making the switch. “Coach Hannahs wants me to go as long as I can go and still be effective for the team.”
Being effective on the mound and in the pocket while maintaining a calendar bursting by the seams is a smoother deal this time around for Archie.
“I feel like I am a lot more prepared this year and I know what I have on my table,” he said. “I know what I need to do to better prepare and keep my body in the right place.”
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