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Bulls Face Fellow Former No. 2

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2007

TAMPA - Had the Sun Bowl's matchup between the University of South Florida and Oregon been held earlier this season, it may have been for the national title.

Both the Bulls and Ducks reached No. 2 in the BCS rankings earlier this season, before three-game losing streaks by each team knocked them out of championship contention.

So instead of national title implications, the Bulls (9-3) and Ducks (8-4) meet Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas, looking to finish the 2007 season on a strong note and build momentum toward next season.

"We're excited," Sun Bowl selection committee chairman John Folmer said. "Are you kidding me? We're excited. So is CBS and El Paso. We think it will be a great matchup."

The Bulls (9-3) finished ranked No. 21 in the final BCS rankings and moved up to No. 23 in the AP rankings. It's the second time in school history that USF finished in the BCS Top 25. In 2002, USF was No. 23.

Oregon is not ranked after losing to Oregon State 38-31 in two overtimes Saturday, the Ducks' third consecutive loss since losing Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon to a torn ACL.

"Obviously we did not finish the season in the manner we would have preferred and look at this game as an opportunity to close the year on a winning note," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. "Despite our injuries, we have said that we can't worry about those players we won't have available to play, only those who will. And I've already challenged our players to go to El Paso with every intention of winning this game."

The Sun Bowl could have selected Oregon State, but instead opted for Oregon since Oregon State played in last year's contest, Folmer said.

Besides both reaching No. 2 this season, each team features one of the nation's top pass rushers. USF sophomore defensive end George Selvie ranks second nationally with 14.5 sacks, while Oregon junior defensive end Nick Reed is sixth with 12 sacks.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to play a great team in Oregon," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "They have a lot of talent, are very well-coached and will present a tremendous challenge in one of the most prestigious bowls around.

"I have watched a couple of their games and they have some great players. They can get up and down the field on both sides of the ball. There will be challenges at every position. We're fortunate to be in this game, but we know that we are in for a battle and we'll be ready to attack it when New Year's Eve gets here."

The meeting between USF and Oregon will be the Bulls' first against a Pac-10 opponent. It also will be their first national network TV game (WTSP, Ch. 10, 2 p.m.)

"It's huge, you go coast to coast," Leavitt said. "You have a team on the East Coast facing a team on the West Coast. Everyone in between is going to see it, so that's a whole lot of area.

"It's going to be a great challenge, a great game. You think about the University of South Florida being shown all over the country on CBS, national TV, at a great time. It's very powerful and we're very fortunate to be a part of it."

The Bulls are excited to get a chance to get a closer look at Oregon's ballyhooed Nike uniforms.

"I like those jerseys, a lot of people don't like their jerseys," USF quarterback Matt Grothe said. "But if there was an award for best-looking jerseys, Oregon would be there at the top."

Sophomore kicker Delbert Alvarado said the Ducks are still a dangerous team, even without Dixon.

"Dennis Dixon got hurt, but they're still explosive," Alvarado said. "They have a great running back Jonathan Stewart, the Pac-10's leading rusher.

"When I think of Oregon, I think of the uniforms. They have like 95 different uniforms."

Added USF senior WR Amarri Jackson: "I love Oregon's uniforms, I can't lie about that. I love 'em. Oregon also has some great talent."

Sun Bowl

SOUTH FLORIDA (9-3) vs. OREGON (8-4)

WHEN: Dec. 31, 2 p.m.

WHERE: Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

TV: WTSP, Ch. 10

TICKETS: $15, $20, $30, $40, $50, $60; 1-800-462-8557; 1-800-915-2695;! GoUSFBulls.com; !SunBowl.org

ABOUT USF: The Bulls are making their third consecutive bowl appearance. This will be USF's first meeting with a Pac-10 Conference team. … USF was 6-0 and ranked No..2 in the nation before a three-game losing streak. However, the Bulls closed the regular season with consecutive victories against Syracuse (41-10), Louisville (55-17) and Pittsburgh (48-37). … USF was the nation's only team this year to defeat three conference champions - West Virginia (Big East), UCF (Conference USA) and Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt). … QB Matt Grothe ranks third in the Big East in total offense (275 yards per game). … Florida schools are 0-3 in the Sun Bowl. Florida lost in 1977 and Florida State lost in 1955 and 1966.

ABOUT OREGON: Like USF, the Ducks started strong, winning eight of their first nine, and reached No..2 in the nation before Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon suffered a torn ACL. Without their starting QB, Oregon lost its final three regular-season games to Arizona (34-24), UCLA (9-0) and Oregon State (38-31 in two OTs). … Junior RB Jonathan Stewart is the Pac-10's leading rusher and ranks 10th nationally, averaging 122 yards a game.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

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