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Bar Has Been Raised For A Rising Program

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2007

Updated: 12/31/2007 12:12 am

EL PASO, Texas - For everyone who has followed the University of South Florida's football program since its infancy - through the baby steps, the Division I-AA era, coaches working in trailers, the fight for national recognition and all of this season's milestones - today's Sun Bowl appearance should be enjoyed and savored.

Take it all in.

Things may never be the same.

And that's a good thing.

Two big-ticket items are at stake for the Bulls:

•Getting a program-best 10th victory.

•Earning their first season-ending national ranking.

If the Bulls (9-3) defeat the Oregon Ducks (8-4), you can pencil in USF as preseason favorites for next year's Big East Conference race. USF has 16 returning starters overall (including consensus first-team All-American defensive end George Selvie) and 10 on offense (led by quarterback Matt Grothe).

USF's formerly cute-and-cuddly program will officially be a target. Then the national pundits, who whispered about what was being built in Tampa, will shout about the Bulls.

Then it's BCS bowl-or-bust.

But you know what? USF has earned that distinction.

Bellotti Bullish On USF

Oregon coach Mike Bellotti has witnessed USF's growth from afar. But he, too, knows the bar has been raised.

"It's probably going to change how the USF program is viewed in its own county, by its boosters and fans," Bellotti said. "The reality is South Florida is on the map. Once you have that top 10 status, people are aware of you and feel like you're somebody to be dealt with."

Sunday, as both coaches convened for a day-before Sun Bowl news conference, Bellotti was masterful as a USF promoter.

He said the Bulls were Oregon's best bowl opponent "since Colorado, Texas, Penn State, programs like that."

He compared Grothe's running ability to Florida's Tim Tebow and Washington's Jake Locker.

He said Selvie was possibly the most menacing defensive player in America.

He called USF "one of the great success stories in college football."

Then Bellotti looked at Leavitt, smiled and said, "Have I gotten you a raise yet?"

Maybe not, but Bellotti did his part in raising expectations for the Bulls.

"We always expected to go out and win the Big East," Leavitt said. "Maybe nobody else did.

"Now we're being mentioned. Now if you don't win nine or 10 games next year, maybe it's not perceived as being good enough. That's normal. That's human nature."

That's also USF's new reality.

Bigger Things Could Be Ahead

Today's game is part of that, too.

With all due respect to the young postseason games in Charlotte and Birmingham - USF's first two bowl destinations - the Sun Bowl is in another league.

And El Paso - here, you are actually closer to Los Angeles than Houston - is a unique place where the once-in-a-lifetime bowl experience can be forged.

Amid the spectacular backdrop of the Franklin Mountains - the southernmost tip of the Rocky Mountains - there are reminders everywhere that the Sun Bowl is creeping closer. "We're glad you're here." At every turn, that statement has been heard by members of USF's traveling party.

Dozens of USF players crossed the border to Mexico, sampling a rich culture, witnessing a bullfighting exhibition and coming back with a sombrero or two.

There were trips to a bowling center and a game-room arcade, the chance to mingle with military personnel from Fort Bliss and a memorable Southwest-style barbecue at Sunland Park, N.M.

There was a talent show, where USF ran up the score on Oregon. Running back Mike Ford jammed on the drums and piano. Place-kicker Delbert Alvarado unveiled his latest rap masterpiece. Offensive lineman Chaz Hine blew everyone away with his operatic voice.

Providing comic relief was senior cornerback Ryan Gilliam, who performed a spot-on imitation of a Jim Leavitt news conference.

"The talent show was remarkable," said Leavitt himself. "The whole week was pretty amazing, a lot of fun. But the best fun, of course, is winning the game."

Ah, yes. The game itself. The reason why USF is here.

If the Bulls take care of business, they can float into a feel-good off-season. Just think what has been accomplished in just 11 seasons. But very soon, that will be old news.

Think what could be ahead. It will never be the same. Sights will be set much higher than the Sun Bowl. That, more than anything, is evidence that USF's program has truly arrived on the big-time national scene.

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