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Bulls Look To Snap Out Of 2-Game Funk

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2007

Updated: 11/03/2007 12:45 am

TAMPA - When the University of South Florida hosts Cincinnati today, it officially will be USF's homecoming.

Unofficially, it's the "What Could Have Been" Bowl.

Just last month, the Bulls and Bearcats were undefeated and climbing in the national rankings. But USF was upset at Rutgers and Connecticut, while Cincinnati was upset by Louisville and Pittsburgh.

USF's losses were by a combined 10 points, Cincinnati's by 11 points.

Before those losses, ESPN's "College GameDay" was prepared to set up inside Raymond James Stadium and broadcast from the Pirate Ship to showcase a battle of Big East unbeatens before a sold-out crowd.

Instead the Bulls and Bearcats will battle to stay out of the Big East cellar before USF's first non-sellout in its past three home games.

"It's an elimination game," Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said. "There's no question about that. The team that loses eliminates itself from the Big East championship."

Mathematically, both No. 20 USF (6-2, 1-2) and Cincinnati (6-2, 1-2) remain alive for the Big East title. Realistically, both squads are desperate for a win to improve their bowl position within the conference.

"If we lose this game, we're definitely not in the conference race," USF kicker Delbert Alvarado said.

Sensing that the season may be slipping away, USF linebacker Ben Moffitt addressed the team after Monday's practice.

"Moffitt just got up and told us that the past two weeks we may have let the media or the games that we've won get to our head and we need to get back to the team that we were the first six games," USF defensive end George Selvie said.

"It was a great speech and we all took it to heart. We know what we have to do now."

Then after Thursday's practice, USF coach Jim Leavitt had some other team leaders, including linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, nose tackle Richard Clebert, running back Ben Williams and strong safety Carlton Williams, step up and clear the air.

"We've had two real tough, gut-wrenching losses," Leavitt said. "It does test the character of your football team. It tests your will. It tests all the things, in essence, in your life when you deal with adversity.

"November is a huge month. It always is. You really want to play your best football during that stretch. That's something that is important for whatever team wants to make a big move throughout the conference."

Kelly said the Bearcats also had to deal with their 6-0 start and everything involving a rare national ranking.

"We're going through the development, the process of understanding what it takes to be a Top 20 team, the rigors and the preparation and the mental ability to handle week-in and week-out being a Top 20 team," Kelly said.

"It's new territory for us. I think we've learned a lot about it."

USF quarterback Matt Grothe said he believes the Bulls became complacent by their 6-0 start. A visit by Cincinnati may be just what USF needs to snap out of its two-game funk.

Last year the Bearcats held USF to a season-low six points and 219 yards. Grothe finished with a career-low 69 yards total offense, including 47 yards passing, and a cut nose that required stitches.

"I've been waiting for this game for a year," Grothe said. "There are not too many times I've been shut down as an offense my entire life and we were shut down as an offense. I'm ready to change that."

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

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