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Bulls Want To Stay Hot In Chilly Pitt

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 19, 2007

TAMPA - In the past few weeks, the University of South Florida has one of the nation's hottest offenses.

Saturday, the Bulls (8-3, 3-3 Big East) will try to stay hot in chilly Pittsburgh (4-6, 2-3) to keep alive their Sun Bowl hopes.

Averaging 496 yards in its past four contests, USF has moved up to No. 30 nationally in total offense.

"We've got a couple of wins in a row," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "We know about Pittsburgh and cold weather and all those kind of things."

Weather.com's forecast for Saturday in Pittsburgh calls for a high of 41. The Bulls have never won when the temperature is 45 degrees or colder at kickoff.

"LeSean McCoy is a heck of a running back," Leavitt said. "They have a very good offensive line and a very good defensive front. They're playing good football.

"It's going to be a tough challenge for us. We're going to give it our best shot."

WHAT WENT RIGHT: RB Mike Ford had his second consecutive 100-yard game, rushing for a career-high 140 yards. Last week, he had 134 yards at Syracuse. ... USF's 38-point margin of victory against Louisville was the Cardinals' most lopsided loss in 20 years. ... QB Matt Grothe had 261 yards total offense and completed a season-high 74 percent of his passes. ... USF's defense forced a school-record tying seven turnovers - interceptions by Trae Williams, Mike Jenkins, Louis Gachette and Jerome Murphy and fumble recoveries by Nate Allen, Tyrone McKenzie and Terrell McClain.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Penalties are starting surface again (11 for 95 this week after 16 for 144 last week).

UP AHEAD: The Bulls close the regular season Saturday at Pittsburgh (noon, WTFS-Ch. 28).

THEY SAID IT: "We play defense like Pamela Anderson, everyone scores." - One of Louisville's top 10 slogans on FireCoachKragthorpe.com after the Cards allowed 55 points to USF.

Brett McMurphy

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