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Bulls Jump To No. 21 In BCS, Likely Headed To Sun Bowl

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2007

TAMPA - It's not official - yet - but the University of South Florida, ranked No. 21 in Sunday's BCS rankings, appears headed to the Sun Bowl (Dec. 31, 2 p.m., WTSP, Channel 10) to face Oregon or California.

The Bulls jumped from No. 23 to No. 21 after Saturday's 48-37 victory at Pittsburgh. Cincinnati moved up from No. 24 to No. 23, while UConn fell out of the BCS Top 25 after losing at West Virginia. USF also returned to the AP poll at No. 25.

Sun Bowl selection committee chairman John Folmer said last week the Sun Bowl would select the highest-available ranked BCS team.

Folmer said Sunday night that the bowl's 10-person selection committee would vote today. An official invitation could be extended as early as Tuesday.

"This weekend made it more confusing," Folmer said. "There are only two teams out of the Big East we'll consider, South Florida or Cincinnati. No matter who we take we want to take a program on a winning note."

Just last month, the Bulls were the University of Sinking Florida. But now it's the University of Surging Florida after winning its third consecutive game - all by scoring at least 40 points.

"We lost a couple of games earlier, but we're back now," said LB Tyrone McKenzie, who had 18 tackles, one off the school record. "It feels good. We wanted to finish the conference schedule strong."

WHAT WENT RIGHT: K Delbert Alvardo, who has made eight of his last nine field goals, broke the school season records Saturday for points in a season (102), field goals (17) and PATs (51). ... CB Trae Williams (21 yards) and FS Nate Allen (37 yards) had interception returns for TDs, while LB Ben Moffitt returned an interception 60 yards to the 1 to set up another TD.

WHAT WENT WRONG: USF is tied with LSU as the second-most penalized team in the nation. ... Leading 34-10, USF played a soft coverage, USF coach Jim Leavitt said, allowing Pitt to score three TDs in the final 7:10. "We lost all concentration and focus after three quarters," defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said.

INJURY REPORT: Several Bulls played hurt, including DT Allen Cray (turf toe, knee, ankle), NT Richard Clebert (ankle), DE George Selvie and LB Brouce Mompremier (ribs). All are expected for the bowl game.

THEY SAID IT: "I didn't know who would play. We made the decisions in pregame warm-ups." - Defensive line coach Dan McCarney about the number of injured players.

Brett McMurphy

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