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Bulls Will Journey Back To Their Roots Against FAU

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2007

Updated: 10/06/2007 01:11 am

FORT LAUDERDALE - When No. 6 South Florida plays Florida Atlantic today at Lockhart Stadium, the Bulls will have traveled about 270 miles south. But it also may seem like they traveled 10 years back in time.

The Bulls will be returning to their roots. Back to their early days of playing in small, high school-size stadiums that featured crowds of a few thousand or so.

Lockhart Stadium is primarily a high school stadium and is the home field for several Broward County high school teams, usually hosting at least one prep game a week. The lockers basically consist of 2-by-4s with nails to hang clothes on.

With a capacity crowd of 20,000 expected today, it certainly won't remind the Bulls of last month's road game before 82,617 at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium.

'Lockhart Stadium, Jordan-Hare Stadium, it doesn't matter where we're playing or who we're playing,' USF linebacker Brouce Mompremier said. 'We're going to be playing to the best of our abilities.

'As long as it's 100 yards, has two goal posts and an opposing team, I'm ready to go.'

USF quarterback Matt Grothe said he welcomes playing in a smaller atmosphere when the Owls (3-2) host the Bulls (4-0) at 3:30 p.m (ESPNU).

'I'm looking forward to it,' Grothe said. 'From what I heard, their stadium seats like 20 thousand. I've actually played in front of that in high school in a couple of state championship games, so it's cool seeing like an old-time type situation.

'I'm looking forward to it because I miss playing high school football and I'll miss it everyday until the day I die. It'll be fun getting back into that smaller stadium where it's not as loud and you just go out there and play football and you're not working off somebody's energy from the crowd.'

For USF coach Jim Leavitt and receivers coach Mike Canales, who were on USF's inaugural staff, and tight ends coach Larry Scott, who played for USF from 1997-99, today's game should bring back memories from USF's first three seasons.

From 1997 to 1999 the Bulls played in front of only one road crowd bigger than 20,000, and USF's average road attendance during that time was 10,455, including games at Charleston Southern in 1998 (attendance 884), Cumberland in 1997 (1,001) and Hofstra in 1998 (4,298).

Despite the quaint setting, the 16 1/2 -point favorite Bulls aren't taking FAU for granted.

'I'm impressed with their quarterback Rusty Smith,' Leavitt said. 'He is very precise, moves well, has a tremendous arm. It's going to be a great challenge.

'This is a very good football team and it's going to be a very difficult challenge for us, as all of them have been. It has been difficult the last couple of weeks and our players will have to play at a very high level.'

Added USF senior center Nick Capogna: 'I know they'll be wired and so will we. It's an in-state game. They recruit the same schools we do. They'll feed off that electricity on the field.'

An Owls upset against the nation's No. 6 team would obviously be the biggest in program history for FAU, which already upset Big Ten member Minnesota this season.

'It would give us a gigantic shove in the right direction,' Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger said. 'We will prepare well and though our chances of winning are not as good as theirs, I think we will demonstrate we have a capable football team.

'One that will play very hard against anybody they play, but particularly their cousins within the state.'

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

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