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The Next Step

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

Updated: 10/18/2007 12:11 am

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - So far this season the University of South Florida has won on the road in a hostile SEC environment and knocked off No. 5-ranked West Virginia at home.

But tonight, USF takes on an even bigger challenge - conquering Sports Illustrated's cover jinx.

It's not a full-fledge SI jinx, just seven words and an exclamation point tucked in the bottom right-hand corner of this week's cover: No Bull. South Florida is No. 2!

SI jinx aside, the Bulls (6-0, 1-0 Big East) also must contend with Rutgers (4-2, 1-1), desperately looking to salvage its season from sinking into the Jersey swamps.

The Scarlet Knights hope to recapture last season's ESPN Thursday night home magic when they upset No. 3 Louisville at Rutgers Stadium.

'This game is huge,' USF junior linebacker Tyrone McKenzie said, 'because it's a conference game.'

It's also the first of six remaining steps for the No. 2-ranked Bulls, if they are to stay in contention for the Bowl Championship Series national title game.

Besides playing in its first ESPN Thursday night contest, USF will be playing before scouts from the Fiesta, Sugar, Sun and Meineke Car Care bowls and representing 10 NFL teams. Also, a Rutgers Stadium-record 325 credentials have been issued for reporters, many of whom have questioned whether USF deserves its No. 2 AP and BCS rankings.

'We've always watched Thursday games,' USF nose tackle Richard Clebert said. 'It's like, wow, they're the only ones playing so everyone is focused on that game.

'It's a chance to show everybody and shut them up. The doubters fuel it. Every time somebody says something, it's like throwing gas on our fire.'

Debuting at No. 2 in the BCS rankings and the added media attention - even ESPN's 'Pardon the Interruption' tried to book USF coach Jim Leavitt this week - has just added to the distractions.

'We have had to deal with a lot of different things,' Leavitt said. 'We have played on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights, early games and late games.

'The bigger challenge is getting ready for Rutgers. They are an awfully good football team. They are tremendous, in their own right. That is going to be the biggest challenge for us.'

The biggest challenge will be one of Rutgers' smaller players - 5-foot-9 running back Ray Rice.

Last year, Rice led the Scarlet Knights to a 22-20 victory at Raymond James Stadium. He has rushed for 360 yards in two games against USF, the most career yards by a USF opponent.

The Bulls vow this year it will be different.

'I didn't play last year,' said Clebert, who was out with a groin injury. 'Ray Rice is the most physical running back in the Big East. He's a tough runner. He runs hard, runs downhill. He's the last guy to get 100 against us.'

He's also the last to gain 200 - rushing for 202 last season.

'I've watched him on tape,' McKenzie said. 'He's pretty good.'

USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham, who last won a national title at Florida State in 1993, said the Bulls must remain focused on tonight's contest and not on the national rankings.

'It's something they never dreamed would happen when they came here, and that is great for these kids and our program and for the university and the whole ball of wax,' Burnham said. 'I'm so proud for them, but it's our job to keep them focused.

'You just have to stay focused on the game at hand. I know you guys get tired of hearing that, but it's the truth. You cannot get beyond the day. And if you get the kids on the same page that you're on and give the effort, everything works out.

'Most of the time, the best team wins.'

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

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