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USF Will Fall, But How Far?

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - When Sunday's rankings are announced, the University of South Florida will make another big move.

Only this time, the No. 2 Bulls (6-1, 1-1 Big East) are headed south. But how far? Certainly, the Bulls will drop out of the top five after Thursday's 30-27 loss at Rutgers, and maybe even out of the Top 10.

'Without knowing what anyone else will do this weekend, I'd say borderline top 10, and likely behind West Virginia,' sais Jerry Palm of CollegeBCS.com.

ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach also believes USF will be ranked behind No. 9 West Virginia, which lost to the Bulls last month.

The Bulls remain alive to win the Big East, but they may have to do it without senior RT Walter Walker, their most experienced lineman with 29 starts. Walker suffered what has initially been diagnosed as an MCL sprain in his right knee.

He had an MRI on Friday, so it is not known if he will be lost for the season.

Also, Taurus Johnson, USF's leading receiver, suffered a high ankle sprain and is expected to miss two to three weeks.

The most controversial call Thursday was an illegal forward pass penalty on linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, nullifying Trae Williams' 25-yard TD return that would have given USF a 24-10 second-quarter lead.

'It was a huge call, no doubt about it,' USF coach Jim Leavitt said. 'When you change a call like that, it's big. But that didn't have anything to do with the second half.'

Replay officials reviewed the play after McKenzie blocked Jeremy Ito's field goal and in the scramble for the ball, cornerback Mike Jenkins and then McKenzie scooped the ball toward the end zone.

Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese, who has no contact with replay officials during the game, said the replay official made the correct call.

The Big East's instant replay policy states that illegal forward pass or illegal handling after change of possession and fourth-down/try fumble plays are reviewable. So just because the on-field officials didn't assess a penalty, that does not mean the replay official can't correct a non-call, Tranghese said.

ODDS AND ENDS: DE George Selvie, who was held without a sack at Rutgers for the first time this season, was added to the midseason watch list for the Hendricks Award, given to college football's top defensive end. ... Without Walker, Rutgers sacked QB Matt Grothe seven times - he had been sacked only eight times in USF's first six games.

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

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