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Bulls' Fall Has Been Quick, Dramatic

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2007

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - From No. 2 in the nation to a last-place tie in the Big East Conference. That's how much the University of South Florida's fortunes have changed in the past two weeks.

The Bulls (6-2, 1-2 Big East) continued their consistent inconsistent play on special teams and the once-stingy defense allowed a running back to rush for 100 yards for a second consecutive week as the Bulls fell at Connecticut 22-15 Saturday.

With the loss, the Bulls dropped to No. 18 in the BCS rankings and No. 20 in The Associated Press poll. With six of the eight Big East teams with two losses in league play, the Bulls are still mathematically alive to win the conference and earn the league's BCS bowl bid.

If more than two teams are tied and there is no head-to-head advantage, the team with the highest BCS ranking earns the BCS bowl bid.

Though USF is mathematically alive, realistically its chances are slim and none - and slim ran a naked bootleg on third-and-goal from the 1.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Sophomore Matt Grothe became the first USF QB to rush for more than 100 yards in three games. Grothe rushed for a career-high 146 yards and a TD and threw for 189 yards and two interceptions. Grothe also became the second QB in USF history with more than 4,000 career yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing.

WHAT WENT WRONG: For the second consecutive game, the Bulls committed a season-high 10 penalties and K Delbert Alvarado missed two of four field goals.

The Bulls also scored only 10 points on five possessions on drives inside UConn's 20-yards line.

INJURY UPDATE: RB Mike Ford, who was taken to a Hartford, Conn., area hospital for a rib injury after Saturday's game, returned to Tampa with the team late Saturday. WR Amarri Jackson also left the game with a knee injury.

The severity of their injuries is unknown.

CHALLENGE AHEAD: The Bulls host Cincinnati (6-2, 1-2) at 3:30 p.m. (WTFS, Ch. 28). Last year, the Bearcats, who were off last week, held USF to a season-low six points.

THEY SAID IT: 'We either go downhill from here or go 10-2 - 10-2 would be a great season.' - USF senior NT Richard Clebert

Brett McMurphy

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