TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Leavitt: Bulls Have A Lot To Work On

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2007

TAMPA - Following the University of South Florida's 28-13 victory against Elon, Jim Leavitt looked like he had just spent the past three hours playing instead of coaching football.

He was drenched in sweat and featured a huge welt above his right eye.

And that was against a Division I-AA team. Just think what Leavitt - and the Bulls - will look like after facing No. 18 Auburn on Saturday.

'If we play like that against Auburn, you know what it will be like,' Leavitt said.

'I wanted to play a good, clean football game, we didn't do that. I wanted to come out fast, we didn't do that. I wanted to come out and do all the right things, we didn't do that. We didn't do anything I was hoping we would do.

'We're going to change. You get tired of the discipline problems.'

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Sophomore DE George Selvie had 10 tackles and a school-record tying four sacks. Selvie's four sacks are tops in the nation. Offensively, Mike Ford (three TDs, 83 yards rushing on six carries) made a spectacular debut.

'There was some individuals that had some great nights,' Leavitt said. 'There's some real good individual effort, but not by the team. As a football team we weren't that good.'

WHAT WENT WRONG: Personal foul penalties, 12 men on the field for USF's onside kickoff coverage team (and Elon still recovered the kick), P Justin Teachey bobbling a snap and failing to get the punt off and senior Amarri Jackson losing two fumbles (one was nullified by an Elon offside penalty). Did we miss anything?

INJURY UPDATE: Senior C Nick Capogna (sprained knee) didn't play in the second half. LT Marc Dile and RT Walter Walker also were nicked up during the game. CB Tyller Roberts (hamstring), LB Chris Robinson (ankle), RB Moise Plancher (ankle) and C Sampson Genus (ankle) didn't dress out, but should return this week.

CHALLENGE AHEAD: No. 18 Auburn, which rallied for a 23-13 victory against Kansas State on Saturday, held the Wildcats to 27 yards rushing on 16 carries. That's not a good sign for the Bulls, who had only 135 yards rushing against Elon and have several offensive linemen less than 100 percent.

THEY SAID IT: 'I got four sacks, but I want more. I'm hungry now.' - Selvie.

Brett McMurphy

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT