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Bulls Euphoric Over Victory

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2007

Updated: 09/10/2007 12:13 am

AUBURN, Ala. - After Saturday's pulsating 26-23 overtime victory at No. 17 Auburn, Sunday was expected to be yet another historic day for the University of South Florida program.

However, the Bulls fell just shy of their first Associated Press Top 25 ranking. USF is the first in the 'others receiving votes' category, good enough for 26th place. The Bulls (2-0) also were ranked 27th in the USA Today coaches poll.
Jim Leavitt was not concerned.

'I know when we've accomplished something,' USF's coach said. 'I don't need anyone to tell me.'

The silence from the crowd of 82,617 in Jordan-Hare Stadium after Jessie Hester Jr.'s game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass from Matt Grothe told the Bulls everything.

'It was kind of amazing,' USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said about the suddenly silent Auburn crowd. 'It sounded like they cut the radio off.'
Hester said the instant Grothe released the ball, he thought one thing: 'I'm going, 'Jessie, please catch this ball. Please catch this ball.'' Hester said: 'I just caught it and that was it.'

Hester's catch set off a small-scale USF celebration on the field, while in the upper northeast region of Jordan-Hare about 2,500 Bulls fans bobbed up and down in mass hysteria.

'It the touchdown didn't hit me at first,' said Grothe, who celebrated his 21st birthday Saturday. 'It was so emotional through the game. I was like 'yes we scored, now we have to stop them on defense. Wait we don't have to - it's overtime.' It's over. It was just awesome.

'I was going berserk. This is the biggest thing we could have asked for. Beating No. 7 West Virginia was big last year, but this is a non-conference game against 'Auburn.' It's not against another SEC team, it's 'Auburn' that's been around forever.'

The game was an emotional rollercoaster, especially for sophomore kicker Delbert Alvarado, of Robinson.

Alvarado failed on four of six field goal attempts, but hit an 18-yarder with 55 seconds remaining in regulation to send the contest into overtime.

Despite Alvarado's struggles, Leavitt said he never considered replacing Alvarado.

'I didn't want to be the cause of the loss,' Alvarado said. 'It's real disappointing when you see yourself in a situation where the game could have been won because of you. And it's lost because of you. You don't want to be that guy.

'I wanted to get out there again. I said, 'Coach, give me an opportunity' and he said 'you're going to have it.''

This summer when discussing the upcoming season, there was a concern among USF's coaches that the Bulls might get physically beat up against Auburn. However, the Bulls were the more physical team and made it through the entire game without any serious injuries.

That is, until after the game.

When Hester scored the game-winner, Larry Antonucci, USF's director of football operations, raced onto the field with his arms extended skyward. But after a few steps, Antonucci tore his right calf muscle.

'I was running like Rocky Balboa,' Antonucci said. 'Too bad, I looked like Rocky from 'Rocky VI.''

On this night in Auburn, it seemed all the Bulls had 'The Eye of the Tiger.'

ODDS AND ENDS: DE George Selvie leads the nation in sacks (2.75 per game) and tackles for loss (4.75 per game), while FS Nate Allen is tied for third in interceptions (one per game) and Jerome Murphy ranks fifth in kickoff average (37.0). Leavitt called Murphy's 59-yard return to set up Alvarado's final field goal 'as big as a play as there was.' ... Marcus Edwards leads the Big East in punt return average (11.25). ... USF officials said less than 1,000 tickets remain in the lower bowl of Raymond James for the West Virginia contest, Sept. 28. Several thousand upper deck tickets also are available.

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

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