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Students Band Together As WVU Awaits

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2007

TAMPA - When University of South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe sat down in his Human Sexualty class today he thought he might be in trouble.

His professor asked for all the football players to raise their hands.

"I was scared to death, I thought what did we do?'' Grothe said. ''Then she congratulated us and everybody went nuts, screaming and yelling. There were a lot of green wrist bands in class too."

Those green wrist bands have become a status symbol of sorts on the Fowler Avenue campus. Students need them and a ticket to get into Friday's nationally televised Big East contest between No. 18 USF (3-0) and No. 5 West Virginia (4-0).

"Everybody on campus pretty much has a wristband," said Lori Hussen, a sophomore from Miami. "I think it will be crazy."

Not surprisingly USF coach Jim Leavitt said he's expecting a huge challenge against West Virginia.

"We know they're outstanding," Leavitt said. "It'll be a real challenge Friday night."

Leavitt said the Bulls must contain WVU's explosive offense featuring quarterback Pat White and running backs Steve Slaton and Noel Devine.

"We knew [Devine] was one of the better players out there coming out of high school. He just gives them another good running back.

"You can't focus on any one guy back there because they're all good."

West Virginia is looking to avenge last year's 24-19 loss at Morgantown, but Coach Rich Rodriguez downplayed the so-called ''revenge factor.''

"It may be mentioned a little bit, but I'm not a guy that harps on the revenge factor," Rodriguez said. "When you're highly ranked you'll take [the other team's] best shot. Our guys know what they're up against.

"We understand it may be a sellout. It should be a fun atmosphere. To play a highly ranked team on the road is a challenge."

With the game expected to officially sell out Tuesday or Wednesday, USF senior associate AD Bill McGillis said the school had increased its student ticket allotment from 12,000 to 12,501.

The 12,501 figure gives USF the largest student allotment in the Big East Conference – one more than the 12,500 tickets allotted by West Virginia.

USF fans are encouraged to wear green.

There will be a free pregame concert featuring Mims and the Shop Boys in the north parking lot outside from 5:45-7:15 p.m. Friday.

USF also learned next week's game against Florida Atlantic will be televised on ESPNU on Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m.

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