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South Florida Hitting New Heights

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2007

Updated: 09/30/2007 01:11 am

TAMPA - When the University of South Florida fans finally woke up Saturday, they found a new pecking order in the Big East.

With USF on top.

After Friday night's pulsating 21-13 victory against No. 5 West Virginia, No. 18 USF established itself not only as a legitimate contender for the Big East title, but the Bulls also are creeping into the national picture as well.

When The Associated Press rankings are released today, USF, in only its 11th year of football, could crash the Top 10.

'If that happens, that happens,' USF safety Nate Allen said. 'We're just taking in the win right now. It doesn't get much bigger than this.

'It's a great feeling, words can't describe it.'

The Bulls (4-0, 1-0 Big East) take a break from conference play the next two weeks, visiting Florida Atlantic on Saturday and returning home to host UCF on Oct. 13.

If the atmosphere from Friday's first sellout in school history is any indication, the second sellout in school history may be only two weeks away.
USF coach Jim Leavitt, though, is not about to get carried away even after the Bulls defeated their third ranked team in their past six games.

'I won't let my guard down because we're only 1-0 in the Big East,' Leavitt said. 'Everybody is good and at the end of the season we'll look back and see how good we were.

'We're good enough to win the first four games. That's all we got. I know that stinks. I know you want me to take off my shirt, and dance, and hug, and kiss, and all that. I feel good like that but I'm really thinking about the next game.'

As far as the Big East race? 'Nobody's a front-runner,' Leavitt said.

'It's a big win,' USF safety Louis Gachette said. 'It's going to set the tone for the rest of our Big East schedule. I bet teams like Louisville and Cincinnati are going to take us a little more serious now.'

West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez isn't ready to concede the Big East title.

'I'm disappointed, but it's a long season and certainly the conference race is not over yet,' Rodriguez said.

When Friday's game was over - actually about 43 seconds before it ended - Raymond James Stadium officials started preparing to lower the goalposts.

As the final seconds ticked off, quarterback Matt Grothe finally found a rush he couldn't escape as he was engulfed by more than 5,000 students, who picked Grothe and his new Mohawk haircut off the ground.
USF students weren't the only ones to pick up Grothe, who was intercepted twice inside the 5. The Bulls defense also did some heavy lifting. For the third consecutive season, the Mountaineers had no answer for USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham's scheme.

West Virginia entered the game second in the nation in rushing offense (357 yards) and ninth in scoring offense (47.25 points). Against USF, West Virginia managed 118 yards rushing and 13 points.

The secret? 'Players, attitude and great desire,' Burnham said.

The Big East entered the season with four Heisman Trophy candidates, but the Bulls cut that in half. Quarterback Pat White had only 36 yards rushing and 100 yards passing before leaving late in the second quarter with a thigh injury, and All-American running back Steve Slaton had only 54 yards rushing.

The Bulls' defense caused six turnovers. Senior linebacker Ben Moffitt had two interceptions, returning the first one 26 yards for USF's first TD. Nate Allen, who had a game-high 12 tackles, had an end zone interception and returned a fumble 44 yards and Woody George and Carlton Williams also had fumble recoveries.

Richard Clebert and Allen Cray each added a sack as did George Selvie, who now has a national best 9.5.

Under Friday night's full moon with downtown Tampa glowing in green and gold and 'USF' displayed in lights from a city high rise miles away, an emotionally spent Selvie plodded through USF's rabid fans in search of the locker room.

'We have nothing left right now,' Selvie said. 'I'm limping off the field.'

Limping off the field perhaps, but running headfirst, perhaps toward the Top 10.

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

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