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University of South Florida Ranked In AP Poll

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

University of South Florida Bulls fans will be glad to hear the team has cracked the AP’s preseason poll.

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 16, 2008

TAMPA - For the first time in program history, the University of South Florida is ranked in the preseason Associated Press poll.

Now comes the hard part for the 19th-ranked Bulls – staying there.

"It's a great honor, but you have to stay up there," USF junior defensive end George Selvie said. "It's not where you start, it's where you finish."

The Florida Gators start at No. 5 in the preseason poll, released today.
Southeastern Conference rival Georgia is No. 1. The Gators and Bulldogs are among six SEC teams ranked in the top 25, including four SEC teams in the top 10.

Rounding out the top 10 is No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 USC, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 6 Missouri. Defending national champion LSU is No. 7, followed by No. 8 West Virginia, No. 9 Clemson and No. 10 Auburn.

Other notable teams in the top 25: Kansas, which visits USF Sept. 12, is No. 14, and Pittsburgh, which visits USF Oct. 2, is No. 25, giving the Big East three ranked teams.

Georgia is bidding to become only the fourth preseason No. 1 team since 1986 to win the national title. The only ones to do so were USC in 2004 and Florida State in 1999 and 1993.

Being ranked in the preseason does not guarantee finishing the season ranked. In last year's AP Poll, 11 of the preseason top 25 teams did not finish the season ranked. Of the 10 teams ranked in the preseason poll between Nos. 16 and 25, only two remained in the final AP Poll.

"We're finally getting a little respect before the season, but it doesn't mean anything," USF senior guard Matt Huners said. "Last year, we got up to No. 2 and lost three in a row.

"Now that we're [No. 19], we have to keep moving up."

Associated Press preseason poll
Rk. Team (First place votes) Record Points
1. Georgia (22) 0-0 1,528
2. Ohio State (21) 0-0 1,506
3. USC (12) 0-0 1,490
4. Oklahoma (4) 0-0 1,444
5. Florida (6) 0-0 1,415
6. Missouri 0-0 1,266
7. LSU 0-0 1,135
8. West Virginia 0-0 1,116
9. Clemson 0-0 1,105
10. Auburn 0-0 968
11. Texas 0-0 966
12. Texas Tech 0-0 786
13. Wisconsin 0-0 771
14. Kansas 0-0 707
15. Arizona State 0-0 631
16. Brigham Young 0-0 590
17. Virginia Tech 0-0 578
18. Tennessee 0-0 509
19. South Florida 0-0 496
20. Illinois 0-0 483
21. Oregon 0-0 366
22. Penn State 0-0 293
23. Wake Forest 0-0 227
24. Alabama 0-0 89
25. Pittsburgh 0-0 85
Others Receiving Votes: South Carolina 84, Fresno State 83, California 59, Utah 53, Cincinnati 44, Florida State 41, Michigan 36, Boston College 32, Rutgers 32, Michigan State 21, Boise State 17, Arkansas 14, North Carolina 14, Connecticut 10, Tulsa 7, UCLA 6, Oregon State 5, Mississippi State 4, Virginia 4, Arizona 3, Nebraska 2, Notre Dame 2, Hawaii 1, Washington 1.
How the Tampa Tribune's Brett McMurphy voted: 1. Georgia, 2. Ohio State, 3. USC, 4. West Virginia, 5. Clemson, 6. Florida, 7. Missouri, 8. Oklahoma, 9. LSU, 10. Auburn, 11. Texas, 12. Texas Tech, 13. Penn State, 14. Virginia Tech, 15. Pittsburgh, 16. South Florida, 17. Illinois, 18. Arizona State, 19. BYU, 20. Kansas, 21. Oregon, 22. Tennessee, 23. Wisconsin, 24. Wake Forest, 25. South Carolina

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

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