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Bulls Can't Get The White Out

The Associated Press

South Florida's Mike Ford, center, looks to run by West Virginia's Brandon Hogan, left, during the first quarter.

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2008

Updated: 12/07/2008 12:55 am

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - In the past two seasons, the University of South Florida had spoiled West Virginia's season with a pair of huge upsets.

Saturday, though, the Bulls couldn't quite pull off the trifecta. Despite playing their first game in snow, the Bulls hung tough before falling to the Mountaineers, 13-7, before 48,019 fans.

The game ended with USF 16 yards from the winning touchdown, but Matt Grothe's fourth-down pass sailed out of the end zone.

The Mountaineers (8-4, 5-2 Big East) had promoted the final home game of 19 seniors as a "White Out" in honor of senior quarterback Pat White. The majority of WVU's fans wore white - and even Mother Nature pitched in, contributing a steady snow that fell the entire game, making Milan Pusker Stadium resemble a giant snow globe.

The loss for USF (7-5, 2-5) gave the Bulls a sixth-place Big East finish, their worst in four seasons in the league. It also tied for USF's most league losses since the 2004 team went 3-5 in Conference USA.

Still, the Bulls received an invitation to the St. Petersburg Bowl (Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m.), where they will play a Conference USA team, most likely Memphis. USF's opponent will be announced today.

"It's kind of bittersweet, because you want to win the game," USF coach Jim Leavitt said of the St. Pete Bowl invitation.

Saturday's regular-season finale was billed by ESPN.com that the loser would be the "Big East's Disappointment of the Year." Both teams entered the season ranked in the Top 25, but didn't live up to the early-season expectations.

After starting 5-0, USF closed 2-5. Despite the second-half slide this season, the Bulls still had multiple chances to pull off the upset, but - as they have been all season - they were their own worst enemy.

"We drove the ball all night and couldn't finish drives. When you can't do that, it's hard to win," Grothe said.

USF committed two first-half turnovers inside WVU's 5 and also was penalized for roughing the punter twice on punts USF somehow didn't block. Despite all that, the Bulls still had one chance to win when Pat McAfee's 48-yard field goal was wide left with 6:36 remaining.

The Bulls converted two third downs and had first-and-10 at WVU's 25. However, an illegal substitution penalty and a sack of Grothe forced a third-and-13 at WVU's 28. After a motion penalty made it third-and-18, Grothe hit Marcus Edwards for 19 yards for a first down at WVU's 15.

A first-down run by Jamar Taylor lost a yard and Grothe threw incomplete on second down with 33 seconds remaining. Grothe's third-down pass was incomplete. On fourth down, Grothe's pass to Taurus Johnson into double coverage was high, giving WVU the win.

"We can't turn the ball over that many times and win, but our offense did some nice things. We were in position to win at the end. They made the plays at the end, and we didn't. We had our chances and didn't get it done," Leavitt said.

With USF trailing 13-7 with 12 minutes left, Grothe overthrew A.J. Love, who had gotten behind the Mountaineers' secondary for what would have been a 57-yard TD. That was how USF's night went.

Grothe finished 18-of-33 for 189 yards and two picks, while leading the Bulls with 64 yards rushing. Mike Ford had 14 carries for 62 yards.

"The opportunities for points were there. For the most part, we executed," USF offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said. "You can't fumble at the 5, and we had the perfect play called on the interception. The ball was a fraction behind."

White, who holds 16 school, Big East and NCAA records, rushed for 40 yards and threw for 141.

USF outgained WVU 356-280 and limited the Mountaineers' run game to 139 yards.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928.

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