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Bulls' Bowl Prospects Dwindling

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2008

TAMPA - Just a few weeks ago, the University of South Florida's goal was to win the Big East. Last week, the goal was modified to try to close the season with four wins and set a school record for victories.

After Saturday's 49-13 loss to Rutgers, the goal has been reduced again: just get to a bowl.

That seemed a certainty when the Bulls started 5-0 and then improved to 6-1 by beating Syracuse. However, a three-game losing streak has severely dampened the bowl prospects for the Bulls (6-4, 1-4 Big East).

St. Petersburg Bowl executive director Brett Dulaney told The Tampa Tribune last month his bowl would love to have the Bulls in their inaugural game.

However, if the Bulls lose to UConn on Sunday (8 p.m., ESPN2) and at West Virginia on Dec. 6, it's a very real possibility they wouldn't even be eligible for a Big East bowl.

Here's how: If Notre Dame (6-4) receives a bid to either the Gator or Sun Bowl (as expected), that leaves only five Big East bowl slots. Cincinnati (8-2), Pittsburgh (7-2) and UConn (7-3) already are guaranteed Big East bowls.

West Virginia (6-4) only needs to defeat USF or Pittsburgh, and Rutgers (5-5) would earn a Big East bowl by defeating Army and Louisville.

Under that scenario, the Big East would have five teams with at least seven victories for its five bowl games.

"If we're 6-6, I don't think we'll go to a bowl," QB Matt Grothe said. "Our goal is now to make it to one."

If the Bulls do lose out, they still would be eligible to fill a non-Big East bowl. Among the possible bowls that could need a team include Poinsettia, Hawaii, Independence, Texas and Liberty.

But really, how attractive would USF be if it closed on a five-game losing streak and finished 1-6 in the Big East?

NOTE: The 33-point loss was USF's most lopsided at home, but at least not many folks saw it in person. The actual attendance was only 33,487, the Tampa Sports Authority said Sunday, meaning Raymond James Stadium (capacity 65,857) was barely half full.

Brett McMurphy

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