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Big East Opener Attracts Lots Of Bowl Scouts

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By BRETT McMURPHY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2008

TAMPA - Representatives from all four BCS bowl games - Orange, Fiesta, Sugar and Rose - and all Big East affiliated bowls attended Thursday's South Florida-Pitt game as guests of USF athletic director Doug Woolard.

The bowl representatives said they were impressed with USF and the visit to Tampa.

"There are certain programs that are on the rise," said Jack Seiler, chairman of the Orange Bowl's football committee. "Having USF in its first major bowl would be dynamic for South Florida the university and South Florida the area."

During Wednesday's dinner with USF and bowl officials, some bowl reps congratulated USF President Judy Genshaft on having the highest-ranked team in Florida. Responded Genshaft: "You mean, the only Top 10 team in Florida."

SELVIE, McCLAIN BACK: Bulls DE George Selvie and NT Terrell McClain, who both missed last week's game with ankle injuries, returned Thursday and made instant impacts.

With 13:51 remaining in the second quarter, McClain, on his first play, forced a fumble by Pitt QB Greg Cross. With 10:22 left in the second, Selvie entered and immediately made a tackle for no gain.

STREAK ENDS: QB Matt Grothe was intercepted on his fourth pass by Pitt's Dom DeCicco, ending his streak of 111 attempts without an interception. It's tied with Marquel Blackwell for the third-longest streak in USF history.

AIN'T THAT SPECIAL: USF and Pitt each had their own special teams miscues. Pitt failed to convert a fake punt, USF missed on a fake field goal and Bulls K Maikon Bonani had a field goal blocked. It was the third time this season USF has had a field goal blocked.

ODDS AND ENDS: Rays 3B Evan Longoria, hours after leading Tampa Bay to a Game 1 win against the White Sox, attended the game. Bucs WR Antonio Bryant, a Pitt graduate, watched the game from the Panthers' sideline. Also in attendance were scouts from 14 NFL teams. ... USF junior LB Kion Wilson had two fumble recoveries. ... Senior DE Jarriett Buie had his first sack and forced fumble of the year. ... USF senior RB Ben Williams started for the first time in three weeks. ... USF was held without a offensive TD in the first half for the first time since Oct. 27, 2007, at UConn.

Brett McMurphy

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