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O'Leary Wouldn't Mind Continuing USF Series

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By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune Correspondent

Published: September 2, 2008

TAMPA - With the University of South Florida having nothing more to gain in playing UCF, Saturday's contest in Orlando will be the last in the short four-game series.

If it was up to Knights coach George O'Leary, however, the rivalry would continue.

"I think it is a natural game, but that is not my decision. I think that possibly once conference geography changes in a couple of years that it may be a game anyway," O'Leary said. "They are a good football team. I think USF coach Jim Leavitt has done a great job as far as getting them to play to the echo of the whistle. ... We had an opportunity two years ago and fell short. It is a 60-minute game, and we have to sustain. I feel like it is a big attitude game, and that a lot of these kids have played against one another in high school."

INJURY UPDATE: RBs Ben Williams and Mike Ford (ankle), who was out of his protective boot, were in full pads Tuesday but did not practice.

"We're not going to have them do anything until maybe today," Leavitt said.

With Williams and Ford sidelined, Jamar Taylor and Moise Plancher are getting the bulk of the work with the first-team offense.

TE Trent Pupello (ankle) was off crutches, but watched practice with a boot on his right foot and is doubtful for UCF. DL Cory Grissom practiced "a little bit," Leavitt said, which indicates there's a chance Grissom could be ready to go Saturday.

JOB WELL DONE: After struggling against Division I-AA opponents in the past two season openers, the Bulls were relieved they had no such problems in their 56-7 win against Tennessee Martin.

"I'm just happy we came out and played well and put a lot of points on the board and moved the ball just about whenever we wanted to," USF QB Matt Grothe said. "It's always a good start to the year when you can do that. We just have to take the good things and the bad things from the game and learn off of them."

MOVING UP: USF jumped two spots to No. 17 in this week's AP poll and three spots to No. 18 in the coaches' poll.

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