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Can't Keep Grothe Down

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

Updated: 09/07/2008 12:39 am

ORLANDO - You want to hit Matt Grothe hard?

Fine.

Knock him down? Blitz him? Doesn't bother him.

He can look lousy for a while, then turn around and be the difference in the game.

He'll keep getting up and keep right on throwing, running and doing basically whatever needs to be done. We've watched it through his first two seasons as a starter for the University of South Florida and those qualities were on display for the nation to see Saturday night in the Bulls' nationally televised win against UCF.

He was the difference in USF's 31-24 overtime victory against the extremely game Knights - well, him and the 148 penalty yards UCF amassed in an impressive display of self-destruction that almost turned into a stunning victory anyway after the Knights scored two touchdowns in the final 2:46 of regulation to tie.

The Knights might want to complain about at least some of those calls from the Big East officiating crew, but that didn't determine the game.

Matt Grothe did.

Yes, the same Matt Grothe who piled on verbally after USF's 64-12 win against these Knights last year, smirking, "We're that much better than them."

It wasn't nearly so one-sided this time and USF needed every bit of the juice that Grothe brings. He made plays with his arms. He made plays with his legs.

But no play was more important than the third-and-10 pass he completed in overtime for a 25-yard touchdown that was the difference.

It's what you expect from a third-year starter. Of all the weapons the 17th-ranked Bulls possess, having Grothe under center might be the biggest.

"Matt's a competitor," USF coach Jim Leavitt said, "and I love the guy."

UCF Didn't Quit

There will be plenty who will argue the series with UCF should continue after this, the closest of the four games these two have played in this backyard skirmish. The Bulls probably have seen enough of the Knights to last forever, though.

"With three minutes to go in the game ... maybe we just got lax," Leavitt said. "We had the game under control."

You have to give the Knights a ton of credit for refusing to quit, even as red tail lights were visible leaving the parking lots at Bright House Networks Stadium. Two quick touchdowns and, bam! We've got overtime.

A ranked team doesn't fold in situations like that and, well, USF didn't.

Came close.

But didn't fold.

Leavitt nearly folded too, strangely sending in kicker Delbert Alvarado to attempt a 42-yard field goal at the end of regulation even though 15 seconds remained, it was only second down, and the Bulls had a time out left.

Alvarado missed and suddenly a game that seemed locked and tied for USF was hanging precariously.

That's when having a quarterback like Grothe can make the difference, as it did this time.

"He doesn't get fazed," said his father, Matt Sr. "He just gets it done."

That last completion capped a night of 23-for-40, 346 yards and three touchdowns. He was also USF's leading rusher with 54 net yards.

"Most offenses go as quarterbacks go and he makes them go," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "When they needed a big play, he'd make a big play."

Must Get Better

On a day when Big East brothers fell all over the place, including eighth-ranked West Virginia, there will be no complaint from the Bulls over any kind of win.

But listening to Leavitt tick off a laundry list of complaints after this one - the Bulls surrendered a kickoff return touchdown, a big punt return to set UCF up, and had 58 penalty yards themselves - well, that just won't do against Kansas on Friday night, USF's next assignment.

That's what the practice field is for, though.

All that mattered on this night was that a win that almost got away, didn't.

The Bulls are 2-0.

Still in the national picture.

Still aiming high.

They do so because of the quarterback who gets knocked down, but gets back up. Who can look a little ragged, but makes plays when it matters most. Who doesn't get fazed when the situation is its most frantic.

It's what you expect from a quarterback like that. And on this night, it's what USF got when it was needed most.

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