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Freshman Kicker Delivers In Clutch

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By BRETT McMURPHY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2008

TAMPA - Former NFL and University of South Florida K Bill Gramatica, who has been working with USF kickers this year, said he's been impressed with K Maikon Bonani.

A freshman, Bonani made his collegiate debut and first start against Kansas on Friday night, converting the game-winning field goal from 43 yards as time expired.

Bonani badly missed his first field goal from 41 yards in the second quarter. However, Bonani bounced back to hit a 34-yard field goal on USF's next drive and a 23-yarder in the third quarter.

"He's solid," Gramatica said before the game. "He reminds me of Martin Gramatica when he was a freshman at Kansas State."

FORD STALLED: USF sophomore RB Mike Ford, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury, returned against Kansas but saw limited action.

Ford left after one carry for 3 yards.

RB Ben Williams, who suffered an ankle injury in the opener against Tennessee Martin, only had one carry last week against UCF and played sparingly against KU.

FAMILIAR FACE: Friday's game between USF coach Jim Leavitt and KU coach Mark Mangino was the fifth time Leavitt had faced an assistant he had worked with at Kansas State. Leavitt was 2-0 against Dana Dimel (Houston), 0-1 against Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) and 0-1 against Mangino.

FIRST STARTS: Sophomore TE Trent Pupello, of Jefferson High, made his first career start as USF began the game in a three-tight end lineup. NT Terrell McClain and Bonani also made their first starts.

ALMOST A JAYHAWK: When USF LB Brouce Mompremier was a senior at Miami Edison, his final two choices were USF and Kansas.

On his Kansas visit, Bucs rookie CB Aqib Talib was his host.

"I went to a KU basketball game," Mompremier said. "It was also the first time I had ever seen snow in my life.

"Kansas and USF were my last two on the table. I thought long and hard about it. I talked with my family and decided I didn't want to go too far. USF was a special place. I didn't want to be a part of history, I wanted to make history."

Talib, last year's Orange Bowl MVP, attended Friday's game.

ODDS AND ENDS: USF junior DE George Selvie had his first sack of the season in the fourth quarter. Selvie's sack made him the school's all-time leading with 21 career sacks, passing Stephen Nicholas, who had 20. ... Former USF LB Mike Minus, 27, who died in a semi-truck accident Monday, and former USF alumni president Jim Krog, who passed away this year, were honored before kickoff with a moment of silence. .... ... Former USF G Chucky Atkins, now with the Denver Nuggets, was presented with a USF jersey during a break in the first quarter by USF AD Doug Woolard. ... USF's softball team was recognized and Coach Ken Eriksen lofted a TD pass as part of a third-quarter promotion. ... Representatives from the Gator and Sun bowls were at Friday night's game. ... KU WR Tertavian Ingram, a Jefferson High graduate, has three catches in the past two years for the Jayhawks. ... Under Armour founder Kevin Plank attended Friday's game. USF's football program switched to Under Armour this season.

Brett McMurphy

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