Canes a large stepping stone for Bulls

They charged toward the future carrying a newfound respect, earned by physically beating up Florida State on a late September afternoon for the biggest win in school history.

Players celebrated with the large throng of fans that made the four-hour drive from Tampa to Tallahassee. Coaches hugged and gave each other high-fives. University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt got drenched.

A few days later, a billboard sprung up touting the Big 4.

Since that win two months ago, the USF Bulls are 3-3, flirting with the kind of second-half mediocrity that has plagued the program the past two seasons.

However, the Bulls can rediscover that magical feeling they had after beating FSU with a victory over No. 19-ranked Miami today at Raymond James Stadium, only the second meeting in program history with the Hurricanes.

"It's Miami coming to play," USF senior defensive end George Selvie said. "They have a lot of prestige. Them coming into our stadium, playing us on Thanksgiving weekend ... it's one of the biggest games we'll ever play in Ray Jay."

The Bulls and Hurricanes are scheduled to play each other during the next five seasons. In time, wins over Miami could do more for the USF program than the Bulls' win over FSU in terms of recruiting and increasing the school's profile.

"I wanted to make this happen because I thought it was important for the University of South Florida and for where I want this program to go," Leavitt said of the budding rivalry with Miami. "Now, if you win a game like that, that would be pretty big."

The Hurricanes opened the season with a victory at FSU, stopping the Seminoles four consecutive times inside the 5-yard line in the game's final moments. They also paid attention after USF beat the Noles, knowing they would face the Bulls to close out the regular season today.

As soon as last week's victory against Duke was over, Miami coach Randy Shannon reminded his players that the USF program has grown up.

"South Florida means a lot - they recruit South Florida," Shannon said. "They've beat some teams ranked in the top 10, top 25. I told the guys after Duke the mindset has to change. Focus on this team, because this is a team you cannot take lightly.

"You have to treat this game as an Oklahoma, because that's the type of players they have."

The Hurricanes are making their first visit to Tampa in 25 years and will play before only the third sellout in USF's history, adding another layer to USF's quest to raise its national profile.

While Shannon reminded his players to take USF seriously, the Bulls don't need any reminders from Leavitt about Miami's past. Several USF players grew up in the Miami area and others grew up as Miami fans.

"I know half their team," said USF receiver Sterling Griffin, who is from Miami. "I've spoken to a lot of players. They are just telling us to be ready. I told them we're going to be ready."

USF defensive assistant Kevin Patrick played for the Hurricanes and is now in his second stint at USF. He attended the 2005 game between the schools - Miami won 27-7 in the Orange Bowl - and watched from the end zone as a fan.

Patrick is firmly in USF's corner these days, and looks at this game the way he used to look at games against Florida and FSU as a player.

"Back when I was playing, one of the big things outside of playing for the national championship was playing for the state championship," Patrick said. "As they always said, it kind of gives you some state rights, which in turn, I've always felt, it gives you some national rights as well."

If USF can defeat FSU and Miami in the same season, there's no question it will boost the Bulls program's profile another notch. Still, the Bulls will need to win consistently to truly turn the Big 3 into the Big 4 in the eyes of some.

"It's certainly a big deal, but I don't think it's important in the long run unless it becomes a pattern," Allen Wallace, national recruiting editor of Scout.com, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "If it's not sustained, it's always viewed as a fluke or a temporary phase."

The player perhaps most responsible for that historic win against FSU is freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels, who made his first career start that day. He'll also be the most likely player to lead USF to the next level. The Bulls face Florida next season for the first time and host FSU in 2011.

So, Daniels will have his shots, the next one coming this afternoon.

"I felt like beating FSU was the first step," Daniels said. "Playing Miami would be another step. I won't ever say we're in the Big 4 really ... until we beat all of them."