Lejiste hit sparks USF defense

There were tons of big plays by the University of South Florida defense, including a couple of goal-line stands, but the play with the biggest impact Saturday might have been the hit USF freshman DB Jon Lejiste put on Florida State's Tavares Pressley.

Lejiste leveled the running back, creating the first of five fumbles caused by USF's defense.

"That was big," USF senior S Nate Allen said. "We were already going. When that happened, that sent us off the edge. That sent us over."

Florida State managed only seven points against USF despite having eight possessions in Bulls territory, including first-and-goal at the 3 and first-and-goal at the 7.

"Dominant, dominant," Bulls DE Jason Pierre-Paul said. "We surprised them. Now everyone's going to watch out for us now."

Record crowd

The Doak Campbell crowd of 83,524 was the 11th-largest for an FSU home game and the second-largest to see a USF game.

The crowd included about 12,000 Bulls fans, a record for a South Florida road game, and that impressed Coach Jim Leavitt.

"Unbelievable. I was in tears at the end of that game," Leavitt said. "When I looked up into the crowd and saw how many people from South Florida were there, I about broke (down). The emotion was overwhelming.

"I just wanted to jump up into the middle of them."

Emotional day

Tammie Dorsey, the mother of former South Florida RB Keeley Dorsey, attended her first USF game since his death Jan. 17, 2007.

She watched the game with her sons, Markell and Nahriek.

"I enjoyed the game and am glad USF won," Dorsey said.

Keeley Dorsey and USF freshman QB B.J. Daniels were teammates at Tallahassee Lincoln High School.

The rush is on

After going 16 consecutive games without a 100-yard rusher, the Bulls have had a 100-yard rusher in three straight games.

The past two games, it has been Daniels. He rushed for 126 yards against FSU, becoming the first quarterback to rush for 100 yards against the Seminoles since 1986.

This is the first time USF has had a rusher with more than 100 yards in three consecutive games since RB Andre Hall did it in 2005.

Legend maker

After Saturday's contest, Leavitt can say he coached against the two winningest coaches in NCAA history - Penn State's Joe Paterno and FSU's Bobby Bowden.

The Bulls lost at Penn State 23-13 in 2005.

"I played Paterno, but didn't get that done," Leavitt said. "That was a heck of a game.

"In my life, to play two of the biggest coaching legends is something I'll always remember. I got a chance to play against (Alabama's) Bear Bryant, but didn't get to coach against him."

Odds and ends

USF offensive line coach Mike Simmonds, who was leveled on the sideline during a collision between Daniels and Florida State DL Kevin McNeil, suffered a separated left shoulder. McNeil was penalized 15 yards for a late hit. "It's all good," Simmonds said. ... USF has won eight of its last 17 games when the Bulls are at least a touchdown underdog. ... USF has won its last seven games against state opponents. ... USF President Judy Genshaft on the Bulls' victory: "Is this great? This is the best! The best! The best!"