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Finding some fun in football 1sts

One of the fun things about the South Florida football program is the accumulation of firsts.

More than five years after the excitement of the first game and first win, the Bulls still regularly gobble up significant firsts. For instance, last week was the first road win against a Conference USA team, 46-30 over East Carolina.

Much bigger firsts could be forthcoming. In three weeks, USF might have the opportunity to play its first home game against a ranked team, No. 24 Bowling Green. If the Falcons still are ranked and USF wins, it would be the Bulls' first victory over a ranked opponent and might inspire a major first: votes for USF in the national polls.

Presuming USF beats Division I-AA Charleston Southern (Nov. 2) and Memphis (Nov. 9), it would be 8-2 with six straight wins after toppling Bowling Green. Almost certainly, several voters in the AP and ESPN/USA Today polls would place USF on their Top 25 ballot.

The Bulls are riding a crest: three straight wins, a bye this week, they're relatively injury-free, they play the next three games at home and they are coming off impressive wins over Southern Miss and East Carolina. If things continue as such, when the polls come out Nov. 17, South Florida will be in the small type near the end, listed among those also receiving votes.

BASKETBALL NEWS: Rachael Sheats, a guard from Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry, has committed to South Florida. Sheats is rated the No. 81 senior, No. 18 point guard in the nation by All-Star Girls Basketball Report.

"We rated her as a point guard, but she can play the 1, 2 or 3. She's very athletic," said Bret McCormick, scouting director for the publication. "She is very versatile. She plays all three positions and could play any of them in college."

Nalini Miller, a 6-1 forward from Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute rated the No. 56 senior, is scheduled to make an official visit this weekend.

BRICK WALL: Goalkeeper Troy Perkins was named the C-USA defensive player of the week after leading the men's soccer team to a 2-1 win Saturday over Saint Louis, which had won nine straight matches. Brandon Streicher put the Bulls up 1-0, and Brian Gil broke a tie at 1 in the 87th minute. Gil, a freshman, was named to Soccer America's team of the week. USF (9-3, 4-2) hosts Louisville at 5 tonight in the final home match. The Bulls play Sunday at Florida International and close the season with four road matches before the conference tournament Nov. 14-17 at Saint Louis.

FASTER AND FASTER: Sophomore Christa Benton is developing into one of the top cross-country runners in the nation.

At the Auburn Invitational on Saturday, Benton placed third in a personal-best 16:57.31 over the 5K course, leading the Bulls to a fifth-place finish out of 30 teams. She was named C-USA women's cross-country athlete of the week for the second time in three weeks.

"It's just great when an athlete running as well as Christa continues to get recognized for her performance," cross-country coach Greg Thiel said. "It is really an accomplishment, considering the level of competition that we are facing each week."

Benton, a graduate of Keswick Christian, has two wins and two third-place finishes in five races this fall. The Bulls are off this weekend before the C-USA Championships Nov. 2 in Hattiesburg, Miss.

ON THE RISE: The women's soccer team is making a run at qualifying for the C-USA tournament. The Bulls are 2-0-1 in their past three, all against C-USA foes, after losing four of their first five league matches.

USF did it in dramatic fashion Sunday at Houston, scoring three in the second half to defeat the Cougars 3-2 and improve to 6-7-2, 2-4-2 in C-USA. Christine Koester, Rachel Ross and Aleia Long scored. The Bulls have two league games remaining: Southern Miss at 7 tonight at the USF Soccer Stadium and Sunday at UAB. The C-USA tournament is Nov. 6-9 in Charlotte, N.C.

HICCUP: The volleyball team (19-5) lost for the first time in nine matches Monday, losing in four games to Miami in Coral Gables. The Bulls, 6-0 in C-USA, return to league play this weekend in Texas, tonight at Houston and Saturday at TCU.

-- Pete Young covers USF sports. He can be reached at (813) 226-3346, or via e-mail at young@sptimes.com.

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