College football
Waiting is over for USF football
As an official member of Conference USA, the Bulls are excited about the opportunity to play for a league championship and a bowl bid.
By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 22, 2003
MEMPHIS - When is it real? Is there a moment when South Florida finally, officially is declared a Conference USA football member?
How about right now?
It is as good a time as any to pop the champagne and toast the Bulls as C-USA's newest team. Today, for the first time, USF is represented at the Conference USA Football Kickoff, the league's preseason media extravaganza.
Coach Jim Leavitt apparently is pumped. He was one of the first coaches in town, arriving Sunday.
"We've been anticipating it for so long," Leavitt said Monday at TPC Southwind, where his golf round was shortened to 14 holes because of rain. "We're really excited it's finally going to happen."
Seniors Chris Iskra and Maurice Jones also are on hand as the Bulls become the league's 11th member, alongside Louisville, TCU, Southern Miss, et al. They play an eight-game C-USA schedule this fall.
For USF fans, it seems like just the other day the team was formed (1997 was the first season), yet it took forever to begin league play.
Others agree. One conference official greeted Leavitt by saying, "Nice to have you officially aboard. About damn time."
The Bulls ascended to Division I-A in 2001 and went 8-3. USF followed up by going 9-2 last season. The 17-5 mark the past two seasons breaks down to 12-5 against I-A teams plus five wins against I-AA.
USF's entrance, however, had been postponed from 2001 to 2003 because the league wanted to make sure the Bulls were prepared for the rigors of C-USA.
With a 2002 record of 4-0 against C-USA schools, it seems they were ready. USF is 5-2 vs. C-USA. The Bulls lost 41-7 at Southern Miss in 2000 and 17-9 at Memphis in 2001. They've won their past five.
"We've gotten whipped, and we've won a few," Leavitt said.
Curiously, the Bulls might be less ready this season than last. There are more starters to replace, including arguably the program's two most significant players, four-year stalwarts Marquel Blackwell and Kawika Mitchell.
"Usually the new team coming in has a tough time," Leavitt said. "It's difficult. We haven't done this before."
The Bulls will enjoy the membership benefits, such as not getting snubbed by bowls. Last season, USF was negotiated out of a bowl opportunity by the major conferences, which leveraged their bowl-eligible (if less worthy) teams into spots that might have been available to USF.
"(The players) are excited about going into the conference because there's a whole lot to play for - for a bowl game, for the conference championship," Leavitt said. "It was difficult (in past years) not having those carrots for the team."
Despite most preseason magazines projecting the Bulls to slip from last season's top 30 BCS ranking, they have a good shot at a bowl. C-USA has five bowl tie-ins, including ones in New Orleans and Hawaii. The league champion will return to Memphis to play in the Liberty Bowl.
QUICK KICKS: TCU is the defending champion and is predicted by league coaches to repeat, gaining eight of 11 first-place votes. USF had one first-place vote and is picked third behind Southern Miss. ... The coaches named USF senior wide receiver Huey Whittaker and senior safety J.R. Reed to the all-league preseason team, and Tulane runing back Mewelde Moore and Southern Miss linebacker Rod Davis were named offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively. ... Most publications are picking USF to finish somewhere between third and sixth in C-USA. ... All USF players will report Aug.5. The first practice is the next morning, with media day later in the day. ... The Bulls open Aug.30 at Alabama, and the first C-USA game is Sept.27 at Army. ... The Sporting News rated USF's recruiting class No.2 in C-USA behind Louisville. ... Leavitt said recruit Joe Hall of Wharton High will enroll in January. ... Leavitt said the school is waiting to hear from the NCAA clearinghouse about several recruits, including defensive back Larry Green of Jacksonville White, who had a qualifying test score flagged. Other signees who are not included in the media guide are Curtis Chance, Gene Coleman, J.B. Garris, Rashid Lavergne and Cliff Magby. ... Leavitt said incoming freshmen Ronnie McCullough and Eric Thomas could redshirt to finish rehabilitating knee injuries. ... Marcus Edwards, a sophomore wide receiver from Clearwater Central Catholic, told Leavitt he intends to transfer to San Diego State. ... Leavitt was wearing a visor and golf shirt with the new school logo. Merchandise with the new logo will be available Aug.6.
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