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TAMPA - Representatives of the top two bowls with Conference USA affiliations, the Liberty and GMAC, were on hand Saturday for South Florida's 31-28 double-overtime win over Louisville at Raymond James Stadium.
Steve Ehrhart, head of the Liberty Bowl, represented the game that pits the C-USA champion against the Mountain West champ.
"I've been very impressed the entire weekend with the whole attitude," Ehrhart said. "From the president (Judy Genshaft) to (athletic director) Lee Roy Selmon to the staff and the excitement of the fans. I sense a genuine enthusiasm."
Three representatives were there on behalf of the GMAC Bowl, which has the next choice among C-USA schools after the Liberty. The opponent in the GMAC Bowl is the MAC champion.
QUICK STRIKES: Louisville took a 7-0 lead on the third play of the game, a 67-yard run by backup Lionel Gates. It was the fourth time in five games the Cardinals scored on their first possession. USF answered with a six-play touchdown drive, and it was 7-7 after just 3:17.
GROUND POWER: In its first four games, Louisville gained more than 160 yards rushing. Much of that was by 245-pound Eric Shelton who, looking for playing time and stuck behind Greg Jones, transferred from Florida State after one season and sat out 2002.
"Eric Shelton was really an outstanding back in high school," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "Louisville has a great back."
HELLO AGAIN: USF offensive coordinator Mike Hobbie coached Louisville's leading receiver, J.R. Russell, in 1998-99 at Gaither High.
MY CHANCE: USF senior running back DeJuan Green drew a rare start, his second. Vince Brewer started the first three games. Green scored his second touchdown of the season on a 5-yard run for a 14-7 first quarter lead.
AH, SUNSHINE: Louisville has 26 players from Florida, the most of any state (including Kentucky), and a few older Cardinals sought improvement on their last game in the Sunshine State, a 32-0 defeat at FSU in 2000. CHANGE OF PACE: The Bulls continued to intermittently insert 5-foot-7 receiver Brian Fisher at quarterback, and did so twice in the first quarter. On the second occasion, Fisher pitched to Brewer, who threw back across the field to Fisher, but the pass was low and Fisher couldn't hang on. Fisher scored a touchdown in overtime from the quarterback position.
BULL BITS: Ron Hemingway's second-quarter interception was his eighth career, tied for third in school history with Roy Manns (1997-2000). ... Among those on the sidelines were Bucs players Dewayne White, a rookie from Louisville, Keyshawn Johnson, Anthony McFarland and Martin Gramatica, ex-Bull DeAndrew Rubin and baseball player Tino Martinez. Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino was in the press area.