College football

Rough schedule? USF's Leavitt says bring it on

By GREG AUMAN
Published June 3, 2005

HOMOSASSA - USF coach Jim Leavitt knows his football team is taking a big step this fall, but he's not getting caught up in talk of how tough the schedule will be.

"I don't say whether I like it or not. I just play the games," said Leavitt, one of several coaches speaking Thursday at the Riverside Resort to open USF's Around the Horns tour of the state. "It's a pretty difficult challenge, and most people don't think we'll do much. But our guys are excited about playing and going after it, seeing how competitive we'll be."

With seven Big East games and trips to Penn State and Miami, the Bulls have the toughest schedule in the state and the eighth-toughest in Division I-A, according to rankings published this week by Sportsline.com.

Florida is No. 27, Miami is No. 42 and Florida State No. 58, and the Big East has seven of the 12 toughest schedules.

BULLS BITS: Men's basketball coach Robert McCullum said USF will continue to play longtime rival Alabama-Birmingham even though the schools will be in different conferences this season. The Bulls and Blazers have played in all but one season since 1979, and UAB will come to Tampa in December. The Bulls host Michigan as part of a December doubleheader that also features the women's team hosting NCAA runnerup Michigan State. ... USF women's coach Jose Fernandez said he plans to start freshman Shantia Grace of Sarasota, the state Class 6A player of the year, at point guard next season. ... The coaches' tour stops Monday at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club. That gathering originally was designated for fans from Hillsborough and Pasco counties, but a Pinellas County stop scheduled for Tuesday in Oldsmar was canceled, so Monday's golf outing and dinner will now cover all three counties. For more information, check out gousfbulls.com.

[Last modified June 3, 2005, 01:17:23]