College football

McNeese State to visit Bulls for 2006 opener

By GREG AUMAN
Published December 16, 2005

TAMPA - USF will open its 2006 football season at Raymond James Stadium on Sept. 2 against Division I-AA McNeese State.

"They sent us a contract, and we signed it and sent it out to them (Thursday)," Cowboys athletic director H. Sonny Watkins said. "We're excited about coming to Tampa and playing the Bulls."

McNeese went 5-4 this season, with one game canceled by Hurricane Katrina and two lost after its Lake Charles, La., campus was hit hard by Hurricane Rita. The Cowboys lost 48-20 to Southern Miss in their lone game against a I-A opponent.

The Bulls now have one opening left, likely a road game to open a home-and-home series with another BCS school. USF was to open its season against Florida International, but that home game has been moved to Sept. 9, followed by games at Central Florida (Sept. 16) and North Carolina (Sept. 23).

USF will have four Big East games (Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse) at home next season, with games at Cincinnati, Louisville and West Virginia.

Though McNeese is a I-AA program, the Cowboys exceed the NCAA's minimum scholarship threshold, so a Bulls win against them would count toward the six required for bowl eligibility. Watkins declined to say how much McNeese would be paid by USF for the one-game contract.

With the lack of depth at center, coach Jim Leavitt is considering moving defensive lineman George Selvie to the other side of the ball. Thursday the freshman practiced with the offense.

"Selvie continues to impress at center," Leavitt said. "Today we did a lot of work with a lot of young guys, well, because we still missed a number of guys up front."

With players missing because of exams, Leavitt said he is taking a closer look at others such as quarterback Matt Grothe, who "looked really, really good."

Also trying out a new position is offensive lineman Paul Uhatafe, who played nose guard during practice. "(Paul) is a huge guy," Leavitt said. "He's 6 foot 2, 295 pounds. He's a horse; you can tell that. So we're trying him out for the future."

BACK AND FORTH: Alternating with first team are quarterbacks Pat Julmiste and Carlton Hill. Leavitt has been giving numerous first-team reps to his freshman, who saw considerable time against West Virginia on Dec. 3.

Times correspondent Mike Camunas contributed to this report.

[Last modified December 16, 2005, 00:55:10]