Colleges

Bulls brace for raucous reception at Auburn

Courtney Denson transferred from Auburn, shares his experiences as a Tiger with rest of USF team.

By GREG AUMAN
Published September 5, 2007

TAMPA -Courtney Denson remembers his first game at Auburn in 2003, taking in a sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium as the Tigers played host to Southern Cal.

"When you run out of the tunnel, you see all the people out there. I was like, 'Dang, that's college football right here,' " the USF senior said Tuesday.

The former quarterback transferred from Auburn after that season because the Tigers tried to make him a defensive back. After three seasons and three positions at USF, he returns with the Bulls, finally finding a role as a receiver.

"I feel more like a wideout," said Denson, who had two catches for 35 yards in Saturday's win against Elon, one more than he'd totaled in his first two years at USF.

Denson knows most of the Auburn seniors and said he's talked with many of them this week, with USF getting surprising respect.

"They've been saying they're looking at us like a big-time school," said Denson, who graduated this summer with a degree in communications. "I don't know. They're probably trying to play Sun Tzu's The Art of War, trying to get me to say something. I'm not saying nothing."

The other thing about his first home game at Auburn - the Trojans, on their way to a national title, won 23-0. His advice to his teammates is not to let the crowd of 87,000 become a factor.

"If we take their momentum away, the crowd's going to be quiet," he said. "Just don't let that momentum get going. The fans are very loud."

One Bulls player who won't be fazed is linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, whose stints at Michigan State and Iowa State have him used to 80,000-plus stadiums. He has played at Oklahoma, Texas, Penn State and Michigan.

"It's an experience you never forget," McKenzie said. "Texas last year was crazy. I'm excited for this game at Auburn. There's going to be fans chanting your name, spitting at you, who knows."

HOOPS UPDATE:Jesus Verdejo, expected to compete for the starting shooting guard spot, has a protective boot on his left foot to protect minor ligament damage. He is expected to make a full recovery for preseason practice in six weeks.

The highlight of the women's schedule, released Tuesday, is a Feb. 16 date with Rutgers, last year's national runnerup. On April 5, the Saturday before the Women's Final Four opens at the St. Pete Times Forum, the Sun Dome will play host to the WBCA High School All-America game. Delaware's Elena Della Donne, a 6-foot-4 UConn commitment rated as the nation's top senior, is expected to attend.

THIS AND THAT:Happiest coach on the USF staff? That would be safeties coach Troy Douglas, an Appalachian State graduate. "He's worn the same shirt for four day," receivers coach Mike Canales said. ... Look for former USF guard and assistant coach Tommy Tonelli, who built a premier program at Wharton, to be named Monday as Stan Heath's director of basketball operations.Darren Sorenson leaves to become a full-time assistant at Oakland University in Michigan. ... Senior soccer player Kris Raad, a former starter who had not played in the first two matches, was arrested Monday night on an outstanding warrant for a felony charge of unauthorized use of a driver's license, a count typically relating to a fake ID. USF said the matter will be handled internally. ... USF's eighth oral commitment is Winter Springs punter Justin Brockhaus-Kann, who has size (6-3, 235) and a strong leg, averaging 41.0 yards last season. His father, Jeff Brockhaus, played one season with coach Jim Leavitt at Missouri, later kicking in the USFL and one season with the 49ers.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com or at (813) 226-3346.

[Last modified September 4, 2007, 23:14:19]