Sports

Colleges

Big wins put Bulls in line for even bigger bowl reward

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 29, 2007

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USF Mike Ford dives through a tackle by West Virginia Antonio Lewis during the 1st quarter.
	[Ted McLaren | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Daniel Wallace | Times] University of South Florida's Ben Moffitt runs back an interseption during the third quarter.

TAMPA - Will Webb, executive director of the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., was asked Friday night if he would be attending another USF home game this season, and he replied that he would make a decision in a few weeks.

Sugar Bowl president Jim Landis leaned over and corrected him: "Oh, he'll know his answer in about 3 1/2 hours."

Indeed, USF has so elevated its status in college football that the Meineke Bowl - where the school made its bowl debut two seasons ago - would be beneath the Bulls. And, yes, that was a BCS rep making that comment.

USF took advantage of Friday's Big East opener, hosting representatives from bowls with Big East ties, including all the BCS games.

"The champion of the Big East is going to be terribly strong," said Dick Stemple, chairman of the Fiesta Bowl board. "Every bowl will want them, but not every bowl will get them. This league's champion is going to be very, very good."

An announced sellout of 67,018at Raymond James Stadium helped allay concerns about how USF would travel for a bowl outside the Southeast.

"There are not enough flights going into Phoenix to carry all the USF people. This is unbelievable," Stemple said.

LUCKY NICKEL: USF spent the first half in a nickel defense, with sophomore Jerome Murphy getting his first career start as a fifth defensive back. The defense worked well early, holding the Mountaineers to 54 yards and two first downs in the opening quarter.

STREAK OVER: USF quarterback Matt Grothe had gone 136 passes without an interception when his deep pass intended for Amarri Jackson was picked off by Ellis Lankster. Three attempts later, Grothe was intercepted on a pass that was deflected to Ryan Mundy.

CALL IT A SHUTOUT: In their first four games, the Mountaineers scored in all but one quarter, making it all the more impressive when USF held West Virginia scoreless until three seconds remained in the first half.

FIRST START: Freshman Mike Ford made his first career start as the Bulls opened in a two-back set. With an unbalanced line that had both starting tackles lining up on the left side, West Virginia shifted its defense and Ford sprung loose on the back side, gaining 35 yards for the longest run of USF's season.

BIG DROPOFF: Friday's game brought the biggest home crowd in USF history, but the Bulls will face the other extreme in next weekend's game at Florida Atlantic. As of Friday morning, FAU reported about 10,000 tickets sold, including an allotment of 1,500 tickets on consignment to the Bulls. In the Owls' only other home game in Fort Lauderdale, FAU drew 11,398 against Middle Tennessee State.

THIS AND THAT: Freshman receiver Carlton Mitchell got his first career touchdown on a 55-yard pass from Grothe in the second quarter. He nearly stepped out at the 8, and the play was reviewed but upheld. ... West Virginia receiver Tito Gonzales, a Blake grad, caught a 32-yard pass from Jarrett Brown in the third quarter.

[Last modified September 29, 2007, 01:38:11]