Colleges

Leavitt stays upbeat in wind, cold

By BRET BLOOMQUIST, El Paso Times
Published December 28, 2007

EL PASO, Texas - When USF coach Jim Leavitt retires from coaching, which figures to be a long time away, perhaps he should consider a second career selling Florida swampland.

Running around at the Bulls' Thursday workout, wearing short pants in 40-degree weather with a howling wind, he could have sold just about anything.

"The Sun Bowl, sun, 20-something degrees, you can't beat it," the ever-upbeat Leavitt said. "I put a whistle in my mouth and it froze to my lips.

"South Florida is all about history. I told the players they have to embrace this - this is the coldest weather South Florida has ever practiced in. ... I've never seen this much wind. It's great, it's super."

His players were a bit skeptical about the super part.

"Freezing," quarterback Matt Grothe said. "It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't windy. I didn't know it got this cold in Texas."

Said kicker Delbert Alvarado: "The coldest I've been was at Cincinnati last year. This is next."

The high in Tampa on Thursday was 80.

REUNION: There aren't many connections between USF and Oregon programs that are 2,500 miles apart, but there is a big one with Bulls cornerback Ryan Gilliam.

The Oregon High product played his freshman year with the Ducks in 2004 before transferring to USF.

After sitting out a season, he made his Bulls debut this year.

"It's been interesting," he said. "Two worlds colliding, Oregon and South Florida together, I didn't think that would happen. I thought it was a joke when he first heard.

"But it's great to see (Oregon) Coach (Mike) Bellotti and the rest of the team. I never lost touch with those guys."

LONG TRIP: At 1,724 miles, the trip to El Paso is the third longest in program history behind a trip to Salt Lake City to play Utah in 2001 (2,328 miles) and San Diego State in 1999 (2,441).

That game at Utah was USF's only other trip to the Mountain time zone and was also its only other game played at altitude.

LOADED: The 2006 Sun Bowl just missed producing a national championship-game team this year, as Missouri was in line for a shot before a loss in the Big 12 title game.

This edition of the Sun Bowl may say the same.

USF likely will return 10 offensive starters next season and six defensive starters, including tackle George Selvie.

The offense returns 100 percent of its rushing and passing yards, 86.1 percent of its receiving yards and 15 of its 17 receiving touchdowns.

El Paso Times staff writer Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com or (915) 546-6359.

SUN BOWL

No. 23 USF vs. Oregon

2 p.m. Monday, Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas TV: Ch. 10

[Last modified December 27, 2007, 23:35:41]