Previous Updates: Dec. 26 | Dec. 27 | Dec. 28

The University of South Flordia radio team of Jim Louk and Mike Pepper will do a live radio broadcast from Fan Fiesta on Sunday.  Louk and Peper will preview the bowl game from 3-5 p.m. in the Juarez room at the Williams Convention Center in downtown El Paso.

The broadcast will also be streamed for free over USF's Press Pass. It will not be on the radio dial in Tampa.

 Watch Defensive Coordinator Wally Burnham's Press Conerence

Defensvie coordinator Wally Burnham met with media at an afternoon press conference and talked extensively about the challenge of slowing down Oregon's star running back Jonathan Stewart.

"We have to stop one guy, that's No. 28 (Stewart)," said Burnham. "If we can't stop him and contain him, we won't have much of a chance to be successful.  We are more concerned with him than either of their quarterbacks."

He also compared Stewart to Rutgers' Ray Rice, who has had success against USF during his career.  Two of the three Bulls losses this season came when they allowed a 100-yard runner, including Rice.
 
 Offensive Coordinator Greg Gregory

Offensive coordinator Greg Gregory also had a press conference on Thursday.  Gregory reinterated that the key to the team's success is protecting the ball.

"Our offense is good enough that if we don't turn the ball over, we are going to win games. Our defense i so strong, that if we don't put them in a bad position, we will be successful."

 Gregory was also encouraged by the crisp practices the team has had the last two days. 

"I didn't know if we would get anything done in practice after the first day," said Gregory. "I literally stood behind one of our quarterbacks and watched a pass float from the left hash mark across to the right hash marks."

Dec. 28 Photo Gallery

Notes
* Saturday's practice was the last of the collegiate career for the USF senior class.  It was a bitter-sweet moment for star Mike Jenkins, Trae Williams and Ben Moffitt. Moffitt went around the field prior to practice and shook the hand of every assistant coach, giving hugs to several of them.

* The players went to Juarez, Mexico after practice where they were entertained by a Bull fight. The players had a blast and were all impressed with the matadors.  Several players came back with authentic sombreros.

* Six USF players, coach Leavitt and the coordinators met with the CBS TV crew including Steve Beurlein, Sam Ryan, Craig Bohlerjack and producer Steve Scherr. The meetings are always interesting because national television crews are given a little more access and a more specific preview.

A couple interesting tidbits that came up...

* Matt Grothe labeled himself "superstitious as heck".  He openly admitted that he has too many superstitions.  Among those are that he no longer tapes his fingers.  He did until after the Cincinnati game this year.  The taping began when he had a sprained finger last season, he played well and stuck with it until the Bulls dropped the heartbreaker against the Bearcats.

* He also has a couple uniform quirks.  He always puts his arm bands on left to right. And then there is the supstition that he said was, "really wierd and stupid." The belt on Grothe football pants is tight to the point that he has to suck in his stomach for it to fit.  If it comes unbuckled in the game, he won't touch it because he believes it is a sign that good things are going to happen for the offense.

* Mike Ford talked more about his musicial abillities, which were on full display HERE. The talent RB can play the tenor saxophone, guitar, drums and piano. He taught himself how to play the drums and guitar. He was also in a marching band in middle school and had to choose between football and band when he got to high school.  Ford said it wasn't a difficult choice to be on the field for two halfs, as opposed to just halftime.