Setting The Scene
Date: Friday, Sept. 28, 2007
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Kickoff: 8 p. m. Eastern
TV: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD
Radio: WFLA 970 AM (Tampa)
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
Stadium Capacity - Surface: 65,657 - Natural
Tickets: Sold out
The Game
In front of a national TV audience and sold out stadium, the No. 18 University of South Florida football team (3-0) will host No. 5 West Virginia (4-0) on Friday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD. The Bulls are coming off an impressive 37-10 win over North Carolina in which the defense produced four interceptions. The Mountaineers ran for 397 yards in a 48-7 win over East Carolina. The game has been sold to capacity, 65,657, which is first for USF at Ray Jay and will likely lead to a new attendance record.
The Series
USF and West Virginia have split two all-time meetings. USF defeated then-No. 7 West Virginia, 24-19, in Morgantown last season. WVU won the first BIG EAST meeting 28-13 at Raymond James in 2005.
The Broadcasts
The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 with Sean McDonough (play-by), Chris Spielman (color) and Rob Stone (sideline). USF's radio broadcast with Jim Louk, Mark Robinson & Mike Pepper can be heard on WFLA 970 AM, WFLL 1400 AM, WORL 660 AM, WTSU 1590 AM, WPSL 1590 and the Press Pass on GoUSFBulls.com
The Coaches
USF: Jim Leavitt (Missouri ?78) has a career record of 73-43 and is in his 11th season at USF. He has coached every game in the program's history. He is 1-1 against WVU, 13-9 vs. BIG EAST, 53-29 in night games, 28-12 in hot weather (80 degrees or higher),5-5 on ESPN2, 42-37 on television, 51-13 at home, 4-9 vs. ranked teams.
West Virginia: Rich Rodriguez is in his seventh season at West Virginia and owns a 54-24 record at WVU and a career mark of 99-60-2.
The Program
The USF program has an all-time record of 46-26 at the NCAA FBS level. The wining percentage of 63.9 is good enough to rank USF No. 29 among FBS schools. After being ranked for the first time last week, No. 24 Coaches and No. 23 AP, USF moved up five spots to No. 18 in both polls this week.
Hitch A Ride
A total of 13 buses will be available to pick students up at the student parking lot on the corner of Willow and Maple Drive on Friday at 6 p.m. Transportation is first come, first serve. Students are encouraged to get to the pick up location at least 15 minutes early! Buses will leave one at a time as they fill to capacity.
Students must present a valid ID to ride.
Park Your Ride
The parking lots at Raymond James Stadium will open at 3 p.m. on Friday and the gates will open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
Freebies
The USF Bulls Club will give away green bandanas to the first 6,000 people through the gates.
Player To Watch
Against the potent West Virginia running attack, the play of the USF defense and specifically the linebacking corp will be crucial. Leading that attack is senior LB Ben Moffitt, who is a four year starter and the defense's field general. Moffitt has 23 tackles this season and is flanked by Brouce Mompremier (Will position) and Tyrone McKenzie (Sam). Mompremier leads the team with 28 tackles, McKenzie is second with 26.
By The Numbers - 127
Matt Grothe has thrown a career best 127 pass attempts without an interception. He has 4 TD and an efficiency rating of 131.2 this season. The streak dates back to the second quarter of the game at West Virginia last season. The USF record is 235 by Marquel Blackwell (2001).
Recapping North Carolina
A dominant defense that picked off four passes, coupled with an explosive offense helped the No. 23/24 Bulls knock off North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 22 ... USF had four interceptions, which is the second best single game total in USF history ... USF actually had seven picks against Houston in 2002 ... Senior LB Ben Moffitt and junior LB Brouce Mompremier both collected their first career interceptions ... It was the first time in USF history that LB have picked off two passes in a game ... CB Trae Williams picked his first of the season ... He has five picks against non-conference teams the last two seasons .... Williams led the team and was among the national leaders with seven INT ... DE had three sacks and five tackles for loss against the Tar Heels ... Matt Grothe guided the USF offense that scored 20 points in the first half, while collecting 216 passing yards and 1 TD ... His first half yardage output is the second highest single half passing total of his career ... Grothe did not play in the fourth quarter ... The sophomore signal caller has not thrown a pick in 127 pass attempts ... Freshman RB Mike Ford scored his fifth TD of the season, fourth rushing, to put USF up 7-0 early in the first quarter ... Senior WR Amarri Jackson reeled in his team high second TD catch of the year to put USF up 14-0 in the first quarter ... Freshman RB Jamar Taylor scored his first career TD on a 1 yard run in the fourth quarter ... Junior RB Ben Williams scored his first rushing TD of the season and the sixth of his career ... USF is 3-0 for just the third time in program history ... The Bulls also started 3-0 in 1998 and 2006 ... The 37 point output was the highest by the Bulls since they posted 37 at North Carolina in 2006 ... Delbert Alvarado went 3-for-3 on FG attempts (23, 32, 40) after going 2-for-6 at Auburn ... He is first Bull to make three field goals since Bill Gramatica accomplished the feat against Charleston Southern on Nov. 2, 2002 ... Tyrone McKenzie led the team with 10 tackles ... He has led the squad in two of three games this season ... The crowd of 37,753 is the fifth largest in USF history .... It is only the fifth crowd of 37,000 or more in Bulls history ...USF has scored first and had possession first in all three games this season ... The Bulls did fumble the ball four times against UNC and lose three, otherwise the final margin may have been higher .... Grothe had two fumbles that were turnovers and WR Marcus Edwards had the other ... USF is 3-0 for the third time in program history.
This and That for West Virginia
Sunday at 2:30 p.m., the first set of students arrived and put up a tent in the Sun Dome parking lot in anticipation of getting free tickets to Friday's game ... Nearly 2,000 camped overnight and USF distributed 10,000 plus student tickets by the end of the day Monday ... Neither QB in Friday's game as thrown an interception this season in 165 combined attempts ... West Virginia is the second highest NCAA FBS opponent USF has ever faced and the highest USF has faced at home ... The highest was No. 2 Oklahoma in 2002 ... USF has won five straight games dating back to its upset of No. 7 West Virginia in Morgantown on Nov. 25, 2006 ... Steve Slaton is yet to rush for 100 yards against USF ... Slaton has rushed for 100 yards in 19 of 27 career games ... Rich Rodriguez is going after his 100th career win Friday .... USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham was 5-1 against Nebraska when while part of the defensive staff at Florida State from 1985-93 ... West Virginia runs a very similar offense to the Nebraska of the 80's and 90's.
West Virginia Ties
West Virginia offensive line coach Greg Frey and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith were both on the USF staff last season ... WVU Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Calvin Magee was on the first coaching staff at USF ... Magee played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and raised his three children in the area.
By George!
Sophomore DE George Selvie began the 2007 season with a record breaking evening against Elon ... He hasn't slowed down since ... Below are Selvie's game-by-game stats:
| |
Takcles |
TFL |
Sacks |
FF |
QBH |
| Elon |
10 |
6.0 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
| Auburn |
4 |
4 |
1.5 |
0 |
3 |
| North Carolina |
6 |
5.0 |
3.0 |
0 |
0 |
Selvie broke his own single game record for tackles for loss with six against Elon ... Below is the new single game record chart for TFL:
1. George Selvie - 6, Elon, 9/1/07
2. George Selvie - 5, North Carolina, 9/22/07
George Selvie - 5, Florida International, 9/9/06
Kawika Mitchell - 5, at Oklahoma, 9/28/02
Tim Jones - 5, at Army, 9/27/03
Craig Kobel - 5, Pittsburgh, 12/4/04
Selvie also tied the USF single game record for sacks with four against Elon ... Below is who he shares the honor with :
1. George Selvie - 4, Elon, 9/1/07
Shurron Pierson - 4, Southern Miss, 10/12/02
Selvie leads all NCAA players with 8.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss despite having only played three games, when many have played four ... He is already 1.5 sacks shy of the USF single season record of 10 by Terrence Royal (2005) and Shurron Pierson (2001) ... The career record for sacks is 20 by Stephen Nicholas ... Selvie is No. 6 in the USF history book with 14 career sacks ... He is already 4.5 shy of the USF single season TFL record of 19 set by Craig Kobel in 2003 ... Selvie had 5.5 sacks as a freshman last season and has already surpassed that number in 2007 ... He was named a freshman All-American by The Sporting News.
Spotlight Matchup
A couple notes on the top-20 tilt on Friday, courtesy of the Tampa Tribune's Brett McMurphy:
? USF's game with West Virginia marks the highest ranked AP teams ever to play in Tampa. USF (No. 18) and WVU (No. 5) combined ranking betters the 2005 Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, 2005) between No. 8 Georgia and No. 16 Wisconsin. The third-highest was No. 10 Miami defeating No. 17 Florida in the 1984 season opener at Tampa Stadium.
? WVU is highest ranked team to play in Tampa. Georgia (No. 8) in 2005 Outback Bowl was previously the highest.
? Friday's game between No. 5 West Virginia and No. 18 South Florida will be only the 15th in Big East history featuring two AP Top 20 ranked league teams when at least one is in the top five. The home team (IN CAPS) has won the last five meetings and is 10-4. Below are the previous matchups
Date Big East Matchup
Nov. 9, 2006 - No. 15 RUTGERS 28, No. 3 Louisville 25
Nov. 2, 2006 - No. 5 LOUISVILLE 44, No. 3 West Virginia 34
Nov. 1, 2003 - No. 10 VIRGINIA TECH 31, No. 2 Miami 7
Dec. 7, 2002 - No. 1 MIAMI 56, No. 15 Virginia Tech 45
Nov. 21, 2002 - No. 1 MIAMI 28, No. 17 Pittsburgh 21
Dec. 1, 2001 - No. 1 Miami 26, No. 14 VIRGINIA TECH 24
Nov. 17, 2001 - No. 1 MIAMI 59, No. 14 Syracuse 0
Nov. 4, 2000 - No. 3 MIAMI 41, No. 2 Virginia Tech 21
Nov. 13, 1999 - No. 2 VIRGINIA TECH 43, No. 19 Miami 10
Oct. 16, 1999 - No. 4 VIRGINIA TECH 62, No. 16 Syracuse 0
Nov. 5, 1994 - No. 5 Miami 27, No. 10 SYRACUSE 6
Nov. 26, 1993 - No. 5 West Virginia 17, No. 11 BOSTON COLLEGE 14
Nov. 20, 1993 - No. 9 WEST VIRGINIA 17, No. 4 Miami 14
Nov. 21, 1999 - No. 1 Miami 16, No. 8 SYRACUSE 10
Team NCAA Stats
Total Defense - 7 (237.7 ypg)
Rush Defense - 13 (79 ypg)
Pass Defense - 14 (158.7 ypg)
Scoring Defense - 13 (15.3 ppg)
Turnover Margin - 5 (11-to-5 (2.0))
Interceptions - 8 (7)
Sacks - 6 (4.0)
Tackles For Loss - 4 (10.3)
Third Down Conversion Percentage - 1 (20.4)
Pass Efficiency Defense - 3 (79.95)
Individual NCAA Stats
George Selvie leads the country in sacks (8.5) ... His closest competition is Michigan State's Jonal Saint-Dic and Virginia's Chris Long, both have six sacks and have played four games ... Selvie also leads the country in tackles for loss (14.5) ... His closest competition is Michigan's Shawn Crable and Kansas' Joe Mortensen with nine in four games ... Jerome Murphy is seventh in yards per kick return (33.2) ... Mike Ford is tied for 26th in scoring, which is ranked on a per game scale (10.0) ... Nate Allen is tied for ninth in the country with an average of 0.67 interceptions per game.
Secondary to None
USF's secondary has proven early that it may be one of the best in America ... Currently, USF is ranked No. 14 in pass defense at 158.7 yards per game ... They have only allowed 250 passing yards combined to the last two opponents, Auburn and North Carolina ... Carolina was averaging 300-plus yards passing before USF held them to 85 and intercepted four passes on Sept. 22 ... The secondary has accounted for five of the team's seven picks... Sophomore FS Nate Allen has two INT, while senior cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams each have one ... SS Carlton Williams has 2.5 TFL, one sack and 16 tackles this season ... The secondary as a whole already has 18 pass breakups, led by Trae Williams with six and Jenkins with five.
Trae & J
Seniors Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins are one of the most experienced CB combos in college football, the two combined for 64 career starts over their careers ... Combined they have 11 pass breakups and two INT this season ... Both posted impressive numbers in the season opener ... Williams had five tackles, one for a loss and a pass breakup ... While Mike Jenkins had two pass breakups ... Jenkins followed that performance up with an interception late in the fourth quarter against Auburn that he nearly took in for a TD before stepping out of bounds at the three ... Recently, Mel Kiper of ESPN.com listed Mike Jenkins as the best senior CB prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft ... Last season the two also teamed up for eight interceptions, seven of which belonged to Williams, tying a single season school record (with J.R. Reed) ... His seven picks also led the BIG EAST ... The duo has been sited as the best in the BIG EAST and the state of Florida by several outlets, including ESPN.com expert Mark Schlabach.
Ticket Timing
After larger than expected walk-up numbers early in the seaso, the USF Athletic Ticket Office is encouraging fans to take a couple measures to avoid long lines ... Fans are encouraged to print single game tickets out on Ticketmaster.com ... Fans are also asked to arrive at the ticket windows/will call at least 45 minutes prior to kickoff.
Sophomores Starring
USF returned 16 starters this season and has quickly risen to national recognition despite being essentially a young team. The Bulls are receiving award worthy play from their sophomore class. At the top of that list are second year stars Matt Grothe, George Selvie and Nate Allen.
Selvie's leading the country in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (14.5), despite having played only three games this season when the majority of the country has played four. He was just named Walter Camp National Player of the Week for his 3 sacks and 5 TFLs against North Carolina. He also received a “helmet sticker” on ESPN's College Gameday Final late Saturday evening.
Grothe's numbers and recognition as the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year speak for the themselves. He has a 131 passer rating, four TD passes and 88 yards rushing this season.
Nate Allen is putting himself all over the box score with 2 INT, 20 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 tackle for loss. Allen was recently named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and Nagurski National Player of the Week after playing a part in three turnovers against Auburn.
USF has 15 underclassmen among its current projected starters on offense and defense.
Fast Starts
USF has received the ball first and scored first in all three games this season. The Bulls have scored 28 points in the first quarter of the last two games (14 vs. each opponent) and collected a TD on their first two drives against North Carolina.
Poll Position
In just its seventh season as a full time member of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, the University of South Florida football team made its first appearance in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll and the AP Top 25 Poll on Sept. 16. The Bulls debuted at No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.
Below are some notes on the rise to a ranking:
? USF was ranked for the first time exactly 10 years and 10 days after its inaugural game against Kentucky Weslyan in 1997.
? USF rose at unprecedented pace, earning an AP ranking 104 polls after becoming a full-time, bowl eligible FBS member in 2001.
?Boise State had the previous record, getting ranked after 115 AP polls during their seventh season.
? The Jim Leavitt led squad is currently No. 18 in both polls. The Bulls trail No. 17 Hawaii by 28 votes in the Coaches Poll and are ranked behind two one loss teams. USF is 29 behind No. 17 Virginia Tech in the AP and is ranked lower than three one loss teams.
? USF debuted at NO. 20 in the first Harris Poll released this week.
20,000 Season Tickets Sold
A national ranking, two wins (at the time) and now another plateau in season tickets. The USF ticket office announced on Tuesday, Sept. 18 that it had surpassed 20,000 season tickets. At the end of the business day on Tuesday, USF's season ticket total was up to 20,043. The record season ticket number of 20,619 was set in the inaugural season of 1997.
Student Allotment Increases
After a turnout that exceeded the allotted number of seats for the Elon game, the University of South Florida athletics department has dramatically increased the number of tickets available to students for the remainder of the 2007 football season.
USF will now make 12,501 seats available to the student population. The USF ticket office allotted 8,000 for the Elon game and a student attendance numbered of 8,600.
“Our students support and interest is off the charts and that is why we made the decision to allocate 12,000 seats for students for the rest of the season,” said Senior Associate Athletics Director Bill McGillis. “We had 8,600 for the opener and there is no question those numbers will grow. Student attendance is critical because they bring a level of energy, spirit and tradition that is unrivaled. Our intent is to have the largest student section in the BIG EAST and we will.”
USF is the largest school in terms of enrollment, which tops out at over 44,000, in the BIG EAST.
Monitoring matt
Matt Grothe made quite a name for himself last year en route to BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Year honors ... Grothe racked up 216 yards passing, the second highest single half total of his career, against UNC ... He built upon his legacy as a gamer by leading USF to a come-from-behind overtime win over Auburn ... After being sacked three times in the third quarter, Grothe went 6-8 for 75 passing yards, plus 25 rushing yards, and a TD pass in leading USF to the overtime win ... He began the 2007 season with 239 yards, two TDs and no picks against Elon ... The gun slinger attempted 39 passes, a career high, and completed 23 ... The Lakeland native threw for 2,576 yards on 202-317 passing while connecting on 15 touchdowns ... He also ran for 622 yards on 178 carries and rumbled for nine TD's ... For his efforts last year Grothe has been named to the Manning and Maxwell Award watch lists.
Moffitt Anchors Defense
Ben Moffitt is the lone returnee out of USF's stellar trio of linebackers from last season ... He is currently third on the team with 23 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss ... He collected a TFL and his first career interception, followed by a 41 yard return against UNC ... He began the 2007 campaign with 10 tackles, eight assisted, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup against Elon ... During the 2006 campaign, Moffitt teamed up with Stephen Nicholas ? now with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons ? and Patrick St. Louis, who is one of the Bulls' strength and conditioning coaches ... Last year Moffitt led the team in tackles with 112 and was third in tackles for a loss with 11 including four sacks ... During the summer Moffitt was named to the Bronko Nagurski Award and Butkus watch lists.
Built Ford Tough
True-freshman Mike Ford is leading the USF team in rushing yards with 170 (56.7 per game) and scoring (five TD, four rushing) ... Had just 13 yards rushing against UNC, but broke the scoring open with a five yard TD run in the first quarter ... The Sarasota native ran for 74 yards, including 59 in the first half, and 1 TD at Auburn ... He set USF freshman debut record with 3 TDs, two rushing and one receiving against Elon ... The debut record, regardless of class, for TD in a USF debut was four by Jermaine Clemons in USF's inaugural game (9-6-97) ... Ford had runs of 21 and 48 yards, which accounted for a large chunk of his 83 yards on six carries ... After the game when Ford was asked about breaking two tackles on his 48-yard run, he just said that his style was, “Ford Tough” ... ESPN college basketball commentator Dick Vitale, who lives in Sarasota, put himself among the Ford backers after watching him as a high schooler and hearing about his production in the USF opener ... No USF freshman has ever run for 100 yards in their debut.
September Numbers
USF owns a 25-17 record in the month of September ... The Bulls have won three games in the last three opening months ... In 2005 USF went 3-1 with the lone loss coming to Penn State in the opener ... In 2006, the Bulls were 3-2 with wins in the first three games before narrow losses to Kansas and Rutgers ... USF has never won more than three games in September.
Home Cooking
USF has only lost two home games over the last two seasons and just eight since the 2000 season. The Bulls have recorded one home loss or gone undefeated in eight of 10 years. USF plays six home games in 2007 and is 2-0 at Raymond James Stadium so far.
Big East Stats
USF is leading the BIG EAST in run defense (79.0), pass defense efficiency (.80.0), opponent third down conversions (20.4) and opponent first downs (46) ... USF is also second in total defense (237.7), third in pass defense (158.7), third in punting (34.1 net), third in turnover margin (2.0), third in fourth down conversions (.60) and third in time of possession (30:33) ... Nate Allen is fourth in the league in interceptions (0.67 per game) and is second in forced fumbles per game (0.5) ... Matt Grothe is third in total offense (246.7), .... Taurus Johnson is sixth in receptions per game (4.3) ... Delbert Alvarado is second in punting (44.6), second in field goals per game (1.67) and tied with four others for the lead with a perfect PAT percentage ... Mike Ford is fourth in scoring (10.0) and third in TD (5) ... Delbert Alvarado is
Making Moves
Two players changed positions during preseason camp, below are their most recent positions:
Sophomore Houston Hess - WR to LB
Freshman Alonzo McQueen - LB to DT
COACHING ?EM UP
USF head coach Jim Leavitt is now the sole remaining member of the original USF coaching staff from 1996 (when the program simply practiced for one year before playing). But Leavitt wastes no time pondering where everyone went. Rather, he's brought in Dan McCarney ? only the longest tenured head coach in the Big 12 (at Iowa State) ? and well-respected offensive coach Mike Canales, who was actually on that original USF staff before stints at NC State and Arizona as well as a stop in the NFL with the New York Jets. Canales will function as pass game coordinator and coach the receivers.
Also new to the full-time USF staff in 2007 are offensive line coach Mike Simmonds and tight ends coach Larry Scott, both of whom were graduate assistants in 2006. Meanwhile, Greg Gregory returns for his third year on the staff, but his first in the role of offensive coordinator.
USF Honors Dorsey & Camon
The 2007 USF Bulls have two stickers, bearing the initials “JC” and “KD,” for former Bulls defensive back Javan Camon, who died after a collision in an indoor football game in February, and Keeley Dorsey, the freshman running back who collapsed and died during a team conditioning workout in January.
USF also observed a moment of silence in honor of Dorsey, Camon and late Sun Dolls coach Caroline Wiren, who died in May due to complications from labor, prior to the Elon game.
Is that The Wing Tee?
USF unveiled a new formation in its win over Elon that reminds many of the famed Wing Tee. The Bulls lined up three running backs and stocked the line with two tight ends. Senior RB Ben Williams was flanked by Jamar Taylor and Mike Ford in the setup. USF used the formation twice against the Phoenix.
Tolley Back With Team
After saying in camp that he was going to call it career, sophomore OT Danny Tolley has decided to return to the team. Tolley has battled a severe groin injury and a great deal of pain that accompanied the injury. Tolley played in 11 games in 2006. On the subject, Coach Leavitt has said, “He is showing great courage.”
Where They at?
Two familiar faces will not be on the field for USF in the near future. Junior OL Matt Huners suffered an ACL tear during spring practice and will be out for a large chunk of the season. It is possible that Huners will return this season. Huners started 10 of 11 games at guard last season.
Sophomore WR Colby Erskin, who impressed by running the 40 yard dash in under 4.4 seconds, will likely be out for the entire 2007 season. Erskin torn an ACL during preseason camp. Erskin worked as a running back last season, collecting nine yards on six carries. He also had five catches for 73 yards. Erskin was making noise at the receiving position and would have challenge for playing time this fall.
Time To Stand Out
For redshirt-freshman Carlton Mitchell, it is time to make his own name in a circle of family and friends that is full of standouts.
Mitchell's mother, Angela, is the cut “man” for professional boxer Antonio Tarver. The cut man position is a male dominated occupation and Angela is considered a pioneer in the sport of boxing.
Tarver and Carlton have been close friends since the Bull wide receiver was 12. He is also close friends with Tarver's son, Antonio Jr.. Antonio Jr. is a freshman point guard at Daytona Beach Community College.
Carlton's father, Carl, is 6 feet 8 and played pro basketball in Europe for 12 years. His half-brother, Carl Jr., is 6-10 and playing professionally in the Domincan Replublic.
In his first collegiate season, Mitchell has five receptions for 36 yards.
Our Turn
There are five true freshmen listed as the top backups on the two-deep roster. OL Sampson Genus, OL Jeremiah Warren, RB Mike Ford, WR Dontavia Bogan and LS Mike Walsh.
Among redshirt freshman OG Zach Hermann has started the first two games. Other redshirt rookies WR Carlton Mitchell, WR Ednir Alcin, DE Brandon Pequese, DE Joshua Smiley and LB Sabbath Joseph are listed at the second spot at their respective positions.
BALANCE ACT
With what appears to be the deepest pool of running backs in several years and a dual threat quarterback in Matt Grothe, the USF offense, which improved 35 spots from 2005 to rank 44th nationally in 2006, may just have a chance to be the most balanced offense in the school's 11 seasons of play.
Grothe returns at quarterback, and a backfield that includes returning starter Ben Williams plus Moises Plancher, who had been named starter at the outset last year only to sustain a torn ACL in the first series of the season, junior college transfer Shawn Cannon and promising freshmen Aston Samuels and Mike Ford, should make his passing opportunities that much easier. And that's not even taking into account that Grothe himself led the team in rushing last year or the potential for true-freshman Jamar Taylor, who was Nick Saban's first commitment at Alabama and was ranked 25th nationally at his position.
The Firsts...
USF has been a member of the FBS Division since 2000, its transition year, and appeared in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 Polls for the first time on Sept. 24 .... USF debuted at No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll .... There were 124 Coaches Polls released between USF joining the FBS and its first appearance on Sept. 16 ... That is the second fastest pace to a national ranking in the history of the Coaches Poll, only trailing Boise State, who reached the polls in 114 weeks.
Starting Notes
Senior center Nick Capogna had his consecutive start streak of 14 snapped at Auburn due to a knee injury ... The fallout from that injury was Jack Griffin starting at center, while Ryan Schmidt moved up the depth chart and started at left guard ... Ben Busbee earned his first career start against Elon, as did right guard Zach Hermann ... On defense Brouce Mompremier and Nate Allen started for the first time in their careers against Elon.
T-Mac & D-Mac
Junior LB Tyrone McKenzie led Iowa State in tackles last season and transferred to USF after the 2006 season. He was able to play immediately thanks to a NCAA hardship waiver.
McKenzie was on the USF campus to start the spring semester in January.
And in early February his former head coach at Iowa State, Dan McCarney, arrived in Tampa and took the position as the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach.
The two have teamed up on defense and produced immediate results. USF held Elon to 13 points and just 33 yards rushing. McKenzie, who led Iowa State with 129 tackles in 2006 and was 10th nationally, has 26 tackles this season.
McCarney's defensive line has accounted for 11 of USF's 12 sacks this season. USF is sixth nationally with an average of 4.0 sacks per game.
