GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

October 12

TAMPA -- The University of South Florida football team did not move in either national college football poll after enjoying a bye this past weekend.

The Bulls stay at No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 20 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll.  USF remains the highest ranked BIG EAST team with Pitt (No. 23 in the coaches poll) being the only other ranked conference team.

Here are links to the complete rankings: AP Poll | Coaches Poll

Daily Links
? Tampa Tribune beat writer Brett McMurphy put the Bulls at No. 19 on his ballot this week.

? ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett writes that the BIG EAST is going to be even more unpredictable than we think.

? West Virginia's Noel Devine had a career high 188 yards to help drop the Bulls upcoming opponent, Syracuse, to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in league play.

GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

October 10

Daily Links
? Joe Rienzi writes,"The USF football team had its “Bull Bowl,” a scrimmage among the scout team players, Thursday. Although there wasn't an official score, the offenses ? led by freshmen quarterbacks B.J. Daniels and Evan Landi ? were declared the winners by coach Jim Leavitt."

? ESPN.com's Brian Bennett's Blog

GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire

October 9

GoUSFBulls.com Must See
? Check out an exclusive GoUSFBulls.com One on One video with ESPN's Erin Andrews 

Daily Links
? The Sarasota Herald Tribune writes,"The USF players talked all season about avoiding the pitfalls that befell them last season, but it didn't help and left them wondering if a bad cloud of deja vu was hovering over this team."

? The Bucs Beat writes of the St. Petersburg Times,"Former USF linebacker Ben Moffitt, who was released by the Houston Texans at final cuts, signed a contract on Tuesday to join the Bucs' practice squad."

? Brett McMurphy's Notebook.

Video: Watch Leavitt's Post Practice Interview

TAMPA -- USF head coach Jim Leavitt said that Dunedin native Theo Wilson may return to action against Syracuse on Oct. 18, after initial reports had him out a few games. 

Wilson left the win over NC State on Sept. 27 with a knee injury.

But there was an even bigger surprise to come.  Leavitt announced that Wilson will come back as a wide receiver.  The junior played quarterback and wide receiver at Pearl River Community College in 2006 and 2007, but began his USF career as a cornerback.

"We want to get the ball in his hands," said Leavitt. "He's not in the rotation (at corner). Four other guys are (in the rotation) and next year we add two more.  Theo is an outstanding football player.  We saw what he can do on kickoff and punt returns against NC State, so we'll just keep him on the offensive side."

Wilson leaves a crowded secondary for a stacked wide receiving group.  The Bulls have 15 players that have caught passes this season, including eight receivers.

? Leavitt also said that an ankle injury suffered by Marc Dile, "is not a major deal."  He did sit out practice Wednesday but the injury should not linger into next weekend.

He also said that he would take it day-by-day with defensive lineman George Selvie and Terrell McClain, who are both battling nagging ankle injuries.

? Tampa Tribune writer Brett McMurphy asked about Leavitt's plans during a rare bye weekend and predictably Leavitt said he would, "just watch football." 

As for his alma mater Missouri, he is very impressed with Chase Daniel and the work of their coaching staff. 
"I watched the Nebraska-Missouri last weekend," said Leavitt. "I'm very impressed with their team and their quarterback.  The leadership of Chase Daniel is impressive to watch."

And he'll be tuning in for the upcoming Saturday night game between Missouri and Oklahoma State, which he expects to be a, "great game."

Vote Grothe For The Davey O'Brien Award
Fans can defend their Bull pride and support Matt Grothe for the 2008 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award? (The O'Brien) by visiting http://www.voteobrien.org/. The 2008 season marks the second year fans will have a voice in determining The O'Brien Winner.

At this stage of the selection process the top three fan vote recipients will be added to The O'Brien Semifinalist List, determined by the O'Brien Selection Committee, which will be announced October 27.

This year the O'Brien has developed several ways for fans to show their Bull pride. The O'Brien has created a new Facebook application so fans can challenge their friends to show their support. The new application can be found by searching O'Brien Fan Vote and clicking the Applications tab or at http://apps.new.facebook.com/daveyobrien/.

New this year, fans who register will also have the opportunity to be entered into the “Defend Your Pride. VoteO'Brien.org Sweepstakes.” The contest will award one fan and a guest the chance to attend the 2009 Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner on February 16, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. They will enjoy transportation and accommodations as well as receive the opportunity to attend a private reception and the Awards Dinner.

Grothe fans can register and vote by visiting http://www.voteobrien.org/. Each fan must complete an online registration in order to cast a vote with the option of entering the “Defend Your Pride. VoteO'Brien.org Sweepstakes.” Once registered, voters are allowed to vote as often as once daily while voting is open. For complete

Daily Links
? Matt Hayes of The Sporting News list's Bulls Quarterback Matt Grothe as one of The 20 Most Indispensable College Football Players

? ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett writes,"But by Monday, as the players reconvened, the mood had lightened a little bit. Sure, South Florida (5-1, 0-1 Big East) has blown its chance for an unbeaten season and a long shot BCS title run. Not everything has come to an end, however. The primary goal of winning the school's first conference championship remains alive, though more difficult to attain."

? Bennett's BIG EAST mail bag.

? Mike Derocco of Jacksonville.com writes,"Florida will have one of the nation's top pass-rushers in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Gators, he doesn't play for them."

? Coach Leavitt's Radio Show is taking a bye just like the football team.  It will return to Moe's in New Tampa and 1010 WQYK AM on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. 

Coach Leavitt has passed the showcase for his weekly coaches show to some of the other fall sports.  The USF Sports Magazine will air from 6 -6:30 p.m. this Thursday on Brighthouse Sports Network.  You can watch the full show in the GoUSFBulls.com Multimedia area one day after it airs on BHSN.

Daily Links
? SuperBull XII, also known as homecoming, is around the corner and USF.edu has the week of events covered at homecoming.usf.edu.

? Brett McMurphy's Blog.

TAMPA --  The 2008 USF Homecoming game against Syracuse on Oct. 18 has been scheduled for a Noon Eastern kickoff. The game will be broadcast locally by the BIG EAST Network and will be televised locally by WFTS-TV ABC Channel 28.

The USF vs. Syracuse showdown is the BIG EAST Game of the Week and will have Mike Gleason, John Congemi and Quint Kessenich calling the action.

The Bulls have a bye this week.  A complete list of national affiliates can be found at this link.

Daily Links
? Joe Rienzi writes,"A year ago, when the Bulls took their first loss on a Thursday night at Rutgers, the disappointment snowballed into a three-game losing streak that cost them a shot at a Big East title. That experience might help the Bulls avoid a repeat performance when they return Oct. 18 at home against Syracuse."

? ESPN.com Blogger Brian Bennett's Weekend recap and "What we learned."

? Brian Costa of the Miami Herald writes,"But the teams that have benefited most from the non-Saturday games are those such as USF, which has had a greater platform for its rise to national prominence than it would have had 10 years ago."

? Brett McMurphy writes," Whether it's the added attention or the heightened expectations, the Bulls have not handled the bull's-eye of being ranked very well."