News Conference Video: Jim Leavitt | Matt Grothe | Bowl Central
TAMPA -- The Bulls officially began bowl week with a new conference on campus Monday afternoon.
USF head coach Jim Leavitt, Matt Grothe, Tyrone McKenzie, Carlton Williams and St. Petersburg native Jerrelll Young were among the USF representatives that met with the media.
We have complete video of the Leavitt and Grothe's press conferences, as well as quotes:
USF Head Coach Jim Leavitt
On playing in Tropicana Field...
I'm excited about seeing the layout. I've heard bout it, but I haven't been over there and seen how they lay the turf out over the infield. It should be a neat deal. I had a chance to play in a baseball stadium over in the Coca-Cola Bowl in Japan. I was at Kansas State and we played Nebraska. It was very similar. The stands were on one side. It was really quite an experience. That is the only other time that I have played indoors in a baseball type stadium.
On Memphis...
Memphis is an outstanding team. They are an explosive team. They can score a lot of points in a hurry. They have great athletes at receiver. Their tight end does a great job catching and blocking. They have an outstanding running back. Their offensive line is very good. Their quarterback is an outstanding athlete. I just got done watching him on film run away from a bunch of people on some very good teams. Defensively, they are big, strong and athletic. They are a very good football team. They are hot right now. They have won a bunch of games at the end. I think it is going to be a tremendous game.
USF Quarterback Matt Grothe
On playing in Tropicana...
I think it is a little louder in the dome. I'm sure it is going to be loud. We will have to deal with that. I don't think the lights will be too big of an issue. It is just like playing in the middle of the day. I'm looking forward to it. It is going to be a lot of fun.
On Memphis' defense...
They are fast. They like to play a lot of man coverage and like to blitz a lot. At the same time, you can get them into some positions that they don't want to be in and take advantage of it.
On how the USF Football program has grown...
I'd say the biggest difference is in the media. Back in high school you would only catch a glimpse of USF once or twice a year. Now we are on TV quite a few times, playing on ESPN and ESPN2 all the time. That is how all the big programs started. We just have to take what we have done the last couple of years and learn from it and build off of it.
