Updated at 11:30 a.m. -- The Bulls have debuted at No. 19 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, two spots higher than their ranking in the USA Today/Coaches Poll.
It marks the first time USF has been ranked in either preseason poll. USF is one of three BIG EAST teams to earn a ranking. Pittsburgh is No. 25 and West Virginia is No. 8. Non-conference opponent Kansas (Sept. 12 at Raymond James) landed at No. 14, while BIG EAST foes Cincinnati, Rutgers and UConn are in the receiving votes category.
USF and Florida are the only state schools ranked, with the Gators at No. 5. Florida State is receiving votes.
Click Here to View the Complete AP Poll | Coaches Poll
Scrimmage Notes
? Touchdowns were scored by A.J. Love, Dontavia Bogan and Jamar Taylor. Love and Matt Grothe connected on the highight of the scrimmage with a 60-yard catch and score. Bogan's touchdown reception was from five yards out, while Taylor's was a short run from inside the five.
Video: Leavitt Post-Scrimmage Interview
? Senior CB Tyller Roberts had an interception while the No. 1 defense went against the second team offense. George Selvie racked up three sacks against the No. 2 offense. Selvie was taken out of the scrimmage early after imposing his will against a true-freshman offensive tackle.
? Coach Leavitt had the No. 1 offense going against the No. 2 defense, and vice versa, until he, "got mad... because they we weren't very sharp," and had the first units go against each other.
? Alums Pat Julmiste and Bill Gramatica were on hand for the scrimmage. Also in attendance was former Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Mark Royal.
Updated at 9:30 a.m. -- The Saturday morning scrimmage is closed to the public and media as the coaching staff begins to finetune their gameplans for the 2008 season.
GoUSFBulls.com will check with coaches and players after the scrimmage so we can bring you some of the individual highlights.
Here is a look at the latest in the best of series...
The Best of the Running Backs
With fall football camp in full swing, GoUSFBulls.com will periodically run a "Best of..." feature for various positions throughout the team. We recently sat down with four USF running backs to talk about the “Best of...” in nine different categories.
Mike Ford's answers
Who talks the most trash among the RB's? Jamar Taylor
Who watches the most film on the opposing defense? Ben Williams
Who's the best power back? Me
Who's the best breakaway back? Ben Williams or Jamar Taylor
Who do you consider to be the leader among the group? Ben Williams
Who is the smartest out of the bunch? Me
Who is the hardest worker? Ben Williams
Who gets yelled at the most? Me
Who is most likely to become an NFL superstar? Ben Williams
Ben Williams' answers
Who talks the most trash among the RB's? Mike Ford
Who watches the most film on the opposing defense? Me
Who's the best power back? Mike Ford
Who's the best breakaway back? Jamar Taylor
Who do you consider to be the leader among the group? Me
Who is the smartest out of the bunch? Everybody
Who is the hardest worker? Everybody
Who gets yelled at the most? Nobody
Who is most likely to become an NFL superstar? Me (because he is a senior)
Jamar Taylor's answers
Who talks the most trash among the RB's? Nobody
Who watches the most film on the opposing defense? Everybody
Who's the best power back? Richard Kelly, Ben Williams, Mike Ford and Shawn Cannon
Who's the best breakaway back? Everybody
Who do you consider to be the leader among the group? Ben Williams
Who is the smartest out of the bunch? Coach Leavitt
Who is the hardest worker? Everybody
Who gets yelled at the most? Me
Who is most likely to become an NFL superstar? Everybody
Richard Kelly's answers
Who talks the most trash among the RB's? Mike Ford
Who watches the most film on the opposing defense? Ben Williams
Who's the best power back? Ben Williams
Who's the best breakaway back? Mike Ford or Jamar Taylor
Who do you consider to be the leader among the group? Ben Williams
Who is the smartest out of the bunch? Ben Williams
Who is the hardest worker? Ben Williams
Who gets yelled at the most? Me
Who is most likely to become an NFL superstar? Ben Williams
The Winner's Are...
Who talks the most trash among the RB's? Mike Ford (2), Jamar Taylor (1), Nobody (1)
Who watches the most film on the opposing defense? Ben Williams (3), Everybody (1)
Who's the best power back? Mike Ford (3), Ben Williams (2), Richard Kelly (1), Shawn Cannon (1)
Who's the best breakaway back? Jamar Taylor (3), Mike Ford (1), Ben Williams (1), Everybody (1)
Who do you consider to be the leader among the group? Ben Williams (Unanimous Selection)
Who is the smartest out of the bunch? Jim Leavitt (1), Mike Ford (1), Ben Williams (1), Everybody (1)
Who is the hardest worker? Ben Williams (2), Everybody (2)
Who gets yelled at the most? Richard Kelly (1), Jamar Taylor (1), Mike Ford (1), Nobody (1)
Who is most likely to become an NFL superstar? Ben Williams (3), Everybody (1)
Daily Links
? Dave Curtis of The Sporting News writes, "Now one of the Sunshine State's big-boy programs, South Florida is entering its eighth year of Division I-A football with adult-sized standards. After back-to-back nine-win seasons, the Bulls face the prospect of the sport's toughest leap -- from good to great. '"It's a steeplechase barrier," says Jim Leavitt, the only coach in the program's 11-season history. "To win 10, 11 games, to get in that category, not many teams do that now."'
? It you haven't subscribed to Sporting News Today yet, check it out. The online magazine is delivered to your email box every morning and they devote an entire page each day to BIG EAST football.
? Greg Auman of the St. Pete Times caught up with offensive lineman Matt Huners yesterday and the senior offensive lineman wants to earn back his starting spot. Auman also filed an updated on the return of two softball pitchers.
? We had a link to a similar story earlier in the week, but Old Dominion is starting a football program and they are using the blueprint of USF and Jim Leavitt, according to DailyPress.com.
? NCAAFootball.com in a preview of the Kansas Jayhawks writes, "True enough, but their pillowy-soft preconference schedule was what made the Jayhawks' school-record 12-1 mark suspect in the eyes of many. It wasn't the teams they played in the league that happened to be, through no fault of the Jayhawks, going through down years. But none of that is a problem now. Once again, in fact, Mangino may wind up using the schedule to psyche up his troops. The road is about to get much, much tougher. Despite the loss of several key players, the Jayhawks could be better than last year and not have nearly as fine a record."
? We have tracked down a couple links on UT-Martin, who comes to Tampa on Aug. 30 for the season opener. The latest news article detailed a visit by Steve McNair to training camp on Aug. 6. The Skyhawks official site has news on an upcoming Turf Party in celebration of the new playing surface at their home stadium, Hardy M. Graham Stadium.
? Dave Glaser of USFBullseye has posted a Q&A with Grant Gregory.
