TAMPA - The University of South Florida has unveiled $10 upper bowl tickets for the Oct. 15 game between the No. 23/24 Bulls and No. 8/10 Cincinnati Bearcats.
Fans that are interested in reserving seats in the lower bowl can still purchase Mini Plans, which are selling quickly after the Florida State and Syracuse wins. The pick three Mini Plans allow fans to purchase tickets to three of the final four home games for as low as $50.
The $10 tickets are usually priced at $20, but have been slashed in support of the Go Green initiative around the Cincinnati game.
Leavitt Press Conference | DC Joe Tresey Press Conference
B.J. Daniels Press Conference | OC Mike Canales Press Conference
Joe Tresey Talks Cincinnati
USF defensive coordinator Joe Tresey was the focal point of a lot of media attention on Tuesday as the Bulls prepare for Cincinnati.
Tresey was the defensive coordinator for the Bearcats last season, when they won the BIG EAST Conference and played in the Fed Ex Orange Bowl.
"Whether its Pittsburgh or Cincinnati, they are going to have my full attention," said Tresey. "I am just focused on getting our defense ready to play. We haven't beaten Cincinnati in three straight meetings and there is a lot riding on this game."
Coach Tresey was even compared to Minnesota Viking Brett Favre.
"That's a first," he said.
Favre faced his old team, the Green Bay Packers, on Monday Night Football yesterday.
"I heard he said he was very nervous all week,'" said Tresey. "I am very close with the some of the kids on their (Cincinnati) defense... but once I get out there its about South Florida and I am focused on the getting my team to play."
The leader of the Bulls defense, which leads the country in fumble recoveries and is second in total turnovers forced, doesn't plan on changing his approach because he is familiar with the opponent.
"All the things you coach weekly and daily against every team, can't be any different against Cincinnati," said Tresey. "We've got to do what we do and be able to make adjustments on the fly and go."
Tresey admitted that he is in very unique situation, facing his old team, and one that he's never experienced before.
"This doesn't happen very often at our level," he said. "Now in the NFL this happens all the time because they recycle people."
Mike Canales Quotes
So what is going through the mind of the coaching staff with knowing what is ahead of you?
"I think our biggest thing right now is going back to fundamentals and just working on all the little things that will make us better in the long run. Right now we are more concerned about blocking, tackling, throwing, catching and getting ourselves in the proper alignment in all our pass schemes. I think that is what you really take the time in your bye week to go back and focus on."
Talk about Carlton Mitchell and how you guys have been able to make bigger plays this year down field.
"I think the emphasis was placed on trying to pushing the ball down the field a little bit, moving the pocket and changing the launch point for the quarterback. When you do that you establish routes down the field a little bit better and you when you change the launch point for the quarterback you are able to extend the play. If you extend the play then routes get further down the field which means you are able to push the ball down the field and see if you can get safety's or corners out of position. That is what has happened and it has given us the ability to push the ball down the field."
What do you think it will be like emotionally for Coach Tresey to go up against his former team one year later?
"Anytime you are playing another team that you are very close to it is going to pull on your heart strings. I know Coach Tresey is excited about this game and we are excited for him. This is going to be a great event and it will create a great atmosphere for everyone in attendance. It is a great college game with two ranked teams in Raymond James Stadium. We couldn't ask for anything better. This is what you coach for. You coach for these games right here."
Jim Leavitt Quotes
Opening Statement
"The Syracuse game was a BIG EAST win which was important and it was a road win which is always difficult. I was happy with how our guys handled the game. We went into halftime 14-13. We fumbled the ball right there before half which is always disappointing and our defense let them in the end zone. So it was kind of tough and we really had to find out a little about our football team because we went into halftime where some things had happened against us. We had to come out and see how we would handle that on the road. For us to come out and play the third quarter the way we did I thought was pretty good. We didn't play a great game because there were a number of things we could have done better but we did some awfully good things as well. I thought BJ handled the situation pretty well and I thought the guys played really hard."
Quote on Cincinnati
"Cincinnati is as good as people saying they are. Pike is a tremendous quarterback and they have number of very good receivers. They have a couple of running backs who are very good and I am very impressed with the offensive line. The kicking game is very good and they are very well coached. You can tell they have thought through the process and this is a team that is very strong. That is what you would expect out of a top 10 team. It will be an exciting night and a big showcase for BIG EAST football."
You said it was going to be week 5 when Jason Peter Paul was going to come into his own so that is what we saw last weekend.
"I thought it would really take 4 or5 weeks for him to get rolling or to see where he is at and he has done some good things. I don't think he is playing at the top of his game though yet. I think he is doing some good things but I think there is a lot of room there still. It depends on Jason and how hard it wants to continue to work at it and focus at it. The thing I have been impressed about with him is his demeanor, he is coachable, he responds and he wants to get better, and he is always studying film. As long as he keeps doing those things he will be fine."
Why do you think the team has been able to hit on the long passes more this year?
"I have always been a head coach who wants to stretch the field vertically. BJ can make all the throws and I think a lot of it is with Carlton too. He is much more focused and he is more dependable than has been in the past.
Do you see any negatives about having a bye week?
"The game is what it is and we always look for positives. The positive part is we have a couple extra days to prepare and we can rest some guys for a day. We have time to go out and recruit a little bit. We don't think about negatives."
BJ Daniels Quotes
Can you just talk about your excitement for the Cincinnati game.
"It is exciting for Tampa and for our school. To have a top 10 team come in on a Thursday night and everyone is watching is pretty cool"
Do you hate having a bye week right now?
"It doesn't really fell like a bye week right now. We have full pads today and tomorrow so it doesn't really feel any different to me right now."
What does Carlton Mitchell bring to the offense?
"He brings a lot. He is fast, he is tall and he is definitely a threat. He helps stretch out the defense and he is a big factor in our offense."
Did you talk to Coach Tresey a little bit about what to except with the Cincinnati defense?
"He talked to the team a little bit. He let us know a couple of things that would help us out as far as their defensive philosophy. We still have to go out there, though, and do what we need to do on offense."
