LAKELAND, Fla. -- The University of South Florida Polytechnic will present the Fall 2009 Distinguished Service Award to Matt Grothe at its Dec. 14 commencement.
           
The award is usually given to a community leader or major donor who has had a significant impact on the local campus. Grothe's impact on the campus, however, was felt in unconventional ways, according to Dr. Marshall Goodman, VP and CEO of USF Polytechnic.
           
"Matt hasn't spent a lot of time on our campus, and he hasn't bought us a new building," says Goodman. "What he's done, however, is help to connect our region with the USF system in ways that simply weren't done before he became a Bull. Before Matt, I think our community's connection to 'the upstart program in Tampa' was a lot less obvious. But after Matt, there's no doubt that we see a real sense of ownership of the team and of the brand. His impact is unmistakable."
           
A native of Lakeland, Grothe shattered records as a student athlete at USF, and he probably did more than anyone else to strengthen the connection between USF and central Florida. When he graduated from Lake Gibson High School in 2005 as a Bulls recruit, USF was often overlooked, even in his hometown newspaper. According to John Fitzwater, retired publisher of The Ledger (Lakeland's newspaper of record), "Readers of the newspaper wanted to know 'How did Matt do?' His success, and the success of the Bulls, was a matter of local pride."

Learn More About USF Polytechnic | Complete Release on Poly.USF.Edu

           
Now, Goodman notes, as Grothe prepares to graduate this weekend from USF with a degree in criminology, his hometown has fully embraced its local state university and the excitement of Big East athletics, and USF is a fixture on the front pages of papers throughout the region.
              

"Throughout his dynamic career, every time Grothe's name was mentioned, so was his hometown," says Goodman. "As he gained fans across the country, USF also gained fans here in central Florida. As Grothe and the Bulls prospered, so did USF Polytechnic."
           
Fitzwater agrees: "There is no question that the arrival of Matt Grothe on the scene at the University of South Florida generated increased interest in the Bulls in Lakeland."    
           
It is no coincidence that during Grothe's career his famous No. 8 jersey became a common sight on the USF Polytechnic campus. Indeed, because of the excitement Grothe and his teammates generated, USF Poly had its first ever waiting line for student football tickets.
      
Grothe's response to the award reveals the loyalty and humility that have so captivated a community: "I'm honored to be recognized in my hometown of Lakeland and by USF Polytechnic. Any accomplishment during my career is directly related to my upbringing in this great town and the lessons I have learned during my time here."
           
Grothe graduates as the most celebrated Polk County athlete in USF history and one of the most dominant offensive players in university history. He became a starter as a redshirt freshman in 2006 and was in the starting lineup for every game of his career, a span of 41 games. During that time he became the Big East career leader in total offense with 10,875 yards. He rushed for 2,206 yards and scored 23 touchdowns over 42 career games. He passed for 8,669 yards and 52 touchdowns, both of which are the second-best marks in USF history. He is also the only quarterback to lead the Bulls to top 25 rankings in two consecutive seasons, including a best-ever No. 2 ranking, and the only USF quarterback to win two bowl games, including the program's first-ever bowl victory.
            
At Lake Gibson, Grothe earned Class 4A Player of the Year honors and led the Braves to a state championship game. As a senior he threw for 2,700 yards and ran for 1,250, with 33 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns.
           
An avid outdoorsman, Grothe enjoys hunting and fishing. He is the son of Matt and Brenda Grothe. 
           
USF Polytechnic is the newest campus in the USF system. USF Poly's fall commencement takes place Monday, Dec. 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lakeland Center's Youkey Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.