Daily Links
? With Brian Bennett Putting Cincy's Tony Pike at No.2 in his The Big East's Best series. I think we have a pretty good idea who No. 1 is.
? Here's What Brett McMurphy had to say about the Huskies and Bulls dance off,"With the University of South Florida and UConn in the midst of a 5-hour, 15-minute rain delay, the Bulls and Huskies did what any group of college kids would do to pass the time ? they started dancing.
As a steady rain fell down on Bright House Field, players from both teams emerged from their dugouts at about 8:30 p.m. and held an impromptu 30-minute dance off. (Thanks to the Big East for the video feed).
“That was pretty neat,” USF coach Lelo Prado said. “I hope both teams play that good on the field [Friday]. If so, it will be a helluva ball game.”
Check out Greg Auman quick little Q&A with former Bull and now Bucs' rookie Jarriett Buie.
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? ESPN.com's Brian Bennett's BIG EAST Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
May 21 |
Daily Links ? After knowing that both George Selvie and Matt Grothe were going to be ranked in the Top 5, Brian Bennett od ESPN.com unveiled that he ranks Bulls' QB Matt Grothe as the third best player in his "
The Big East's best" series. Now that Grothe is No. 3, now the question is who is No. 1? Is George Selvie or Cincy QB Tony Pike the choice for No. 1?.
Check out what Bennett has to say about the Bulls signal caller,"Now this should prompt an interesting debate.
I probably could have ranked Grothe No. 1, considering that he's probably the most recognizable star in the Big East right now and means so much to his team. There are some, including many commenters on this list recently, who don't think Grothe even belongs in the top five because of his penchant for turnovers and his questionable NFL potential. Both sides have a point.
? Brett McMurphy recaps baseball's 12-2 win over PItt in the first round of the BIG EAST Championships. He writes,"Coming off the University of South Florida's three-game collapse last weekend at Louisville and Wednesday's early morning wake-up call, University of South Florida coach Lelo Prado was afraid his team might sleep-walk through its Big East Tournament opener.
Prado's concerns quickly disappeared.
Freshman Sam Mende had four RBIs, including a three-run home run, and senior Chris Rey added two hits and three RBIs to back the pitching of Randy Fontanez as USF pummeled Pittsburgh 12-2."
? Kerry Klecic editor of the USF Oracle, looks at the Bulls' 12-2 win over Pitt and Bulls ace Randy Fontanez's gem of a performance. He writes,"Randy Fontanez waited and waited and waited.
Nearly two weeks since his last start ? and after Tuesday night's game was postponed ? USF's ace finally took the mound for USF and recovered from a slow start to lead the second-seeded Bulls to a 12-2 first-round victory in eight innings over seventh-seeded Pittsburgh in the Big East baseball tournament at Bright House Field in Clearwater.
Fontanez, who has given up 26 percent of his runs this season in the first two innings, delivered his sixth complete game, giving up two earned runs on eight hits while striking out one to move his record to 7-3."
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? ESPN.com's Brian Bennett's BIG EAST Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
May 20 |
Daily Links ? Intresting article on Bulls' defensive end David Bedford by Dan Moffett of the Palm Beach Post. The article highlights the maturation that Bedford has underwent since graduating Palm Beach Lakes High School. He
writes,"My friend David Bedford is a fine example of the transformational powers of an athletic scholarship. David is about to turn 20 and begin his junior year at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end on a Bulls team that is rated in the nation's top 25.
Mr. Bedford attended Palm Beach Lakes High School in West Palm Beach, where he quickly built a reputation as one of the top players in the area. By the time he graduated in 2006, college scouts from big schools were calling, among them Alabama, Arkansas, Louisville and Minnesota. But the scouts' interest waned when they looked at David's academic record. He had worked much harder on the football field than in the classroom, and couldn't get the SAT score needed to get into a major university.
Almost at the last minute, he took a scholarship offer to play football at Independence Community College in Kansas. For someone who grew up in the Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard neighborhoods, going to Independence (population 10,000) was like landing on Mars. The social life at ICC came down to a pool table in the dorm and a Kmart down the road. The winter came with an arctic fury no Florida kid could have imagined.
? Brian Bennett of ESPN.com mentions Bulls back up QB Evan Landi in his From nowhere to somewhere this spring in the Big East piece. He writes,"B.J. Daniels got most of the hype as Matt Grothe's understudy at quarterback. Heck, Jim Leavitt wasn't even sure he wanted Landi two years ago on the recruiting trail. But given a chance to shine this spring, Landi wowed everyone with his work at quarterback and receiver, forcing his way into some fall playing time somewhere."
? Oracle Columnist Jonathan Mulder takes a look at the steps taken by Stan Heath with his recent recruiting efforts. He writes,"After finishing the 2008-09 season with a disappointing 9-22 record, the only direction the USF men's basketball team can go is up, and coach Stan Heath is making sure the Bulls head in that direction.
As recruiting winds down, Heath needs to focus on improving last season's poor performance with this year's class.
The Bulls return seven players, including guard Dominique Jones, who led the team in points, steals and rebounds.
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? ESPN.com's Brian Bennett's BIG EAST Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
May 19 |
Daily Links ? Brett McMurphy features Bulls' infielder Brandon Smith, who has been an inspiration on and off the field this season. McMurphy
writes,"Last spring, Brandon Smith spent nearly three weeks in Tampa General Hospital. The majority of his stay was in the intensive care unit. He underwent eight surgeries. One day his lung filled with two liters of blood. He also had a rib removed.
He lost 35 pounds and basically had given up hope of playing baseball again for the University of South Florida.
The worst part, though?
"The smell," Smith said. "The hand sanitizer they use in Tampa General, it was the worst. Every time someone walked in, they wipe up, come and talk to you, get right next to you. I can still smell it to this day.""
? Brian Bennett of ESPN.com gives some other players who might not have been household names before the spring, but you should remember who they are come the fall. In he piece he mentions Ed Alcin who has a emerged into an offensive threat.
Here's what he has to say about the speedy Alcin," He had only two catches last year but worked as a starting wide receiver most of the spring. And he's one of the fastest Bulls on the team."
? The Boston Herald features a blurb on former Bull Tyrone McKenzie stating that he is “upbeat” despite season-ending injury
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? ESPN.com's Brian Bennett's BIG EAST Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
May 18 |
Daily Links ? Greg Auman features Bulls' ace Randy Fontanez and pitching coach Lazar Collazo persistent recruiting efforts in getting Fontanez to USF. He
writes,"
Lazer Collazo made it simple for Randy Fontanez: USF's pitching coach wasn't leaving the recruit's Oviedo home until he got a commitment.
The visit lasted long enough that Fontanez's mother made the coach dinner, and midway through the ribs, steak, beans and rice, Collazo stopped eating. He wasn't going to finish his plate until Fontanez accepted his offer to pitch for the Bulls.
"He stayed for three or four hours," Fontanez said. "It worked. I'm here."
Two years later, Collazo has an ace to show for his persistence."
? Brian Bennett, ESPN.com's BIG EAST blogger, features the Bulls Strength and Conditioning program as he talked to Coach Ron McKeefery about safety Nate Allen, cornerback Jerome Murphy and defensive tackle Terrell McClain as the trio jumps off the charts in terms of weight room numbers. Bennett named the three to a list of BIG EAST workout warriors. He writes," Last summer, South Florida strength coach Ron McKeefery was pushing his players pretty hard in the weight room. Nose tackle Terrell McClain got a bit frustrated and walked out to get some water.
On his way back in, McClain stopped in front of a six-foot ledge that borders the weight area. He calmly reached one hand on the ledge -- and then leaped right over it. Keep in mind that McClain weighs 304 pounds.
"I was like, you've got to be kidding me," McKeefery said. "That was like jumping a 6-foot-fence with just putting your hand on top of it."
No matter how long strength and conditioning coaches have been at it -- and McKeefery in his ninth season with the Bulls --- they still find themselves surprised sometimes by the athletes in their care. Some are just freaks -- or workout warriors, as we're highlighting today on ESPN.com.
? The Times previews the this weeks BIG EAST Baseball Championship. It reads,"USF led the Big East much of the year, but Louisville swept the Bulls last week to earn the top seed. Louisville is the only team in the RPI top 60 and could be the only NCAA tourney team if it wins. A free opening ceremony at Bright House Field starts at 6 tonight and includes a home run derby. USF's Trey Manz (six HRs) will compete. The favorites are Louisville's Chris Dominguez (21) and Cincinnati's Mike Spina (22)."
? Phil Neary of the Oracle previews the Bulls' and the BIG EAST Tournament. He writes,"USF's road towards a possible NCAA regional took a hit this weekend.
After being swept in three games by Louisville, it's becoming more likely that the Bulls will have to win the Big East tournament to make a postseason appearance.
Sophomore Randy Fontanez is expected to get the call when the Bulls face No. 7-seed Pittsburgh in the first round of the Big East tournament Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Bright House Field in Clearwater.
? J.I. Halsell of PatriotsInsider.com writes what will What Happens To Tyrone McKenzie Now?
? In his article on Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner, Cory McCartney of Sports Illustrated writes that Matt Grothe is tied with Skinner for the second highest win total among active quarterbacks. The two only trail Texas' Colt McCoy(32).
? Dave Curtis of Sporting News' does a BIG EAST spring round up. He writes,"The arrival of two new coordinators -- Mike Canales on offense and Joe Tresey on defense -- made it a spring of learning and tweaking for the Bulls. Each got rave reviews from QB Matt Grothe and DE George Selvie, both all-league candidates, during the spring ."
? Check out Alan Dell of rivals.com's USF notebook. He has a couple good factoids about the Bulls including an endorsement from Ravens cornerback Fabain Washington. He writes,"Baltimore Ravens defensive back Fabian Washington never met Jim Leavitt, but the USF head football coach might want to put him on his preferred persons list or better yet invite him out to dinner.
Washington, who holds the record for the NFL combine's fastest 40 yard time (4.25 seconds), was in the Tampa Bay area recently to visit his mom in Bradenton. In talking football, the former Nebraska standout gave an unsolicited boost to the USF program."
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? ESPN.com's Brian Bennett's BIG EAST Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
