Daniels vs. Grothe as 43 Former Bulls Square Off in Alumni Flag Football Game
By Joey Johnston
You know the names and you probably remember their games. It's an impressive reunion of USF football greats — 15 players with NFL experience, five Super Bowl champions, one who captured the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup title and 17 who received some form of all-conference recognition as Bulls — and it's not just for show.
"This is for real,'' said former USF quarterback B.J. Daniels, now a member of the Bulls' current coaching staff. "It's going to get spicy out there. I just hope they have enough ice packs on the sideline. We all want to be able to walk the next day.''
Forty-three former Bulls will gather on Saturday, April 9 at Raymond James Stadium for the Alumni Game presented by Allstate that will be played at halftime of the USF Football Spring Game. And it's a quarterback matchup that's certain to stir debate among longtime USF fans.
B.J. Daniels vs. Matt Grothe.
Who's better?
"I'm not coming to lose,'' said Grothe, 35, the feisty signal-caller who won a pair of bowl games and helped the 2007 Bulls reach the nation's No. 2 ranking. "B.J. better bring it. If our side wins, he'll never hear the end of it.''
"Of course, we all think our era and our team is the best one,'' said Daniels, 32, the architect of victories against Florida State, Clemson and Notre Dame. "Matt's a little older. I might have to take it easy on him … but I won't. Here's a chance to show who's still got it.''
Daniels, who said he's motivated by working out with the current USF players, usually runs the 100-yard football field 10 times in sweats during lunch. He plays a lot of basketball.
Grothe said he works out twice a week, usually on the treadmill and in the weight room. Anything, he said, "to keep my body from falling apart.''
The chance to compete at Ray-Jay again in front of USF fans?
"I absolutely can't wait,'' Grothe said. "We'll be back with our USF brotherhood and it will be great to see everyone again.''
"It's tough to replicate that feeling of competition and running through that tunnel,'' Daniels said. "I think once we get out there with the lights on, once something is at stake … I mean, I'm getting fired up just thinking about it. Who knows what might happen?''
Former Bulls linebacker Sam Barrington, an ex-NFL player who will serve as a coach, said he has a good idea.
"This is more than a bunch of has-beens trying to prove something … although that might actually happen,'' Barrington said. "When you move on from USF, your life takes a different path and you might not hear from some of your brothers. You miss them. I expect to be laughing, hugging on the necks of a bunch of guys and talking some trash, too. There might be guys of all shapes, sizes and ages at this event, but we're all going to have something in common.''
They are all Bulls.
And to a man, they are excited about the program's current direction.
"It's a great time to be a Bull,'' Grothe said. "Since Coach (Jeff) Scott has been here, he has involved the football alumni and that is greatly appreciated. I think he knows the value of keeping the alumni involved and how important they are to the program. Believe me, we have noticed and we want to be part of it.''
Grothe, ever the competitor, plays in a kickball league each Thursday. A few weeks back, before the championship game at USF, he noticed something in his peripheral vision. He thought it was the dark clouds of a storm. Then he turned around and realized it was the towering construction of the $22-million Indoor Performance Facility.
"I hadn't been there to see it,'' Grothe said. "That thing is ginormous. It's going to be a palace when it's done. Those little spoiled brats (current players) have it pretty good. I'm happy to see it.''
"There are always former players coming around, but I haven't seen anything near this level of interest in the last decade,'' Barrington said. "There's a lot of momentum in the program and now there's momentum with the former players. We all love seeing the university trending in a good direction and the football program is definitely a huge part of that.''
The flag-football game's coaching staff will include four current NFL players — wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs), center Austin Reiter (Chiefs), tight end Mitch Wilcox (Bengals) and running back D'Ernest Johnson (Browns) — who can't compete because they are under contract.
Former All-American defensive end George Selvie will also coach, along with defensive back Kayvon Webster and linebacker Kawika Mitchell (both Super Bowl champions), along with Barrington and defensive lineman Lee Roy Selmon Jr.
Notable players include running back Andre Hall, wide receiver Amari Jackson, defensive back Mike Jenkins and wide receiver S.J. Green for Grothe's Green team, plus tight end Sean Price, wide receiver Andre Davis, defensive lineman Terrell McClain and running back Marcus Shaw for Daniels' Gold team.
Grothe said "flag football has been my nemesis.'' In 2014, while competing in a flag league at Tampa's Skyway Park, Grothe tore his left Achilles tendon. Two years later, in the same league, he tore his right Achilles.
"So now I have the world's strongest Achilles tendons,'' Grothe said. "I'll be ready to go. I look forward to competing against B.J. In truth, I love that kid. I have tremendous respect for him and always have.''
Daniels was USF's backup quarterback in 2009 when Grothe went down on a career-ending injury. The following week, Daniels engineered the memorable upset victory at FSU while Grothe was on crutches in the booth, wearing a headset and working with Daniels.
"Any time you hold a USF event and Matt Grothe's going to be there, it's pretty big time,'' Daniels said. "I've never seen a guy with such energy and fire. You can't not like the guy. He always did it with such swagger and style while putting USF on the scene nationally.
"I know the fans will love seeing him. Hey, I might have some fans, too. I know our team will give them something to cheer about. We're a USF brotherhood for sure. But on that night, we want to win.''
USF FOOTBALL ALUMNI FLAG-FOOTBALL GAME
Saturday, April 9 • Halftime of Spring Game
Raymond James Stadium
GREEN TEAM
Coaches — Austin Reiter, Lee Roy Selmon Jr., George Selvie, Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Players — Darren Bishop, Marc Dile, Louis Gachette, S.J. Green, Matt Grothe, Andre Hall, Nigel Harris, Cedric Hill, Amari Jackson, Mike Jenkins, Thor Jozwiak, Pat Julmiste, Keith McCaskill, Sam Miller, Jay Mize, Isaac Virgin, Jeremiah Warren.
GOLD TEAM
Coaches — Sam Barrington, D'Ernest Johnson, Kawika Mitchell, Kayvon Webster, Mitch Wilcox.
Players — George Baker, Tyson Butler, B.J. Daniels, Andre Davis, Sampson Genus, Vincent Jackson Jr., Josh Julmiste, Mike Lanaris, Eric Lee, Kevin McCaskill, Terrell McClain, Sean Price, Marcus Shaw, Patrick St. Louis, Quenton Washington, Theo Wilson, Jerrell Young.
