Charleston Gazette Previews USF Bulls Football

[Brad]

July 06, 2007 

WVU football opponents

WVU game 5: South Florida

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the eighth in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with West Virginia: Friday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

Site: Raymond James Stadium (65,657, grass), Tampa, Fla.

Coach: Jim Leavitt (11th year, 70-43)

Checking them out

Quarterback Matt Grothe turned out to be one of the best freshmen in the country last season and South Florida’s defense was good enough to hold West Virginia to 19 points and 132 yards rushing. So what’s stopping the Bulls from joining Rutgers and challengers to WVU and Louisville for Big East supremacy?

Well, nothing actually. In any conversation around the country about programs on the cusp of doing big things, South Florida is always mentioned. With all of that high school talent to choose from in their own back yard, the Bulls have all the pieces and just need to keep putting them together.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges, though. That defense that was so outstanding last season (second overall in the league) has some huge holes to fill in what was one of the best linebacking corps in the country. Stephen Nicholas and Pat St. Louis are gone, but Ben Moffitt returns in the middle, where he was eighth in the Big East in tackles. The cornerbacks, Trae Williams and Mike Jenkins, are two of the best in the Big East. And George Selvie is the best of a four-man line that isn’t big but is very athletic.

On offense, Grothe is the difference maker. The 6-foot sophomore was the Big East freshman of the year in 2006 and led all freshmen in total yards in the regular season. He wasn’t even the starter when the season began, but took over when Pat Julmiste was injured in the first half of the first game and never gave up the job.

The rest of the offense doesn’t have many stars, but it doesn’t matter because Grothe will help them make plays. The offensive line is big and strong and tailback Benjamin Williams was the No. 2 rusher (behind Grothe). Standout receiver and return star Ean Randolph is gone, but Amarri Jackson and Taurus Johnson lead a balanced receiving corps.

All-conference candidates

Offense: QB Matt Grothe, OL Mark Dile

Defense: CB Mike Jenkins, CB Trae Williams, LB Ben Moffitt

Notes

Raymond James Stadium was rated the best playing surface in the NFL in a poll of league players. The stadium will play host to the Super Bowl in February of 2009. ... Grothe became the first USF player ever named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s top player. ... The Sporting News ranks USF No. 21 in its preseason ratings. ... The Bulls and Miami have finalized a six-year home-and-home contract that began with USF’s game in Miami in 2005. The teams will play in Tampa in 2009 and then will alternate sites the following four years on Thanksgiving weekend.

2007 schedule

Date Opponent 2006

Sept. 1 Elon DNP

Sept. 8 at Auburn DNP

Sept. 22 North Carolina W 37-20

Sept. 28 West Virginia* W 24-19

Oct. 6 at Florida Atlantic DNP

Oct. 13 Central Florida W 24-17

Oct. 18 at Rutgers* L 20-22

Oct. 27 at Connecticut* W 38-16

Nov. 3 Cincinnati* L 6-23

Nov. 10 at Syracuse* W 27-10

Nov. 17 Louisville* L 8-31

Nov. 24 at Pitt* W 22-12

* Big East games

2006 record: 9-4 overall, 4-3 Big East (Beat East Carolina 24-7 in Papajohns.com Bowl)

Dropped: McNeese State (W 41-10), Florida International (W 21-20), Kansas (L 7-13)

Link to Story

[crambone]

Umm, they copied this year's schedule and put last year's scores...

[crambone]

lol, nevermind...I just realized what it meant...

sawwy!

[SRQ]

Nothing against Ben Williams (love his heart), but if he stays healthy and he ends up not being one of our top 3 rushers, we're going to have a heck of a season.

[smazza]

wv football-overrated and terrified to play a competitive schedule

[Brad]

Street and Smith has WVU as the preseason #2 team..  Many feel unlike you smazz. With WVU's two potential Heisman candidates, many feel they are a legit team.

[BULLfreak]

wow they dont have Jackson as an All-conference candidate

And NO Smazza WV IS VERY LEGIT

[E.T.]

Nothing against Ben Williams (love his heart), but if he stays healthy and he ends up not being one of our top 3 rushers, we're going to have a heck of a season.

We will know much more after Auburn ... I BULLieve we could have 4 RB's over 100 yards