Miami Herald: No. 23 South Florida talks tough, plays tougher

[Jim Johnson]

No. 23 South Florida talks tough, plays tougher

The Bulls, ranked for the first time, talk tough, play tougher

Posted on Fri, Sep. 21, 2007

BY JOSEPH GOODMAN

jgoodman@MiamiHerald.com

DAVE MARTIN / AP

Quarterback Matt Grothe wants FSU to win the Atlantic Coast Conference so South Florida can play the Noles, and beat them, in the Orange Bowl.

TAMPA -- Remember the unabashed, hijack the football establishment swagger that used to pulsate from Coral Gables? That rhythmic bravado flows from a new source these days.

No. 23 South Florida (2-0) is ranked nationally this week for the first time in the program's 11-year history, and the players are not afraid to talk a little jive.

Question: Florida, Miami and FSU are considered the Big Three. When does South Florida enter into that conversation?

Answer: ''I thought we were already in the Big Three,'' South Florida wide receiver Taurus Johnson said. ``I didn't know Miami was in there anymore.''

That's classic smack talk of the first order, as if it was ripped from the pages of Warren Sapp's Guide to Infuriating a Foe. And it doesn't stop there. Johnson said his Bulls are better than No. 3 Florida, ``but everyone has their opinion.''

Then there is South Florida's star quarterback, dual-threat sophomore Matt Grothe, who munched on some waffle fries from Chick-fil-A as he held court, semi-circled by a huddle of smirking reporters.

''I'm kind of hoping FSU wins the ACC,'' Grothe said. ``I want to play them [in the Orange Bowl] and beat them and show everyone we're a part of [the Big Three].

Grothe, who passed and rushed for 3,198 yards as a freshman, has a similar skills set to Florida sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow. But don't try to compare them. Grothe bristles at any mention of Tebow.

''I'm not a big . . .,'' said Grothe, stopping in mid-sentence. ``I'll just keep that to myself.''

South Florida's confidence echoes the attitude of its coach, Jim Leavitt, who once snubbed the University of Alabama to remain in South Florida and build the state's next college football giant.

The Bulls are no giant. But they're growing. Just ask Auburn. South Florida sauntered into Jordan-Hare Stadium two weeks ago and shocked the Tigers with an overtime victory.

''It's huge for the Big East, it's huge for South Florida and it's huge for the Tampa area,'' Leavitt said after the victory.

The victory was cheapened slightly last week when Auburn lost to Mississippi State. It was enough, however, to move the Bulls into the Top 25 during their bye week. As it stands today, South Florida can make a case for being the state's second-best college football team. Miami and FSU are unranked.

What does Grothe think of the new ranking? Is he excited to break into the Top 25? What does this mean for South Florida football?

''I don't care,'' Grothe said.

He paused and dunked another chicken nugget into a pile of ketchup squeezed onto his fast food paper bag-turned-paper plate.

Grothe and Tebow are two of the best dual-threat sophomore quarterbacks in the country. But the comparisons end on the field.

Tebow is polished marble. Grothe is a laid back country boy.

He went snook fishing with his buddies on the Saturday of his team's bye week.

''I didn't watch any football,'' he said.

And he didn't have to watch his final overtime completion against Auburn to know he had just upset the 17th-ranked team in the nation. The ball was still in mid-flight and receiver Jessie Hester hadn't even reached the end zone, but Grothe was jumping in celebration. He knew that pass was perfect.

''Matt is smart, he's quick on his feet and he doesn't panic,'' Johnson said.

South Florida is favored to beat North Carolina on Saturday.

The real test comes the following week, when No. 4 West Virginia visits Tampa for a Friday night game on national TV. South Florida upset West Virginia and Pittsburgh in 2006.

''Those are the kinds of games this team loves to play,'' senior free safety Nate Allen said.

Link

[Matt]

gotta love that press down in Miami.

hopefully some of those potential recruits are reading it

[BULLfreak]

''I'm not a big . . .,'' said Grothe, stopping in mid-sentence. ``I'll just keep that to myself.''

:ROFLMAO so true so very true great read

[Bull Dozer]

Not a big fan of player smack seeing as we haven't wont a conference title or national championship.  Once we start bringing those home then ill be all for player smack. 

[Economics_Nerd82]

That's great. Let the kids have fun.

[USFishin]

''I'm not a big . . .,'' said Grothe, stopping in mid-sentence. ``I'll just keep that to myself.''

:ROFLMAO so true so very true great read

Yeah that one really cracked me up!

[BULLfreak]

someone once told me we are becoming the old Miami and I can see why he would say that. We have that we are going to Punch you right in the mouth and you can't do anything about it attitude

I LOVE IT

BEAT UNC GO BULLS

[IHuckItDeep]

Pitt was an upset??? i didnt know that

[Jihme]

^^ my thoughts exactly.

Anyways, nice read, especially for that area.  Let's see how they act once the Canes get back up to par.

[RSSMOOTH]

someone once told me we are becoming the old Miami and I can see why he would say that. We have that we are going to Punch you right in the mouth and you can't do anything about it attitude

I LOVE IT

BEAT UNC GO BULLS

I LOVE IT TOO....We ain't the old Miami we're the NEW U!  :nutkick    ~U~