Bulls Become The Hunted

[Brad]

Courtesy USF

Bulls Become The Hunted

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- South Florida has become the fastest program in the modern era to be ranked in the Top 10. Now it must prove it belongs.

After upsetting a national powerhouse last week in their Big East opener, the sixth-ranked Bulls look to avoid a letdown when they visit Florida Atlantic in a nonconference matchup on Saturday.

The South Florida football program is in just its 11th year of existence, and moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-A, in 2001. Just three weeks ago, the Bulls (4-0) appeared in the Top 25 for the first time in school history, and they've made an unprecedented jump in the rankings since, vaulting from No. 23 to No. 18 to No. 6.

"We're just going to stay humble," defensive end Jarriett Buie said, "and just keep on being the best we can be."

In last Friday's 21-13 win over then-No. 5 West Virginia, Buie hit Mountaineers quarterback Pat White as he was releasing a pass that Ben Moffitt intercepted and returned 26 yards for USF's first touchdown.

The Bulls also scored on a 55-yard pass from Matt Grothe to Carlton Mitchell, and a 19-yard run from Jamar Taylor as they built a 21-3 lead in the third quarter.

"It's a huge statement win," said Moffitt, who had two interceptions in the victory. "It's something we've got to do to put this program where it's supposed to go."

USF is off to its best start since opening 5-0 in 1998, when it was still a member of the Football Championship Subdivision.

Despite the Bulls' remarkable start, coach Jim Leavitt wants his team focused on the future, stressing that the coming weeks will define the team. They have proven they can compete with the best, but now they also must be wary of inferior opponents which may feel a win over the Bulls would be the highlight to their season.

"Everybody is good, and at the end of the season we'll look back and see how good we were," Leavitt said. "We're good enough to win the first four games. That's all we've done.

"It's a good win for us but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I really don't. We've got to improve in a lot of ways. I just want to focus in on trying to get ready for FAU."

Leavitt would like to see some improvement from an offense that turned the ball over a season-high four times - all in the first half - and gained a season-low 274 yards after averaging 373.3 yards in its first three games.

Grothe had no interceptions and averaged 217.3 yards passing in his first three games before going 9-of-17 for 120 yards with two picks against the Mountaineers.

While the offense struggled to get going, the Bulls defense forced a season-high six turnovers. South Florida yielded a season-high 437 yards last week, but held West Virginia to 188 rushing yards - 135.2 below its season average.

The Bulls have forced the third-most turnovers in the nation (17), but Florida Atlantic is second with 18.

The Owls (3-2) will face their second straight ranked opponent after losing to then-No. 14 Kentucky 45-17 last Saturday.

Florida Atlantic forced two turnovers against the Wildcats, including a pick from Tavious Polo to snap Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson's NCAA record of 325 consecutive passes without an interception.

"We're just going to have to go back to the drawing board, look at all of the mistakes we made today, and get ready for the next game," Polo said.

The Owls committed a season-high three turnovers, and had 307 yards of offense after gaining 986 yards in their previous two games combined.

Quarterback Rusty Smith threw for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Kentucky after totaling 885 yards and six TDs in his last two games.

Florida Atlantic, which did not have a football program until 2001, has lost the only two games it has played against ranked opponents since joining the FBS in 2005.

In the only meeting between these two schools, South Florida won 51-10 on Aug. 29, 2002.

[mutt]

I was a great feeling to play teams like alabama and south carolina back in the day...  I always felt we should be trying to "kill the giant" rather than playing and beating teams that no one cares about...  This is the owls chance to do it. I don't think they have a chance in hell, but hey, how many auburn fans thought they'd see what they did?