Post by cviller on Sept 28, 2007 7:53:44 GMT -5
By JIM BUTTA, Sports Writer
TAMPA, Fla. — A year ago University of South Florida head football coach Jim Leavitt described his Bulls victory over a nationally ranked West Virginia University squad as being the “biggest victory” in the 11-year history of the program.
It that is true? What words will the only coach in USF history have to describe what his fans will witness on Friday night?
Yes, the Bulls have hit the “big time”.
An ESPN national audience, a packed house which will probably be jammed to beyond the 65,657 Raymond James Stadium is built to house and a pair of teams with national championship hopes resting on the game’s outcome.
“There are distractions,” said Leavitt during his weekly press conference. “There’s always distractions. There have been in every game that we’ve played. Our guys are pretty mature about those things, hopefully they’ll handle it well.”
If experience in these kinds of atmospheres mean anything, WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez — who will be seeking his 100th victory as a head coach — and his Mountaineers should have an advantage.
That’s what playing in four consecutive New Years Day bowls will do for a program. There could have been no greater learning experience than the one enjoyed by the gold and blue in their 38-35 victory over Georgia in the Nokia Sugar Bowl.
“You have got to take advantage (of your opportunities),” said Rodriguez. “Every play is that big. You have got to play. Everybody is going to play with emotion.”
And, it’s that ‘emotion’ that have several observers concerned.
During its run in the Associated Press’ Top 25, the Mountaineers have had to play many games where emotions have run at a fever pitch. That is not the case for the Bulls.
Just look at what happened a year ago when a relatively unknown Florida International took on national power Miami. Emotions overcame logic and hard play resulted in one of the ugliest scenes ever witnessed on a football field.
Obviously, both coaches and their staffs will address that possible scenario with their players. But, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
“I think those things can happen,” admitted Leavitt. “We really treat things the same, we always have.”
Not exactly words of comfort, but the ones you expect to hear from a coach who doesn’t exactly understand what to expect when the whistle blows on Friday night.
Yes, USF has had some big victories at RJS. All one has to do is look back a couple of years at the way the Bulls dismantled a very solid University of Louisville squad.
But the hype surrounding this week’s Big East clash will be far greater than at any time since the school elected to go to the Division I-A level 11 years ago.
“Am I surprised that we’re getting a sellout crowd?” quipped Leavitt.
“No, I thought the day would come some day. That doesn’t surprise me, when, what, how, where. I’m not concerned with all of that. It doesn’t surprise me at all.”
What could be surprising is the level of intensity his Bulls will face when a ‘focused’ Mountaineer squad rolls into town.
“We’re going to have to play hard,” added Leavitt.
“They beat us two years ago, then we beat them last year. We just have to play.”