Post by cviller on Sept 28, 2007 7:34:26 GMT -5
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sportswriter
MORGANTOWN -- There is more on the line than just a football game tonight when No. 18 South Florida opens its doors to the worldwide audience and tries to legitimize its presence in not just the Big East, but in all of college football.
Never in their 11 years of existence have the Bulls played a home game with a crowd as large as the one expected at sold-out Raymond James Stadium. Never have they been ranked. Never has as much been said and written about their ascent. Never have they played a game with so much riding on the outcome. Never have they had a chance to prove themselves or do the opposite.
"It's supposedly the biggest game they've ever played," WVU Coach Rich Rodriguez said.
Believe Rodriguez and his clairvoyance. He repeated this week what he said two years ago when USF joined the Big East.
"Of all the schools that could benefit the most from a move to the Big East, it'd be South Florida," he said. "They're surrounded by so many players in their area. Within 100 miles, they can get their whole roster. They can use the argument that they can play Big East competition and stay right there. Why go up north?"
This series with the Bulls is quickly evolving into a rivalry, especially if they play more of these games with so much at stake. In 2005, WVU clinched its first Bowl Championship Series appearance. A year later, the Bulls denied the Mountaineers a second.
Then there is everything that transpires off the field, beginning with the obvious. WVU now employs quarterbacks coach Rod Smith and offensive line coach Greg Frey, who were previously at USF.
"That," Rodriguez said of Bulls, "may motivate them more."
One reason Rodriguez wanted to hire Smith and Frey this past offseason was their ability to recruit Florida. WVU welcomed the assist against a USF team that's improving right in front of some of the country's most talented high school players. All but 10 players on USF's roster are from the state.
The Mountaineers have 19 Floridians on their roster. Four are starters and a number more, like quarterback Jarrett Brown or safety Charles Pugh, aren't far behind starters. Part of WVU's success was convincing some of the state's best players they could have opportunities not promised by other Florida schools.
Of WVU's total, 14 are freshmen or sophomores, meaning the program has been especially successful there in recent years as Florida has won a national title and Central Florida and USF have taken big steps forward.
Just this season, true freshmen Jock Sanders, from St. Petersburg -- which is right next to Tampa -- and Noel Devine -- two hours away in North Fort Myers -- are seeing meaningful playing time for WVU.
"We use the argument that, obviously, our environment, facilities, tradition, family atmosphere and all that outweighs anything about going away from home," Rodriguez said. "It's good selling points, but you have to get them away from home."
Rodriguez said USF has made it harder because it's giving players another reason to stay home besides the weather. The Bulls are now playing very good, very visible football in a BCS conference.
"We've recruit against them for several players, in particular guys like Jock Sanders, that are from that area," Rodriguez said. "They've gotten some guys and we've gotten a couple, but we'll continue to recruit that area. That's why I keep pushing for the improvement of our facilities."
The rise of the Bulls surely helps the Big East, but it will also make the individual programs better as the league and the schools solidify their standing in college football.
"We've got to break down the perceptions of West Virginia," Rodriguez said. "We've got a great place, but sometimes you've got to be here to see it. That's why I'm pushing for the academic center. That's why we've got to get that locker room done. That's why we've got to do some things to keep this program at the top level. Once we get them here, we want them to see everything we have is first class."