Post by rainman on Nov 28, 2007 7:14:07 GMT -5
South Florida to take on Pac-10 team in Sun Bowl
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — South Florida dreamed of a national championship when it was undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country.
Three consecutive losses dashed those hopes, but the Bulls, in just their 11th year of football, gladly accepted a consolation prize in a magical season — their first trip to the Sun Bowl.
“For them to invite the University of South Florida is an absolute honor,” coach Jim Leavitt said Tuesday. “Our guys battled their tails to put themselves in a position to receive this invitation. I wish so much that we could again let them know how much we appreciate it, and we will, when we get out there.”
The Sun Bowl, sponsored by Brut, will be USF’s third straight bowl game. The Bulls will also be the first Big East team to play in the bowl game at Texas-El Paso.
USF (9-3, 4-3 Big East) will play the third-place team from the Pac-10 on Dec. 31. The Pac-10 race will be decided Saturday.
The Bulls had something of a storybook season, rising as high as No. 2 in The Association Press poll and the Bowl Championship Series standings before three consecutive losses to Big East opponents. The top two BCS teams play for the national title.
USF is the only team to beat No. 2 West Virginia, which is likely to clinch a spot in the championship game with a victory against Pittsburgh this weekend.
“We played our tail off in those (losses) ... and things happen for different reasons, some in our control and some outside our control,” Leavitt said. “I always felt like we could win our next game. I always felt like we could get it done because of the guys and how hard they work and their focus and how much it means to them.”
Leavitt, the program’s only coach, said his team’s determination after those losses showed they deserved the Sun Bowl bid. The Bulls answered the losing streak with three straight victories and will go for their first 10-win season in the Sun Bowl.
“The way they went after Syracuse and Louisville, and then the way they beat Pittsburgh, showed me a team of incredible character, incredible perseverance,” Leavitt said. “We are going to get ready to play, and we are going to get ready to win a football game, I promise you.”
Quarterback Matt Grothe said he looked forward to the Pac-10 challenge.
“I think it will be a good experience and challenge for us,” Grothe.
USF beat East Carolina 24-7 in the Papajohns.com Bowl last year.
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — South Florida dreamed of a national championship when it was undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country.
Three consecutive losses dashed those hopes, but the Bulls, in just their 11th year of football, gladly accepted a consolation prize in a magical season — their first trip to the Sun Bowl.
“For them to invite the University of South Florida is an absolute honor,” coach Jim Leavitt said Tuesday. “Our guys battled their tails to put themselves in a position to receive this invitation. I wish so much that we could again let them know how much we appreciate it, and we will, when we get out there.”
The Sun Bowl, sponsored by Brut, will be USF’s third straight bowl game. The Bulls will also be the first Big East team to play in the bowl game at Texas-El Paso.
USF (9-3, 4-3 Big East) will play the third-place team from the Pac-10 on Dec. 31. The Pac-10 race will be decided Saturday.
The Bulls had something of a storybook season, rising as high as No. 2 in The Association Press poll and the Bowl Championship Series standings before three consecutive losses to Big East opponents. The top two BCS teams play for the national title.
USF is the only team to beat No. 2 West Virginia, which is likely to clinch a spot in the championship game with a victory against Pittsburgh this weekend.
“We played our tail off in those (losses) ... and things happen for different reasons, some in our control and some outside our control,” Leavitt said. “I always felt like we could win our next game. I always felt like we could get it done because of the guys and how hard they work and their focus and how much it means to them.”
Leavitt, the program’s only coach, said his team’s determination after those losses showed they deserved the Sun Bowl bid. The Bulls answered the losing streak with three straight victories and will go for their first 10-win season in the Sun Bowl.
“The way they went after Syracuse and Louisville, and then the way they beat Pittsburgh, showed me a team of incredible character, incredible perseverance,” Leavitt said. “We are going to get ready to play, and we are going to get ready to win a football game, I promise you.”
Quarterback Matt Grothe said he looked forward to the Pac-10 challenge.
“I think it will be a good experience and challenge for us,” Grothe.
USF beat East Carolina 24-7 in the Papajohns.com Bowl last year.
