|
GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
September 21 |
TAMPA -- USF senior LB
Brouce Mompremier was cleared of any severe spinal injury during initial tests at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital last night. He will be released later today. He will return to Tampa late Sunday. Mompremier will meet with USF doctors early this week to determine the specific injuries and a timetable for recovery.
Mompremier is expected to be sidelined for USF's games against NC State and Pitt, but there is no timetable beyond that.
After colliding with teammate Carlton Williams in the third quarter of Saturday night's game at FIU, Mompremier was taken off the field on a stretcher and rushed to the emergency room at Jackson Memorial. He was declared in stable condition after the game and could move all of his extremities. He remained at Jackson Memorial overnight to undergo a CT Scan and MRI on his neck.
Mompremier is a native of Miami, who attended Edison HS. He has started 16 of the last 17 games for USF and had 11 tackles this season.
Sunday Morning Links
? Check out Saturday's USF-FIU photo gallery to view and to purchase.
? Brett McMurphy of the Tampa Tribune writes that Saturday's win over Florida International was a "Hollow Victory" for the Bulls.
? Tampa Tribune correspondant Jeff Berlinicke writes that for the second time this season the Bulls were "oh so close to a shutout win."
? McMurphy's USF-FIU notebook.
? Tampa Tribune's USF-FIU photo gallery.
? Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times writes in today's paper that despite the Bulls' win over FIU, "Jim Leavitt wasn't excited about much."
? Auman's USF-FIU notebook.
? St. Petersburg Times correspondant Joe Rienzi writes about LB Brouce Mompremier's injury.
? Alan Dell of the Sarasota Herald writes that everything that could go wrong on Saturday for the Bulls did, except one thing ... they won.
? Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes that there is no place like home for FIU.
? Pete Pelegrin of the Miami Herald say's that FIU could only corral USF for just so long.
? Associated Press game story on USF-FIU.
|
GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
September 20 |
? Check out the release by
USF and Tampa Sports Authority's series of initiatives to enhance the game-day experience of all fans.
? The International Herald Tribune
writes,"There were crews all about FIU's new on-campus football stadium this week, doing everything from installing a $2 million scoreboard to painting logos on the freshly-installed turf."
? Brett McMurphy's
notebook.
? McMurphy previews
tonight's game.
? Jeff Berlinicke of the
Florida Today writes," That wasn't the first or last time the Bulls went into a
game as heavy favorites and barely escaped. In the past three years they've also struggled against McNeese State, Elon and Florida Atlantic before pulling away in the second half. The Bulls are a 28.5-point favorite today.
USF coach
Jim Leavitt isn't taking anything for granted.
"We were fortunate to get a win the last time we played them," Leavitt said about the 2006 game in which the Bulls were trailing in the fourth quarter.
? Tom Zebold of
The Ledger writes,"Some might expect the Bulls' afternoon in Miami today to seem like a vacation excursion. The No. 12 Bulls face a Florida International team that has yet to score a touchdown on offense or defense this season and has been rated by some as the worst in Football Bowl Subdivision (Div. I)."
? Alan Dell of the Herald Tribune
writes" University of South Florida quarterback
Matt Grothe sees today's game with FIU as a measuring stick.
He knows people will scoff, smirk and look at his words as nothing more than proper protocol. But Grothe said that is not the case.
He said the game will gauge whether USF has grown up and can avoid a fate similar to last year when its flirtation with the top of the college football polls was far too brief."
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
September 19 |
Daily Links
? Greg Auman's daily notebook.
? Brett McMurphy's notebook.
? ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett's 10 things you need to watch in the BIG EAST.
? Joey Johnston of The Tampa Tribune writes about tampa native and FIU Safety Marshall McDuffie Jr.
? Ryan Boyd of the Bradenton Herald features junior safety Nate Allen, "Technically, Nate Allen was out of position. The South Florida junior safety was supposed to be more toward the middle of the field, but before Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing released the football, Allen drifted over near the right hash mark.
Oddly, Allen was in perfect position to make a game-saving interception, which he returned into Jayhawks territory to help the Bulls sneak out of Raymond James Stadium with an improbable 37-34 victory last Friday."
? Dwight Collins of the Star Banner writes, USF has now made Florida's Big Three Florida's, Big Four "It seems preposterous to even ask, considering the fact Miami won four of its five national championships before USF ever fielded a football team, but have the Bulls somehow wedged themselves into the “Big 3,” or at least forced some thought as to a “Big 4” in Florida?... The Bulls can't match the Hurricanes past, but they can certainly follow their path. And who's to say if the programs engaged last season, this season and next season, USF wouldn't hold the advantage, or perhaps win all three meetings?"
? The Sporting News features an AP article that highlights the University of Charlotte as wanting to be the next South Florida," The South Florida model has always been intriguing to me,'" Rose said. "How they did it and how they were successful. They started off with trailers on their campus. The one thing that's different from us is they have a stadium to play in."'
? Kelly Whiteside of The USA Today mentions USF kicker Maikon, "South Florida kicker Maikon (rhymes with icon) Bonani hit the 43-yard, winning field goal with no time left in the Bulls' win against then-No. 11 Kansas last Friday. Coach Jim Leavitt relied on a hunch to start Bonani, a former soccer player originally from Brazil, over the starter the previous two years."
? Mike Berardino of the Sun Sentinel features defensive end George Selvie, "The reminder is clearly visible on the left side of his scalp, where a permanent scar has bubbled up about a quarter-inch above the surface.
George Selvie need only run a meaty hand across his head to grasp his good fortune.
"I could be dead right now," says Selvie, the University of South Florida's All-America candidate at defensive end. "Or I could be alive with problems."
Instead, Selvie is the one causing problems for opposing offenses, as Florida International will surely learn when he and the rest of the 12th-ranked Bulls visit Saturday."
? Max Delsignore of Upstate New York's Watertown Daily Times writes USF as the best team in the BIG EAST so far, " South Florida temporarily saved the Big East's football reputation one week ago... Several indicators point to South Florida (3-0) finishing atop the Big East standings come December. Overcoming a 17-point deficit at home to knock off nationally ranked Kansas last week certainly helps. But the 12th-ranked Bulls refuse to be overconfident as they travel to Florida International for a nonconference matchup Saturday."
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
September 18 |
Daily Links
? If you haven't visited the USF Photo Store, you need to check out the latest pictures from the Kansas game, including a perfect shot of the game-winning field goal by Maikon Bonani.
? Ryan Boyd of the Bradenton Herald features running back Jamar Taylor, "Jamar Taylor isn't picky about where he plays. He's listed as South Florida's fourth running back, but he's far from a benchwarmer. He's a major player on the Bulls' special teams unit.
? Greg Auman writes about the Grothe-Johnson connection,"If there's a common thread in USF's last two close-call victories, it's a convincing reminder that when the Bulls need to rally, quarterback Matt Grothe looks to senior receiver Taurus Johnson."
? Auman takes a look at the USF/FIU connection and at quarterback Matt Grothe's favorite targets.
? Brett McMurphy writes about the depth and health at running back," "Ben looks good, Mike's getting there," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "But it's hard to beat out some of those guys. Mo Plancher and Taylor are pretty good. How fair is it to those guys? It's not like they're going to come in there and just beat those guys out. They've lost a little bit of ground, we'll have to wait and see.'"
? Edgar Thompson of The Palm Beach Post lists defensive end George Selvie in his NFL mock draft,"
? Israel Gutierrez of the Miami Herald takes a look at FIU's new stadium.
? ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett's BIG EAST Internal Affairs.
? If you haven't visited the USF Photo Store, you need to check out the latest pictures from the Kansas game, including a perfect shot of the game-winning field goal by Maikon Bonani.
? Check out FIU head coach Mario Cristobal's Press Conference Transcirpt
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
September 17 |
| Grothe Top Plays -- Polling Update 9/17 |
| 2006 Pitt Impossible Escape and Pass |
28% |
| 2007 WVU Grothe to Mitchell TD |
23% |
| 2007 Auburn Game Winning TD Pass |
17% |
| 2008 Kansas TD Run |
9% |
| 2008 UCF Game Winning TD Pass |
7% |
| 2007 Pitt 80 yd TD Run |
5% |
| 2006 Pitt Spin Move |
3% |
| 2007 UCF Spin Move |
2% |
| 2007 FAU Slip Away |
1.5% |
| 2007 FAU TD Run |
1% |
Daily Links
? You can vote for
Matt Grothe's top 10 plays here and you might just win two tickets to the Syracuse game on Oct. 18 for participating. We have the latest polling results and it looks like it is a three horse race between the 2006 Pitt game, 2007 WVU game and the 2007 Auburn game.
We asked Grothe, which was his personal favorite. He selected the FAU Touchdown Run from 2007, which is earning just one percent of the votes at the moment. We also asked his father and he voted for the current leader, 2006 Pitt Impossible Escape and Pass.
? If you haven't visited the
USF Photo Store, you need to check out the latest pictures from the Kansas game, including a perfect shot of the game-winning field goal by
Maikon Bonani.
? Article of the day has to go to Alan Dell of the Sarasota Herald Tribune on junior linebacker Kion Wilson. Here are the first couple paragraphs"
"About every two months, almost like clock work, Kion Wilson receives a phone call with the same news: A former friend or someone who traveled in his circle is dead or incarcerated.
He feels the pain of another senseless killing, but can't hide his relief. It could've been him. Growing up in Carol City, he was destined to be another statistic on a Miami police blotter.
Wilson was part of what he called an "alliance" where guys stuck together and watched each other's backs with little regard for the law.
He spent ninth grade at an alternative school in Miami, a place reserved for students who might be better off staying out of the main stream school system.
"I was getting in trouble and heading down the wrong path," the University of South Florida linebacker said. "I had the wrong friends and was hanging with people, who had to do things that are illegal to have fun."
? Gregg Becnel of the Tampa Tribune writes,"Taylor, who transferred from Alabama before his freshman season, rushed 11 times for a career-high 72 yards and one TD against the Jayhawks. The majority of his yards came in the pivotal third quarter, when USF scored 17 points to take its first lead of the game.
? Angela Jacobs of Tampabays10.com writes that the Bulls are not looking past FIU, "The USF Bulls might be ranked 12th in the nation, but they are the first to tell you they aren't letting that influence their mindset heading into Saturday's contest against unranked FIU"
? Greg Auman's Blog.
? Darrell Laurant of realfootball365.com honors a few Bulls for their performances against Kansas.
? Tom Zebold of The Ledger writes, "Jamar Taylor pumped his legs furiously, exploded through a huge hole and ran past Kansas defenders into the end zone during the third quarter Friday night."
? Greg Auman writes, "Athletic director Doug Woolard officially signed a five-year contract Tuesday to make Under Armour the outfitter of USF athletics, finalizing an agreement that has been in place since November.
? ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett says the Bulls are looking to Finish this season. "The Bulls recognize this reality, which is why they're trying to stay focused after last Friday's 37-34 win over Kansas. That victory lifted them to 3-0 and No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25."
? Brett McMurphy's writes about quarterback Matt Grothe and his chances for the Heisman.
? Greg Auman features Bulls running back Jamar Taylor, "'It was big for me, and I felt like it was big for the team," Taylor said. "The offensive line was giving me big holes all night, so I was just thankful for that. My team, everybody was just trying to rally in the second half and I was feeding off them.'"
? Jeff Berlinicke of the Fort Myers News Press discusses Coach Jim Leavitt's faith in kicker Maikon Bonani. "It was the biggest kick of Maikon Bonani's short football career, and he didn't have a chance to see how it turned out."
? CBSSportsline.com previews this saturday's game with FIU.
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
September 16 |
TAMPA -- True freshman kicker Maikon Bonani was highlighted by the Lou Groza Award for this game-winning performance last week. The Groza picks three players for their weekly award throughout the college football season.
Bonani missed his first ever attempt at the college level early in the game but hit the next three including the game winner with no time left on the clock to give the Bulls a 37-34 upset win over the Kansas Jayhawks last Friday at Tampa. Bonani who was kicking in his first collegiate game scored on kicks of 34, 23 and 43 yards. USF Coach Jim Leavitt had a hunch to start the freshman over junior Delbert Alvarado, the Bulls starter the previous two years, and the Brazilian native from Lake Wales, Florida validated the decision.
The Lou Groza Award goes to the top collegiate kicker each year.
George Selvie picked up the national defensive honor from the Lott Trophy. Selvie was on the preseason Lott Trophy watch list.
Selvie broke up three passes and recorded a sack while constantly harassing quarterback Todd Reesing of Kansas in the Bulls' electrifying 37-34 win last week. South Florida will receive $1,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Selvie's performance.
Selvie (6-4, 242, Pensacola, Fl.), an All-American last season, was selected by The Legends Football Coaches Association. Former Arkansas Head Coach Frank Broyles, an LFCA member, commented on Selvie's play: "George Selvie was the player of the weekend. Selvie was playing out there on the edge and pressuring the quarterback all night long. He made big play after big play and South Florida probably wouldn't have won that close game without his outstanding play."
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its fifth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Daily Links
? Matt Grothe was a guest on the Jim Rome show today. The audio clip is not up yet, but should be on JimRome.com in the near future.
? You can vote for Matt Grothe's top 10 plays here and you might just win two tickets to the Syracuse game on Oct. 18 for participating.
? ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach ranks the Bulls Coach Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe as one of the best at their respective postion.
? ESPN.com Insider Todd McShay wrote this about Selvie in the premium portion of the site, " Selvie terrorized the Kansas offense Friday night. The junior defensive end consistently penetrated and disrupted plays in the Jayhawks' backfield, despite facing double- and triple-teams throughout the game. He finished with four solo tackles, three passes broken up and a sack for an 11-yard loss in South Florida's 37-34, come-from-behind victory. Selvie's quick first step and non-stop motor are two of the biggest reasons he projects as a first-round draft pick."
? Gene Menez of SI.com mentions Matt Grothe in his Heisman Watch list.
? Greg Auman's writes,"Thanks to Friday's 37-34 win against then-No. 13 Kansas, USF nearly swept the Big East's weekly honors, with S Nate Allen and PK Maikon Bonani earning the league's defensive and special-teams honors, respectively." Also, Auman's blog.
? Brett McMurphy's Blog.
? Tom Edrington of the Miami Examiner writes. "The crucial win over Kansas last Friday was exactly that......CRUCIAL. It will be the highest-ranked opponent they'll see this year, perhaps. Most of the Big East conference is in a nose-dive with the exception of Connecticut, which is off to a 3-0 start, including their 40-10 drubbing of Virginia on Saturday."
? Jordan Scott of the Bleacher Report lists his Top 25 with the Bulls checking in at #14.
? Gregg Becnel of the Tampa Tribune writes,"With University of South Florida freshman Maikon Bonani's game-winning 43-yard field goal against Kansas, not only did he surpass - at least for the moment - QB Matt Grothe as the most popular Bull, Bonani also was named Big East Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday."
? The Sport Networks Big East Notebook.
? Craig Handel of the Fort Myers News Press writes, "Former Cape Coral High star Nate Allen earned Big East Conference player of the week honors for his efforts in South Florida's 37-34 win over Kansas on Friday."
? Doug Segrest of The Birmingham News writes, "Don't look now, but it's another South Florida Bulls market. USF scored 31 unanswered points to upset Kansas. Deja vu all over again."
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
September 15 |
?
David Dorsey of the
Fort Myers News Press writes "The Bulls, coming off a 37-34 victory Friday night against a top 25 team in Kansas, are off and running to a 3-0 start and a national ranking themselves at No. 12 in the latest Associated Press poll, released Sunday."
? Brett McMurphy
writes "Bonani had just curled a 43-yard field goal inside the right goal post as time expired, giving No. 19 USF a pulsating 37-34 victory against KU." I aimed at the right upright because of the wind," Bonani said. "I felt a cross wind and tried to aim there and hope it went in. It did."That's right: Bend It Like Bonani.'"
? Greg Auman
writes "
Maikon Bonani laughs about it, but at every practice for the past six weeks, USF coach
Jim Leavitt has walked up to his freshman kicker with the same message: "Be ready. You might just have to kick a game-winning field goal.""
? ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett awards BIG EAST helmet stickers to
Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie and
also highlights this past weekend.
?
St. Petersburg Times' Tom Jones writes in his blog. "C
ollege GameDay's Kirk Herbstreit added, 'For South Florida, this is huge. This is one of those years when everybody is trying to figure out early: Who's the team to beat in each conference? This team, I think, has established itself as the team to beat in the Big East.'''
?
The Orlando Sentinel wire
writes, "South Florida coach
Jim Leavitt's decision to change kickers was vindicated in dramatic fashion Friday night."
? Kirk Bohls from the Austin
American Statesman writes his comments from the couch.
?
ESPN.com blogger Brian Bennett's
blog.
