2008 USF Bulls

There was a brief controversy when the Big East wanted USF to finish the season with a nationally televised Thursday night home game on December 4. The problem was the contract for the ACC Championship Game, which was scheduled for Raymond James Stadium two days later, would not allow it. The university talked of moving the game to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and the need for an on-campus stadium, but the game was eventually re-scheduled. USF athletic director Doug Woolard commented, "We just hoped there would be some kind of consideration given to accommodating both events. You'd like to think we could have priority."

In April, Jim Leavitt signed a seven-year $12.6 million contract extension making him the highest paid coach in the Big East Conference. Doug Wolard stated, "He's done such as great job leading this program. The extension is reflective of the market and continues to demonstrate our commitment and our desire to provide the type of program our fans and alumni deserve." When asked if this would increase the pressure to win, Leavitt remarked, "I was going to feel pressure at $75,000 a year. When we lose, I destroy myself. So the pressure that comes with this means nothing to me."

USF was ranked in the preseason polls for the first time. The Bulls were 19th in AP poll and 21st in the Coaches poll. Jim Leavitt going into the season, "I'm excited about our program, as much as I ever have been."

The rout was on early against Tennessee-Martin. USF scored touchdowns on its first four possessions and lead 28-0 after the first quarter, which were the most points the team had scored in the opening period. Matt Grothe (6 of 8 for 96 yards) tossed two TD passes to Jesse Hester, Jr., while Mike Ford and Moise Plancher each ran for two scores. It was the first touchdowns for the junior Plancher. The Bulls gained 520 total yards and held the Skyhawks to 97 yards. The only UTM score came when a fumble by true freshman QB B.J. Daniels (4 of 4 for 86 yards) was returned for a TD. Marcus Edwards set a team record with 124 punt return yards, USF set a Big East record with 226 punt return yards, and Theo Wilson returned a punt for a fourth quarter score. One negative was four turnovers, but the Bulls rolled 56-7.

The 17th ranked Bulls, 18th in the coaches poll, traveled to Bright House Networks Field in Orlando. The game was tied 10-10 at the half, before USF jumped to a two touchdown lead over Central Florida. Moise Plancher ran for two scores and Cedric Hill caught a pair of TD passes to pace the Bulls. In the game's final three minutes, Michael Greco (17 of 32 for 150 yards) threw two TD passes and the game headed to overtime. Matt Grothe's (23 of 40 for 346 yards with 2 INTs) third TD pass of the evening went 25 yards to Taurus Johnson (6 receptions for 143 yards) and, when the Bulls held, USF had a 31-24 victory. USF gained 504 total yards and the Knights did not help themselves with a dozen penalties for 148 yards. Brouce Mompremier remarked, "I'm just happy to get out of here with a win."

The 19th ranked Bulls (18th in coaches poll) fell behind 13th Kansas 20-3 in the second quarter, before a Matt Grothe touchdown run made it 20-10 at the half. Grothe (32 of 45 for 338 yards) tossed two TD passes and USF had a 34-20 fourth quarter advantage. Jayhawks QB Todd Reesing (34 of 51 for 373 yards) threw for three scores and ran for another. Johnathan Wilson (10 receptions for 171 yards) caught two TD passes and Kansas clawed back to tie the game. A Nate Allen interception set up some Raymond James Stadium heroics for place kicker Maikon Bonani. Playing in his first game, the freshman booted a 43 yard field, just inside the upright, as time expired. George Selvie recorded a sack in the Bulls 37-34 victory to becomes the school's career leader in that category. After the largest comeback victory in team history, Jim Leavitt said, "That is a good win. That is an understatement. We had guys battle. I’m so proud of them."

The 12th ranked Bulls, 16th in coaches poll, helped Florida International open the new FIU Stadium. USF dominated early, a fact not reflected on the scoreboard, as a the Bulls lead 10-0 after three quarters. Matt Grothe (14 of 22 for 136 yards) did not put up big numbers, but a second Mike Ford touchdown run gave USF a 17-0 fourth quarter lead. In the final three minutes the Panthers scored a safety and a a TD to make the final score 17-9. Jim Leavitt said afterwards, "We won a ball game, but we're not real happy about it. It was pretty disgusting. We made every mistake you could possibly make."

Matt Grothe (20 of 29 for 259 yards with a TD) completed his first eleven passes and USF scored touchdowns on its first three possessions at Carter- Finley Stadium in Raleigh, as the 13th ranked Bulls, 14th in the coaches poll, rolled to a victory over North Carolina State. A first half downpour lead to two high snaps by the Wolfpack and two second quarter USF safeties in the span of three minutes. The defense intercepted Harrison Beck (9 of 32 for 239 with 1 TD) three times in a 41-10 win. Grothe commented, "Whenever we put some points on the board early, we normally play well."

A Thursday night home game saw the 10th ranked Bulls trail Pittsburgh 17-7 at the half. Matt Grothe (11 of 21 for 129 yards with 1 INT) ran for a score, tossed a touchdown pass to Jesse Hester and the Bulls lead 21-20 with just under six minutes remaining. Three plays later, a second TD run for LeSean McCoy (142 yards rushing) put the Panthers up for good. USF was penalized 11 times for 84 yards and Matt Grothe was sacked four times in the 26-21 defeat. Jim Leavitt stated, "I'm not going to the grave right now. We're 5-1, we didn't play well. Defensively, we didn't play very good. Offensively, we didn't play very good. And special teams were not very good. When that happens you don't win."

Syracuse was the homecoming opponent for the 19th ranked (20th in coaches poll) Bulls and USF wasted no time jumping on the Orange. The Bulls lead 14-3 after the first quarter, a Curtis Brinkley (112 yards rushing) touchdown run did narrow the gap, before the Bulls cruised to victory. Matt Grothe (19 of 26 for 248 yards) ran for a score and tossed three TD passes, twice hooking up with Taurus Johns. Jarriett Buie recorded two of the team's four sacks of Cameron Dantley (11 of 27 for 129 yards) in a 45-13 victory. South Florida became bowl eligible, but Grothe explained that was not the team's goal. "I want to be BCS eligible. We've got five games left. We're wanting to win the Big East and we know what we've got ahead of us."

South Florida was ranked 14th in both polls for a trip to Louisville. Matt Grothe (30 of 40) threw for 344 yards, however, the Bulls were held to a team record low 8 yard rushing. Grothe did toss a pair of touchdown passes, but was intercepted twice and sacked five times. While George Selvie recorded two of USF's three sacks of Hunter Cantwell (12 of 21 for 212 yards with an INT), the Cardinal QB ran for a score and tossed two TD passes to Scott Long (5 receptions for 134 yards). Fourteen penalties for 109 yards did not help the Bulls in a 24-20 defeat. Jim Leavitt commented, "We certainly had our chances."

The 24th ranked Bulls, 23rd in the coaches poll, struggled at Cincinnati on a Thursday night. Matt Grothe (13 of 31 for 174 yards) was intercepted three times and two fourth quarter red zone possessions yielded zero points. After a 24-10 loss, linebacker Tyrone McKenzie said, "I guarantee this season won't go down the drain." Jim Leavitt added, "We still have a chance at a bowl game and a chance at finishing strong."

After a scoreless first quarter, the bottom fell out against Rutgers. Carlton Williams did have a pair of interceptions and Jesse Hester, Jr. caugh ten passes for 110 yards, however, negative stats dominated the day. The Bulls had six turnovers, Matt Grothe (28 of 43 for 292 yards with 1 TD) was picked off three times, the team had ten penalties for 100 yards, allowed four sacks, missed one field goal and had another blocked. Mike Teel (18 of 29 for 294 yards with 3 TD) heaved a 92-yard TD pass to Kenny Britt (8 receptions for 173 yards) in a 49-16 victory for the Scarlet Knights. It was the most points allowed, and largest margin of defeat, for a USF home game. Jim Leavitt admitted, "Our football team certainly is down. About as down as you can get. The most disappointing thing was we stopped competing in the second half. That's the first time I've seen our team do that in a long time." Matt Grothe added, "In the second half it just all came unglued."

Dontavia Bogan returned the opening kick off 64 yards and a Ben Williams touchdown run gave the Bulls a quick 7-0 lead. At the end of the first half, Bogan would return another kickoff 71 yards and finish with a USF record 67.5 yard average. On a trick play, Connecticut QB Tyler Lorenzen (10 of 24 for 119 yards) lobbed a 43 yard touchdown pass to Ellis Gaulden and the game was tied 10-10 after three quarters. A Jamar Taylor TD run put USF up for good. Matt Grothe (9 of 18 for 124 yards win an INT) had several key runs to preserve a 17-13 victory over the Huskies. Linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, would recorded 16 tackles, said, "For the first time all season, we finished strong." Wide receiver Taurus Johnson added, “We wanted to come out here and do our thing. The past few weeks things haven’t been good.”

With a 28 degree kickoff temperature, and falling as the night went on, it was the coldest game USF had ever played. Another first for the Bulls was the snow that greeted them in Morgantown. USF out-gained West Virginia 326-280 in total yards and had plenty of opportunities, but two red zone turnovers could not be overcome. Matt Grothe (18 of 33 for 189 yards) had a touchdown run, then tossed two interceptions. Jessie Hester broke the team record by catching a pass in a team record 21st straight game. Pat White (14 of 23 for 141 yards) threw a TD pass in the Mountaineers 13-7 victory. Matt Grothe remarked, "We shot ourselves in the foot all night. I thought we played well for the environment we had. We drove the ball all night long, but we couldn't finish drives." Jim Leavitt added, “We were in position to win at the end. They made the plays at the end and we didn’t."

In the inaugural majicJack St. Petersburg Bowl, the Bulls would don white helmets for the first time. Matt Grothe hit Taurus Johnson on a touchdown pass just 1:02 into the game and USF would roll over Memphis. The defense contained Tigers QB Arkelon Hall (15 of 31 for 154 yards with a TD) and held running back Curtis Steele to 48 yards on the ground. The offense amassed 496 total yards and Grothe was named the games’s Most Outstanding Player. Grothe (17 of 24 for 236 yards) threw three TD passes, rushed for 83 yards and even caught a pass on a trick play in the Bulls 41-14 victory. "The biggest thing that motivated me was to go out and play football," said Grothe. "The last few weeks of the season, we were trying so hard to win a game we forgot how to play football.”

George Selvie became USF's first two time All-American as voted by American Football Coaches Association. Selvie and Tyrone McKenzie were also named to the All-Big East first team. When it came to statistics, it was all Matt Grothe. The QB not only set a team record for passing yards (2,911), but became the first player to lead the team in rushing (591 yards) three straight years. On the negative, Grothe did tie the record for interceptions (14) for the third consecutive season. Dontavia Bogan set a USF record with 770 kickoff return yards.

Twenty-one seniors would leave the program, including Tyller Roberts, Marc Dile, Marcus Edwards, Carlton Williams and Cedric Hill, who had played in a team record 51 games. Jarriett Buie, Louis Gachette, Jake Griffin, Matt Huners, Taurus Johnson, Tyrone McKenzie, Brouce Mompremier, Ryan Schmidt, Danny Verpaele and Benjamin Williams were among a group that would be sorely missed. Jim Leavitt said of the senior class, "In the past four years, these guys have done some remarkable things. Four bowl games in four years. Who would have thought that when we started?

Related Links

2008 USF Bulls Results

2008 USF Bulls Statistics

2008 Big East Standings

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