Big Win for USF on Way to 2003
(October 19, 1999)

Last week was a good week for the University of South Florida's football program. They were granted full football membership into Conference USA beginning in 2003 and posted the school's first victory over a ranked team.

On Monday October 11, Conference USA member presidents approved an expansion plan for the future. While South Florida had hoped for football membership by 2001, the conference voted to add the Bulls for the 2003 season. It was felt that a couple seasons as a Division I-A independent would be beneficial to USF and C-USA.

Athletic Director Paul Griffin commented, "It's not what we most desired, but we're going to be in an equity conference in our seventh year." To help with scheduling for USF's 2001 and 2002 seasons, the conference agreed to provide home and home series with four C-USA teams each year. That motivated Jim Leavitt. "The feeling I get is they think we probably can't be ready by 2001. We play some Conference USA teams in 2001, it's my vision and my focus that people know we're ready. It gets me more fired up, it makes me want to work harder, so I think our players know what's at stake."

South Florida was 0-6 against ranked when number six Illinois State came to Raymond James Stadium last Saturday night. Marquel Blackwell connected with Rj Anderson twice on scoring passes, an Illinois State extra point was blocked and USF held a 14-13 lead with just six ticks left on the clock. The visitors lined up for the winning field, but the 24 yard attempt was wide. South Florida players and coaches stormed the field. There was still time on the clock, so the penalty flags flew for excessive celebration. Jim Leavitt joked, "The penalty flag was on me. I was running all over the field."

After the 14-13 victory, USF is now ranked seventeenth. Hopes for a Division I- AA playoff berth remain alive, but they may have win the rest of the way and the season ending game against Hofstra still looms large. Next year is a transition year to Division I-A, playing both Division I-A and I-AA opponents, and then two season as an Division I-A independent. For the 2003 season, the Bulls will join Florida, Florida State and Miami as state schools who play football in a major conference.

It was a good week.