Could Mike Ford = 2007 Big East Champions?

[joementum]

I think this guy could be the Ray Rice of 2007..?

He could be the link that has the other recruits thinking..."I am going to South Florida."

Always big to have a stud like this sign early in the season.

Can't believe we got this guy.

11 straight 200 yard games.  

[ChiTownBull]

as excited as i am i will wait until it is official that he is academically eligible

also still worried that grothe will get through '07 without any injuries

could gregory steer the ship, even if it is for half a game?

[usfgrad84]

With all the conflicting reports in the various papers I want to see him on campus first, but his talent combined with the maturing O line, Grothe's emergence and our awesome defense certainly gives us one hell of a team.  Ford certainly can be the type of talent that can put us on the national radar and be a guy that is the final piece of the puzzle (like Ray Rice was) to change the entire program and bring us to the next level for quite a while.

Can he be the guy like Jim Kelly was for Miami in the late '70s/ early 80's that sets the tone for USF to be a perennial BE championship team?  

[BucnBull]

I agree and will temper my enthusiasm until I see an official report.  Do we think C. Hill will be able to step in if Groethe goes down?  I know we're probably looking at him as a receiver but didn't he take over for Greco at PRCC?

[WoolyBully]

I want to see him on campus first

Yep...same here. I think there was an article in the Trib today about

having to contact the NCAA clearing folks for the third time to verify

his academic eligibility.

[USFan]

as excited as i am i will wait until it is official that he is academically eligible

Same here.

Plus, it's fun when you have to wait!

Ah, the suspense!

[smazza]

usf will need more than ford to win big east

[Velcro]

Yes... they will need the continued dominant defense, and a healthy Grothe

[usfgrad84]

usf will need more than ford to win big east

What more do you think we are missing from next year's roster to compete for the BE championship?

I think if we had played Rutgers a bit later in the year when our O line came together it is a different ball game entirely.  The two other teams we lost to, UL and UC are both at home.  We still have to play the games and beat the teams, but with a top flight RB and the way the team matured later in the season after playing together for some time (and having gained playing experience) there is no reason we won't compete for the BE title with or without Ford.  He simply adds another dimension albeit a much needed one.

[USFDan]

Don't forget he hasn't played competitve football since the 2005 season at Hargrove where he was one of many RBs who shared carries. I believe there was at least one other back who got significantly more carries than he did as well as 3 or 4 other backs with as many carries as him.  He hasn't been the feature back since his senior year in HS in 2004.  So by the start of the 2007 season he will have not played in 2 years and will not have been a full time player for 3 years.  I assume there will be some rust to work off getting into game shape.  He may or may not be a factor in his first season.