This Ford running silky smooth for USF

ChiTownBull · November 20, 2007

http://www.bradenton.com/breakingsports/story/215355.html

By RYAN T. BOYD

name@bradenton.com

TAMPA --Twenty four carries, 144 yards, two touchdowns. Those are great numbers for any college running back.

For a true frshman, they're eye-popping.

They're also worth at least one accolade. That stat line from South Florida tailback Mike Ford earned the Sarasota native the Big East Offensive Player of the Week honor, announced Monday.

Ford's contibutions helped the Bulls earn a 55-17 victory over Louisville at home on Saturday night, pushing USF back into the Bowl Championship Series poll at No. 23.

Ford has become the first freshman in school history to rush for 100 yards in consecutive games, following a 134-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 41-10 victory over Syracuse on Nov. 10.

He's emerged as a reliable offensive option to help take pressure off quarterback Matt Grothe, rushing for 574 yards and 10 touchdowns. That puts a couple of school records within Ford's reach for Saturday's season finale at Pittsburgh - he needs 156 rushing yards to break the freshman record (Rafael Williams, 1997) and three touchdowns to tie the single-season mark (Andre Hall, 2005).

Ford wasn't alone in receiving Big East recognition on Monday. Sophomore defensive back Jerome Murphy made the defensive honor roll for a performance that included four solo tackles, an interception and a pass break-up. Murphy forced a fumble that was returned by teammate Nate Allen on the game's opening kickoff.

Saturday's game will be televised regionally by ESPN and shown in the Tampa market by WFTS.