Trib: 'Southern Florida' focused on Big East

[USFishin]

'Southern Florida' focused on Big East

By Adam Adkins

USF was about 10 seconds into celebrating one of the biggest victories in program history Saturday night when the Notre Dame Stadium announcer told what was left of a sold-out crowd of 80,795 what had just happened.

"Final score: the University of Southern Florida 23, Notre Dame 20."

Yep, that's how the Bulls were referenced following their season-opening win over the 16th-ranked Fighting Irish in their first trip to South Bend, Ind. But hey, at least that wasn't as bad as Notre Dame alum Joe Theismann saying last week the Irish certainly weren't looking past UCF, right?

In fairness, the blunder did little to take away from the accomplishment on the field, which was the program's first win over an Associated Press-ranked opponent under coach Skip Holtz and the first over a ranked foe since West Virginia in October 2009. And when the Top 25 polls are released Tuesday, it's possible the Bulls will have their first national ranking of the Holtz era.

As big as Saturday's road victory was for the Bulls, though, both players and Holtz seemed to keep things in perspective after the game when talking about the grand picture.

"It's a big step. Notre Dame, with their history and all," senior safety Jerrell Young. "But even if we would have won or lost this game, it had nothing to do with our Big East championship goal."

"We've had some big wins, but I think as I told the team last week, I'm much more concerned with how we handle this game, whether we win or lose, than I am what happens to it," Holtz said. "What we have not done is we have not been able to line up and play consistently through the course of a year and win a Big East championship, and that's the No. 1 goal we have as a football team right now and with what we're trying to do."

The Bulls have three more nonconference games before getting started in league play with a nationally-televised game Sept. 29 at Pittsburgh. Up first is Ball State in Saturday's home opener at Raymond James Stadium.

The Cardinals struggled to a 2-10 record in 2010 but earned a big win Saturday in new coach Pete Lembo's debut, beating Indiana, 27-20, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Bulls know Saturday was just the first step in a long season. While the matchup with the Irish has no bearing on the Big East race, getting a win against a tradition-rich program like Notre Dame — and on its home field, no less — certainly can pay dividends going forward.

"To have the momentum is something special," said junior cornerback Kayvon Webster.

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[Mama_Bull]

At least Theismann knew it after the game. 

Theismann7 Joe Theismann

RT @JeremySeals: @Theismann7 A lot easier to remember the name this morning i would have to imagine.. But just in case USF 23 Irish 20// ouch

13 hours ago »

[DELdaBull]

One day every one will get it right.

[gibbsak]

something with those whose initials are AA...

AA;DR may soon have 2 meanings.

EDIT--

Whoops, should have read the whole article it in the first place.

[Orlando Bull]

something with those whose initials are AA...

AA;DR may soon have 2 meanings.

Did you read the article?

Adkins went to USF, he wouldn't make that mistake, he was talking about the ND PA announcer... read, then comment.

[gibbsak]

something with those whose initials are AA...

AA;DR may soon have 2 meanings.

Did you read the article?

Adkins went to USF, he wouldn't make that mistake, he was talking about the ND PA announcer... read, then comment.

Yea, I caught that a little too late.   :Duh

open mouth, insert foot.

[IHuckItDeep]

I usually am not bothered when writers screw up our names in articles....figure its gonna happen..... but when the notre dame announcer screwed up our name for some reason it really pissed me off.....

good article by adam

[WillieMashBull]

National exposure = Brand recognition.

Brand recognition = correct reference of the USF brand.

What we need is more exposure for this to be corrected in the minds and mouths of random stadium announcers and Joe Shmoes everywhere. As long as we keep winning and chanting S-O-U-T-H F-L-O-R-I-D-A, it'll happen.

Nobody says 'South California' when they're talking about USC. Win a National Championship or BCS bowl and 'South Florida' will roll off the tongue of sports fans as easily as 'Southern Cal' does.