It looked like a misprint.

Louisville and South Florida played their first Big East game Saturday night, and the final score was 45-14 – and the Bulls were on the left side of score.

Louisville entered the game ranked No. 9 and appeared like it’d pass and sack their way to a Big East crown and its first Bowl Championship Series appearance. But former Conference USA foe South Florida, loaded with athleticism and equipped with a stellar game plan, outplayed the Cardinals and sent shockwaves around college football with the upset.

‘We let the game get away our first couple of drives,’ Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino said. ‘You have to give South Florida a lot of credit – they had a great game plan. We didn’t play well enough to win. My disappointment is I didn’t have the players ready and focused to perform to our expectations.’

USF started quickly, scoring the game’s first 21 points, including two touchdown runs by wide receiver Amarri Jackson on reverses, a junior college transfer the Bulls originally recruited out of high school.

In his first two games, Jackson only caught two passes for 15 yards. Against Louisville, he rushed for 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns, caught two passes for 75 yards and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

Following the postgame press conference, USF head coach Jim Leavitt said he stood in the bowels of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., with a few police officers, paused for a moment to soak in what just happened. After that, it was back to work.

‘I said, ‘Let’s pause for a moment,’ because this is all we’re going to get,’ Leavitt said. ‘Those (wins) are maybe enjoyed a number of years from now. It’s a good moment, but that’s all it is – a moment in time, and then it’s history.’

The Bulls schedule doesn’t get any easier. They’ll carry the momentum from the Louisville game to play No. 9 Miami on Saturday.

Leavitt said the Bulls know exactly how good the Hurricanes are and won’t let the excitement from the Louisville win hamper their progress. He dispelled the notion that his team will play with more confidence against Miami.

‘Going into a game like Miami, you don’t pay attention to whether you did this or that,’ Leavitt said. ‘Our guys will stay pretty down to earth, understanding they’re playing one of the juggernauts of all time.’

The game is also important for recruiting and pride. In Florida, there’s the ‘Big Three’ – Miami, Florida and Florida State – and everyone else. The Big Three receives the attention and the recruits.

‘There will always be a Big Three whether someone goes in and challenges them, which is tough to do,’ Leavitt said. ‘It’s hard to penetrate into that; it takes a lot of time. We just have to hope in time that something can happen here.’

This week, though, the Bulls aren’t thinking about any recruiting advantages. While South Florida might be the talk of the nation after upsetting the Cardinals, the Bulls are keeping the same humble attitude they used when the football program was in its infancy just six years ago.

‘All I’ve thought about is our players make it to the team meeting, get dressed and make it to practice,’ Leavitt said. ‘I haven’t thought much beyond that.’

Open for the Taking

South Florida’s win makes West Virginia the last undefeated Big East team. It also opens up the conference championship race.

With Louisville’s loss, West Virginia and USF appear to be the favorites based on their early season play. Syracuse and Pittsburgh, two of the conference’s traditionally strong programs, are the only Big East teams with losing records. The Orange is 1-2 and the Panthers are 1-3.

Every other team except the Mountaineers has one loss. But the league is wide open, and the coaches know it.

‘I think a lot of times the media puts a label on a team, but there’s a lot of teams in the Big East that are carrying the mantle, and we’re one of them,’ West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez said. ‘It goes to show you, this league will be much more competitive from top to bottom than people think.’

Performer of the Week

Amarri Jackson, WR, South Florida

Need more be said? Jackson went from an unknown to Big East Offensive Player of the Week. After rushing for 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns, catching two passes for 75 yards and throwing a touchdown pass, the sophomore now plays with a target on his back. The question is whether opponents can hit it.

Game to Watch

No. 3 Virginia Tech at West Virginia, noon, ESPN

The Mountaineers might be the Big East’s last unbeaten team, but that could change this week when they host the Hokies. Virginia Tech is hot off a 51-7 slaughter of Georgia Tech. As good as No. 1 Southern California and No. 2 Texas have looked this season, they both might take a back seat to the Hokies, who’ve only allowed three touchdowns in four games. West Virginia also features a competitive defense, and that might be able to keep the Mountaineers competitive. But West Virginia’s two-headed quarterback combination of Adam Bednarik and Pat White must play better than it did in Saturday’s 20-15 win over East Carolina if WVU has any prayer of upsetting their border rivals.

Around the Conference

Pittsburgh head coach Dane Wannsdedt finally tallied his first college victory in his fourth game. The Panthers beat Youngstown State 41-0. … The Elvis Dumervil sack-o-meter severely subsided on Saturday when Louisville’s defensive end was held sackless after recording nine in the first two games. Now, he’s only on pace for 33 sacks this season. … Louisville hosts Florida Atlantic this weekend, marking the return of legendary Cardinals head coach Howard Schnellenberger, who now coaches FAU. Schnellenberger was instrumental in building Papa John’s Stadium, Louisville’s football facility. … Cincinnati plays in-state rival Miami (OH) tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN 2. … The only Big East game this weekend is Pittsburgh vs. Rutgers. If Scarlet Knight quarterback Ryan Hart throws for more than 82 yards, he’ll become the school’s all-time passing leader.

Published on September 27, 2005 at 12:00 pm