Christine Wolstenholme
Courtney Allen
University of South Florida students have high hopes for the upcoming season, especially after the Bulls won in overtime, 26-23, against No. 17 Auburn in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday night, which could lead to a ranking.
The AP Writer’s poll ranked USF 26th, ahead of Auburn, while the coaches’ poll announced USF 27th and Auburn at 26th.
“I don’t think the coaches’ poll gives a rat’s (expletive) about us and I don’t think we will be ranked,” Matt Grothe, the USF quarterback, told the St. Petersburg Times. “I think a win will have to definitely solidify us in the Top 25.”
USF has been playing in the Big East for the past three years. In 2005 they beat Louisville, which was ranked No. 8, 45-14. In 2006 they defeated West Virginia, which was ranked No. 7, 24-19.
Awab Nasree, a sophomore at USF, said, “We’re a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully Saturday’s game set a precedent for the rest of the season.”
Matthew Aycox, a defensive-end for USF, said, “We’re an older, more experienced team then last year. The whole summer we trained with a different mindset, to be better then before.”
Jim Leavitt has been the only coach since USF’s football team began in 1997 and they’ve been a full 1-A Division member since 2001.
“You feel content because you accomplish what you want to do,” Leavitt told USA Today. “But the highs are never as high as the lows are low. We made a lot of mistakes against Auburn, and we need to get a lot better.”
USF is set to play North Carolina on Sept. 22 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
USF Advanced Reporting 
September 12, 2007 at 4:11 pm |
I like that you got a unique quote from Aycox, good reporting skillls and use of sources.
September 12, 2007 at 4:14 pm |
Did someone actually find this defensice end on campus? That’s awesome!! But the other quote is kind of blah, it’s a cliche. I would have gone with another quote instead.
September 12, 2007 at 4:15 pm |
This is a decent story over-all, but I feel the lede is confusing. USF defeated Auburn already and it didn’t lead to a national ranking. Nice job getting a quote from Aycox.
September 12, 2007 at 4:18 pm |
I agree with the above comment about the lede, it just needs cleaned up a bit. Overall I think it’s well done.
September 12, 2007 at 4:22 pm |
I thought this story was written well, but more students on campus should have been quoted.
September 12, 2007 at 4:22 pm |
Great quote from Aycox. I can’t believe you found him to get a quote. Good reporting. The lead could’ve been a little more catchy.
September 12, 2007 at 4:27 pm |
Good overall, I would just watch sentence structure. Maybe try something like, “The Bulls won 26-23 in overtime at Auburn Saturday night, bumping the Tigers out of their top 25 spot in the AP rankings. This landmark victory gives many USF students high hopes for the upcoming season.” It essentially says the same thing, but it is broken up into two sentences so it is less confusing.
September 12, 2007 at 4:29 pm |
I don’t like the way the Nasree quote fits, but it is a good story. I also have high hopes.
September 12, 2007 at 4:31 pm |
Good job! However, the lead is too long and dry. But you have good quotes and the headline is great as well.
September 12, 2007 at 4:32 pm |
Excellent story!