Extra day not wanted by Leavitt
With this week’s game at Cincinnati scheduled on ESPN on Sunday night, the Bulls will have an extra day between games – but that’s not necessarily good news to coach Jim Leavitt.
The week leading up to USF’s 22-20 loss to No. 19 Rutgers – a Friday game on ESPN2 – Leavitt said he’d rather play Saturday and leave Friday nights for high school football.
Despite another nationally televised game and an extra day this week, Leavitt said he’d still rather play Saturday.
“You want to get a little extra work, and you want to get recognition,” Leavitt said Monday after practice. “But you don’t want them to play their game down.
“I’d rather play Saturdays. I’m a traditional guy.”
With Game 2 of the World Series scheduled for Sunday night on FOX, the NFL won’t have its usual Sunday night game on NBC, leaving the Bulls game as the only football game of the night.
“A lot of people will watch our game,” Leavitt said. “Some people that like baseball will want to watch the World Series, but your football people are going to be watching us. I imagine (there are) going to be a lot of people watching this game.”
Starter not yet announced: Sophomore running back Ricky Ponton saw playing time for the first time this season in Saturday’s 37-20 win at North Carolina after serving a six-game suspension. Despite missing the first half of the season, Ponton ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns as Ben Williams’ backup.
Ponton’s 101 yards were the second most gained in a game by a USF running back this season. Williams had 108 yards the week prior against Connecticut, but his performance wasn’t good enough for Leavitt to name him the starter against the Bearcats. Leavitt said he won’t announce who will start at running back until game day.
Soccer earning accolades: Sophomore Kevon Neaves received recognition yesterday for his game-winning goal in USF’s 2-1 double overtime against Syracuse on Sunday. Neaves, who scored in the 106th minute against the Orange, became the first Bull this season to be named Big East Player of the Week.
Neaves also assisted USF’s first goal against Syracuse and scored a goal in the Bulls’ 3-1 win against Stetson on Thursday.
More TV: The men’s soccer team is scheduled to make its second TV appearance in two weeks. The Bulls’ matchup Wednesday against Louisville – the final home game of the season – will be shown on Catch 47 on tape delay.
The game can be seen Thursday at 9 p.m., Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. Seniors Dane Brenner, Sammy Castellanos, Blake Sharpe, Kareem Smith, Andre Townsend and Hunter West will be honored before the game.