Receiver's talent packs a wallop

First, I want to link to a feature in Sunday's sports section on freshman receiver Carlton Mitchell and his relationship with boxer Antonio Tarver. I wanted to find a story for one week before the season that would introduce a player who we thought would emerge as a storyline this season, and I think Mitchell does that, with a compelling story. Good kid who's a reflection of a good mom, and they both were a lot of help in putting the story together.

Couple more observations from Bulls Fan Fest on Saturday afternoon ...

-- I think my favorite thing to see was the cones USF set up on the field at Ray-Jay, inviting kids to run the 40-yard dash against a Bulls football player. Some of the guys -- long-snapper Eric Setser and receiver Jessie Hester Jr. were two I saw over there -- were good sports, running like a mid-6.0 40 time while a little boy or girl ran their hearts out trying to beat them. The kickers helped as fans lined up field goals on the real crossbars: even lining up on the goal line for what amounts to a 10-yarder, some amusingly bad kicks out there. I've heard a lot of positive things about Saturday's event.

-- The longest autograph lines, naturally, were for Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe, but there was an impressive line away from the tables for freshman running back Mike Ford. One fan showed me a gold Bulls helmet completely covered in autographs, with Grothe and Ben Moffitt signing over the logo on each side. Who got to sign the nice white pad on the bottom of the back of the helmet, the helmet equivalent of a sweet spot on a baseball? Mike Ford, #26. Fans are expecting a lot from him, but from what I hear, freshman Jamar Taylor is showing just as much promise. Taylor said he hopes to hear from the NCAA on his hardship waiver early this week, and news there could mean even better depth at a strong position for the Bulls.

-- For those of you who missed my (literal) 15 seconds of fame on ESPN's "College Football Live" on Thursday, I've got another Worldwide Leader appearance to shamelessly plug. Was a guest of the Junker and Crow show on WEAE 1250, the ESPN Radio affiliate in Pittsburgh on Friday. Here's a podcast of the show -- I'm from about two minutes in until about eight minutes in.

Comments

[facts ala Pingbull]

looks like he DID show up for the entire season....'tard

GEORGE SELVIE
SOUTH FLORIDA - 2006: Started all 13 games at right end and led all linemen (third overall on team) with 84 tackles, 15 for loss and 5.5 sacks...Eight tackles, including 3.5 for loss, a nine-yard TD recovery and a forced fumble in the WVU (Nov. 25) win...Season-high 10 tackles at Cincinnati (Oct. 22)...Two sacks vs. Florida International (Sept. 9)... Nine tackles in wins over FIU (Sept. 9) and North Carolina (Oct. 14)...USF’s Defensive Rookie of the Year....2005: Used redshirt season...Won USF’s Overachiever Award for his outstanding work in strength and conditioning program.

[cee]

Dave, where was Selvie during the Kansas or Cincy games? Uh huh. THAT is why they are rated as low as they are. You can't just show up for 1 game.. you gotta show up for the entire season. Five stars are impact players that contribute every game. 1-stars sparkle and fade while the casual USF fan puts them on a pedestal.

[Dave]

You can never have too many talented football players. Mitchell will be a solid player (I don't think that with Grothe at QB we'll ever have a star WR- he spreads it around so well, no one will have mega-stats). He's probably the natural replacement for Marcus Edwards or Amarri.

Joe's comment shows how arcane NCAA rules are. The school/program earns based on the play of those players, so there is no ipso facto difference between buying a ticket or replica jersey with an "8" on it and getting a guy's autograph and selling it...except that the school doesn't see that money. Only schools can profiteer in the strange world of the NCAA.

And cee, if you follow Leavitt as closely as you claim to, you should've known you would get coach-speak. Maybe you should've criticized his 1-star DE Selvie. That would probably have lit a fire under him...and shown how odd your comments are.

[G.A.]

OK, not constantly. But a lot.

[G.A.]

No problem. I correct myself constantly.

[Joe]

Thanks Greg, I was just wondering what the rules might be on such things. BTW It looks like UF's fan day was last Sunday, not today as I mistakenly stated in my post.

[G.A.]

Interesting thought, Joe. I'd think UF's move is more toward limiting the Ebay aspect of the autograph session, rather than a compliance issue. The players aren't being paid for their autographs or endorsing anything by signing something; signing something that's not supplied by USF doesn't change the nature of the appearance. USF's compliance folks are very thorough, but I'll check on it.

[Joe]

I hope we do not find ourselves in violation of NCAA rules for allowing players to sign helmets and items other than school supplied posters. UF is restricting fans from bringing in outside items to their fan day today and players are only allowed to sign school supplied posters. Evidently allowing players to autograph helmets, shirts, footballs, etc. can lead to NCAA compliance issues and risk players eligibility if those items find their way to eBay or are sold to third parties.

[Mark]

cee, you just continue prove that you are a moron. With all the great, exciting things going on, with a program on the verge of breaking in to the big time nationally, a program on pace of setting a new record for season ticket sales, the only thing on your mind is why a few kids got some bumps and bruises preparing for the season??? Perhaps you should stick to watching elementary school badminton. What an embarrasment.

It sounds like USF put on a great event. What a thrill for young kids to be running against some of the players and kicking field goals at Ray Jay. Just a great kickoff for an exciting year to come.

[Jason]

So you waited in a long line in the blistering hot sun to ask a football
coach why people get injured.

You must be the dumbest football fan ever !

CEE, You really showed him!

[Truth about Cee]

Admitted Cee, you are a closet Leavitt fan. Why else would you wait in a long line to meet him? Go ahead and say it, you love him.

[Joel]

Its a shame that we have "fans" like you, cee...Your attitude towards Jim Leavitt is more embarrassing than all of our loses to Uconn, Army, and Kansas combined...

[usfmike]

way to be a tough guy cee, i'm sure you can make up something better than that, lol.

[Mack]

Carlton is an amazing receiver. He hasn't played a down yet, but he will turn heads. He is blazing fast and gained quite a bit of weight.

[cee]

actually, mike.. i asked his to his face why there are so many injuries to the o-line.. he replied to me that the kids out there are giving it all they got and injuries are a part of the game.. blah blah blah. i got my autograph, rolled my eyes, and walked away. i was very disappointed in that he could have at least told me the truth instead of a bunch of coachspeak.

i am not the media, i am a fan of the program that donates money to USF and ultimately pays his paycheck. he could have at least confessed to working the kids too hard and totally a bodycount in the double digits. as i walked away, i said, "good luck coach, we're gonna need it".. he then agreed and said, "ya, our schedule is going to be a good challenge for us".. i replied, "that's not what i was talking about"

[usfmike]

uh huh... and i'm sure when you finally met him face to face you peed in your pants and asked for an autograph.

[cee]

i waited in the long line to see leavitt.. anyone who can continue to under-recruit the region and find ways to pull in players that get arrested or fail academically and still get a contract extension is a true anomaly. it was like waiting in life for ripley's believe it or not-- "believe it or not: a coach loses to Kansas with a BCS program in talent-rich Florida and still keeps his job!"