Gruden on ESPN, me on radio

A little help for Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who gets to introduce USF's starting lineups on ESPN2's broadcast tonight: it's GROWTH-ee (how does this still get butchered?), and CLEE-bert (from his family's roots in Haiti, it probably should be cle-BEAR, but it's not how he says it) and BOO-ee (Pam Ward, you listen up, too).

And for you folks not already at the game: I'll be on USF's pregame radio show around 6:30 p.m. on 970 AM, and I'll be on Sportsline Radio West Virginia around 6:50 p.m. (listen at sportslineradio.com).

I'm getting an odd flurry of live-mascot e-mails today. There's no live bull. USF folks shelved that for at least a year, unable to answer all their logistical concerns before the season. Boosters are more than gracious in donating a bull that would be used, but if there's a threat of injury to anyone on the field, it's going to be hard for USF administrators to sign off on it.

Questions? Thoughts? I'll be back once I'm over at Raymond James Stadium ... 

Comments

[Stephen Blackehart]

I found a letter to USF fans yesterday on one of the other sites, from a WVU fan of many years. She actually had some great things to say...no Bull-bashing at all. I'm paraphrasing here (since I now can't find the story), but she basically said, Bulls Fans, enjoy this time...it's precious.

She talks about reading about the camp-outs for tickets and the nervous excitement of believing in an ascendant program; about how great it was when the WVU faithful were doing the same some years back. She says how giddy they all were that their little team could be ranked, and break into the ranks of the 'big boys', and maybe get into a major bowl game.

One thing she says is telling: there's no going back. She says that they used to be thrilled at the prospect of going to the Gator Bowl, whereas now (since they've been successful), it's like 'awww...ONLY the Gator Bowl?'

She says she's jealous for us, and for the excitement of the game and the climb up to respectability. I thought it was pretty cool for her to express all that. And, I think she's right. There's no going back. These are special times.

[Dave]

Oops, I went a little West Virginia up there- "when you says"

[Dave]

Rather would've had Dicky V do it. I think that Selmon would've been the best choice, though.

Actually, I rather would've had cee do it over Gruden. I can hear it now "At QB, a 2-star DB, Matt "Underage Server" Grothe. At DE, 1-star George "undersized center" Selvie. Since we know that stars are the only determinants of a team's success, USF is screwed tonight. But I still pay half of Leavitt's exorbitant salary, despite the fact that he is the worst coach in history and when you says 'football' he thinks about Manchester United and Chelsea."

[702JV]

big game tonight...Go Bulls! GA great stuff, keep it up!

[Jerome]

Why choose Gruden to do the intros. He knows/cares nothing about our team! Is there a problem with our resident HOFer, Lee Roy Selmon, doing it? At least he would get the names right. What a shame to have that butchered for the Bulls on the biggest stage we have ever had.