Morning after, I'm President Linkin'

If I'm tossing out links, I better start with my own paper: here's our game story, another strong column from John Romano,  a Ben Moffitt sidebar from Brendan Galella, our game notes, and all kinds of multimedia: photo galleries from the game and of fans, plus video clips. This is how newspapers are supposed to cover big events online, with a little bit of everything and stuff you can't get anywhere else.

But yes, other people are writing about the Bulls, so we selflessly deflect your loyal attention elsewhere:

-- Even with Friday's baseball, the Bulls were the main story Saturday morning at CBSsports.com, which had national writer Dennis Dodd in Tampa, impressed by the Bulls. And check this photo of kicker Delbert Alvarado, who got the words "FINISH STRONG" shaved into the back of his head. I don't have the real estate back there to do that.

-- ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel was also in attendance, writing that as quickly as you want to tell USF fans to act like they've been there before, you realize they haven't, and let them celebrate like they did. SI.com had two photographers from SI on hand, but has wire coverage otherwise. Fun to read 600-plus in-game comments on their ViewCast feature.

-- My neighbor Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger says everyone can stop calling USF a sleeper, that the Bulls are eyes-wide-open legitimate. The Orlando Sentinel had Bucs writer Chris Harry cover the game, writing that USF "looked right at home in college football's big time Friday night."

-- Even the backup kickers are celebrities today. We quoted Morgan Riley, who showed how Rich Rodriguez's "It's like the Yankees" quote struck a nerve with the Bulls, and the front page at ESPN.com has backup punter William Criswell celebrating the big win.

-- Rivals.com has a big writeup, wondering if it's time to talk about USF in the national championship picture. Probably ought to save that at least until after the Rutgers game ...

-- Harsh words back in West Virginia, understandably. The Times West Virginian writes that "the Mountaineers failed to show up," and correctly points out that Friday's game broke a USF record for combined turnovers. Same paper shafts the record crowd by 10,000 fans.

-- I offer this link to The Money Times if only because its UPI feed -- I honestly didn't realize UPI still existed -- calls the Bulls quarterback "Matt Dorothea."

Lots more to link to, so I might come back with a second batch tonight. For now, I'm enjoying a rare fall Saturday off ...

Comments

[Ari]

I still can't believe we won.

I also could not get over how big the taigate has grown since I graduated. When I went to USF, people would show up to the games in normal clothes and nobody had USF green on. Now you walk around the tailgate and you look out of place if you don't have a USF shirt on. It is simply amazing. A student wouldn't be caught dead in a USF shirt 6 years ago....now you got 60K rockin them.

Side note: Must give made love to the Tampa Police. WE were loud, obnoxious, drunk, excited, couches were on fire....beer cans flying... just partying like no one else in the mall parking lot after the game and they had ENORMOUS patience with us. They didn't freak out over the couch being on fire -- they simply came and put it out with a fire extinguisher. They didn't push anyone around -- they just let us celebrate. Pure class.

What a game. What a game.

[Tom]

This game was great experience for any college student, one I'll never forget. It was great to see the students rush the field. And finally I can take this wristband off! But I'll still be wearing to school on monday! GO BULLS!

After the WV paper write-up, I wonder if coach Rodriguez will put on a rant like the OkSU coach. Writers forget that it is still JUST a game, played by 20+_ year olds - although this one will be hard to forget for ages!!!!
GO BULLLLLLLLS

[DR]

I'm tired of people saying one thing about this game- this is by NO means an upset! App St beating Michigan was an upset, this is one team outplaying the other team in almost every aspect of the game. We beat them last year, and this year, shut down their best players, and its an upset? I was expecting a win from the Bulls. We better not let up like we did last year because the season has just begun!

[Cee's Mind]

Damn it.

[g-man]

Does anyone know if the game is being replayed?

I was there, but missed much of the game because I had my toddler daughter who was a handful because it was past her bed time.

I set it up for Tivo, but our cleaning lady hit the wrong button or something with her dust cloth and screwed it up.

I'm so glad I was there, but I'd love to watch the game in a more relaxed mode.

[ka-bosh]

Why is everyone so shocked by what happened last night? 1. USF has proven to be pretty darn good; 2. WVa hasn't won a big game EVER. Anyway, major props to the Bulls from a UF grad. And you know, I'll give some to the fans, too. You've earned it. Here's to USF and UF meeting in BCS title game in a few months. (www.Gatoralert.com)

[Jason]

Well, holy crap! The number 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 13 teams all lost today!! Where is USF headed??? TOP TEN!!!!!

I think we will be ranked # 10.

18 - 10 is a pretty big jump actually.

[Curtiss Gibson]

How much does a Dorothea jersey go for?

[Rob]

I'd just like to be the first to point out one thing:

USF 26, @Auburn 23
Auburn 20, @UF 17

Who's #1 in the state now, huh? :)

[Brian]

Now I thought everyone (SEC fans) was writing us off as having beaten a "really weak Auburn team".

[DR]

This s**t is crazy man! USF has to be in the top 10, although, the rankings really mean nothing. The BCS is going to be a nightmare. Its going to be really sad that there isn't a playoff system like Div-1AA, well, its always been sad but this year is even more so already.

[Brian]

Sporting News had an article posted a half hour ago about CAL being tossed into the National Title contention with the losses this weekend. It also mentioned USF being the only "potential" national title player from the Big East. We will see what kind of love the AP voters give us.

If our offense starts clicking a little more we may have a really good shot at surviving our schedule. Nobody (discounting CEE) can argue that USF has one of the best defenses playing period.

Hey Greg..

Did you ever think you would see the day when an Urban Meyer coached Florida team was ranked behind a Jim Leavitt coached South Florida team?

Now when those pesky reporters ask Leavitt what he says to recruits in Florida when they are pondering UF, FSU or USF..... He can just say "We are ranked higher then them."

Unreal.