Grothe passes with flying colors

Posted Sep 6, 2009 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Sep 6, 2009 at 03:10 PM

Before Saturday’s season opener against Wofford, University of South Florida QB Matt Grothe was put through the ringer by offensive coordinator Mike Canales.

USF’s new offensive coordinator gave his senior quarterback a “50-page test” on the offense. Grothe passed with flying colors - and it showed in the Bulls’ 40-7 victory against Division I-AA Wofford.

Utilizing a shorter passing attack, Grothe completed 19 of 23 passes – for a school-record 82.6 completion percentage. He threw for 155 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Grothe , who is playing for his third offensive coordinator in four years, said there is “not a big difference” between USF’s offense under former coordinator Greg Gregory and Canales.

“We’re running the same stuff, but Coach Canales goes at it a little different way,” Grothe said. “I don’t know if anyone noticed, but we made a lot of checks into the passing game. Because we saw stuff and took advantage.”

Grothe also rushed for 44 yards on seven carries, giving him 199 yards of total offense. He now has 10,441 yards total offense in his career, breaking Marquel Blackwell’s school record of 10,343.

Grothe also moved within 89 yards of passing West Virginia’s Pat White as the Big East’s career total offense leader.

As the past two years have proven with USF (1-0), it’s impossible to judge the Bulls based on their annual season-opening I-AA sacrificial lamb. Last year, USF pounded UT-Martin, 56-7, but finished 2-5 in the Big East. Two years ago, USF escaped Elon, 28-13, only to upset nationally ranked Auburn and West Virginia in two of its next three games.

The Bulls likely won’t learn much in the next two weeks either. Saturday, the Bulls visit woeful Western Kentucky, playing in its first year in I-A, and on Sept. 19 host I-AA Charleston Southern.

On Saturday, WKU and Charleston Southern played Tennessee and Florida, respectively, losing by a combined score of 125-10 and being outgained 1,281-406.