Leavitt: “We’re in the room, but back of the room”

Posted Sep 23, 2009 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Sep 23, 2009 at 03:35 PM

Tampa Tribune columnist Martin Fennelly reports about the opportunity ahead for USF on Saturday.

USF coach Jim Leavitt told Fennelly as far as the Bulls being a part of the Big Three plus one or Fab Four, if you wish, “We’re in the room,” Leavitt insists, “but we’re in the back of the room.”

Fennelly also spoke to several USF players with ties to Tallahassee.

USF center Kevin McCaskill grew up in Tallahassee. As a senior in high school, he was a vendor at Doak Campbell Stadium on football Saturdays, selling frosted pecans.

“Now I’ll be playing on that field,” McCaskill said. “That’s a dream come true.”

Please click here to read Fennelly’s column.

More Big Four talk: Former Tampa Tribune writer Andy Staples, now with Sports Illustrated, writes that Saturday’s USF game is FSU’s most important this month – more important than BYU.

Staples reports: “If you don’t live in Florida, you probably think Florida State’s win at BYU last week was the Seminoles’ most important game this season. In fact, it’s not even the most important game this month. When South Florida comes to Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, FSU will be guarding the door to an exclusive college football club. The Bulls, meanwhile, will have a chance to knock down that door forever.”