South Florida-Cincinnati: Bulls Seek a "U2" Moment against Bearcats

Last Friday, rock superstars U2 took Tampa by storm. They packed more than 70,000 into a frenzied Raymond James Stadium and delivered what U2 delivers—a rock performance extraordinaire.

The attention-starved South Florida football program is looking for its "U2 moment," and the Bulls will have a great stage come Thursday night.

The circumstances are perfect.

South Florida is 5-0, ranked 21st in the nation.

Meet the Cincinnati Bearcats, also 5-0, ranked eighth in the AP poll, ninth in USA Today.

You're talking big-time opponent. You're talking major matchup: Brian Kelly's aerial circus, led by quarterback Tony Pike, against a defensive-minded USF squad with a lot of offensive-stopping talent.

This stage is theirs, and USF is doing its darndest to turn back the clock to 2007, when it packed 67,000-plus into Raymond James and upset then fifth-ranked West Virginia. It was a crazy night, a night to remember for those who wear green and gold.

USF is out beating the bushes, trotting out icon Lee Roy Selmon to glad-hand those who may not have decided to put this game on their sports itinerary. 

These Bulls are the 5-0 team in Tampa, not the 0-5 NFL squad that currently languishes just to the east of Raymond James inside the confused confines of one Buccaneer Place.

These Bulls are fired up, with new sensation B.J. Daniels creating a buzz at quarterback. No one has mentioned Matt Grothe—he's the forgotten one.

What's now important for this 2009 version of Jim Leavitt's "little program that could" is to not repeat the sins of the past.

Everyone's seen it before: the quick ascension to prominence, followed by total collapse.

It happened in 2007. After the heart-pounding win over West Virginia, the 6-0 Bulls rose to No. 2 in all the land, but then quickly went down in flames, losing their next three games.

It happened again last year. The 5-0 Bulls worked their way to No. 10 and then repeated their 2007 failure, losing four of the next five.

But this team is out to avoid that history. They have to avoid the trap, and on Thursday, the Bulls hope to be the ones setting the trap—a Bearcat trap.

The U2 crowd had themselves a blast. 

Bono and his boys put on a show and made sure that things will be looking good for Thursday. They forked out $75,000 to re-sod the playing surface at Raymond James.

Thirty flatbed semi-trucks later, a spanking new bermuda surface sits ready for the Bulls and the Bearcats.

Now it's their turn to follow the U2 lead and turn the place upside down and rock the house.

Tampa is hungry for a show. To date, their Buccaneers have left their football fans sick to their stomachs. There's no telling if there will be a victory for those pewter Pirates in their home park.

Thursday night, it is USF's home; no Buccaneer logos to distract from the view at the 50-yard line. It will be USF's to have and to hold.

It's an elimination game for the Big East title. Winner becomes the odds-on favorite for that BCS bowl berth. The loser? They'll have an uphill climb.

Major college football comes calling. ESPN will be there; everyone's favorite sideline reporter, Erin Andrews, will be there.

"How could you not be excited about this?" Leavitt asked.

Amen, Jim.