Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard Throws the Trash at South Florida

Things have been relatively quiet in the South Florida and Cincinnati football camps. The two unbeaten Big East powers are winding down their preparations for Thursday night's national showdown in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.

That all changed on Tuesday.

The Bearcats' star receiver, Mardy Gilyard, changed it all in a hurry.

Gilyard set a new tone and threw out some fresh "trash talk" to USF in an interview with Bearcat beat writer Bill Koch of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

First, Gilyard, who grew up a few hours from USF in Bunnell, FL, sent a message to South Florida defensive coordinator Joe Tresey, who was the Bearcats defensive chief this time last year.

"The coaches, they're all licking their chops," Gilyard told Koch. "They can't wait to play Coach Tresey down there.

"Coach Molnar (wide receivers), I've never seen that look in his eyes like he has this week. Coach Kelly as well. These guys are really, really ready to get us going for this game," Gilyard proclaimed.

"Coach Molnar, he's a mad scientist. When he and Coach Quinn and Coach Kelly put their brains together, that's a dangerous combination."

Gilyard wasn't through at that point.

He turned his attention to long-time buddy Chris Robinson, a starting linebacker for the Bulls, who has played well in Tresey's defense this season.

"I've been calling him (Robinson) for two weeks and he ain't been picking his phone up." Gilyard announced. "I guess he don't want to fight with me because he knows I'm going to talk junk to him. I  call him every year about the same time and talk smack to him for about 10 minutes and he kind of hangs up."

Yes, Gilyard is talking the talk but so far he's been walking the walk for Cincinnati.

He's quarterback Tony Pike's favorite target with 38 receptions and nine touchdowns and he's averaging better than 103 yards per game. His NFL stock is rising, as is Pike's. They will be a lot for the USF defense to handle.

South Florida isn't talking. Tresey isn't talking. Head coach Jim Leavitt doesn't like trash talk, he doesn't want "bulletin board" material from any of his players.

Gilyard obviously doesn't care about getting the Bulls' defense some increased "motivation."

The stage is set. ESPN is ready and it will be camera, lights, action Thursday evening, 7:30.

Until then, there's nothing like a little "trash" to liven things up.