Matt Grothe has become synonymous with the rise of University of South Florida football.

The senior quarterback has been the Bulls’ starter for the past three years, and has been there for every major step that the young South Florida program has made.

‘He is the guy,’ Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly said of Grothe. ‘(USF head coach) Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe are what have gotten USF from being a first-time program to being a national-caliber football team. Jim Leavitt and Matt Grothe are the two names that have brought that program to where it is. USF is not where they are without those two.’

Last week, Grothe added to his list of accolades, when he became the Big East record-holder for total offensive yards-he threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns against Western Kentucky.

Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White was arguably the best player in the conference over the last four years. But Saturday, Grothe’s 12-yard scamper in the first quarter broke White’s conference record of 10,529 total yards in a career. Currently, Grothe is sitting on 10,702 total yards.

‘That’s really remarkable when you think about it,’ Leavitt said. ‘You think of all the great quarterbacks that have gone through the Big East in all the years. For him in the second game of his senior year to surpass Pat White just speaks volumes for Matt.’

In his four years, Grothe has been a major reason South Florida is now on the national football map.

He set the standard high when he won the Big East Freshman of the Year award in 2006. In his sophomore year, Grothe lead the Bulls to a No. 2 ranking in the national polls. Grothe continued his success the next year, leading the Bulls to a No. 10 ranking.

‘You really got to mix things up (with him),’ Kelly said. ‘You can’t just sit back and say ‘We’re going to defend the run’ or ‘We’re going to defend the pass,’ because he has a great group of receivers, and a solid run game.’

‘You just got to do a good job of mixing things up and not giving him a consistent read, and hope that that does enough to slow him down because he is a guy who is a multi-skilled player.’

Big East coaches have been trying to figure Grothe out for years, with little success.

‘I think Matt Grothe is just an outstanding football player and is someone that has just a tremendous amount of ability,’ Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall said. ‘You have to be concerned with him in the run and the pass. He is a very difficult young man to defend.’

But Grothe’s career has seen its fair share of ups and downs. While few question his abilities and the significance of his collegiate career, he still has yet to get over the hump and lead the Bulls to a BCS bowl game. Though USF climbed the national rankings in each of the last two seasons with Grothe under center, it finished unranked both years.

Grothe has been responsible for 73 total touchdowns – 30 shy of the Big East record held by Whtie. Grothe is also eight interceptions away from becoming the Big East leader in career interceptions.

Nonetheless, Grothe is still an accomplished player and holds several records that prove his ability.

He has virtually taken the South Florida football program to new heights, all on his own, and will be a player not soon forgotten in the Big East.

‘He is such a great leader and he is a competitor,’ Leavitt said. ‘No matter what the circumstances are he can go out there and compete. He’s meant a lot to us.’

Frazer to miss Baylor game

Connecticut quarterback Zach Frazer will miss Saturday’s game against Baylor because of a right knee injury suffered last week against North Carolina, Edsall confirmed Sunday in a press conference with local reporters. Frazer may also miss a second game.

Though Edsall declined to elaborate further, he said Frazer’s injury will not require surgery.

Sophomore Cody Endres will get the start this weekend at Baylor. The game will mark the third start of Endres’ young career, and he will be backed up by freshman Mike Box.

Frazer had thrown four interceptions and two touchdowns so far this season, and completed 51.2 percent of his throws.

Game of the Week

West Virginia at Auburn

Saturday, 7:45 p.m., ESPN2

Last year, Auburn stumbled into Morgantown, W.Va., on a two-game losing streak and left with a third straight loss. White and tailback Noel Devine ran all over the Tigers, closing the game by scoring 31 consecutive points in the 34-17 victory.

This year figures to be different.

If the first two weeks of the season are any indication, Auburn (2-0) appears to be its old form. The Tigers have already beaten both Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State by 20 points or more under first-year head coach Gene Chizik.

The duo of Onterio McCalebb and Ben Tate at running back has led an attack that averages 345.5 yards rushing per game. Both backs have exceeded the 100-yard mark in their first two games, and are drawing some comparisons to the former Auburn running back duo of Ronnie Brown and Carnell ‘Cadillac’ Williams. Brown and Williams now play for the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively.

West Virginia is coming off an impressive 35-20 victory over an experienced East Carolina team.

The Mountaineers offense has been somewhat of a juggernaut – averaging 34 points per game – with quarterback Jarrett Brown leading the way. But the defense has been shaky at times.

Making matters worse, defensive lineman Scooter Berry and linebacker Reed Williams were both hurt in the East Carolina game. Berry hurt his shoulder, while Williams suffered a foot injury. Both players are listed as day-to-day.

And WVU will need a solid defensive effort if it hopes to knock off Auburn.

‘(Auburn is) averaging about 400 yards a game. Now that’s pretty impressive.’ West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart said. ‘They are clicking on all cylinders. They are scary to watch on offense.’

rwmarfur@syr.edu

Published on September 15, 2009 at 12:00 pm