Thursday night, the USF football team (6-3) gets a place in the national spotlight when they host Memphis (7-2) at 8pm on ESPN.
USF head coach Brian Hartline is eager for his team to bounce back after last week's last-second loss at East Carolina. ESPN's "SportsCenter On Campus" show will call Raymond James Stadium home this week, and Hartline thinks the added buzz among the fans and his players can make a big difference.
"To have the resource of other people providing energy and being there and having our back can be powerful," Hartline said frankly. "Thats why you see it across the country in some of these big stadiums and these proud fan bases. They take true ownership in the atmosphere in some places. And we need to continue to build that here."
Veteran ESPN anchor Matt Barrie has covered these events all across the country. He says they always deliver a high-energy environment- especially for schools that don't get national publicity every week.
"We love the Thursday night package," Barrie said before Thursday's event. "Because the schools that dont normally get the national attention, we get to give that to them from SportsCenter through the game. And thats what makes this SportsCenter on Campus Thursday package so great. Because schools get the spotlight to themselves that otherwise wouldnt get it."
The Memphis game has extra-special meaning for USF linebacker Grayson Howard. Thursday's contest is the "Salute To Service" game. Howard's father, Gregory, served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years.
"He left my grandmas house when he was 17 years old. Made a life for himself and was able to provide for me and my family. Ive never needed anything, and hes done a great job of instilling great qualities in me," Howard smiled. "I just want to go out there and play well for him. Being able to look up to him my whole life. One day hell look up to me [haha]. So, I love my dad and Im very thankful for what hes done for me."
