Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

When you look at the NCAA College Football schedule for this upcoming weekend, you may notice an unusual set of characters for your favorite hometown team. (23) South Florida has earned the right to wear the parenthesis before the school name. By not playing at all this past weekend, the Bulls backed into the AP top 25.

With apologies to the official Go USF Bulls website:

In just its seventh season as a full time member of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, the University of (23) South Florida football team has made its first appearance in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll and the AP Top 25 Poll.

The (23) Bulls debuted at No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. (23) USF reached the coaches poll ranking at the second fastest pace of all time.

“It is nice and we certainly appreciate the ranking, but we have put all of our focus on North Carolina and that game this weekend,” said (23) USF head coach Jim (23) Leavitt.

(23) USF was transitioning from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (the old I-AA) eight seasons ago in 2000. It became a full-time member in 2001.

The rise from new FBS member to national ranking is the second fastest in NCAA history.

Boise State reached the Coaches Top 25 in its seventh year of FBS play, including its transition year, and appeared for the first time on November 11, 2002. 114 Polls were released between Boise State joining the FBS and reaching a ranking.

(23) USF reached the top-25 after a span of 124 coaches polls.

The Jim (23) Leavitt led squad received 285 votes in the AP Poll and is 48 votes behind No. 22 Georgia and 53 votes behind No. 21 Kentucky

The (23) Bulls received 165 votes in the Coaches Poll and are three behind No. 23 Kentucky, which knocked off fellow BIG EAST member Louisville in dramatic fashion on Saturday night.

Congratulations to the (23) South Florida Bulls!