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South Florida hosts Tennessee-Martin in season opener

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:13 AM Tennessee-Martin at No. 21 South Florida, 7:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Last season, South Florida reached new heights before tailing off down the stretch. The Bulls hope the start to the 2008 campaign will be just as successful.

No. 21 South Florida looks to begin another season on the right foot when they host Tennessee-Martin on Saturday.

In its 11th season, USF upset Auburn and West Virginia early in the year en route to the first No. 2 national ranking in school history.

However, the Bulls lost their next three games and were routed by Oregon, 56-21, in the Sun Bowl, denying the school's first 10-win season.

A contender to win the Big East Conference after going 9-4 last year, South Florida hopes to take that next step this season as it returns 20 total starters, including quarterback Matt Grothe. The 6-foot junior threw for 2,670 yards and ran for another 872, totaling 24 touchdowns.

Tennessee-Martin of the Ohio Valley Conference lost seven of its first eight games last season but scored 58.0 points over the final three contests to end the campaign at 4-7.

This marks the first meeting between the schools. South Florida is 11-0 all-time in home openers.