Bulls’ Shaw might play at Houston

TAMPA — USF coach Willie Taggart said he never considered playing starting TB Marcus Shaw (hamstring) during the Bulls’ 34-3 loss to then-No. 20Louisville Saturday.

Shaw could, however, be available for Thursday night’s nationally televised game at Houston. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.

“[Shaw] ran around last week, but it wasn’t to the point where he can go and just play a game,” Taggart said.

With Shaw in sweatpants, USF’s two other backs — Darius Tice andWillie Davis — combinedfor 55 yards on 15 carries. Injured junior Michael Pierre didn’t play.

More than 17 years after toiling in anonymity, USF’s original Bulls got a little adoration Saturday.

Eleven of the 14 players who joined Jim Leavitt’s fledgling program in 1996 — the year before USF began playing games— werehonoredonthe field in the first half. Most remained until their final season of eligibility in 2000. USF finished 27-17 during that span.

“It felt like Jim Leavitt used to say: Unbelievable,” former OL Joe Sipp said. “It was a thrill to see my old teammates and to be on that field again.”

Without question, the most cheered move by a Bulls quarterback during Saturday’s 34-3 loss to then-No. 20 Louisville occurred midway through the first half.

As a camera captured the moment for the Raymond James Stadium video board, Bulls all-time passing leader Matt Grothe proposed to girlfriend Alyssa Ashley on the sideline. She said yes.