Good news and bad news for Yankee fans:

The bad news is Joe Torre turned down the team's offer to manage next year.

The good news is Carl Pavano will be in attendance at tonight's Rutgers-South Florida game, so you can get a glimpse of a guy you haven't seen in several months if you flip on ESPN and the cameras happen to catch him.

Pavano is just one of many New York athletes (if making eight starts qualifies you as a New York athlete) in attendance. David Wright will be on the sidelines, as will Rutgers product and Giants starting center Shaun O'Harra. A number of other Giants regulars including Michael Strahan and Plaxico Burress will also be in attendance, and there's a rumor floating around the press box that Killy Ripa -- whose husband is apparently a USF alumn -- is also going to be here.

Rutgers issued a record 340 credentials, and I could barely move in the press box when I went to get my pre-game pulled pork sandwich.

As has been widely talked about, this game really is going to make or break the Knights' season.

Win and they're 5-2, 2-1 in the Big East and alive and well heading into next week's game agaisnt West Virginia.

Lose and they're a three-loss team that won't be imporant to anyone outside of New Jersey -- or to some people in New Jersey.

South Florida is No. 2 in the country for a reason. The Bulls are fast and talented at every position -- especially on defense --, they're well-coached and have risen to the occasion every time they've had to this year.

Kickoff is in about 75 minutes, so relax, take in the pre-game hype, and I'll check in right before game time.