Monday, December 1, 2014 2:19pm
In what is believed to be unprecedented at USF, and certainly a first as an American Athletic Conference member, the Bulls have swept league basketball player-of-the-week honors.
Bulls two-guards Corey Allen Jr. and Courtney Williams, both of whom flirted with 30-point efforts in recent victories, on Monday were named the AAC weekly men's and women's award winners, respectively.
Allen Jr., third in the league in scoring (15.8 ppg), is the men's program's first AAC Player of the Week. He totaled 47 points, shooting 18-for-28 from the floor and 7-for-10 from 3-point range, in two triumphs last week. …
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Sunday, November 30, 2014 1:34pm
Today, I impart self-guiding ballot principle No. 3: Do not punish a team for having an injured player. …
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Friday, November 28, 2014 9:04pm
His postgame expression conveyed equal parts dejection and disillusionment.
As the huddle of reporters around him slowly grew inside a Raymond James Stadium interview room Friday afternoon, first-year USF athletic director Mark Harlan was asked if he was emerging from 2014 encouraged with his football program.
"I don't think the word 'encouraged' is what I'm gonna use right now," Harlan said, the sting of the Bulls' 16-0 home defeat to UCF still acute.
"I think that I need to sit down with Coach (Willie Taggart) and go through the things that we're doing right and the things that we're not doing right, and focus in on those things we're not doing right, and just get better."
Some time early next week, that sit-down will transpire. Everything, from offensive philosophy to staff to goals for 2015, will be on the table. Some parts of the program might be refined, others radically overhauled.
At this point, the only change not expected is in who occupies the head coach's office on the Selmon Athletics Center's second floor. Minutes after Friday's loss, the first home shutout defeat in school history, Harlan said he's committed to Taggart for next season.
Committed, but far from content.
"This university's too special to not have a team in a bowl game," said Harlan, who saw the first Bulls team on his watch finish 4-8.
"There's other measurables I'm excited about. I like our recruiting, I like what we're doing off the field, I like what we're doing in the classroom. But certainly we need to win more football games."
While Harlan was unwilling to say a '15 bowl is mandatory for Taggart, most will presume it's an unspoken reality. For Taggart, 6-18 in two seasons at USF, it's an expectation.
"We should be going to a bowl game in Year Three," he said. "I think we'll have ourselves a good football team."
But only if progress is realized in most major areas. …
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Thursday, November 27, 2014 5:40pm
We recently asked USF senior WR Andre Davis, who plays his final game as a Bull on Friday against UCF, for his favorite on-field memories of the last four seasons. In chronological order, these are what popped in his mind:
at Syracuse, 2011 (37-17 victory)
Watch the first few seconds of this video, then try to explain how Davis held on to this pass (Ya think he got interfered with, by the way?)
at Nevada, 2012 (32-31 victory)
In the second game of his second season, Davis set USF single-game records for receptions (12) and yards (191), highlighted by his game-winning 56-TD catch from B.J. Daniels with 38 seconds remaining.
vs. Rutgers, 2012 (23-13 loss)
His pocket collapsing, QB B.J. Daniels managed to fling one downfield to Davis, who outleaped two Scarlet Knights defenders and somehow held on (Check out the first 35 seconds of this video.)
at Tulsa, 2014 (38-30 victory)
Davis' three-TD afternoon included an 85-yarder from Mike White early in the fourth quarter, giving USF a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The comeback from a 20-point deficit was the largest in program history. …
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Wednesday, November 26, 2014 6:05pm
From player sound bites to a school-produced video promoting Friday's game, USF has made no secret of the grudge it harbors toward geographic and conference rival UCF.
On Tuesday evening, Knights coach George O'Leary, previously unabashed in his hype of an annual Knights-Bulls game, did a mild about-face. Which is to say, he indirectly called out the Bulls for stoking the rivalry with verbal animosity.
On his weekly radio show, O'Leary made a thinly veiled reference to comments uttered earlier in the week by some Bulls players. "I think there's a certain time to open your mouth and shoot your mouth off and all that, and the beginning of the week is not the time," O'Leary said.
Presumably, he was referring to comments such as those from Bulls senior DT Todd Chandler, who called his distaste for the Knights a "natural hate." Additionally, S Nate Godwin said, "We don't like 'em, we don't like 'em at all." In the Bulls video, which can be found on the official USF football web site, the term "grudge" is emphasized.
"You try and get ready for a game, and that's where all your attention should be, getting the game plan done," O'Leary said. "And then it's like a crescendo, you get yourself ready to play and then by Friday, don't worry, we'll have some very excited UCF football players."
INJURY UPDATE: As late November goes, the Bulls appear fairly healthy across the board. On Tuesday, Coach Willie Taggart said he was hopeful LG Thor Jozwiak (concussion) will return after missing last week's loss at Memphis.
Additionally, WR Rodney Adams (groin) practiced for the fourth day in a row after missing the last two games. QB Mike White, who said he hyper-extended his left knee at Memphis, wore a brace but has been the named the starter for Friday.
"Last week's game was a little physical and we've got some bumps and bruises, typical this time of year," Taggart said. "But we've got to suck it up and fight through it."
ODDS AND ENDS: Backup QB Steven Bench missed Wednesday's practice to attend the funeral of his maternal grandmother, who passed away Monday. Bench was expected back from south Georgia on Wednesday evening. ... Every senior in the program, including trainers and managers, took a final shot at a tackling dummy Wednesday in what Taggart referred to as the "last tackle."
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Tuesday, November 25, 2014 5:52pm
Several USF players made one thing certain Tuesday: There will be no endearing feelings in Friday's season finale against UCF.
"It's a natural hate," senior DT Todd Chandler said of the rivalry. "We really don't like those guys. A lot of the young guys don't really understand the emotions behind it. But it's something you're born in.
"It's like those old-school cowboys-and-Indian movies. You're born to hate UCF and you inherit that hate once you sign that letter of intent to South Florida."
Coach Willie Taggart has been trying to inspire his younger players by showing highlights from the team's four consecutive wins against the Knights from 2005-08 inside the locker room.
"We have a lot of young guys here who not only don't really understand that rivalry tradition, but our young tradition that we do have here at USF," Taggart said. "I think it's important that we make sure they understand the importance of it."
The antipathy between the schools was seemingly intensified Monday when UCF seniors Terrance Plummer, Josh Reese and Clayton Geathers reportedly refused to acknowledge the Bulls as a rival during a press conference.
Junior TE Sean Price said that just motivates the team more.
"It's definitely disrespectful, but that just gives us a bigger chip on our shoulder," he said. "If they come in on us, they're gonna get hit in the mouth. We're underdogs and ... underdogs always come out on top. So, we're gonna play our butts off."
PACKED HOUSE WANTED: While he understands a noon kickoff is not the most appealing thing for spectators, Taggart expressed desire for people to show their support by coming to the game.
"I know how many people told me we better beat them, we need you there to help us and we expect for them all to be there," he said.
"Our football team needs everybody there to help us. Our guys are making improvements, but we can make big-time improvements having them there to have our backs. ... There's no excuse. Thanksgiving is on Thursday, not Friday."
BETTER VIEW: Offensive coordinator Paul Wulff said there were no major reasons why he was in the press box instead of the field for the first time this season during Saturday's loss at Memphis.
"It was two things," Wulff said. "(Quarterbacks) coach (David) Reaves can be down working with the quarterbacks a little bit with Quinton (Flowers) playing more and for me being able to see a calmer setting and be able to, between series, kind of have more room to work and write things down."
ODDS AND ENDS: Junior OL Thor Jozwiak (concussion) suited up in full pads and participated in drills during Tuesday's portion of practice open to reporters. Senior LB Reshard Cliett took part in warmups, but was seen doing arm exercises in the rehab area ... Taggart said the team will enjoy its Thanksgiving meal on Thursday at Champion's Choice dining hall on campus. "It will be nice. Always look forward to that, having our guys get together and really realize why we're all here," he said.
AUDIBLE: "I asked my mom to bring me a plate up, because I know she's going to throw down and cook something nice. ... I know she's told me about five or six times that we're having Thanksgiving at our house and I keep saying 'Sorry, mama, I can't be there. But you can bring a plate to me.' " -- Taggart on his personal plans for Thanksgiving
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Tuesday, November 25, 2014 4:21pm
A look at UCF, whom the Bulls face Friday at Raymond James Stadium
Nickname: Knights
Record: 7-3, 5-1 American Athletic Conference (Wins -- Bethune-Cookman, 41-7; Houston, 17-12; BYU, 31-24 in OT; Tulane, 20-13; Temple, 34-14; Tulsa, 31-7; SMU, 53-7; Losses -- Penn State, 26-24; Missouri, 38-10; UConn, 37-29)
Coach: George O'Leary (11th season, 79-59; 18th season overall, 131-92)
The breakdown: UCF must win to stay in contention for the American Athletic Conference title. .... While arguably not as skilled as the 2013 team, these Knights are more seasoned, especially on defense. Eight projected defensive starters are seniors or fourth-year juniors. ... The Knights rank
fourth nationally in pass defense (163.3 ypg) and first in pass-efficiency defense (97.47), led by sophomore CB Jacoby Glenn (six INTs). ... Offensively, the Knights have totaled at least 400 yards in four consecutive games, but three of those have been against Tulsa, UConn and SMU, and the Knights lost to the Huskies. In that same three-contest stretch, Knights quarterbacks have thrown as many picks (seven) as TDs.
Odds and ends: UCF has won 13 consecutive non-Saturday games. ... The player-coach connections in this series are plenteous. Among them -- O'Leary and Bulls defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan worked on Georgia Tech coach Bobby Ross' staff from 1988-91. ... The bay area players on UCF'sroster are twins Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin (Lakewood), C Aaron Evans (Armwood), QB Pete DiNovo (East Lake), DB Kyle Gibson (Armwood), DB Brendin Straubel (Jefferson), TE Zack Laurinaitis (Countryside), OL Chris Larsen (Palm Harbor University) and DL Tony Guerad (Tampa Bay Tech).
Taggart's take: "They're a veteran football team, a senior-dominant football team. ... And not only a senior-dominant football team but a football team that knows how to win, that has played a lot together. ... It's a football team where you can't beat yourself, you can't make mistakes, you
can't turn the ball over, and you've got to score touchdowns when you're in the red zone."
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Monday, November 24, 2014 1:01pm
Sophomore Mike White will make his 10th start of the season, and second in a row against UCF, when the Bulls host the Knights on Friday, Coach Willie Taggart said.
White (21-for-35, 244 yards, no TDs, no turnovers) said he tweaked an ankle and mildly hyper-extended a knee while being sacked late in the third quarter of Saturday's 31-20 loss at Memphis, but insisted afterward he was fine.
Benched during an Oct. 24 loss at Cincinnati, he reassumed the starting role Saturday while freshman Quinton Flowers dealt with family commitments stemming from the murder of his half-brother on Nov. 13. Flowers attended Bradley Holt's funeral in Miami on Saturday morning, and arrived in Memphis about an hour before kickoff.
"Mike White did a good job of coming back and getting his confidence back and playing with confidence," Taggart said on the American Athletic Conference coaches teleconference Monday.
"And I thought Steven Bench (6-for-11, 57 yards, one TD) came in and did some good things as well when Mike went down. I think Quinton (two carries, 4 yards) just had a lot of things going on with him the day of, the funeral and long travel and a lot of emotions going on." …
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Monday, November 24, 2014 11:14am
The question has consumed a whole college football demographic, eliciting debate both healthy and heated. From sports bars to cyberspace, the topic perpetuates, gaining steam that has sent it barreling into a defining weekend.
Has USF really improved from 2013 to '14?
The answer could arrive Friday, when the Bulls (4-7, 3-4 American Athletic Conference) host UCF (7-3, 5-1) in their season finale. A victory against a bowl-eligible rival, and few can argue the Bulls took a significant stride from the 2-10 debacle of last autumn. A loss, and the debate will rage.
To this point, the answer depends on each individual's criteria.
If it's sheer wins and losses, the Bulls have doubled their win total from '13, but the triumphs have come against one Division I-AA team, and three Division I programs with a combined record of 4-27.
If it's statistics, well, the Bulls have progressed in some areas (i.e. offensive production) and regressed in others (i.e. defense). As for scheme and strategy? Deliberations will rage as to how the quarterbacks were employed, and whether the switch to the 3-4 was ill-advised or borne of necessity.
"Our program is progressing well. Not as fast as others expect it to, but it's moving in the right direction," Coach Willie Taggart said after Saturday's 31-20 loss to Memphis. "We've got a lot of young guys playing and helping our football team out that's only gonna get better, and we've got to go out and continue to recruit well and continue to build our program like we all want it.
"Look at the team we played today, they were in the same situation we're in (3-9 in '13) and things changed for them and it will change for us as well."
What's certain to change -- perhaps drastically -- is the perception of this season if the Bulls prevail Friday. Until then, and perhaps afterward, the deliberations will percolate.
Progression or Regression?
A statistical look at the current Bulls compared to this time last season (national rankings in parentheses).
Rush Offense
2013: 98.2 ypg (115)
2014: 117.3 ypg (109)
Pass Offense
2013: 165.2 ypg (109)
2014: 196.9 ypg (91)
Total Offense
2013: 263.7 ypg (120)
2014: 314.2 ypg (116)
Scoring Offense
2013: 13.9 ppg (118)
2014: 18.7 ppg (114)
Rush Defense
2013: 142.6 ypg (31)
2014: 186.4 ypg (88)
Pass Efficiency Defense
2013: 133.29 (84)
2014: 143.39 (106)
Total Defense
2013: 355.8 (30)
2014: 412.5 (77)
Scoring Defense
2013: 28.9 ppg (76)
2014: 28.0 ppg (75)
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Sunday, November 23, 2014 9:05am
Because no highly-ranked team had the decency to get upset Saturday, the attention of most pundits naturally shifted to style points.
It's one criterion I can't stand.
If Alabama had eked its way past Western Carolina, amassing flags and fumbles in the process, the Tide might get demoted on my ballot today. Otherwise, I'm not penalizing, say, an unbeaten team (i.e. FSU) for outlasting a quality opponent (i.e. Boston College) in less-than-stellar conditions in late November.
The only tremor on my ballot occurred at the bottom, where Ole Miss plummeted from 12th to 25th after its third consecutive loss to a Division I team. Elsewhere, Minnesota replaces Nebraska after a solid victory in Lincoln, and Arkansas makes its top-25 debut while USC bows out.
1. Alabama
2. FSU
3. Oregon
4. Ohio State
5. Mississippi State
6. Baylor
7. TCU
8. Georgia
9. Michigan State
10. Kansas State
11. UCLA
12. Wisconsin
13. Arizona State
14. Arizona
15. Auburn
16. Missouri
17. Oklahoma
18. Georgia Tech
19. Minnesota
20. Marshall
21. Colorado State
22. Arkansas
23. Utah
24. LSU
25. Ole Miss
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Saturday, November 22, 2014 11:37pm
Even as the curtain sets on USF's season, the tight end position is making a curtain call.
Question is, does Mike McFarland have one more encore-worthy performance in him?
The 6-foot-5 Blake High alumnus, seemingly absent for certain stretches of 2014, had four receptions for a career-best 64 yards in Saturday's 31-20 loss to Memphis. Three occurred on third down, all of which the Bulls converted.
"Sometimes it's funny that he kind of ends up so wide-open because he's the biggest dude on the field," QB Mike White said.
Toss in last week's clutch effort at SMU, and McFarland has seven catches for 108 yards in his last two contests. In USF's previous three games -- Tulsa, Cincinnati, Houston -- the tight end position totaled 10 receptions.
So how to explain the resurrection?
"Just coaches being able to call plays and put me in position to make a play," McFarland said.
"We're calling some plays to get him open and he's running nice routes," Coach Willie Taggart said. "Again, earlier in the year we weren't throwing to our tight ends as much, and seeing that's gonna be a big part of our offense, we're running some plays to get him open."
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Thursday, November 20, 2014 4:40pm
Sophomore WR Rodney Adams, the Bulls' second-leading receiver, will miss his second consecutive game Saturday at Memphis because of a nagging groin injury, Coach Willie Taggart announced on his weekly teleconference Thursday.
Adams (21 catches, 315 yards, two TDs) was a last-minute scratch in the Bulls' 14-13 win against SMU and did not participate in a portion of a scrimmage open to the media on Wednesday.
"Rodney is still dealing with an injury and we're trying to figure out exactly what it is but he won't play this week," Taggart said.
Taggart also indicated it's unclear whether OL Thor Jozwiak will play after suffering an unspecified injury during practice on Tuesday. Jozwiak missed all of last season due to a heart condition, and sat out two games earlier this season because of shoulder and turf toe injuries.
Taggart said the latest ailment isn't heart-related. "He had an incident (Tuesday) in practice and he's really like, day-to-day right now," Taggart said.
If Jozwiak can't go, Taggart said redshirt freshman Jeremi Hall or sophomore Dominique Threatt will likely take the junior's place.
NO QB DECISION: Though he praised their performance in practice, Taggart declined to announce whether Mike White, Quinton Flowers or Steven Bench will start at quarterback against the Tigers. If White gets the nod, he'll be the Bulls' third different starter in as many games.
"Those guys had a good week of practice," Taggart said. "They've been operating our offense really well and getting us going and I can say that we're going to have (a starter named) on Saturday."
AUDIBLE: "With this young football team, if they could get some extra practice time in, it would be great moving forward. I think that's good with all football teams, but I look at our team in particular and all the young players that we do have, and if they can get those 15 extra practices before spring practice, I can only imagine how much better they're going to be development-wise." -- Taggart on the additional benefits that a bowl berth could give his program. The Bulls must win their final two games to become eligible.
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Wednesday, November 19, 2014 6:56pm
Lost amid Saturday night's surreal finish at SMU was the start, which featured a handful of new faces for USF.
Freshman S Tajee Fullwood -- a Tampa Bay Tech alumnus -- made his inaugural collegiate start along with sophomore DT Derrick Calloway and CB Deatrick Nichols as a nickel back.
Calloway stepped in for veteran Elkino Watson, who didn't make the trip due to an unspecified team-rules violation. The others were promoted based on performance, coaches said.
"It's just the way it's been going, and again, we're not afraid to put the guys that we feel like are making the impact during the week in practice," said defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, who watched Fullwood stuff RB K.C. Nlemchi for a 3-yard loss on a bubble screen for the first of his two tackles.
"(Fullwood) played a solid 60-minute game for us. Again, we're not afraid to play the youth."
The youngsters remain in contention for starting roles this week at Memphis, Bresnahan said.
O-LINE TWEAKS: Coach Willie Taggart indicated senior Quinterrius Eatmon has slid from right guard to right tackle -- where he played last season -- while junior Brynjar Gudmundsson has moved back inside to guard. Redshirt freshman OG Jeremi Hall, a backup in seven games this season, appeared to be taking first-team reps in the early stages of Wednesday's practice.
Additionally, sophomore OG Dominique Threatt made his first game appearance Saturday since the Wisconsin contest. "We're trying to create some competitiveness," Taggart said. "That's one area that we hadn't had a lot of, and I know with some competitiveness in there you'll get more out of guys."
DEFUSING THE DOWNFIELD PLAY: Though still groping for consistency, USF's defense has managed to thwart the big play -- a Bresnahan peeve -- in its last two contests. A 45-yard SMU pass in the second quarter was the lone play longer than 25 yards the Bulls have allowed in their last two contests.
"And that's a big difference in the game," Bresnahan said. …
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Wednesday, November 19, 2014 10:15am
A look at Memphis, which hosts the Bulls on Saturday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Nickname: Tigers
Record: 7-3, 5-1 American Athletic Conference (Wins -- Austin Peay, 63-0; Middle Tennessee, 36-17; Cincinnati, 41-14; SMU, 48-10; Tulsa, 40-20; Temple, 16-13; Tulane, 38-7; Losses -- UCLA, 42-35; Ole Miss, 24-3; Houston, 28-24)
Coach: Justin Fuente (third season, 13-20)
The breakdown: Among the most improved teams in all of Division I, Memphis already has equaled its victory total from the previous two seasons combined and is bowl eligible for the first time in six years. Fuente's formula is neither elaborate nor sexy; the Tigers are winning with a solid run game (league-best 188.6 ypg), ball security (league-fewest 15 turnovers lost) and a veteran defense that ranks 28th nationally (345.4 ypg). Eight of Saturday's projected defensive starters are seniors including DE Martin Ifedi (school-record-tying 21 career sacks) and CB Bobby McCain, whose four career interception returns for TDs are tied for the most among active Division I players. One McCain pick-six came in last year's 23-10 romp of the Bulls, when he intercepted Mike White three times. ... Third-year sophomore QB Paxton Lynch already is the school's No. 3 all-time passer (4,355 yards) and ranks third in the league in pass efficiency (137.2) behind only Cincinnati's Gunner Kiel and East Carolina's Shane Carden.
Odds and ends: Carrollwood Day alumnus Robert Davis, Hillsborough County's No. 2 all-time high school rusher, is a Tigers backup tailback who scored his first career TD last week at Tulane. The other local on Memphis' roster, Gaither alumnus Ernest Suttles (10 tackles, two sacks), originally signed with Nebraska but was dismissed after allegedly assaulting a teammate. ... Tigers DL coach Ricky Hunley, a two-time All-American linebacker at Arizona and College Football Hall of Famer, held the same job on Steve Spurrier's final staff (2001) at Florida.
Taggart's take: "They've got some veteran (defensive) guys that have played a lot of football together, first and foremost. ... But they're confident, they've got a lot of consistency on their staff and in what they're doing. They've created some turnovers, which is key, but they play hard, they play highly competitive and they get a lot of guys to the football. You watch 'em play and they're fundamentally sound in what they do, but more importantly, they run to the ball and create havoc...and it seems like they have fun doing it, too."
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Tuesday, November 18, 2014 6:46pm
Despite nearly 3 1/2 stagnant quarters Saturday at SMU, offensive coordinator Paul Wulff said he believes the final result -- Bulls 14, Mustangs 13 -- will give his unit some extra inspiration moving forward.
Trailing 13-0 in the fourth quarter, sophomore QB Mike White replaced freshman Quinton Flowers with 9:45 to play, and rallied the Bulls with consecutive TD drives. The final one -- 21 plays -- is believed to be the longest in program history. …
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