Villanova Nearing Decision?

The Big East has been trying to add another football team to the conference to go along with TCU joining in 2012. The conference has extended an offer to Villanova and now it appears the Wildcats are getting close to a decision. [keep reading]

Way Too Early Look Ahead - Kickers and Punters

Justin Brockhaus-Kann is the starting punter this season and should have a great year

(Picture: Sun-Sentinel.com)

The way to early look ahead continues as this time I will take a look at the kickers and punters. Maikon Bonani came on strong for the Bulls season as he returned to full health while Justin Brockhaus-Kahn did a solid job at punter. Here are the kickers and punters headed into the 2011 season.

Bulls Offer Wide Receiver

From Rivals - The Bulls offered wide receiver Travares Copeland this weekend. The Port St. Lucie native is a fast rising star that is starting to attract attention from some of the big programs in the state and country.

The 6' 180-pound wide receiver is an absolute speed receiver. He has the ability to turn any pass into a touchdown and would be a great weapon for the Bulls next season after A.J. Love graduates.

The Bulls recruited 3 standout receivers in this year's class. All 3 receivers appear to be solid, possession type receivers that have the ability to stretch the field, but do not have the elite speed of Lindsey Lamar. Copeland is the speed receiver that Holtz could use in space to terrorize defenses. Let's hope that he makes a visit in the near future and finds his way to Tampa.

Senior Night for the Ladies

Please come out tonight to support Coach Fernandez and the ladies as the end the regular season. (Picture: Tampabay.com)

The USF ladies are at home for the last time this season as they host #19 Georgetown (21-8 (9-6)). This is the final game of the season as the Bulls end a tough season and prepare for the Big East tournament.

With a record of 11-18 (2-13) the Bulls are out of the postseason for the first time in years, but the team has played well all season and has battled in every game (finally breaking through last week against Villanova).

The Bulls are graduating two seniors tonight. F/C Leondra Doomes-Stephens has had a solid season for the Bulls battling on the wing and in the paint. The 5'10" senior has averaged 6.9 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game. She had been a solid presence rebounding in the paint and has helped in scoring and been one of the most consistent players for the Bulls all season. It will be sad to see her leave and I thank her for everything she has done this season and throughout her career.

Senior center Porsche Grant won't play in this game after her incident at Rutgers, but will still be honored tonight as she graduates. Grant, the 6'2" presence in the paint for the Bulls, has been one of the best players for the Bulls over the past few seasons in the paint. This season she has averaged 6.9 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. It is tough to see her on the bench for the final game of the season, but she has played a huge role in the program's history and I thank her for everything she has done.

Everyone needs to come to the game tonight to cheer for the ladies. They have had a bit of a rough season, but have played tough, battled hard, and are still one of the most successful programs in school history. Thank you ladies for a great season.

Rough Weekend for Baseball

The Bulls opened up their new home this weekend with great fanfare and sell out games, but the opening series against Elon took a turn for the worst today as the Bulls fell 5 to 7 in 16 innings.

The game lasted 16 innings, the longest game in program history. The Bulls bullpen was not able to hold the lead the Bulls had and the offense was not able to capitalize in the late innings. The Bulls struggled all series to get their offense going and the bullpen continued to plague the team despite great starting pitching (Barbosa left yesterday's game with an arm injury, but is expected to be fine and should be ready to go for the next weekend series).

The Bulls get little time to rest before they travel down to Miami to take on the Hurricanes on Tuesday at 4 PM. The Bulls need to get the season turned around quickly if they hope to make a stand in the Big East and reach the NCAA tournament at the end of the season.

Bulls Beat DePaul, Avoid Big East Basement

Round two of the BATTLE OF THE BASEMENT was an intense fight (wish Cleveland Melvin was able to play) and the Bulls were able to rise above and get the first road win of the season, 86 to 76. The Bulls were able to build a solid first half lead and never lost it, taking care of the full court press, a small shoving match, and the usual turnovers.

Augustus Gilchrist had a career high 32 points in the win as he was able to dominate inside and showed excellent range from the field (been waiting for this type of game for awhile now). Shaun Noriega was able to find his range again and scored 13 points, but was a bit late on a few defensive plays as he continues to grow. Hugh Robertson had a quiet 12 points. Ron Anderson Jr. had 8 points and 10 rebounds and was vital to breaking the full court press that DePaul threw at the Bulls as they tried to make a stand at home but were not able to execute. Jarrid Famous had 15 points off the bench as well and seems to be playing better now.

The Bulls are now 9-20 (3-13) and will host #6 Pittsburgh on Senior night on March 2nd at 9 PM. The Bulls are hoping to make a stand at home and hope they can build some confidence as they head into the Big East tournament.

Ladies Win Thriller Over Villanova

Despite the lose of Porsch Grant for two games, the Bulls were able to steal a road win for the first time this season as they knocked off Villanova, 59 to 58. Andrea Smith made a clutch shot at the end of the game to get the victory for the Bulls.

Leondra Doomes-Stephens stepped up big in this game as she scored 19 points and pulled down 7 rebounds. Tiffany Connor had a big game as well, scoring 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Andrea and Andrell Smith both had 9 points as Andrea struggled from the field but made the key shot when she needed. Daleisha Carn had 8 points as well.

This was a great victory for the Bulls that have played so hard all season and worked so hard, but only came up short recently. The road victory helps gives the ladies confidence heading into the final game of the season and hopefully into the Big East tournament. The ladies are next back in action against on Monday night as they host #19 Georgetown on Senior night. Porsche Grant will not play in this game, but the Bulls will look to end the season with a victory against a ranked team.

Way Too Early Look Ahead - Tight End

Andreas Shields could have a big season (Picture: http://www.usfnation.com/)

The way too early look ahead continues as we go through each position on the football team, looking at the depth chart before Spring and get an idea of who could start this year In the last segment, we looked at the offensive linemen, for this segment we will stay on the offensive line and look at the tight end position. Under Holtz, the offensive realized they could actually can throw to the tight end whole on offense. Holtz uses an H-back as well that is a kind of tight end/wide receiver mix and will be a factor on the offensive as well (so players can't switch positions when needed). Let's take a look at the depth and who will be the starter in 2011. [keep reading]

USF Schedule Released, Finally

Finally, the Big East has released the 2011 football schedule for USF. Here are the games and the dates for each one. USF will have a total of 5 games on ESPN this year, including the season opener at Notre Dame on NBC.

• Saturday, September 3rd @ Notre Dame
• Saturday, September 10th vs. Ball State
• Saturday, September 17th vs. Florida A&M
• Saturday, September 24th vs. UTEP
• Thursday, September 29th @ Pitt
• Saturday, October 15th @ UConn
• Saturday, October 22nd vs. Cincinnati
• Saturday, November 5th @ Rutgers
• Friday, November 11th @ Syracuse
• Saturday, November 19th vs. Miami
• Friday, November 25th vs. Louisville
• Thursday, December 1st vs. West Virginia

A few things to note in this schedule. The Bulls don't play a game North after the November 5th game against Rutgers, which mean no snow games for the Bulls. The Bulls have 16 days to prepare for UCONN, the team that knocked us off when we had a shot at the Big East title. The Bull play 3 back-to-back games with shortened weeks each week (Saturday game (Miami), Friday (Louisville), and a Thursday game (West Virginia). This is one of the worst parts about the schedule, it gives the team less time to prepare and heal up after a brutal week before. Also for tailgaters, 4 week night games may make it a bit hard to get to Raymond James Stadium on a work night.

So what do you think USF fans? Is this the schedule we have been waiting for to get the Big East title or does the last few weeks spell doom for our chances? Leave us your opinions!

Scouting DePaul - BATTLE OF THE BOTTOM!

The BATTLE OF THE BOTTOM has never been so intense (Picture:www.life.com)

Here we go USF fans, one of the biggest basketball games is this Saturday, THE BATTLE FOR THE BOTTOM! The USF Bulls, 8-20 (2-13) and 15th place in the Big East, are on the road (haven't won a road game all season) to take on 16th place DePaul, 7-20 (1-14). DePaul is coming off of a beat down by St. John's and the Bulls have had this week off to prepare a game-plan for the Blue Demons.

The Blue Demons share the basement with USF and have the numbers to prove it. DePaul averages 67.9 points per game (206th in the country) compared to USF's 61.5 (312th in the country - painful I know). DePaul averages 31.4 rebounds per game (312th - no big men inside) while USF averages 36.7 per game (89th in the nation - we do something have way decent at least). The Blue Demons average 14.6 assists per game (68th) while USF averages 12.4 (217th - point to the guards for this bad number). DePaul shoots .429% from the field (215th) while USF shoots .413% (287th), so don't expect a high scoring, well-executed, pretty game on Saturday. [keep reading]

Bulls Offer 2012 Quarterback

Quarterback Gunnar Holcombe has received an offer from USF (Picture:www.rivals.com)

USF recruiting never takes a day off. The Bulls have offered Ft. Lauderdale quarterback Gunnar Holcombe. Holcombe, 6'4" 200-pounds, is a pro-style quarterback that has a big arm and great accuracy. He is the type of quarterback that fits Holtz's system well, big arm, able to move around the pocket, and throw rockets down field.

Holcombe has received offers from Rutgers and South Carolina, along with his USF offer, and has several other schools on his list as the recruiting process continues and heats up as football season draws closer each day. Holcombe will be attending the USF Junior Day on March 5th (according to Rivals). This will be a great chance for Holtz and staff to show Holcombe the new facilities and try to make a lasting impression on this young quarterback.

The Bulls dropped their offer to Stevie Weatherford last season and could use another quarterback on the depth chart to help add talent and help develop a future starter.

Bulls Prepare for Villanova

The Bulls will struggle rebounding without Porsche Grant, who has been suspended for the final two regular season games (Picture:www.gousfbulls.com)

The Bulls will continue their two game road trip as they take on Villanova tomorrow at noon. The Bulls, 10-18 (1-13) are coming off of a tough loss to Rutgers and will be without senior center Porsche Grant who has been suspended the final two games of the season due to her obscene gestures as she exited the court during the Rutgers game.

The loss of Grant will affect the Bulls not only on offense, but on defense. Coach Fernandez has relied on guards to do the bulk of the scoring and does not have many tall players that can get inside and help rebound. Grant led the team in rebounding this season and also helped contribute on offense. The loss of her presence on the boards means the Bulls will have to shoot a high percentage and other tall players, like Leonda Doomes-Stephens, who averages 4.8 rebounds per game, will have to step up in her absence.

The Bulls will have to rely heavily again on Andrea Smith, the only Bull averaging in double figures this season at 17 points per game. Smith has carried the load this year and will have to take over again as the Bulls continue to struggle to find any consistent offense. Twin sister Andrell Smith, averaging 8.1 points per game, has been shooting better lately and will have to have a big game as well to help the Bulls get a much needed win on the road.

This is a must win for the Bulls. Villanova is 10-17 (2-12) and not a big time power in the Big East. The Bulls need a road win to help rebuild their confidence after the Rutgers collapse and the Big East tournament looming. A win here will help build their confidence, get them back on track, and hopefully keep their season alive in the Big East tournament for more than one game. Good luck ladies!

Grant Suspended Final Two Games of the Season

From Greg Auman and Adam Adkins - Senior center Porsche Grant has been suspended by Coach Jose Fernandez for the final two games of the regular season due to the obscene gestures she made as she was ejected from the Rutgers game last night.

Click on the link here for the actual video

The final two games are Saturday at Villanova and for senior night Monday as the Bulls host Georgetown.

Porsche Grant made this statement today about the suspension (from Adam Adkins - TBO)

“I want to apologize to my coaches, my teammates, the University of South Florida and the Big East Conference for my actions leaving the floor against Rutgers on Wednesday night,” Grant said in the statement. “Although the game was extremely hard played between both USF and Rutgers, and my frustration in having just fouled, this is no excuse for how I handled myself. This is not who I am as a person and I have to accept responsibilities for my actions.”

The loss of Grant for the final two games of the season will hurt the Bulls as they desperately try to get a win to end the season on a high note and try to get momentum heading into the Big East Tournament. Grant averages 6.9 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game (had team high 10 rebounds at Rutgers).

This is a black eye for the program that has had a tough season. It has been frustrating for the Bulls, especially in this game after they led by 17 points only to fall apart at the end. The Bulls have led many games this season only to lose in the end and the frustration finally spilled out on the court last night in front of a crowd of over 2000. Grant will be able to return for the Big East tournament. Her presence on the court will be missed, but this type of action cannot be tolerated at any level.

Way Too Early Look Ahead - Offensive Line

Tackle Mark Popek could be a starter in 2011 (Picture: usfnation.com)

Spring is in the air and like most fans, I am more than eager for the 2011 football season to get here! We are entering year two of the Holtz era and the team made huge strides in 2010 that should carry the program forward into this season. Many sites and fans believe this is the year that the Bulls will truly contend for the Big East title. There is a buzz in the air for this team and it is never too early to start looking at the roster and the potential lineups that Holtz and staff will put on the field. So I will be beginning a series looking at every position and analyzing the current roster and some of the incoming freshman and who may be starting and who will make an impact this season. Now remember, a lot can change between now and kickoff in the Fall, so don't blast me if I list someone who decides in the middle of the summer to transfer out. This is all speculating at this point. I will have the same series in the fall when the final rosters are finally released, then I can make a better analysis of the Bulls roster and starting lineups. But for now, let's have some fun!

First group I will be looking at is the offensive line. The Bulls lost 3 starters to graduation, including All-Big East performer with center Sampson Genus. The Bulls have depth on the offensive line so they should be able to put together a solid line, but it will be inexperienced and questions do remain. [keep reading]

New Stadiums Set to Open This Weekend!

Construction is nearly complete, just in time to open the stadiums this weekend. (Picture: www.tampabay.com)

From www.gousfbulls.com - Baseball fans, the time has finally arrived. The new USF baseball and softball complex is set to open tonight and continue into a full weekend of baseball and softball action. Crews are still putting the finishing touches to the stadium as they finish the immense construction project in just 9 months.[keep reading]

USF athletics is doing something very special for the USF fans, they are making all of the events free to the public this weekend. Yes, all events this weekend in the new complex are open to the public. Which means it will be a full house for the teams as they open up the home season and look to get back on track after tough weekends on the road last week.

The new stadiums are going to be some of the top stadiums not only in the state but in the nation as well. USF designers have also upgraded the center plaza and concession area that will make the viewing experience very exciting: (From www.gousfbulls.com)

"The new stadiums are part of a unique shared complex that will allow fans to freely travel from one stadium to the other. There is a common entrance plaza leading to a shared ticket booth with concourses that flow outside and in between both parks. Each stadium has two hospitality pavilions, one along each baseline, while a 20-feet-high observation deck is centered between the two stadiums allowing views of both fields. There will also be a dedicated section for USF students. In addition, the stadiums also have shared food and beverage stands, a team store and restrooms."

This stadium complex is going to be an incredible moment in history for the programs and USF as well. Make sure to come to the games this weekend, admission is free, weather will be incredible, and there will even be a special student section during the games so make sure to paint up and cheer on the Bulls as they look to get back to winning.

Here is the schedule of games this weekend:

Thursday, Feb. 247:00 p.m. - USF Softball vs. Central Connecticut St.

Friday, Feb. 258:30 a.m. - Temple vs. Western Michigan

10:30 a.m. - Temple vs. Missouri

12:30 p.m. - Illinois State vs. Alabama

2:30 p.m. - Illinois State vs. Missouri

4:30 p.m. - Alabama vs. Central Connecticut St.

7:00 p.m. - USF Baseball vs. Elon

Saturday, Feb. 268:30 a.m. - Western Michigan vs. Central Connecticut State

10:30 a.m. - Western Michigan vs. Alabama

12:30 p.m. - Missouri vs. Alabama

2:30 p.m. - Central Connecticut State vs. Temple

4:30 p.m. - USF Softball vs. Missouri6:30 p.m. - USF Softball vs. Illinois State8:30 p.m. - Temple vs. Illinois State

7:00 p.m. - USF Baseball vs. Elon

Sunday, Feb. 278:30 a.m. - Missouri vs. Western Michigan

10:30 a.m. - Central Connecticut State vs. Illinois State

12:30 p.m. - USF Softball vs. Alabama2:30 p.m. - USF Softball vs. Temple1:00 p.m. - USF Baseball vs. Elon

Ladies Falter Again

Andrea Smith led the Bulls with 20 points, but it wasn't enough as the Bulls lost again on the road (Picture credits: thedailycaller.com)

The Bulls lost another tough game on the road after leading by as much as 17 points against Big East foe Rutgers, falling 52 to 46. The Bulls led at half time and came out firing in the second half, but a late run by the Scarlet Knights and cold shooting by the rest of the USF team, led to the Bulls demise.

Andrea Smith once again led all scorers with 20 points for USF. Andrell Smith and Leondra Doomes-Stephens each scored 7 points as well. No one else was a scoring threat for USF as the Bulls struggled once again to get points going. Porsche Grant had a team high 10 rebounds as well.

The Bulls 10-18 (1-13) will continue the two game road trip as they travel to take on Villanova on Saturday at noon as they hope to get a road win this year. They then return home to take on #18 Georgetown at 7 PM before they head to NYC for the Big East tournament.

It has been a rough year, but the team is still trying and competing and battling each game. This tough loss hurts, but please make sure to mark on your calendars the game on Monday.

Womens Tennis Takes Down UCF

Hey Bulls Fans, Rames here, writing for this and the USF Oracle. Womens Tennis this afternoon, riveting... But anyway heres the full report, exactly what will be seen in the USF Oracle tomorrow, so here is a peephole. Wait thats inappropriate, a sneak peek.

The USF Womens Tennis team finally played on their home courts, and finally got to play an unranked team for the first time this season, awelcome sight for a team reeling with 5 straight losses after a 1-0 start. The Lady Bulls took advantage of a home crowd and the easier opponent for a relatively easy win, to improve their record to 2-4, and drop the Knights to 3-3. "Although UCF isn't ranked, they are still a very tough team to beat," said Senior Irene Rehberger, "but having lost 5 straight matches, playing at home allowed us to get our confidence up and get a victory." Head Coach Agustin Moreno agreed with the difficulty of their opponent. "UCF is our rival, and they are a very hard team to beat, and it was nice to get a win," he said.

The match started with doubles play, 3 matches, with whichever team winning at least 2 of those 3 matches getting a point. The team ofUSF's Loreto Alonso Martinez, freshman, and Ecaterina Vasenina, Sophmore, dominated from the start, and managed to win their Match 8-2over UCF's Jenny Frisell, Senior, and Alexis Rodriguez, Junior. Freshmen Alessandra Bonte and Kate Parker played a hotly contested match going back and forth, finally taking down UCF's Taylor Dubins,Junior, and Jenna Doerfler, sophmore. In a match that looked like UCF would run away with, the Bulls's Rehberger, and Janette Bejikova, a red shirt Junior, showed resolve in coming back from a 7-2 deficit to finish with a 8-6 loss to UCF's Genevieve Lorbergs, a Sophmore, and Courtney Griffith, a Freshman.

Having picked up the doubles point, the Bulls knew they only needed to win 3 of the 6 singles matches. The girls came out agressive, with 3 of their top 4 players winning quickly and easily. The Bulls's number 1 player, Rehberger, was dominant in winning her match 6-0 6-2. Number 2 Vasenina took down her opponent in similar fashion, 6-2 6-1. Number 4 Martinez took care of business and sealed up the match with a win 6-3 6-0. USF's number 6, Parker, lost 6-0 6-1, while the other 2,Bejikova and Bonte won, 6-2 6-4 and 6-0 6-4, respectively.

"It was nice to get back on track with a victory," said Moreno, "We have had a very tough schedule, one of the toughest in the nation to start out. The win means a lot to us."

What to Watch in Spring

Defensive end Ryne Giddins is just one player to watch during the Spring practices. (Picture credits: TBO.com)

Spring practices begin on March 3rd and of course, the Bull Rush will bring you the latest news and insights on the players, coaches, and anything that happens during these practices, leading up to the Spring game and the new Green and Gold game that will be held on campus.

There are plenty of questions entering this season and the coaches are hoping that the competition and work the players put in this Spring will help sort out the depth chart. Here are 3 positions to watch very carefully as the players suit up.[keep reading]

Heath of the Wide Receivers

The Bulls wide receiving corps was depleted last season due to injury and inexperience. This Spring, Sterling Griffin and A.J. Love are back and healthy after missing all of last season. They will probably be limited at first in the practices as they get back into football shape and back in the usual routine of practice. The other receivers who stepped up last season will have a chance to make a name for themselves as the coaches will evaluate all of the players and make the best roster decisions (Bulls are about 4 players over the 85 allowed scholarship maximum).

Watch for Evan Landi and Terrence Mitchell to truly step up. Landi made the conversion to wide receiver last season and was second on the team in receiving yards. Mitchell, the freshman All-Big East performer, is now on offense (converted from corner) and gives the offense another weapon with his incredible speed. Lindsey Lamar is out for the Spring as he rehabs from minor shoulder surgery as well.

Defensive Ends to Step Up

The Bulls lose Craig Marshall on the defensive edge and will be relying on the youth that developed from last season to step up and continue to emerge. The Bulls have some experience returning in Patrick Hampton and Claude Davis is a JUCO transfer that played last year (although not much). The young players, Ryne Giddins and Julis Forte have tons of potential and could be some of the best pass rushers in the conference if they continue to grow and avoid injury.

The defensive line is going to take a hit with Terrell McClain headed to the NFL draft. The Bulls have depth with Sager, Grissom, and Chandler all getting chances to play early and often. Incoming recruits Elkino Watson and Marquis White will help add depth and talent to a young group of linemen.

Who Takes Over on the Offensive Line?

The Bulls lose 3 starters from the offensive line. Center Sampson Genus and tackles Jamar Bass and Jacob Sims. Mark Popek is the favorite to replace Bass at left tackle. He has the size (6'7" 310-pounds) and has started some games before. If he can stay healthy and play up to his potential, he could get the job. Quinterrius Eatmon (6'6" 340-pounds) is in line to take over for Jacob Sims and senior Kevin McCaskill should be able to take over for Sampson Genus.

The Bulls have added depth the last two seasons on the line (9 linemen recruited). Daneous Esternor, Tony Kibler, and Austin Reiter are just a few names to watch for. The Bulls have plenty of athletic offensive lineman that will surely be able to push for playing time and help anchor the offensive line.

So these are three areas to watch during the Spring practices. All positions are key to the success of the team and there are stories and questions everywhere. These are the three I believe will be the key to the success of the USF team in 2011.

Bulls Make Two New Offers

The Bulls continue to hand out offers to 2012 recruits.

One new offer has been given to athlete Jalen Spencer. Spencer (6'2" 185-pounds) is a standout athlete at Pensacola High School. He is a very versatile athlete that could play either wide receiver or even in the secondary. The Bulls will need to add depth to both positions, making Spencer a prime target.

Another offer has been given to safety Jordan Diggs. Diggs (6' 191-pounds) out of Ft. Myers, Florida is a punishing tackler that is already getting tons of attention. He now has 8 offers, including offers from South Carolina and Ohio State. The Bulls will be in the mix to land his commitment, but it will be hard with so many programs offering and more likely to come.

So while the team prepares for the Spring workouts, the coaches are staying busy as they continue to scout, offer, and recruit for the class of 2012.

Hopkins Setting Records

Derrick Hopkins has incredible speed, but will he get on the field enough this season to show it off?

From Greg Auman - The Bulls have plenty of speed on offense. Both Terrence Mitchell and Lindsey Lamar have made a name for themselves with their blinding speed on the field. But there is another Bull that hardly touched the field last season, but is making a name for himself on the track, Derrick Hopkins. [keep reading]

Ladies Back in Action Tonight

The Bulls (10-17, 1-12 in conference play) are on the road for a pivotal match up against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights tonight at 7:30PM.

The Bulls season has been disappointing. The ladies have come close in many games only to lose them in the second half. The offense has been hot and cold and simple mistakes have cost Fernandez and his squad many games. But the team is still battling and trying to end the year on a high note and hopefully get a win or two in the Big East Conference.

Andrea Smith is the only Bull averaging double figures in scoring (16.9) and will have to carry the team again for the Bulls. Twin sister Andrell Smith averages 8.2, Porsche Grant averages 7, and Kaneisha Saunders averages 6.8 points per game. Everyone will have to contribute tonight and try to cut down on the mistakes if the Bulls want to get a win on the road (1-1 all time at Rutgers; Rutgers is 15-11 (8-5) on the season).

Out for the Day

Hey USF fans, sorry there have been no posts today. I am sick today and probably will be home resting for the next few days (got to love getting a cold when it's getting warm outside). So please stay tuned to the site and my twitter for any new updates and hopefully I will put together some new material for the USF Nation. Thank you for being a loyal fan and reader!

Spring Practices Announced

From www.gousfbulls.com - The University of South Florida football program announced its spring schedule on Monday, which is made up of 15 practices and is highlighted by the annual Spring Game and the Green & Gold Bowl. Spring practice will open on Thursday, March 3, the Spring Game will be on Saturday, April 2 and the Green & Gold Bowl will be played on Saturday, April 9. The Spring Game and the Green & Gold Bowl will be open to the public with the rest of the practices being closed.

USF will play its annual Spring Game at Raymond James Stadium. Game time is set for 2 p.m. One week later, the Bulls will participate in the Green & Gold Bowl, a scrimmage in the USF Track & Field Stadium on campus, as a part of the University's USF Day. The Green & Gold Bowl is set to kickoff at 5 p.m.

Including the practice on March 3, USF will have five workouts prior to Spring Break, two in shorts and three in pads. The Bulls will return on Monday, March 21 and hold a series of workouts that will include a scrimmage, the Spring Game and the Green & Gold Bowl, which will close out spring practice.

In addition, USF will host its Pro Day on Thursday, March 24.

More details on both the Spring Game and the Green & Gold Bowl will be posted on GoUSFBulls.com when they become available.

Spring Schedule (Practice Dates are Subject to Change)

Thurs., March 3: Practice

Fri., March 4: Practice

Sat., March 5: Practice

Mon., March 7: Practice

Wed., March 9: Practice

Mon., March 21: Practice

Wed., March 23: Practice

Thurs., March 24: Pro Day

Fri., March 25: Practice

Sat., March 26: Scrimmage

Mon., March 28: Practice

Wed., March 30: Practice

Fri., April 1: Practice

Sat., April 2: Spring Game

Wed., April 6: Practice

Sat., April 9: Green & Gold Bowl

Heath Debate Once Again

The talk never seems to end for Stan Heath. After another tough loss to Georgetown on Saturday, the Bulls are now 8-20 (2-13) will be facing against DePaul in the battle of last place teams in the Big East. It is possible that the Bulls could suffer the most loses in program history and the debate is beginning to swirl among fans and the internet about his job security. After signing a 5-year extension, there are some that believe he is safe, but in the ultra competitive world of collegiate athletics, no one is safe. Let's take a look at 3 reasons he should keep his job and 3 reasons he needs to pack his bags.[keep reading]

Bulls Offer 2012 Cornerback

From Rivals - Coach Holtz and staff never take a weekend off and this weekend was the same as they made another offer to a high school recruit. Cornerback Chris Bivins got an official offer from USF this weekend (the first school to make an official offer).

The 5'11" 170-pound cornerback is a player the Bulls need to help add depth to their secondary that is already thin.

Bivins is a outstanding athlete. He has been clocked in the 40 yard dash at 4.54 seconds, runs the shuttle run in 4.22 seconds (lateral speed), and has a vertical of 29 inches. He has all of the physical tools that a corner needs and Holtz has already offered.

Being the first to offer Bivins gives the Bulls a slight edge on the Gainesville native. Bivins has interest in many high level programs and the offers will begin to pour in for this talented defender. Hopefully Holtz and staff have already made a lasting impression on the young man and he makes the best decision soon.

Bulls Lose Again to Gators

The tough opening weekend for the Bulls baseball team got worse today as the team fell again to the #1 Gators, 5-0 as the bats fell silent again (shades of last year).

The Bulls simply couldn't figure out the Gator pitching and the loaded Gator team hammered the Bulls this opening weekend. The team now returns home to open their new home stadium in hoping to get the first win of the season and put this weekend behind them.

The Bulls showed some signs of life in the series (Barbosa pitched well, Koscso hit well) but the team will have to find some more offense if they want to get rolling when they return home to take on Elon.

Bulls Fall to Georgetown

The tough weekend for USF got worse on Saturday as the men fell to Georgetown 66 to 55 in a tough fought game.

Gilchrist broke out in this game and scored 22 points and pulled in 7 rebounds. Robertson had 10 points, Poland had 12 points, and Fitzpatrick had 7 points. Crater had 7 assists but no points and Noriega, after leading the team in two straight games in scoring was shut out in this one.

This was a tough game for the Bulls to go through. This late in the season, the Bulls are trying to get a win and this was as close as they may come to getting. They battled tough but were not able to get enough going on offense and couldn't hold down the Hoyas as they fell again. Now at 8-20 (2-13) they will be facing DePaul in round two of the Battle of the Bottom.

Ladies Fall to the Cardinals

Another day, another loss for Coach Fernandez and his ladies as they fell once again at home to the Louisville Cardinals, 66 to 55.

The Bulls are now 10-17 (1-12) and are watching all of their posteason chances fade away as they continue to struggle to score points and get anything accomplished on defense. Andrea Smith had 16 points and Jasmine Wynne had 14 points, but it wasn't enough for the Bulls as they continue to slump.

The ladies take the court again on Wednesday night at 7:30 as they take on Rutgers in hopes of getting their first road win in conference play and try to getting positive out of the season.

Bulls Fall in Opener to Gators

The first of many baseball reports, the Bulls lost tonight to the #1 ranked Gators in Gainesville, 7 to 2. Randy Fontanez held up early in the game but faltered late, pitching only 4.2 innings, giving up 9 hits, 6 runs including 1 homerun as the loaded Gator lineup found its swing early and struck the Bulls hard before they had a chance.

Doug Wagner struggled in relief as well giving up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run in just 1.1 innings of work.

The offense struggled til late in the game. James Ramsay hit his first homerun, going 1 for 4. Todd Brazeal had a solid night, going 3 for 4, but there was no one on base to drive in.

Barbosa takes the hill tomorrow as the Bulls hope to rebound and get a much needed win early in the season.

Scouting Georgetown

Can USF slow down guard Austin Freeman and company? (Picture credits: www.nj.com)

The Bulls are home again as they host #9 Georgetown on Saturday. The Hoyas are coming off of a tough loss to UCONN and are looking for some revenge against the Bulls after last year's upset (thanks to Dominique Jones who will be in attendance at this game). The Hoyas are a tough team and will pose a huge match up problem with their incredible guards.

The Hoyas are a top ranked team and the numbers prove it. The Hoyas average 74.4 points per game (52nd in the nation) compared to USF who averages 61.7 (312th, sigh). The Bulls hold the rebounding advantage though, the Bulls pull down 36.9 per game (83rd ranked) while the Hoyas average just 34.3 (215th). This is due to their size and emphasis on the guards. They dish out 16.2 assists per game (18th) compared to 12.4 for the Bulls (218th). The Hoyas shooting a ridiculous .497 from the field (2nd in the country) while the Bulls shoot .414 (283rd).

The Hoyas are a guard oriented team and will pose major match up issues for the Bulls. Here are the players the Bulls will have to contend with. [keep reading]

Ladies Host Louisville Saturday

Coach Fernandez needs everyone to come to the Sun Dome on Saturday! (Picture credits: www.gousfbulls.com)

The ladies are back in action tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM in the Sun Dome as they host Louisville in another Big East matchup.

The Bulls 10-16 (1-11) are trying to find some late season success and notch a few more wins as they head towards the Big East tournament. The team has struggled this season to find consistency on both offense and defense, but the team is playing better and still battling. Andrea Smith is coming off of a 27 point night in the loss to St. John's and looks to continue her hot shooting when the Cardinals (16-10 and 7-5 in conference play) come to Tampa.

Please come to the Sun Dome this weekend for two games, this one of course and the 7 PM game when the men host Georgetown. The season is nearly over and this is the last few times you will be able to watch basketball in the old Sun Dome, so please come out and support your Bulls!

Will He Stay or Go?

Will Augustus Gilchrist return for his senior season? (Picture credits: www.gousfbulls.com)

The 2011 season roles and the Bulls continue to struggle on the court, it's time to start looking towards the future. As Stan Heath begins to look at his roster for the 2011-2012 season, one question will be soon approaching them, will Augustus Gilchrist return for his senior season or will he opt out and head to the NBA? [keep reading]

Bulls Offer Armwood Safety

From Rivals - The Bulls are always busy with recruiting (making it hard to keep track of every move they do make). Recently, the Bulls have offered local Armwood safety Jarvis McCall.

McCall (6'1" 185-pounds) is a hard hitting safety from local Seffner. Holtz needs to add depth to the secondary that is light in depth to begin the season.

The Bulls signed Chris Garye, Kenneth Durden, and Corian Hamilton, but the need for depth and skill in the secondary is always a must for the Bulls. USF is the first school to officially offer McCall as Holtz continues to try to keep the local talent in the area.

USF Basketball Recruiting - Early Look

Coach Heath is limited this year in recruiting.

The 2011 men's basketball season has been a painful one, but there is always hope for the next season. The Bulls and Coach Heath have already been recruiting and have their two commitments already. The Bulls are limited on the number of scholarships available due to few players graduating so this way to early look ahead will be quick and easy.

Coach Heath understands in the Big East you need big, inside post players to dominate the boards and fight for points. Despite the point guard troubles this season, Heath believes he has the pieces there and has focused on recruiting centers this time. Here is the early look ahead to the two big men that will be coming to USF next season.[keep reading]

Bulls Offer 2012 Tight End

Recruiting is always a hot topic and after the class of 2011, everyone is already scouting and working on the 2012 recruits. As I work full time, I can't simply leave work to head to a local high school to watch 17 year olds work out and practice, but when a rumor does surface or an offer is reported by a source, I will do my best to get the news to you.

Holtz has said that recruiting is not a year to year thing, he has to scout and work on a recruiting class years in advance, meaning he is looking at 2014 years already. While that is way too far ahead for me to work on as well, I will try to keep up with the offer rumors and news about the targets in the 2012 class whenever I do hear something interesting.

From Rivals - USF has offered Stone Mountain, Georgia tight end Joshua Parris in the class of 2012. Parris, 6'3" 230-pounds also has an offer from Virginia as well.

The Bulls continue to add talent and depth to all of their positions and tight end is a need for Holtz. With Andreas Shields, Jeff Hawkins injured, Chase Griffiths rarely used and new commit Ty Turner, the Bulls still need to add depth and skill to the position as they work to upgrade the position and help the offense grow as well.

Ladies Fall to St. John's

Andrea Smith led the way for USF with 27 points, but it wasn't enough (Picture credits: www.gousfbulls.com)

The USF ladies suffered a tough loss at home last night, falling to #25 St. John's 80 to 60. The game was close in the first half, but poor shooting (free throws too) and turnovers doomed the Bulls to a losing season. Now at 10-16 (1-11) they are hoping to finish the year on a positive note.

Andrea Smith carried the team last night, scoring 27 points, but shot 10-23 from the field. Twin sister Andrell Smith, scored 12 points. Leondra Doomes-Stephens scored 7 points as well. The Bulls simply could not keep up with the hot shooting of the Red Storm and fell behind big in the second half in front of a crowd of only 5893 (from gousfbulls.com).

The Bulls are at home again on the 19th as they host Louisville 16-10 (7-5). Please come to the Sun Dome to support this team and cheer for Fernandez and his team as they try to get something positive in the last few games of the season.

Bulls Fall to Pitt

Not even blinding the Pitt Panthers could stop them last night from notching their 5th straight conference win.

It was the same story for the Bulls as they fell again on the road to #4 Pitt 55 to 67. The Bulls were only down by 3 at halftime, but Pitt woke up in the second half and out rebounded and stopped the USF offense, sending them to another loss (8-19 now 2-12 in conference play).[keep reading]

Koscso Ready

Coach Lelo Prado is glad to have Koscso on this roster.

The 2011 baseball is fast approaching (starting Friday at Florida) and I haven't had the time to do some special player previews, but I will give you two players that I follow and cheer for more than others, starting with senior 3rd baseman Jonathan Koscso. [keep reading]

Ladies Back in Action

Coach Jose Fernandez needs everyone to come out tonight to support the team! (Picture credits: USF Oracle)

The ladies are back in action as they return home to host #25 St. John's at 7PM. The Bulls are coming off of a tough road trip and are looking to get back on the winning track after showing a lot of fight in the loss to Pittsburgh. The Bulls are just 10-15 (1-10) but are hoping to put all of the progress made in the past few weeks and get a few more wins.

St. John's (17-7 and 6-5 in conference) is a tough team, but the Bulls play strong at home and hopefully the fans take notice and show up for this key game as they Bulls battle to remain out of the bottom of the conference and look to end the season on a positive note.

Tonight is also Military appreciation night at the Sun Dome. Anyone with a valid military identification will receive discounted tickets for them and any family with them. USF coaches will be wearing green polos with patches honoring various branches of the armed forces. So please come out and support the armed services and USF basketball!

While We Wait for Football

While we wait for the 2011 football season and a possible Big East title, let's take some time to stroll down memory lane and look at some of the greatest moments in program history. (I'm in a football mood today, not like basketball has gotten any better)

Scouting Pitt

Jamie Dixon has his team on top in the Big East, do the Bulls have any chance here (Picture credits: ESPN.com)

The Bulls are on the road again as they face #4 Pittsburgh (23-2 (11-1)). Pittsburgh is a solid team that just beat Villanova and is in the driver's seat for the regular season Big East title. The Bulls were just awful against Notre Dame and are hoping to show a little more life in this contest.

Pittsburgh is one of the best teams in the county and the numbers reflect that. They average 76 points per game (33rd in the nation), 41.4 rebound per game (5th in the nation), 18 assists per game (5th in the nation), and shoot .473 from the field (30th in the nation. The Bulls on the other hand, are struggling in every possible way. USF enters the game averaging 62 points per game (309th - yikes), 37.6 rebounds per game (58th - only bright spot), 12.5 assists per game (206th - look at Crater), and shoot .413 from the floor (287th - couldn't shoot the broad size of a barn).

Here are the players we will have to watch out for. [keep reading]

Bulls Move Date for Miami Game

From Greg Auman - The Bulls made a slight adjustment to their schedule yesterday as they moved the Miami game, originally scheduled for November 26th to November 19th (the weekend before Thanksgiving).

This change was made at the request of the Big East due to scheduling conflicts. This change most likely happened due to matchups with West Virginia and Louisville and who the Bulls will host the weekend of the 26th.

The official USF schedule should be released sometime in the very near future, but here is the unofficial schedule.

2011 USF SCHEDULE

Non-conference games

Sept. 3 at Notre Dame

Sept. 10 vs. Ball State

Sept. 17 vs. Florida A&M

Sept. 24 vs. UTEP

Nov. 19 vs. Miami

Big East Conference games (dates TBA)

vs. Louisville

vs. Cincinnati

vs. West Virginia

at Connecticut

at Rutgers

at Syracuse

at Pittsburgh

Time to Rally

Stan Heath needs some support from the fans (Picture credits: TBO.com)

After watching the Bulls fall face first in the beat down by Notre Dame, I looked around the Sun Dome to see a sea of blue and green, the Irish were everywhere. The game totaled over 6000 people in attendance and I would guess that around 4500 or more were Irish fans (by the sound of the crowd around the dome, this may be true). While everyone is calling for Heath's head, there are a few things that should be pointed out about why the men's basketball program is in such bad shape.[keep reading]

Someone Needs a Hug Today

Everyone deserves some love on Valentine's Day, even Delbert Alvarado.

Valentine's Day is all about love and loving each other, everyone deserves it. Over the years, USF has had some individuals that need some love and have become part of infamous history for the Bulls. Here are three individuals that could use some love today.[keep reading]

Dixon Rising

Ricardo Dixon is emerging in the USF secondary (Picture: USFnation.com)

In the Bulls bowl victory over Clemson, the USF secondary stepped its game up, shutting down the aerial attack of the Tigers. One player in particular that stepped up his play during the game was cornerback Ricardo Dixon. Dixon, a redshirt freshman, helped lock down the edge and came up in the box to make key tackles at the Bulls secured the first (of many) bowl victory for Coach Holtz. Entering the 2011-2012 season, Dixon is looking to make an even bigger impact.[keep reading]

Which Bull Do You Have Love For?

Bull fans fell in love with Matt Grothe, which player are you in love with?

It's Valentine's Day and love is in the air. As a USF fan, there are hundreds of student-athletes, coaches, assistants and others that we all love. Over the years, USF fans have fallen in love with certain players that helped bring their respective programs to greatness. Here are 3 players that all USF fans love!

Ladies Fall to Pittsburgh

The tough basketball weekend ended in Pittsburgh as the USF ladies now 10-15 (1-10) fell to the Panthers 66 to 70 after battling hard for 40 minutes (more than the men's team did). The Bulls came back from a big lead at halftime, but were just not able to get enough stops on defense to get the win on the road as they continue to slide in the conference standings.

Andrell Smith led the way with a career 15 points while twin sister Andrea Smith only had 10 points, a quiet night shooting for her. Akila McDonald had 11 points and Leonda Doomes-Stephens had 11 points as well as the Bulls had a better shooting night, but struggled to stop the Panthers on defense.

The ladies are now back at home on Wednesday night at 7PM to take on the St. John's Red Storm as they try to get another conference win and finish the season on a positive note. Tough loss, but the team showed fight and has not given up focus unlike another team around the area.

Bulls Get Hammered by the Irish

This game was simply ugly from the opening tip. The Bulls went down to the Irish 78 to 55 and were down by 30 points late in the second half. The Bulls are now 8-18 (2-11) and are going to be facing several ranked teams as the season comes to an end. This year has just been terrible and the pain continued to Saturday.

The Bulls were led by Shaun Noriega off the bench, the only player to actually show up yesterday. He had a team and career high 23 points as he found his long range shot early and often, showing why he needs to get more playing time down the stretch. Poland had 3 points and was never a factor. Robertson had 5 points and Gilchrist had 3 points as his awful shooting streak continues. Crater had 2 turnovers, 0 assists, and 0 points and his terrible play continues. He missed open looks, had shots chances but threw the ball away and simply could not read the Notre Dame defense. Famous had 7 points but was horrible shooting and was pulled several times due to poor play.

The crowd of 6000 was largely Irish fans as the bad play and continued lack of support follow this team. The Bulls will try to recover and not get crushed when they take on Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

McClain Headed to the NFL Combine

Sorry everyone for the lack of analysis material on the two loses USF suffered yesterday on the hardwood, I promise to have some final thoughts on both games later today, been really busy preparing for Valentine's day, yes, I am a sucker for the holiday. Here is a small article to get your Sunday morning started out right.

There aren't many Bulls headed to the NFL after the 2010-2011 season (Marshall, Williams, Raymond, Bogan, just to name a few). But only one player has been invited to the NFL Combine. The combine is a place where prospective players run through a series of physical tests that help NFL teams evaluate where the player should be drafted. Defensive tackle Terrell McClain "Dancing Bear" is headed to prove he should a first day selection.

The 6'3" 310-pound defensive tackle was a monster on the line this season and throughout his career for the Bulls. McClain has an explosive burst off the line. He uses his hands well and is able to get great leverage on opposing offensive lineman and drive them back off their blocks. He is solid against the run and wraps up the ball carrier well. He also has above average speed for a player his size and can chase down a quarterback, something rare from a defensive tackle, especially with his size.

Many draft experts have McClain going either in the 2nd round or maybe even late in the 1st round. McClain is a solid defensive tackle that should be able to anchor any defensive line for years to come. USF continues to produce top defensive line prospects, including George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul. Best of luck to the Dancing Bear, hope he is able to put on a show and find his way in the top picks in the NFL draft.

Baseball Season is Here!

Pitcher Randy Fontanez and company are looking to make 2011 a huge season for the Bulls.

Hello USF baseball fans! The season is only 7 days away as the Bulls begin the 2011 campaign against #1 Florida in the nasty swamp.

The Bulls have been picked to finish 4th in the Big East, but they are looking for more as they begin a new chapter in program history as they open their new home this season, replacing historic Red Mcewen Field. The new facility will be one of the best in nation, with new seating, new facilities, and everything else a major powerhouse needs to contend in the NCAA. Ace pitcher Randy Fontanez and crew are looking to make the 2011 season a memorable one.

Here at the Bull Rush, I will be doing my best to cover the baseball season for you. Bringing you updates on the team after games, analyzing the results, and taking a closer look at the players as the season continues on. I will be honest, I have never been a real dedicated fan to the baseball program, not like I am for the football program. Please make sure to take a look above on the pages section, the 2011 baseball schedule has been added so you can keep up with where the Bulls are playing, no matter where you may be. I have been to plenty of games, but I am bleeding more green and gold these days, so I will my best to bring you coverage of the team as the battle all season long.