Top Moments of 2010: Number 5

Number 5: Bobby Eveld's Game-tying Touchdown Drive vs. Miami

Finally, a memorable moment from a game we won, right? The Bulls traveled south to battle in-state rival Miami to have another shot at taking down another "Big 3" power. USF was in control for the entire first half and most of the second half, but their failure to score a touchdown caught up to them when Storm Johnson made the Bulls pay with a 71-yard run to take a 17-10 lead. With B.J. Daniels out of the game after exiting at halftime with a quad injury, it was all up to freshman Bobby Eveld to dig USF out of a hole with time running low.

The drive wouldn't have even mattered if not for the epic forced fumble by David Beford that sent the Miami ball out of the back of the end zone, resulting in the Bulls' taking over at the 20. With a little under 5 minutes to play, South Florida had one more chance to turn this game back in their direction. Eveld immediately hit Joel Miller for 15 yards, followed by a 37-yard bomb to Dontavia Bogan. From the Miami 39, Eveld handed off the ball to Demetris Murray, who turned it upfield for 16 yards.

Two straight incompletions put the Bulls in a dangerous 3rd and 10 at the Miami 23. Eveld had one more shot to do again what he'd done all drive: go long. After the snap, everyone pretty much immediately knew where he was going. But no Hurricane could do anything about it. Bobby launched a lob pass in the direction of Dontavia Bogan, who pulled it down at the UM 1 yard line, setting up 1st and goal. On second down, Eveld got the QB sneak and muscled it into the end zone, tying the game at 17.

It was at that point that Bulls fans knew we were going to win this game. USF was about to knock off another "Big 3" school and further push its name into the conversation of a "Big 4". The intrastate showdown was a source of great pride for USF fans, and instilled confidence across the entire fanbase that we do indeed have the potential to be an elite football program.

Green Helmets in 2011?

Could USF actually have green helmets in 2011? (Picture: www.thebullspen.com)

Talk started when Bill McGillis, AD at USF, asked fans for uniforms design ideas, but nothing else was talked about that afterwards. A few months after that, quarterback B.J. Daniels opened a twitter account and began chatting with fans and enjoying the fun world of social media. But after one infamous day, Daniels shut down his account, to the surprise of many fans. Daniels posted several pictures on his account of reportedly new helmets, one showing a green helmet, a new look gold helmet, and a strange camo-style helmet. Now, his account was disabled, but the talk and rumors about a possible redesign on USF helmets and uniforms continued across the internet.

Well, according to members on the Bullspen, a large USF forum, Holtz has finally made all the speculation and talk into reality, the green helmets are real. Holtz, speaking at a women's football clinic today, he announced that the green helmets will be used this season. Now, remember, before everyone begins blasting me or stating it is not officially official (awesome), it is not. This is simply talk from people who were at the clinic today and heard from Holtz. There has been nothing officially released from USF or any of the local media so just because we have the image of the helmets and the talk about them continues, they may not be real to this point and this is nothing official, just continuing the talk about them.

So we will continue to wait until something breaks from GA, Adkins or USF, but for now it is official by word of mouth and we are left with the image of what could be.

Thank You Bull Rush Readersfor Making This the Best Month Ever!

Since The Bull Rush started this in December 2010 we never could have imagined that our readers and fans would grow this much and in such a short amount of time. Today we reached another milestone by breaking our previous record with a whopping 10,000 page views for the month with two days still left in July (It's not even football season yet!). This could not have been possible with out your support and the pride you all take in being a USF Bull fan, student, faculty, and/or alumni. The Bull Rush team is dedicated now more than ever to continue bringing you the best quality coverage on USF sports; All USF, all the time. Thank you, the best is still yet to come!

Sincerely,

The Bull Rush Team

Matt, Mike, & Jonathan

S-O-U-T-H! F-L-O-R-I-D-A!

SOUTH FLORIDA! SOUTH FLORIDA! GO BULLS!

USF Lands 2012 Offensive Lineman

According to USFBullseye.com and Adam Adkins (via twitter) - Offensive tackle Kofi Amichia has committed to the Bulls.

The 6-4 255-pound tackle out of Powder Springs, Georgia (Mceachern High School) is the 8th commitment for the class of 2012.

Amichia had listed USF as his top school recently and it appears he has pulled the trigger to commit. He had offers from other programs such as Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Western Kentucky, and FIU among others.

The Bulls are limited on the number of scholarships they have available for the 2012 class, but will always add an athletic lineman that can become a monster on the line. At 6-4, Amichia has the frame to add more weight and could be a nice addition to the offensive line.


Adam Adkins had a chance to get some insight from Amichia.  He stated he will still takes some visits, but is pretty much committed to USF.  He felt at home with the coaches, enjoyed the tour of the facilities, campus, academics and felt comfortable with USF. 


What continues to impress me is the mention of the home feeling.  Holtz has a staff that treats the players well and creates an extended family, a very welcoming sight to see for the program and it is paying off. 

Welcome to the family Amichia!

USF Finalizes 2012 Non-conference Schedule with Chattanooga

The Bulls have finalized their 2012 non-conference schedule with the addition of the Chattanooga Mocs.

As reported by V5 yesterday, the 2012 non-conference portion of the football schedule has been finalized. The Bulls will take on the Chattanooga Mocs on September 1st in 2012 to open the season.(An interesting note that has been pointed out by V5 and others. The Mocs have played the Heisman winner and eventual National Champions the last 3 years. 2008 with Sam Bradford and Oklahoma, 2009 with Mark Ingram and Alabama, and 2010 with Cam Newton and Auburn. They play Nebraska this season and then USF, so pray history repeats itself). [keep reading]

Tyler Cameron Decision Coming Soon

Could USF pick up a quarterback commitment on Tuesday?

From Greg Auman - Tuesday should be an interesting day next week for USF recruiting in 2012. 4-star quarterback Tyler Cameron, the talented signal-caller out of Jupiter, Florida, is set to make his announcement after making multiple visits to other teams.

The 6-3 215-pound quarterback had over 20 offers, but has narrowed it down to 4 teams. USF, LSU, Purdue, and Illinois.

Now, USF would like to bring in a quarterback in the class of 2012 to help add depth after the departure of Jamius Gunsby. Cameron has visited USF and has a strong relation with the coaching staff. He has stated he would like to have a chance to play early in his career and go to the best possible situation. Daniels would be a senior next season, Floyd being a freshman and Eveld being a sophomore. So he could come into the program that Fall and battle Floyd and Eveld for position and possibly win the job in 2013.

As GA noted, there was some buzz around twitter comments from CB commit Chris Bivins welcoming him to the family, but that tweet was deleted and it was stated, don't be surprised if he comes here. So there is a lot of speculation around him, but we will have to wait and see. The other offers he has are big.

Now Cameron has strong ties to the SEC and LSU, stating he likes the atmosphere of LSU and thinks playing on that level would be exciting. LSU could use a quarterback and the chances are high he could land there.

There are Purdue and Illinois, both historic program and could possibly snag him. He is familiar with their coaches as well.

So make sure to pay attention to twitter and Bull Rush when Cameron does make his commitment and see if he does somehow pick USF.

News and Notes Before the Weekend

Head coach Claire Lessinger and staff will have to find a new home for the 2011 season. (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The weekend is finally here, but USF news is always emerging (no day off, we like that).

Recruiting never stops and reaching out to young high school talent is always a must for any program. USF understands this and made a verbal offer to a local talent. Defensive tackle Derrick Calloway, the 6-1 294-pound junior was at the Sling-n-shoot last weekend and has picked up a verbal offer (part of the 2013 class) (according to Rivals).

Calloway, the the product of Bradenton, Florida (Manatee High School) is a rising star and USF is the first program to offer him a scholarship. He has been to other camps, even up to Tennessee, where he impressed coaches, but Holtz and staff are the first to make an offer. This would be a big signing in the future for the Bulls as he would come in behind Chandler and Watson in the coming years. Let's see where he ends up in the next two years.

Here is some game footage from his sophomore season. The young man has a high motor and can get to the QB easily, might be a monster in the near future.

Another note, from Greg Auman yesterday, broke the news on the volleyball season and where head coach Claire Lessinger and her team will call home this season.

With the $35 million dollar renovations going on inside the Sun Dome, the adjacent Corral, the home of the Bulls volleyball team, will not be usable for the 2011 season. There had been hopes it would be available, but the construction is moving along and now they will have to move their home court to the Rec center.

Playing in the Rec center seems odd to me personally and will have an effect on home crowds this year. While it is understandable and the options for a home court are limited for the team, playing in the Rec center just doesn't make it feel like a D-1 program, but hopefully the team will play at a high level and put any thoughts about the facility behind us (not being mean to the Rec center, it's awesome, but for a D-1 program to play it's matches there, not the best place).

The ladies open the season on August 26th at New Mexico and open the home portion of their schedule on September 2nd when they host Eastern Kentucky.

Top 5 Incoming Freshman: Number 2

See who comes in at number two on the count down. (Picture: www.tbo.com)

The top five impact freshman count down as we get closer to the start of season (tick tock). Last time, Thor Jozwiak checked in at number three on the countdown (Tye Turner at number four and Kenneth Durden at five). This time we will stay on the offensive side of the ball for the number two player. [keep reading]

Will the Bulls Face Michael Floyd?

What is the latest on wide receiver Michael Floyd?

As the Bulls prepare for the season (2 weeks and counting before Fall practices begin for the team), the Bulls will begin to focus on their first opponent, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Irish had an up and down season last season, but are poised to make a run this year and have the sports media talking about the potential in South Bend. This is going to be a huge game for the Bulls as they try to make a statement in week one. However, one of the biggest playmakers for the Irish, wide receiver Michael Floyd, remains a mystery for the Bulls and the fans. [keep reading]

Genus and Bogan Find NFL Homes

It appears that wide receiver Dontavia Bogan will be starting his NFL career on the West Coast.

Now that the NFL has decided to open up for business, the season can begin and the undrafted players can finally sign with teams. Former USF Bulls are already busy and two former standouts from last season have already found new places to call home.

Center Sampson Genus has reportedly signed with the Green Bay Packers. Genus, the 6-1 315-pound center was a team captain, anchor of the line last year, and was named 2nd team All Big East. While the Packers have two centers ahead of him, he will help add nice depth to the position and should be able to prove himself in training camp.

The other Bull is wide receiver Dontavia Bogan who has reportedly signed a deal with the San Francisco 49er's. Bogan, the 6-1 188-pound stand out receiver, was the best vertical threat the Bulls had last season. He finished the season with 47 receptions for 685 yards and 6 touchdowns, despite shaking quarterback play and missing one game due to an ankle injury. Bogan is also a dynamic return man and will turn heads the moment he gets onto the field (imagine him lining up across from Michael Crabtree, awesome).

Congrats from the Bull Rush family to Genus and Bogan for finally getting onto an NFL team (the wait and lockout was annoying) and best of luck to the drafted players signing soon and the rest of the undrafted players.

Top 5 Incoming Freshman: Number 3

See who checks in at number 3 on the count down (Picture: www.usfnation.com)

The short top five countdown of incoming freshman that will make an impact this season for the Bulls rolls on as we look at number three. Last time, Tye Turner made the list as players that will get a chance in their first year to play for Holtz. This time we look at who comes in at number 3. [keep reading]

Lockout Ending is Bittersweet for Bulls Fans

If you were following me on twitter this morning, you probably saw this:

Make no mistake, I love NFL football; and as a Jets fan, this year was something to look forward to. But I, and many other fans of college football in the Bay area, was willing to sacrifice this year in NFL football for a year of building support for a perennially good college team that gets overshadowed by the deep-rooted NFL Buccaneers. This lockout would have granted the use of Raymond James Stadium to USF for the whole season, and, more importantly, it would have lent USF some filled seats that they have been desperately chasing for the past few years as the program grew.

Think about that for a minute. Raymond James all to ourselves? USF banners and flags outside and throughout the stadium? End zones painted green and gold with "BULLS"? No more stupid white flag with an outlined USF logo at the 50 yard line? That all sounded like exactly what USF needed to break the mold of "just a college team in an NFL city", like many other Big East teams.

All in all, this lockout would probably have been the best thing to happen to not only USF, but the Big East as a whole. While USF and Pitt play in their respective NFL stadiums, Cincinnati and Rutgers also have very nearby NFL fanbases. That combined with Louisville's and Syracuse's shot at a comeback to the league's elite could have proven to be the best attendance year the league has ever seen (sorry, UConn, you don't really apply here).

So the ending of this lockout is bittersweet for fans like myself. And although many people will be going back to just waiting for Sunday to come around to watch some football, there will surely be some fans that appreciate the permanence of college football. So maybe we won't snatch up all the Bucs fans to our games, but we'll likely be seeing some new faces in the stands.

Top 5 Incoming Freshman: Tye Turner

See which freshman comes in at number four on the countdown.

The short top five impact freshman for the 2011 season continues on as we look at the freshman from the 2011 recruiting class that will make to the field this season and help contribute to the team. Defensive back Kenneth Durden was number five, time to see who is number four on the list. [keep reading]

Top 10 Moments of 2010: Number 6

6 weeks until football season everyone!!!!

Number 6: Maikon Bonani's game-tying field goal vs. UConn

Before I say anything about this moment in the football season, I have to preface this by saying I realize that so far almost all the top moments were from games we lost. In my defense, though, you can't deny that if you were watching these games, you were jumping for excitement the whole way. With all that said, Bonani's field goal shone a glimmer of hope that USF could close the regular season on a great note.

USF had been playing pretty average football all game. There was no reason for the score to have been as close as it was. Fortunately for the Bulls, Connecticut was playing just as average(ly?) and Jordan Todman was being held to minimal damage. B.J. Daniels took the final game off and Bobby Eveld was at the helm with the Bulls' chance at spoiling the Huskies' season. Late in the game, Eveld now had the task of bringing USF all the way down the field to come back one more time. He had hit Dontavia Bogan once before for a TD, so Holtz thought to go for it again. After consecutive incompletions inside the 5-yard line, Maikon Bonani set up for his third field goal of the night. Bonani's kick sailed through as the clock hit 1:16, tying the game at 16.

As that point, everyone in the crowd was positive that the defense could at least hold the Huskies out of field goal range. Then we'd be going to overtime. Nobody beats us in overtime. We had momentum too, there was no chance for UConn, right? The confidence in the stands was palpable and USF fans were already preparing to go into extra time.

Overtime never came, however, because UConn kicker Dave Teggart hit a 52-yard field goal in the waning seconds. USF fans had such a bitter taste in their mouth because they were the single team standing between sending a deserving team to a BCS bowl and sending the worst team in BCS history to Tempe.

Top 5 Incoming Freshman: Number 5

See which freshman will make their way onto the field this season (Picture: www.yahoo.com)

We are only 43 until the start of football season and less than two weeks away from the Bulls packing up show and heading down to Vero Beach (feel the excitement rising). As we prepare to bring you the latest news and insights on the Bulls preparation for the 2011 season, I have decided to do one more series before the start of the season (I know, you should be grateful).

We have covered a lot of ground, looking at a ton of players, positions, and everything else to get everyone ready for the season, but now we turn to the incoming freshman that will make an impact this season. Holtz threw several freshman on the field last season and players such as DeDe Lattimore, emerged to opportunity. This season, the recruiting class of 2011 hits the campus and the football field and it is time to pick the 5 players that will not only get onto the field this season, but will make the biggest impact. Here is number five. [keep reading]

Five Most Important Players in 2011: Number one

Time to find out who checks in at number one on this small countdown.

The mini-countdown continues as we finally come to the number one player that has to step up for the 2011 football team to help them reach the elusive Big East title.

Last time, B.J. Daniels and Reshard Cliett found themselves on this list, putting a lot of pressure on their shoulders to succeed this season. Many were wondering what I was thinking putting Daniels at number two and not number one. While he is a big time player and a lot is riding on him, I feel there is another player on the list who steps in ahead of him for this season. Let's see who I picked. [keep reading]

Jeff Hawkins to Miss 2011 Season

From Greg Auman and USF Nation - Breaking news tonight for the USF football team. Junior tight end Jeff Hawkins, mostly used as a reserve last season, will miss the 2011 season after tearing his ACL ligament in non-contract drills during volunteer summer work outs.

The 6-4 256-pound tight end/fullback didn't record a reception last season (or in his 3-year career), but did recover a fumble in the Stony Brook game and figured to be in the mix this season both helping blocking and getting onto the field to help the passing game get opened.

Hawkins has torn his ACL before, in the other knee in late December, but has been rehabbing to return to the team. Hawkins will actually graduate this December, in just three years, but will have two years of eligibility left when he returns, if he chooses to do so.

This leaves the Bulls even shorter at tight end with Andreas Shields and Isaac Virgin figuring to get all of the action now. Armando Sanchez (as Greg Auman has pointed out) will move to fullback and could get some time at tight end as well as both sides tend to be interchangeable. Incoming freshman Ty Turner could be another player that could get some playing time early in his career as well.

We wish Jeff the best in his recovery and hopefully he is able to get back on his feet quickly.

Top 10 moments of 2010: Number 7

Number 7: Terrence Mitchell's end-around touchdown run

Sorry for the delay in posting, everybody, but apparently Blogger hates us and deleted my whole post that I wrote Saturday. Anyway, I'm back with the seventh best moment of the 2010 football season, and it's T-Rex's 45-yard end-around touchdown against Pittsburgh.

Pitt came to town for a match up that would determine who would remain in contention for the Big East race and who would be doing no more than playing spoiler for the rest of the season. As Bulls fans had grown to expect, the offense had been rather dull that day, and the defense was keeping USF alive. Going into the half, the Bulls had allowed a scant three points to Pitt. The outlook was good, except for the fact that they had only mustered a field goal for themselves too.

Out of the half, Ray Graham racked up over 50 yards on the way to the first touchdown of the game, giving Pitt a 10-3 lead. USF needed a spark to get themselves and crowd back into the game.

A run for a negative one yard loss and a weak 3-yard pass to fullback Richard Kelly had the Bulls facing another long 3rd down as they tried to get something going. Daniels threw another long pass that fell incomplete. Fortunately for USF, pass interference was called on the Pitt defensive backs, giving them another chance to salvage this drive.

Skip Holtz waited a few plays, but then proceeded to reach into his bag of tricks. He called punt returner Terrence Mitchell's number to get on the field and line up at receiver opposite Dontavia Bogan. Daniels received the snap and began rolling out to his right before pitching it back to Mitchell on the reverse. Mitchell wasted no time and immediately turned the ball up field, losing a few defenders in his path to the end zone. The play was just what USF needed. Fans were on their feet and screaming in excitement, and hope was restored that this season could still shape up to be a meaningful one. It was a refreshing emergence from Holtz's traditional ground-and-pound offensive strategy. Ultimately, however, Pitt outmuscled USF and effectively ended the Bulls' three-game winning streak and any hope of a BCS game this season.

Thoughts on the Top Running Backs in the Big East

Andrea Adelson has Darrell Scott listed as one of the top running backs in the Big East, but does USF have someone else that should be on this list?

Andrea Adelson of the ESPN Big East blog recently listed out her top 10 running backs in the conference and checking in at number 6 on the list is running back Darrell Scott.

She listed other familiar names ahead of him. Those on the list were Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead who is the most experienced returning tailback, Ray Graham of Pittsburgh who takes over the show with Dion Lewis headed to the NFL, Victor Anderson of Louisville who gets the most carries now that Bilal Powell has graduated, Antwon Bailey of Syracuse now that Delone Carter, one of the best running backs in program history is gone, and Savon Huggins of Rutgers. [keep reading]

Five Most Important Players in 2011: Number 2

See who checks in at number two on this countdown. The offensive player selected may surprise you. (Picture: www.usfnation.com)

The short list of players that are key to the success of the 2011 football season continues on as we look at the players that are number two on the list. Remember, these are players that are good players, but because of their positions, have to be outstanding in order for the team to succeed.

Let's see who checks in at number two on this big time countdown. [keep reading]

USF Offers 2012 Linebacker

Recruiting never takes a day off and the Bulls are always at work. USF has offered 2012 linebacker prospect Dallas Griffiths.

Dallas Griffiths, the 6-2 225-pound linebacker out of North Florida Christian High School in Tallahassee, Florida is a 3-star athlete that is starting to get more attention as camps and recruiting continues to heat up this summer.

Griffiths is a very athletic linebacker that has tremendous speed for his size and will only get bigger at the next level. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, runs the shuttle run in 4.32 seconds and has a 32" vertical (better than some wide receivers we have talked about on here).

Griffiths has a few offers in hand now. Georgia Tech (not in good shape with NCAA), Maryland, and Southern Miss have all offered (even Liberty has offered) and now the Bulls have joined the mix.

Now the name Griffiths should be familiar to the Bulls. His brother, Chase Griffiths was part of the Bulls team for two seasons, seeing action in only one game last year. He was a tight end that converted to fullback, but decided to transfer out of the program. This should not affect his decision, but then again, we don't know how the Griffiths family views the Bulls, so it could play a factor at some point. It would be nice to pick him up in recruiting, but we will have to wait and see what happens.

Five Most Important Players for 2011: Number 3

Darrell Scott will play a big role on the offense this season for the Bulls.

As this short countdown continues, we look at the players that are going to be key to the success of the 2011 football team. The Bulls are loaded with talent, but there are key players and positions that have to excel in order to help the Bulls try to capture that elusive Big East title. Here are the number three players I personally think will need to have a big season. [keep reading]

Five Most Important Players for 2011: Number 4

Kayvon Webster needs to have a huge season for the Bulls defense.

With A.J. Love and Sam Barrington in the books at number 5, this short segment continues as we look at the most important players for the 2011 season. Remember, these are the players that have to step up for the Bulls. They are either star players or new comers that have to step and make an impact this season to help the Bulls claim their first Big East title. Here are the players that come in at number 4 on the list that have to step up and make it happen this season. [keep reading]

The 2011 USF Primer: Quarterback

The success or failure of the 2011 season may come down to the play of junior quarterback B.J. Daniels.

Here we go USF fans, the final part of the 2011 Primer. Hopefully you have enjoyed the primer so far as it gets you ready for the upcoming 2011 season. Remember all of the names, stats, and insights we have given you as you cheer on the Bulls during this upcoming season.

We finally get a chance to look at the quarterback situation of the Bulls. The Bulls had a roughs season last year with B.J. Daniels learning the play book of Todd Fitch on the job. The passing game struggled to find rhythm (doesn't help having two starters out) and the Bulls battled to get a touchdown on the board at times. This season, the success or failure of the team rests on the play of the quarterback position. Time to look at who will be making the calls. [keep reading]

USF 2011-2012 Non-conference Schedule Released

Yep, it could be another long season for Coach Stan Heath and his team.

USF released their non-conference portion of their schedule for the 2011-2012 season. With the Big East being as tough as it is, the non-conference portion is just as rough.

The Bulls are going to be homeless this season as the renovations are underway on the Sun Dome. While they are much needed and probably should of happened years ago, the team will not play a game on campus, leaving them on the road, traveling between Lakeland, University of Tampa's campus, the St. Pete Times Forum, and the Lakeland Center for all of their home games.

A brief look at the schedule and there are several games that pop out. Old Dominion, Marist, VCU, and Cleveland State are all tough mid-major teams that could beat up the Bulls. Games against Kansas and possibly Kentucky (or Penn State, an NCAA Tournament team from last season) are also brutal games. Auburn will be better and the Bulls lost to Southern Miss last time, so that is not a proven game either. Here is the full list of the non-conference schedule and possible locations for games (as of now).

· Sat, Nov 12 Vermont (at University of Tampa), 7:00 p.m.

· Mon, Nov 14 Marist (at St. Pete Times Forum), 7:00 p.m.

· Wed, Nov 16 Florida Southern (at Lakeland Center), 7:00 p.m.

· Sat, Nov 19 Old Dominion (at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT - Naismith Memorial HOF Tournament), 2:00 p.m.

· Sun, Nov 20 Kentucky or Penn State (at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT - Naismith Memorial HOF Tournament), time TBA

· Wed, Nov 23 Georgia Southern (at St. Pete Times Forum), 7:00 p.m.

· Sat, Nov 26 Florida Atlantic University (at University of Tampa), 7:00 p.m.

· Wed, Nov 30 at VCU, time TBA

· Sat, Dec 03 at Kansas, time TBA

· Sun, Dec 11 Florida A&M (at University of Tampa), 2:00 p.m.

· Thu, Dec 15 at Auburn, time TBA

· Mon, Dec 19 Cleveland State (at St. Pete Times Forum), 7:00 p.m.

· Thu, Dec 22 at Southern Miss, time TBA

This could be another rough season, maybe even worse than last season. The Bulls are literally homeless and should not expect huge home crowds due to the venues they are traveling. If Heath wants to prove himself this season, this is the time to rally this team and pull them together during this rough transition year without a true home court.

The Bulls finished last season at 10-23 (4-16). This season could be equally as rough or even worse. The Bulls will be a bit better with Gilchrist opting to return, but losing Crater, as much as we joke about him does hurt. He was a senior guard with starting experience in the Big East. The Bulls will have to put the ball in the hands of incoming JUCO star Blake Nash and hope he can grow quickly and play under these strange and tough circumstances.

This UCF Business Has Gone Far Enough

If you don't know by now, there is much buzz around college football fans because of the release of EA Sports NCAA Football '12 today. What many of you may not know is that EA Sports released a raw video of a game between UCF and USF where it appears that the Knights are playing against a bad high school football team. The video features five UCF touchdowns against a hilariously bad defense and defensive highlights that would bring a tear to Ray Lewis's eye. But enough of me talking about this video, see it for yourself here:

As you can see, either EA is not giving South Florida any credit or they're trying to make UCF look like they belong at the top of the SEC. Let's not forget that EA has an office in Orlando. Coincidence? You decide. Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, I've seen enough garbage lately glorifying Central Florida beyond what they really are. I've got much more to say about the media's tilt toward UCF after the jump.

Five Most Important Players for USF Football in 2011: Number 5

How important is A.J. Love being back on the field for the Bulls this season?

As we eagerly await the 2011 football season and count down the seconds until the Bulls stampede onto the field, we begin to look at every position on the team and debate on how important each player will be to the success of the team in 2011. I am beginning a small series where I pick 5 key players on each side of the ball that must step up this season and will be an essential part of the Bulls success. While every position and player is important, these are players and positions that are key for the Bulls and a lot of the success this season rests on their shoulders. [keep reading]

The 2011 USF Primer: Running Backs

Demetris Murray is the leading returning running back for the Bulls this season.

As the primer begins to wrap up, we take a look at the running back position. The Bulls began to rely on the running backs more last season, taking the ball out of the hands of B.J. Daniels. Mo Plancher did a solid job and Demetris Murray helped carry the load. This season, the Bulls have new faces and a season under them, making most fans very optimistic about the running game entering the 2011 season. [keep reading]

New USF Bulls New Era Cap

New Era "NCAA White 2-Tone 59Fifty"

Now Available at Lids.com

Top 10 Moments of 2010 Season: Number 8

Number 8: Lindsey Lamar's 94-yard kickoff return vs. Syracuse

In a game that had very few highlights, Lindsey Lamar's kickoff return in the 3rd quarter provided a short burst of hope that USF's Homecoming Game could be salvaged.

USF had gone into the half tied with Syracuse, 3-3. That's right, Syracuse. The same team who USF had made a mockery of every year since joining the Big East. Both teams' offenses looked awful all day, and halftime couldn't come soon enough. Out of the gate in the second half, Syracuse ended an 11-play, 49 yard drive with a 41-yard field goal by Ross Krautman to go up 6-3.

USF prepared for the ensuing kickoff, needing excellent field position because the offense wasn't going to win this one on their own. They needed all the help they could get, and with the defense doing a good job so far just holding the Orange to just two field goals, just a spark might do it for the Bulls. Krautman booted the ball to USF, where Lindsey Lamar took it in at the 6 yard line. Fullback Richard Kelly led the way with a block that opened a gaping hole in the coverage, which turned out to be all the elusive Lamar needed. After weaving through the first line of defense, all he had to do was beat the kicker, which proved to be no task for the track star. Lamar trotted into the end zone for the first touchdown of the day, and for a brief moment USF looked like they would be able to hold off Syracuse once again.

After the game, when asked about his return, the humble Lamar didn't credit his performance with the momentum shift that it provided:

"It's extremely disappointing — it doesn't matter, because we lost"

The game itself was certainly lacking highlights, but Lamar gave Bulls fans a reason to stand up and cheer for as brief a moment as it was.

Mike Bianchi: Stupid Blogger or Stupidest Blogger?

Last night, I received two messages on twitter that changed the rest of my evening:

Apparently the Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi was suggesting that the Big East drop USF from its arsenal and add the clearly much more powerful likes of Central Florida. Of course, I felt the need to comment, but that has since fallen down the page, as many other people have felt the need to either rip Bianchi once again or praise him for yet another brilliant article. In his last line of the post, Bianchi suggested this:

"I've said it many times before and I'll say it again: If the Big East doesn't invite the Knights, a bigger and better conference will soon enough."

Now, we all know that Bianchi has been pushing for the Big East to add UCF for quite a while now, and he's done more than his share of trying to smear the name of USF in the process. If I were UCF, I would seriously be knocking down the door of the Orlando Sentinel to make them stop allowing Mike Bianchi to have access to the internet. He really is making them look even worse at a time when they need all the good publicity they can get.

In reality, I think Bianchi's posts suggesting various ways and reasons for the Big East to add UCF are doing exactly the opposite. Bianchi's columns are reducing the amount of respect that the university should be striving toward. In short, Mike Bianchi's idiotic drivel is exactly what UCF doesn't need right now, and he's single-handedly making all the schools in the Big East hate Central Florida. It's depressing to the rest of us that Bianchi gets paid to produce this, and it's insulting that he calls himself a journalist. Unfortunately, there are people who agree with this trash, making them dumber than Bianchi himself.

It's people like these that really would not make us sad if the entire city of Orlando just broke off from the state and drifted off into the Atlantic Ocean. UCF should take its chances and maybe campaign for membership in a "bigger and better conference". Let's see how Central Florida fares in the SEC. Vanderbilt would welcome that because it would mean they'd no longer be the bottom feeder of the conference. You know, UCF probably would establish a great rivalry with Florida too.

I'll have much more to say about this later

Ranking the 2010-2011 USF Sports Teams

As many of you know, this time of year is torturous for us bloggers. The lack of news combined with the anticipation of a new season makes for a long summer. I've spent a good amount of this time reflecting on the past year in USF athletics and ranking them in order of how well they performed. You can check out what I thought of our 15 sports teams this season after the jump.

The 2011 USF Primer: Wide Receivers

Sterling Griffin is back this season after breaking his ankle last summer, adding another weapon to the Bulls passing game. (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The 2011 Primer rolls on as we continue to look at the offense and the wide receiving corps. The Bulls receivers were plagued with injuries last season and struggled to produce with the new offensive system in place and the struggles of B.J. Daniels. However, this season, the Bulls are healthy, have new, talented faces on the roster and should be more consistent with Daniels in his second full season under Todd Fitch. Let's take a look at the starting receivers and who to look out for this season. [Keep Reading]

The 2011 USF Primer: Offensive Line

Danous Estenor can lift cars so defensive lines stand no chance against him this season. (Picture: www.usfnation.com)

The 2011 USF Primer rolls on as we turn to the other side of the ball and take a look at the offense. The Bulls are slow to score points and struggled under first year coordinator Todd Fitch and inconsistent play of B.J. Daniels. This season however, they look to put more points on the board and have the weapons needed to do. We first will take a look at the overall offensive unit, names to know, then dig into the offensive line. [keep reading]

USF Offers 2012 Offensive Lineman

The Bulls have plenty of offers out there for the class of 2012, but will have to be very selective in who they accept verbal offers from. One player they are very high on is offensive lineman Will Holden.

Holden, the 6'6" 271-pound star from Green Cove Springs, Florida (Clay High School) is high on the USF list and Holden is very high on USF as well.

The 3-star prospect (according to Rivals) attended the Bulls Super Bull camp held two weeks ago and came away impressed by the coaching staff and facilities. USF has competition to win his commitment. Holden has offers from FAU, FIU, Iowa State, Louisville (stay away from our state!), and even UMass.

The Bulls added a few offensive lineman in the 2011 recruiting class and have several young players on the roster now, making the offensive line loaded with talent, but there is always need for more depth and ability.

Update on D'Vario Montgomery: As fans, we watch prospects and dream that they could join our team and Montgomery is one player everyone is watching. He came away from the USF Super Bull high on the Bulls and has us ranked up with UCF on his list (how are we not above that Mickey Mouse school?). Montgomery has stated he will do all of his research on both programs and will take other visits, but at the moment, USF is in pretty good shape and hopefully we made a lasting impression on the young man.

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy 4th of July to everyone. We hope everyone enjoys their day with family and friends, remember to be smart while having fun. Don't drink and drive and don't do anything stupid with fireworks either.

The most important thing on this day is to say thank you to the men and women serving this country and make it possible for us to enjoy this holiday and go about our lives. This is a very special holiday and we hope everyone enjoys it responsibly.

Top 10 Moments of 2010 Season: Number 9

With only 9 weeks until football season begins, I won't waste any time getting right to the next highest moment on this countdown.

Number 9: Opening Kickoff

On the surface, the moment leading to Maikon Bonani booting the opening kick against the Stony Brook Seawolves seems just as exciting as any ordinary kick. But this was so much more than the opening of a football season. This was the opening of an entirely new chapter of the history of South Florida athletics. For the first thirteen years of the Bulls' existence, they had been under the rule of coach Jim Leavitt. And while we Bulls fans were grateful to Leavitt for being the father of this program and building us from the ground, many believed it was time for a change. Now, the change had finally come. This year was the first year of coach Skip Holtz's reign as head coach of the USF football team, and Bulls fans near and far were dying to see how the new hire would fare in his first year as a head coach of a BCS program.

On September 4th, my friends and I spent basically the entire day tailgating. It was a night game, but we got to the stadium around noon. Nothing excited us more than the thought of bringing in the new age of USF football with a memorable day at the stadium. Then came that time. Time to go into the stadium. I never thought the time would come, but it was finally here. For the entire time leading up to kickoff, I remember the fans filing into the stands and the student section growing louder and louder. By the time the band entered the field, the anxiety was at a peak for me. This was the longest hour of my life. But, the team did end up taking the field and they tossed the coin. The adrenaline was pumping and students started pounding on chairs to simulate the stampede that was finally entering the field after an offseason that seemed eternal. Maikon Bonani set up and kicked the ball away, and the first season of the Skip Holtz era had officially begun. So on the surface, it just looks like any ordinary football season beginning, but to us, this was the beginning of a new life for Bulls Football.

My Short Conversation with Scott from Bearcats Blog

Last week I received an email from one of my fellow Big East bloggers, Scott from the Bearcats Blog. The email contained a request to fill out a short questionnaire about various subjects ranging from sports to movies to taking a shower on a road trip. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to be a part of it, and I'd like to thank Scott for including me. You can read my responses to his questions here and also follow him on twitter and like the Bearcats Blog on facebook. Feel free to comment on his post, or come back here and tell me what you think about my responses.

Volleyball Schedule is Completed

The same day the Big East released the home and away slates for the basketball conference games, one of my favorite USF sports announced the finalization of their schedule. The volleyball team will be kicking off 2011 with a trip to Albuquerque on August 26th for matches against New Mexico and New Mexico State. They return home September 2nd for the USF Volleyball Invitational which includes teams like Bowling Green and Bethune-Cookman. They go away for the rest of the month, and come home to play conference games against Rutgers and Seton Hall in the first weekend of October.

The only strange part of the schedule is that traditional late-season, "why are we playing them?" game, where the ladies will host Florida A&M on November 23rd, three days after the Big East tournament ends.

Speaking of teams in Florida, the Bulls will have five matches against in-state teams. They'll host Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 4, then go to Orlando to play FAU and UCF in the UCF invitational the following weekend. In mid-October, the girls will take a break from conference play and road trip to Fort Meyers for a match against Florida Gulf Coast. They then of course close their schedule with a final match against A&M. For more information, you can go ahead and view the whole volleyball schedule here.

The 2011 USF Primer: Secondary

Quenton Washington and company lead a talented secondary into the 2011 season looking for a Big East title.

This 2011 Primer continues as we take a look at the last defensive unit (offense coming next week), the secondary. The Bulls are loaded with stars and tons of leadership in the secondary. The team is loaded and it could be one of the strongest units on the team. [keep reading]