The Bull Rush Podcast: Episode 2

With football starting in less than a week, Matt & I decided to record the second episode of the Bull Rush Podcast. We talk about USF's schedule, their opponents, and the first fall depth chart. Hopefully we'll be able to make the podcast a weekly or biweekly segment for you guys to enjoy. The intro song this week is The Fighter (Remix) by the Gym Class Heroes. Let us know how you liked it, what we could change, and any other suggestions in the comments. If you want to download the podcast, you can do so through the Soundcloud widget.

Enjoy, and Go Bulls!

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.

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.

That's Enough, O'Leary

Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, and I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Many know George O'Leary notoriously as the coach who wrote false things on his resume for the head coaching job at Notre Dame by indicating that he was a three-year letter winner at New Hampshire when he in fact did not play at all, and had a Master's degree from a university that doesn't exist. Now, it wouldn't be fair to ostracize him forever for that one incidence, even if i did result in his immediate firing from the most prestigious program in the country, but now it appears O'Leary might just have a knack for bending the truth for his benefit. At a UCF alumni meeting, Old Georgie announced that the UCF-USF series was back on, saying that these two "nut job fan bases" will finally be reunited beginning in 2015. It was discovered soon after that there were in fact no solid plans to resume the rivalry. Athletics representatives from South Florida stated that there was nothing to indicate that the teams would be meeting in 2015 or ever.

Bulls in the Draft: Part 4

With the NFL draft coming tomorrow, this will be the final installment of 2011's Bulls in the Draft. That being the case, it's only appropriate that tonight we focus on the two players that have turned the most heads of NFL teams with their workouts: Jacquian Williams and Terrell McClain. McClain has been on several analysts' radars for a while, earning invitations to college all-star games and receiving accolades for his work on the field. Williams, on the other hand, didn't really start turning heads until after his playing days. His workouts and interviews were what made teams start looking at him. While we obviously hope to see all our players get picked, these two have the most realistic shot to get chosen in the draft.

An alum of Riverdale High School, Jacquian Williams isn't too far from home here at USF, but it hasn't always been that way. Out of High School, Williams took an opportunity to go to Fort Scott Junior College in Kansas where he saw great success. Over the two seasons he spent there, Williams racked up 132 tackles, 23 for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble on his way to receiving several honors, including Kansas Junior College and Community College Defensive Player of the Week. His last year at Fort Walton ended with Williams being voted a National Junior College All-American. After his graduation from Fort Walton, he came home to Tampa where he immediately saw the field, playing in all 13 games in his first season at USF. There weren't many stats to be admired after his junior season, but his leadership made it easy for his teammates to select him as a captain next season. His senior year, Williams started all 13 games at linebacker, picking up 71 tackles, three passes defensed, and an interception, including an outstanding performance at Miami.

Williams' performance on the field was admirable, but it was his performance at Pro Day that got people talking. His low 40 time was 4.53 seconds and his vertical jump was recorded at 36.5 inches. For a 6-3, 231 pound frame, those are excellent measurements to move that much mass. As a comparison, Akeem Ayers, one of the top linebacker prospects in the draft, ran his 6-3, 254 lb body in the 40 in 4.81 seconds, a significantly slower time. It would be wise of Williams to bulk up a bit before he steps onto a field, but I see a lot of success in his future.

Finally, we come to the main attraction: Terrell McClain. McClain won all-state honors at Pensacola High, and, again, didn't go too far from home to play his college ball. After receiving offers from Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina among others, McClain decided to stay close to his hometown and attend South Florida. He played in a rotate-in role at DT for his first year, but soon afterward he became a regular member of the defensive squad. In his sophomore season, he started nine games and recorded 32 tackles, the highest in a single season of his career. He also forced a fumble and had three sacks, also tied for career highs. He played in every game the next two years, starting all but two his junior season. Over those two years, he recorded 4.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble, also having his career day at Miami in 2010. He capped off his excellent senior season with invitations to the East-West Shrine Game, and his performance there earned him an invite to play in the Senior Bowl.

At 6'2", 297 lbs, McClain was the only Bulls to be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year. He recorded 28 repetitions on the 225 lb bench press, which is impressive for anyone. I compare him most closely to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first draft pick last year, Gerald McCoy. McCoy measured in at 6'4", 295 lbs, and recorded 23 reps on the bench, five less than McClain. If McClain can get his technique down, I see him with plenty of potential to go as high as a mid-second round pick.

It appears that some of the NFL coaches and staff also see the potential in these players, as Jacquian Williams got a lot of attention from Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith during Pro Day in Tampa, and McClain has been spending a lot of time talking with the executives of several teams, most notably Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. I'm glad the draft is finally here, so all this speculation can end and we can actually find out where these guys will really end up. We offer our good wishes to all players waiting to get that phone call this weekend that changes the lives of their entire families.

Bulls in the Draft: Part 3

I'm particularly excited about this installment of Bulls in the Draft because it showcases two of my favorite players of my time watching USF football: Mistral Raymond and Dontavia Bogan. Raymond has endured quite the dramatic life, from personal tragedy to football star, and showing excellence in every aspect. Bogan's career has been defined by highlight reel catches and great leadership on the field. Once again, similar to last night's post, these two players play similar positions, on opposite sides of the ball.

At Central County High School in Thomasville, Georgia, Dontavia Bogan was a star Safety, being named his region's Defensive Player of the Year. He also received accolades for his work at receiver. As a freshman, Bogan immediately saw playing time, taking the field in 11 games, racking up 190 yards and a touchdown and leading all receivers i yards per catch (15.8). The next year, Bogan became a bit more of a regular on the field, seeing game time at receiver as well as on special teams. His breakout game was against Connecticut, where he averaged 67.5 yards per kickoff return, adding to his outstanding special teams season where he finished 17th nationally in yards per kick return (26.6). 2008 was also the year of his real transition to receiver, hauling in 26 passes for 354 yards, but only one touchdown. His numbers remained consistent throughout the 2009 season, when he had 22 catches for 205 yards. His return yards matched the previous year's total at 770, but with more attempts. At the time, those two seasons held the top two return averages in USF history before one of them was overtaken by Lindsey Lamar last season. In his senior year, Bogan spent more time perfecting his job on offense than in special teams, only returning four kicks, enough to push him to the top of the all-time list for career returns (69). He brought down 47 catches for 685 yards, and six for touchdowns, including a career day at West Virginia where he had 11 catches for 98 yards.

Bogan may see a transition back into his old role as a kick returner with an NFL team, as his 6' 192 pound frame is likely more built for agility than to be a target for quarterbacks, at least not with the frame he's got now. I compare his size to Santonio Holmes out of college, but the big difference is in their 40 times. Bogan recorded a 4.55 run in the 40, while Holmes had a significantly better 4.38. If Bogan expects to see early playing time, I expect that he'll need to either shave some time off his 40 or bulk up a bit. If he adds about 15-20 pounds, his combine stats would match Roddy White's almost perfectly. Bogan has the skill and the ability, so if he works on his tangibles he'll be a great pick for an NFL team.

Now it's my pleasure to write about my favorite player in my years of watching USF football: Mistral Raymond. Initially a free safety, Raymond hails from Palmetto High School. He went to play football in Iowa for Ellsworth Community College, before a close tragedy struck his family. Back at home in Palmetto, Raymond's childhood home was sprayed with gunshots and set on fire with Molotov cocktails. One of his sisters was hit, but the rest of his family escaped relatively unharmed. His mother passed away a few months later of lung-related illness, but it is unclear whether it was caused by the house fire. Raymond was on the first flight home to be with his family during this time, but he couldn't get away from his main passion: Playing football. Raymond found his way to the University of South Florida, where he got an opportunity to try out for a walk-on position for the team. At 6'2", 192 lbs, Raymond's lanky frame earned him the nickname "Skinny", courtesy of the USF coaching staff. He spent his first year on campus rotating in on special teams in nine games. "Skinny" started being more than just a name in the 2009 season, as he tallied 40 tackles and an interception in his 13 games on the season. In 2010, Raymond earned the honor of being voted by his teammates as a captain for the team on his way to having a career season, recording 56 total tackles, one interception, and seven passes defended.

Mistral Raymond ran the 40 at Pro Day in 4.56 seconds, not a bad time for someone looking to play Safety. His 32.5 inch vertical jump and 10'2" broad jumps are relatively comparable to safeties around the league. Former Miami FS Antrel Rolle is of similar size and his measurables are also comparable. The biggest setback for Raymond is his hands, which is obviously why he played defense instead of receiver. Raymond had two picks in his career at USF, but there were many more opportunities to ass to those stats. At Pro Day, the same was true, as a couple drill passes were dropped as well. The strongest part of Raymond's game is his character. Without a doubt, someone who has endured as much as this guy must have a heart of steel. No matter where Raymond winds up, I'll be rooting for him the whole way, and I know the USF community will be too.

Each of these players has been shown on a couple draft boards here and there, but it is ultimately going to be up to the scouts' notes to determine their futures. They each have qualities on the field that could use some work, but it's nothing that can't be improved with perseverance. Obviously, Raymond's story is enough to win the hearts of anyone in the real world, but NFL executives are going to be a bit tougher to win over. I do think that they each have great potential to succeed at the next level, and we in the USF family wishes them the best.

Has USF Football Been Scheduling Down Too Much?

I woke up this morning thinking about the South Florida's upcoming 2011 season (I wish I woke up every morning that way). After running through home and away games, it occurred to me that the out-of-conference football games are rather weak. In the weeks following the biggest challenge of the season in Notre Dame, USF plays Ball State (4-8 last year), Florida A&M (an FCS team), and UTEP (a below-average team in C-USA). USF's only non-conference BCS opponent is Miami, who will be experiencing a transition year after the firing of coach Randy Shannon.

After thinking of my disdain for this year's schedule, I began thinking about OOC schedules of previous years. I'll link each schedule to the respective season. Last year, we opened with an FCS team in Stony Brook, went to Gainesville to play Florida, and prepared for conference play with games against two bad Sun Belt teams in FAU and Western Kentucky. In the year before, USF scheduled TWO FCS teams and a game AT Western Kentucky(!) in preparation for a trip to Tallahassee. Not to mention the large sum of money USF has to pay these fluff teams to come in for a thrashing. FAMU is getting $400,000 to come in next season, while UTEP is getting $650,000. In addition to losing that kind of cash, there is no income since no fans want to go see USF put up 70 points on a team mostly of big high schoolers. What I see going on here is the schedule makers putting one marquee OOC game per season on the list, and then fluffing the rest of the schedule with cupcake teams.

Villanova's Vote Delayed

It looks like the anticipation of Villanova's Board of Trustees vote to move their football team to the FBS level is going to continue to kill us for a bit longer than expected. Apparently the board was prepared to vote, but officials from the Big East conference expressed their concern for Nova's stadium arrangements. As it is, the Wildcats play in PPL Park, home of the MLS's Philadelphia Union. The stadium seats 18,500, with room for expansion to 30,000. The average attendance for football games currently reaches around 5,000 to 7,000, while the Big East's average attendance last year (which turned out to be a bad year too) was 45,028.

Now I'm not the first to have thought of this, but you've got to think Pitt is behind this. Just as USF students, and probably executives, were opposed to Central Florida moving to a BCS conference, Pitt's formerly backyard FCS team now has potential to draw some recruits and attendance away from them. This letter was released from Villanova president Fr. Peter Donohue in response to delaying the vote:

Even if Nova does end up making the jump, they won't be able to play a full FBS schedule until 2014. That said, it has to say something for Villanova's continued loyalty to the conference for thirty years that they are here to stay, and deserve to be rewarded with the kind of revenue and national attention they have earned. Mostly, though, what I'm trying to say is: Anyone but UCF.

It is important to me that you are the first to know the status of our potential transition to the Big East Conference as a football member. At this point in time, no formal action will be taken on this matter at the April 12, 2011, meeting of the Villanova Board of Trustees as we had planned and previously communicated.

We very recently learned that the Big East Conference needs more time to complete its due diligence regarding Villanova’s potential football membership. Without a clear and formal invitation from the Big East, we cannot proceed. We are now working with the Big East to provide whatever additional information and details we can. It is our hope that in the near future we will proceed with the Board of Trustees vote as planned.

I am sure that some of you may be disappointed by this delay. But please know that whatever the outcome of this situation, we greatly value the positive relationship we have enjoyed with the Big East for over 30 years and look forward to the continuation of this partnership.

I certainly will share new information with you as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, I ask for your patience and your continued support.

Even if Nova does end up making the jump, they won't be able to play a full FBS schedule until 2014. That said, it has to say something for Villanova's continued loyalty to the conference for thirty years that they are here to stay, and deserve to be rewarded with the kind of revenue and national attention they have earned. There may be other teams in the back of Big East officials' minds, like possibly East Carolina (provides a geographical bridge between WVU and USF, pretty good recruiting, and great location), Southern Miss (geographical bridge between USF and TCU, and provides great recruiting ground), or Houston (provides a natural in-state rival for TCU, fantastic recruiting, excellent market, and good location). Not to mention that all of these schools have great fan bases and all have rivalry ties to current Big East teams (Holtz left ECU for USF, Southern Miss has had a long rivalry with Louisville from their C-USA days, and Houston is an in-state team to newcomer TCU). Mostly, though, what I'm trying to say is: Anyone but UCF.