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Can it get any worse?

Posted Nov 15, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Nov 15, 2008 at 07:42 PM

When the first quarter between the University of South Florida and Rutgers ended, the Scarlet Knights sprinted to the other end of the field. They couldn’t wait for the second quarter to begin.

The Bulls? They can’t wait for the season to end.

They slowly walked with their heads down toward the south end zone of Raymond James Stadium. Their season officially came to a crawl Saturday as Rutgers routed USF 49-16.

With 16 days since their last game, the Bulls managed one point for every day of preparation they had. Since that last game, the seniors called a players’ only meeting and USF coach Jim Leavitt required his staff to work Sunday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to midnight during the off week.

The result was USF’s worst home loss in allowing the fourth-most points and suffering the fifth-biggest margin of defeat in program history.

“Our football team certainly is down,” Leavitt said. “About as down as you can get.”

USF (6-4, 1-4 Big East) has lost four of its last five, its worst five-game stretch since the 2004 team had a 1-4 stretch and finished 4-7. The Bulls also are guaranteed their worst Big East record since joining the league.

USF trailed 21-10 at halftime, but had outgained Rutgers 205-126. However, in the second half the Bulls looked like they did in their Sun Bowl blowout loss to Oregon – not good.

Rutgers outscored USF 28-6 after halftime, rolling up 295 yards of offense. For the game, quarterback Mike Teel threw for 294 yards and three TDs, including a 92-yard touchdown to Kenny Britt (eight catches, 173 yards).

“We got our tails beat pretty bad in the second half, they owned us,” USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said.

USF junior wide receiver Jessie Hester had a career-best 10 catches for 110 yards as the Bulls finished with 404 yards offense. USF only punted twice, but couldn’t overcome six turnovers. Quarterback Matt Grothe threw for 292 yards, but was intercepted three times. The Bulls also lost three fumbles.

“I really felt like what we were doing was the right way to move the football,” USF offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said. “We were moving it and giving ourselves an opportunity to score, but we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot with some fundamental mistakes.”

Besides the six turnovers, the Bulls committed 10 penalties for 100 yards, missed a field goal, had one blocked and allowed a 59-yard kickoff return.
USF’s coaches and players said they don’t know what’s gone wrong with the Bulls, who were once 5-0 and ranked No. 10 in the nation.

“I’ve wondered the same thing one hundred thousand times,” said Grothe, who left with a sprained left ankle and was wearing a boot afterward. “We can’t catch a break with anything. It feels like the world’s after us.”

USF defensive end George Selvie also had no answers.

“We just didn’t lose, we got whupped,” Selvie said. “I couldn’t even tell you [what’s wrong], I don’t know what’s going on. We got talent, so that’s not it. I don’t know how to explain it.

“We’re giving up some big plays, the whole team, we’re messing up everywhere, but we don’t know why we’re messing up. We’re able to make those plays, but not doing them.

“It’s not fun, it’s ridiculous.”

Once considered a lock for the inaugural St. Pete Bowl, the Bulls could actually miss out on a bowl game by losing their final two games to UConn and West Virginia.

In the first year of his new seven-year, $12.6 million contract, Leavitt said the Bulls’ late season slide can be attributed to injuries and lack of continuity.

“If I’m going to be honest and really honest, that’s what I really think is a big part [injuries], but coaches don’t like to make excuses because people don’t like to hear them,” Leavitt said. “But the truth of the matter is we got a lot of guys banged up.

“The most disappointing thing was we stopped competing in the second half. That’s the first time I’ve seen our team do that in a long time. Why, again, I don’t know. I really don’t know. We’ll try to figure it out.”

Playing before an announced crowd of 47,216, the stadium was one-fourth filled with red-clad Rutgers fans (oh wait, sorry, those were empty chair backs). Leavitt’s face was as bright red as those empty seats at the end of the second quarter.

After a catch by Carlton Mitchell, Leavitt went ballistic after the officials didn’t hear him calling for a time out with nine seconds remaining. The officials finally stopped the clock with four seconds remaining, but Maikon Bonani’s 54-yard field goal was blocked on the final play of the half.

“I was hoping to get a time out,” Leavitt said. “I was calling a time out with nine seconds left, but [the official] didn’t hear me, maybe because I’ve lost my voice.

“But I was screaming as hard as I could scream.”

The way the season is coming to an end, apparently the Bulls have tuned Leavitt out as well.

Reader Comments

Por (Don G) on November 16, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Joe, I understand your thinking re: getting that 7 wins to ensure a St Peter Bowl bid. Yeah, in my opinion, if Bulls don’t go to a bowl this year, we’ll have to wait till 2010 season before we have that opportunity again. Look at number of starters going after this year & consider the lack of depth we’re seeing, and as I’ve said before, next year is a classic “rebuilding ” year. That’s why it’ll be so important for coaches to get B.J. Daniels as much experience as possible next year in order to have chance for good season in 2010.