Halftime: It’s Grisly For USF

Posted Oct 24, 2009 by Joey Johnston

Updated Oct 24, 2009 at 02:14 PM

PITTSBURGH—It’s halftime at Heinz Field with the No. 20-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers leading the University of South Florida Bulls 31-7.

So where do we start?

With an obscene 297 yards surrendered by USF’s defense?

With the fact that Pittsburgh has scored on all five of its possessions?

With a near-flawless half for Panthers quarterback Bill Stull (13-for-17, 191 yards, two touchdowns)?

With freshman running back Dion Lewis starting to heat up (13 carries, 86 yards, two touchdowns, becoming the fourth Pitt freshman back to pass 1,000 yards)?

All of the above.

So what’s at stake in the second half?

USF’s worst margin of defeat in a Big East Conference game was 33 points (Rutgers 49, USF 16 in 2008).

The most points ever surrendered by a USF team was 56 in the 2007 Sun Bowl (Oregon 56, USF 21).

That Oregon team also gained 533 total yards, but the all-time record yardage surrendered by a USF team was 577 in a 38-33 home loss against Cincinnati in 2007.

Put it all on the table, folks. Unless USF does a drastic turnabout, all the dubious records are in jeopardy today. As the late, great Atlanta Braves announcer Skip Caray once said during a particularly rough night at the ballyard, “As long as you patronize our sponsors, it’s all right to shut off the TV and go walk your dog.’‘