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Happy Halloween, anyone?
Posted Oct 31, 2008 by Brett McMurphy
Updated Oct 31, 2008 at 02:00 AM
Here’s the game story in Friday’s Tribune. Happy Halloween, anyone? Got questions, complaints, rants, raves, fire away.
CINCINNATI - Need a last-minute Halloween costume for tonight that’s guaranteed to scare the bejeesus out of any University of South Florida fan? Just dress up as the Big East standings.
With No. 24 USF’s 24-10 loss at Cincinnati on Thursday, the most-anticipated season in school history has officially turned into a nightmare.
Since climbing to No. 10 last month, the Bulls (6-3, 1-3) have lost three of their last four.
Since last year’s 6-0 start, the Bulls are 8-7 against Division I-A opponents.
USF sits alone in seventh place in the Big East ahead of only woeful Syracuse (1-6, 0-3).
“We’re not quite at the bottom of the Big East, but pretty much the bottom,” USF coach Jim Leavitt said. “We still have a chance at a bowl game and a chance at finishing strong.”
The Bulls had a chance to rally against the Bearcats (6-2, 2-1) but failed to score on two red-zone opportunities in the fourth quarter. USF had a first-and-goal and first-and-10 from the 13, but came away empty.
A 12-yard completion from Matt Grothe to Taurus Johnson gave USF first-and-goal at the 2. However, on first down Matt Huners was penalized five yards for a false start back to the 7.
Consecutive Ben Williams runs netted one yard each, setting up third and goal from the 5. Grothe threw incomplete on third down. His fourth down pass went deep into the left corner, but there wasn’t a USF receiver within 15 yards.
Following a Cincinnati punt, two Grothe to Jessie Hester completions gave USF first-and-10 at the 13. Grothe’s first down pass was incomplete and a 5-yard pass to Hester set up third-and-5 from the 8. A third down pass to Cedric Hill was incomplete and on fourth down, Grothe threw to Marcus Edwards, who was covered by DeAngelo Smith. It appeared Hester was open in the end zone after his defender fell down.
“We had some good plays on, we just didn’t execute those plays,” USF running backs coach Carl Franks said.
The Bulls’ frustrations have become obvious. Players were yelling at coaches during the game, ESPN’s Erin Andrews reported.
“We’ll get things fixed,” USF senior linebacker Tyrone McKenzie said. “I guarantee this season won’t go down the drain.”
It pretty much already has. On UC’s “blackout” night, the Bearcats officially turned the lights out on the Bulls’ Big East title hopes.
“You never thought this would happen,” USF senior center Jake Griffin said. “It’s exactly like last year, we’re in slump.”
Grothe, under heavy pressure all night, threw for 174 yards. He was 13-for-31 with a season-high three interceptions. He was sacked twice and has been sacked 11 times in USF’s three losses; five times in USF’s six wins.
With RBs Mike Ford and Jamar Taylor at home nursing ankle injuries, Williams led the Bulls with 79 yards rushing. Grothe added 54 and Mo Plancher had 47, including USF’s only TD on a 1-yard dive in the first quarter.
Carlton Mitchell had 77 receptions on four catches to lead the Bulls.
The defense had its share of problems as well, Tribune correspondent Joe Reedy reports. SS Carlton Williams and LB Kion Wilson each had 11 tackles. DE George Selvie had three tackles and a fumble recovery.
For the sixth consecutive season, USF will finish with at least three losses in conference play.
Cincinnati QB Tony Pike, who was playing with a broken left (non-throwing) arm, scorched the Bulls’ secondary for 281 yards (20 of 28, one INT, two TDs). Mardy Gilyard had 98 yards on four receptions.
The Bulls’ third league loss guarantees USF will finish with at least three league losses for the sixth consecutive season. The Bulls finished 4-3 in their first three seasons in the conference. In Conference USA, they were 3-5 in 2004 and 5-3 in 2003.
The Bulls also fell to 0-5 when favored by a touchdown or less in Big East road games.
During the fourth quarter, UC’s fans did the obligatory “overrated” chant. Don’t worry, it will be the last time the Bulls hear that until next season as it’s doubtful USF will return to the rankings this season.
MOMPREMIER’S CAREER OVER: USF senior LB Brouce Mompremier’s career is over because of his neck injury.
Mompremier initially injured his neck at FIU and returned against Syracuse. However, he reinjured his head at Louisville last week and was not allowed to practice last week.
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Reader Comments
Por (Keith Olbermann) on October 31, 2008 (Suggest removal)
It’s all George Bush’s fault….along with John McCain.
They pulled the plug on this economy just in time to keep USF from hiring new assistants.
Under Barack Obama’s plan, USF will be able to hire Urban Meyer for the offensive coordinator spot, and Bob Stoops for the defensive coordinator spot.
Plus, Obama is sooo dreamy!
Suggest removalPor (Mike Singletary) on October 31, 2008 (Suggest removal)
I think I know why your team didn’t come back to win the game in the second half.
Coach Leavitt didn’t drop his pants to motivate the players at halftime.
Jim, headbutting your players is so passe. Go with the pants dropping gimmick next time.
Suggest removalPor (Rich) on October 31, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Brett,
I understand that it’s up to the school but I’m sure Leavitt has a say in how the limited salary pool is distributed, including his own salary. The school may have $3M (??) for coaches and CJL decides he needs half. Look at Gundy at Ok St (makes $1.05M ). I’d like to see what percentage of the total coaches salary pool his salary commands. I can’t imagine his OC makes 1/10th of what he does like ours. I think it’s better for the program to pay CJL less and assistants more. We don’t need medical salesman coaching our d-line so CJL can be paid as much as Joe Pa.
Suggest removalPor (Alan Ledford) on October 31, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Just for factual purposes Gundy is OK States offensive coordinator.
Suggest removalPor (Dale) on October 31, 2008 (Suggest removal)
I blame USF’s offensive problems on Rich Rodriguez and the low assistant coaches salary pool. When RR pulled Rod Smith and Greg Frey from the USF in 2006 he solidified WVA as 1 of the best team in B.E. and put USF’s offense in retrograde. Currently none of the offensive coaches have any past experience running a spread offense. CJL will either need to change the offensive staff or change the offense next year to prepare for the 2009 season.
Suggest removalPor (Rich) on October 31, 2008 (Suggest removal)
No Allen, in fact he is their Head Coach. He also makes $450k less than Leavitt and has a top 10 team in the toughest conference in football. His only loss is to the #1 team in the country by 4 at their place. And I’m willing to bet $100 bucks his OC doesn’t make 1/10th what he does. I bet their total coaches salaries are comparable to USF. Some coaches are willing to sacrifice for the good of the program. Our coach hires castoffs because they are cheap so he can get paid $1.5M. we have a d-line coach that was out of football for 10 years and we wonder why we can’t stop the run or get a pass rush.
Suggest removalPor (mike) on October 31, 2008 (Suggest removal)
I do agree that some of the hires have been questionable and have not understood some of them. However, there are 2 proven coaches with many years of experience and success on that staff in Wally Burnham and Mike Canales. I do think you are knocking them. There are many coaches without a job every year who get hired by someone. Burnham is a great coach and I don’t think he was a charity case. Unfortunately, the hires Leavitt could not have made his job easier. Having another experienced coach like McCarney had to be helpful. Mike Canales was fired from Arizona before returning to USF but doesn’t make him a bad coach or a charity case either. He was a known quantity.
Suggest removalPor (Brett McMurphy) on November 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Mike, let me emphasize: I am not knocking the assistants. As I said earlier, some were only available to USF because they were out of work or had just been fired. Again, it was because the assistants salary pool was so low. You mentioned Burnham and Canalas. Burnham is the top asst. to ever work at USF. He’s forgotten more football than most coaches ever know. The defense is taking some lumps this year, but it doesn’t mean he all of sudden can’t coach. Gone are 2 NFL CBs & Moffitt, who Burnham said would be the key loss this year. When I wrote that some said it was coach speak - I guess it wasn’t. And Canales was another great hire. Stoops made him the fall guy at Az. & has a ton of college/NFL experience.
Suggest removalPor (mike) on November 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Brett,
What do you mean forgotten more football than most coaches ever know? I like he and Canales both. I agree Canales was fall guy and got a bad deal. I would imagine Burnham is having to coach some coaches this season due to inexperience. I hear Patrick’s name but what about Hendrix…is he not contributing as a coach because of his health????
Suggest removalPor (Brett McMurphy) on November 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Mike, that’s a compliment to Burnham. It means he knows so much football, he’s forgotten more than others have ever known. Hendrick missed some time early in the preseason because of his health.
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