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Steele solid on the Bulls

Posted Jun 22, 2007 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Jun 22, 2007 at 09:33 PM

Ever since the University of South Florida moved to Division I-A in football, the Bulls have not received much respect from the national media (remember when Sports Illustrated rated USF before the 2001 season as the nation’s second-worst team and the Bulls finished 8-3). This year, however, more of the national types are jumping on the Bulls’ bandwagon.

However, none believe in the Bulls as much as Phil Steele. In Steele’s 2007 College Football Preview magazine he writes – and this is not a misprint – “Two of my first sets of power ratings that I had completed were calling for [USF] to go undefeated.”

Steele then explains his conference rankings talked him out of predicting an unbeaten season for USF, then adds: “despite those rankings, USF could still end up in the National Title game.”

That’s right: the BCS Title game (that’s the Sugar Bowl Jan. 7 in New Orleans if you want to go ahead and purchase your plane tickets now). Steele ranks USF as his No. 5 surprise team (Florida State is first, followed by Virginia Tech, Penn State and Ohio State).

While USF playing for the national title is a long shot, USF fans should know that Steele’s preseason magazine has been the most accurate preseason magazine over the past eight years combined, including ranking first in the 2006, 2004, 2001 and 1999 seasons, according to Stassen.com, which lists each magazine’s success rate since 1993.

The Bulls going from Birmingham to Bourbon Street in one year? Phil Steele says it’s a real possibility.

Reader Comments

Por (Ken DeCelles) on June 23, 2007 (Suggest removal)

That is amazing stuff to hear.  It would be a fairy tale season if it actually happened.

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Por (Chris Griggs) on June 23, 2007 (Suggest removal)

Great article Brett, and thanks for putting this out there.

It’s good to see that people are finally starting to take notice that there’s something special going on at USF.

“Big 3” Fans still laugh when you tell that USF will be a force to be reckoned with in the state.

How long will they ignore the facts?

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Por (Mark Vance) on June 23, 2007 (Suggest removal)

Great post Mr McMurphy! But what is your prediction for the Bulls 2007 season?

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Por (Brett McMurphy) on June 23, 2007 (Suggest removal)

Mark, I haven’t quite decided on my final won-loss prediction yet - I’ll post it as a separate blog though when the season gets closer. And, yes, last year, I underestimated USF, predicting a 6-6 regular season, when the Bulls went 8-4. I can’t remember what I picked the previous seasons, but I’ll look it up when I do my prediction post. I’ll also post my Big East predictions I did as part of the Big East media poll that will be released next month.

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Por (Brian Rolph) on June 23, 2007 (Suggest removal)

I’ll go ahead and book my tickets for the national title game.  We are going!  On second thought, I will hold off for a little while.  In all reality what Steele says is true.  It’s not out of the realm of possibility.  USF can certainly beat every team on their schedule if you look at each game independently.  Will they do that?  Most likely not.  However, if they did then depending how things play out you could see USF in the national title game.  A USF win at Auburn coupled with a strong SEC record by Auburn would be needed.  If USF beat Auburn and Auburn wins the SEC along with USF beating a top 5 WVU, top 10 UL and a top 20 Rutgers would most certainly justify a national title appearance.

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Por (DERRY BECK) on June 24, 2007 (Suggest removal)

While I’m no expert, I do think a national title is a real longshot for this season-we need to be able to improve our recruiting base to move to that level. However, I do agree completely with the growing respect for the Bulls. College Football News mentions the Bulls very positively each time the Big East comes up, and views them as a real threat for the Big East title. In the Louisville and West Va reviews, the Bulls are identified as a key game for each of them.
It’s going to be a great season, full of excitement and surprises-I’m ready to go right now!

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Por (K. BRIXTON OLIVER) on June 25, 2007 (Suggest removal)

Stranger things have happened before, obviously we need the stars to align perfectly and some luck on our side to reach the National Title game.  Each year I am amazed by the progess of this program (USF), winning changes alot.  We are not really known nationally, but doing great things on the field and winning big games (i.e. Auburn) should place us in elite company.

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Por (chris harmon) on June 26, 2007 (Suggest removal)

I guess they are just saying that this is a possibility, but they are not predicting that we will be undefeated or win our conference.  They still have us ranked 24th - behind the other 3 Big East contenders.

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Por (Jim Risler) on June 27, 2007 (Suggest removal)

USF will be 9-3 this year is my prediction.  The Auburn game will set the tone for the season.

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Por (James Raulerson) on July 03, 2007 (Suggest removal)

We will be Big East Champs this year.

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Por (Larry Goodman) on July 03, 2007 (Suggest removal)

//please ignore my other letter//

  Phil Steele’s “unabridged college football encyclopedia-magazine” is amazing and his comments on the Bulls is highly flattering.
Remember, though, most of the Bulls’ all-around recognition is from winning at Morgantown. Plus, prognosticators absolutely love “new kids on the block.”
  To go, say, 9-3, Bulls must get out of the gate early and play hard, smart(including fewer penalties), and consistently in every game. It’s almost impossible to be UP every week!
  Forget the bigger bowls until we prove our fans will travel (8-10,000).
  It’s a fun schedule. The Bulls deserve great home crowds.
  P.S. Bulls, Don’t get big-headed and behave yourselves when “off duty!”

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Por (Marcus Jackson) on July 12, 2007 (Suggest removal)

Phil Steele’s preview is the ONLY college football magazine I buy now because I learned that he really knows his stuff.  I remember one year when Washington State had come off a Rose Bowl Game pres. by Citi appearance and was predicted by no less than Steele to finish buck naked last in the Pac-10 and that was what happened.  As for the USF Bulls, they should have no worse than a 9-3 regular season record.  Anything short of that should be considered underachieving.

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