Bulls Open Big East Play and Give #11 Syracuse a Scare

By JC De La Torre

The USF Bulls (5-8) opened up their Big East schedule after an extremely disappointing non-conference performance this season, fell behind double digits in the second half against #11 Syracuse (14-1) but showed some grit, rallying to within three points late in the game before succumbing to the Orange 59-54.

With 11:02 left in the first half and only a 1 point lead, the Orange ended the first half on a 22-7 run to give them a little breathing room going into halftime where the Orange led 35-19. The Bulls spent the majority of the second half trying to whittle down that Syracuse lead, going on little 4 and 5 point runs before Syracuse would answer with their own score. Dominique Jones dunk with 3:19 left in the game pulled USF within 3 points of Syracuse, 55-52. After the teams exchanged scores, Jonny Flynn's miss gave USF the ball with 1:03 left in the game, down by 3 points. USF ran down the shot clock to 33 seconds before Dominique Jones fired up a three pointer that missed, Eric Devendorf rebounded for Syracuse and was fouled by Chris Howard. Devendoft made both ends of the 1-and-1 to give the Orange a 59-54 lead, the Bulls would miss two shots in the closing seconds and that was the ball game, Syracuse escapes the Sun Dome with a tougher than expected victory.

Jones led the Bulls with 17 points and 5 rebounds, while Mobolaji Ajayi had 15 points, 12 boards, and a blocked shot. Andy Rautins led the Orange with 14 points while going 4 of 8 from three point land.

Despite the loss, it was an encouraging effort from the Bulls against one of the Big East powers. After getting pummelled by the likes of Wright State, Niagara and Oral Roberts during a four game losing streak where they didn't face a ranked opponent, it looked like the Bulls were in no shape to be competitive in one of college basketball's best conferences.

USF and West Virginia wrap up Disappointing Campaigns

By JC De La Torre

At the beginning of the season, many invisioned Saturdays showdown between the South Florida Bulls and the West Virigina Mountineers to not only be a battle that may decide the Big East title but a BCS bowl bid. Instead, each team wraps up underwhelming seasons where both come in with 7-4 records.

USF has had success versus the Mountaineers the last couple of years, led by Matt Grothe, the Bulls' leading passer and rusher, USF looks to upset the Mountaineers for the second straight time in Morgantown. West Virginia's Pat White and Noel Devine have put up big time numbers but it hasn't shown up in the win column.

The winner of this game will likely get a more prestigious bowl bid.

Bulls New Years Day hopes Finished After Confounding Loss

By JC De La Torre

Earlier today I wrote that the USF Bulls were playing to get into a New Year's Day bowl game and avoid the minor bowl circuit. Well, with their latest dissapointing performance against a mediocre Rutgers team, the Bulls better start checking out the Tampa Bay Rays locker room at Tropicana Field - because they may be headed to the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl on December 21st as the last bowl eligible Big East participant. After the Bulls were thrashed at home by the Scarlet Knights 49-16, maybe St. Pete won't even want them.

South Florida fell to 6-4 on the year, losing for the 4th time in 5 games. Rutgers QB Mike Teel threw for 294 yds and 3 touchdowns, while QB Matt Grothe threw another 3 interceptions. After a scoreless first quarter, Mike Teel rumbled in from 3 yds out to give the Scarlett Knights a 7-0 lead. Grothe drove the Bulls 8 plays and 54 yds in 3:10 to set up Maikon Bonani's 22 yd field to cut the lead to 7-3. After the Bulls defense pitched a 3-and-out and the punt was fielded at the USF 43, Grothe would throw a pick to George Johnson who returned it 26 yds to the USF 23. Disaster would be averted, as Carlton Williams would pick off Teel to end the threat.

Unfortunately for the Bulls, it was just a delay of the inevitable, as Grothe threw another pick, this time Jason McCourty who returned it 30 yds for a touchdown and a 14-3 Rutgers lead. The Bulls would show some life, driving 67 yds in 8 plays, capping it with a 5 yd run by Benjamin Williams to cut the Rutgets advantage to 4. The Scarlet Knights wouldn't be denied. After a huge return by Jason McCourty, with 2:59 left in the first half, Teel passed Rutgers 41 yds in 6 plays, finishing with a 2 yd TD pass to Jack Corcoran with 0:26 left in the half to stake Rutgers to a 21-10 lead at the break.

Jason McCourty would return the opening kickoff of the 2nd half 64 yds, setting up Joe Martinek's 1 yd touchdown, ballooning the Rutgers lead to 28-10. Grothe and the Bulls would answer, driving 52 yds in 9 plays, finishing with a 10 yd touchdown pass to Taurus Johnson. Bonani would botch the extra point, as the Bulls trailed 28-16. South Florida would force a punt, but the Bulls offense would fumble it away on the ensuing possession, setting the Scarlet Knights up at midfield. Rutgers wouldn't waste the chance as they pounded Joe Martinek at the soft underbelly of the Bulls defense for four straight plays, then Teel play actioned and hit Shamar Graves for a 28 yd score - expanding the Rutgers advantage to 35-16.

USF's Delbert Alvardo would start the 4th quarter by pinning the Scarlet Knights back at their own 6 yd line with a beautiful 51 yd punt. Unfortunately for the Bulls, it was just a set up for the longest play against USF this season. Teel found their impressive Junior Wide Receiver Kenny Britt wide open, who then raced 93 yds for the score. 42-16.

Grothe would get picked off one last time, eventually leading to Martinek's second score of the game, giving the Knights their final margin.

South Florida falls to 6-4 (1-4 in the Big East) with Conneticut and West Virginia remaining on the schedule. If the Bulls fail to win either, you have to wonder if USF will even be Bowling this season. An amazing dissapointment for the fans who had such high expectations at the beginning of this season.

USF looks to improve Bowl Ranking against Rutgers

By JC De La Torre

Barring a historic collapse of the five teams ahead of them in the Big East, the South Florida Bulls (6-3, 1-3)will not be BCS bowling this year. No, the Bulls right now are in New Years Day mode, trying to improve their record and status with bowl folks so they can play on New Years and not in the St. Pete "So Bad We Have No Sponsor" or Pappa Johns Bowls that are shown on ESPN and only draftniks or college football fanatics watch.

How the Bulls got to this point is a sordid tale of lack of defense, playing down to their competition, overconfidence, and just poor play overall. Quarterback Matt Grothe was supposed to supplant Florida QB Tim Tebow as THE QB in the state - but has hardly been that. Battling injuries and poor decision making through out the year Grothe has thrown for 2070 yds, 14 touchdowns and 8 ints (5 which have come in the last two losses). Surely, not terrible numbers but hardly the Heisman trophy level some fans unrealistically thought they would see.

Its not just Grothe, though, as the Wide Receiving core has done their share with bad drops at crucial times and the defense has been unspectacular, getting off to slow starts in their three losses and forcing the Bulls to abandon their game plan to rally. Undiscplined penalties and turnovers have made the Bulls seem like the Tampa Bay Lightning of college football.

South Florida rolled into Big East play a strong 5-0, including a big win against then top ten ranked Kansas. They've gone on to drop three of their last four games, all three to unranked schools.

The Bulls host Rutgers (4-5, 3-2) today trying to snap a two game skid. A victory would take them to 8-3 and may move them up a few notches in the Big East standings.

JC De La Torre is an author of Science Fiction/Fantasy and other realms of Speculative Fiction - check out his latest works at JC Delatorre.com

The Bulls get Trick, no Treat in Cincy

By JC De La Torre

At the start of this season, many fans of the University of South Florida Bulls felt their team was ready to challenge for the Big East title and the BCS bowl that comes with it. Unfortunately, the season hasn't turned out that way as the 23rd ranked Bulls fell to the unranked Cincinatti Bearcats to fall to 6-3 on the season. The Bulls are now 2nd to last in the Big East with a disappointing 1-3 record.

Matt Grothe had by far his worst game as Bull, completing only 41% of his passes and tossing 3 picks. Cincinatti QB Tony Pike played with a broken arm, but had one of the best games of his career, going 20 for 28, for 281 yds and tossing two scores.

Cincinatti took the lead midway through the first on a 2 yd score by John Goebel. The score was set up by a Matt Grothe pick. South Florida answered a minute later, as a Grothe to Carlton Mitchell 33 yd pass and a 32 yd run by Moises Plancher set up the Bulls with a 1st and goal at the 1. Plancher would plunge in from there to tie it at 7.

Cincinatti came right back down the field, capping a 7 play 49 yd drive with a 32 yd Jake Rogers field goal. After a USF punt pinned the Bearcats at their own 9 yd line, Cincinatti went 91 yds on 12 plays in 4:12, finishing with a sparkling Pike to Marshawn Gilyard 26 yd score to give the Bearcats a 17-7 lead that they would take into the second half.

The second half would be no better for USF, as they managed only a field goal while Cincinatti's defense picked off Grothe 2 more times and Pike found Connor Barwin on a one yd score to put the game away.

The Pitts for USF in Thursday Night loss

By JC De La Torre

Almost forgotten in the euphoria for Tampa Bay Rays baseball was that the USF Bulls had a Big East football game on Thursday night. Apparently, the Bulls forgot as well, as they sleepwalked through a disappointing 26-21 lost to Pitt.

Running back LaSean McCoy led the way for the Panthers, with 142 yds and two scores. It started off well enough for the Bulls with a blocked punt giving USF an early 7-0 advantage, but turnovers and the inability to slow down the Pitt running game would ultimately be their undoing.

This loss essentially eliminates any hopes USF had for having a shot a the National Championship. You have to go undefeated to have shot when you're in the Big East. One loss teams like Florida and USC can take a loss and still have a chance because they're in power conferences. While USF is in a BCS conference, the Big East is not regarded as one of the better conferences in the land and a loss is damning evidence that a team does not belong in championship consideration.

The good news for the Bulls is that they can still win the Big East and get to a BCS game. Just not THE BCS game.