USF Blog
September 29, 2009
Bulls Upset FSU
By: Colby Cole
In their first game against one of Florida’s Big 3 -Florida, Florida State, and Miami- the Bulls pulled off a stunning upset winning 17-7. The Seminoles came into the game as 14 point favorites. However it was USF who led at halftime by 14, before winning 17-7.
BJ Daniels Impressive in First Start
With Matt Grothe sidelined after suffering a season ending knee injury against Charleston Souther, redshirt freshman BJ Daniels stepped in for the Bulls. It was his first career start, and first action against an FBS opponent. Daniels looked a lot like his predecessor Grothe in this game, getting it done both through the air and on the ground.
In the first quarter Daniels broke off a 44 yard rush, the first of many big plays he would make. Early in the second quarter Daniels completed a 77 yard pass to Theo Wilson to set up a Ben Busbee touchdown giving USF a lead they would never relinquish. Later in the quarter he completed a 73 yard touchdown pass to true freshman Sterling Griffin. That wasn’t it, before halftime Daniels broke off a 29 yard run which setup an Eric Schwarz field goal attempt, that ultimately resulted in a miss
In the second half Daniels was intercepted twice by Ochucko Jenije. However for a redshirt freshman getting his first career start in a hostile environment he still had an amazing day. Daniels finished with 341 total yards, 215 in the air and 126 on the ground with 2 passing touchdowns.
It was even more exciting for Daniels because he grew up in Tallahassee and played at nearby Lincoln High School. He wasn’t offered a scholarship by Florida State coming out of high school. However he came out on top against the school that didn’t recruit him.
Huge Goal-line Stand Turns Tide
After kicker Eric Schwartz missed a 37-yard field goal that would have given the Bulls a 3-0 lead, the Seminoles seized the momentum and began a long drive downfield. A 28 yard completion from Christian Ponder to Bert Reed set up the Seminoles with first-and-goal from the USF 3.
After an incomplete pass on first down Ty Jones rushed for 2 yards to get just 1 yard from the end zone. On third down the Bulls stuffed Lonnie Pryor, who lose a yard on the play. On fourth down the Seminoles opted to go for it instead of kicking an easy field goal. Ty Jones was stuffed at the one yard line, and the Bulls got the ball back, and seized the momentum taking a 7-0 lead on the ensuing possession and never looking back.
Bulls Force 4 Fumbles
The team who wins the turnover battle usually wins the game, and there was no exception in this case. 4 key fumbles were forced by Joe Tresey’s defense on Saturday.
Midway through the first quarter running back Tavares Pressley fumbled at the Seminoles 22 setting up Schartz’s first field goal attempt. In the second quarter the defense made perhaps the biggest play in school history. Hanging onto a 7-0 lead, Ponder completed a pass to Taiwan Easterling who caught the pass and took it all the way to the USF 7 before getting stripped by junior linebacker Sabbath Joseph, senior Kion Wilson recovered the fumble. On the next play the Bulls scored and took a 14-0 lead, as big as the goal line stand was that fumble may have been the play that saved the game.
Late in the third quarter, with FSU beginning to drive down field Rod Owens caught a pass from Ponder for a 7 yard game before Kion Wilson forced a fumble that was recovered by junior defensive end Craig Marshall.
Midway through the 4th quarter after Jenije’s second interception, the Seminoles trailed just 14-7 and had the ball with a chance to tie. On the first play of the ensuing possesion Ponder was sacked by junior defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, and fumbled the football which was then recovered by George Selvie.
Kicking Woes Continue
There was a lot to be happy about in USF’s upset victory over FSU. One thing that will continue to keep coach Jim Leavitt up at night though will be the kicking game. Eric Schwartz was just 1-of-3 on field goals in the game, missing two 37 yard attempts in the first half. On the season Bulls kickers are a combined 3-for-7 on field goals.
The field goal misses did not hurt the Bulls in this game, but if any future contests come down to a game winning field goal there could be some anxious moments for Bulls fans and coaches. For now it appears junior Eric Schwartz will handle all kicking duties for the bulls with Delbert Alvarado just handling the punting. However, whether that is permanent remains to be seen.
September 25, 2009
USF Recap
BY: Jason Nafziger
USF has big wins over Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern, but must finish the season without starting QB Matt Grothe. Stats so far: USF is 16th with 5.63 yards per rush attempt and 11th with 9.3 yards per passing attempt. Overall, they have scored 44.7 points and gained 455.7 yards on offense per game. Defensively, they are 76th with 4.13 yards allowed per rush attempt and 2nd with 3.8 yards allowed per pass attempt. Overall, they have allowed 6.7 points and 227.7 yards per game. Coming up: New starting QB B.J. Daniels will lead the Bulls in tough games against Florida State, Syracuse and Cincinnati.
Jason Nafziger writes about Pro and College Football at
http://onfootball.wordpress.com
September 20, 2009
Matt Grothe Out For Season
By: Colby Cole
The Bulls received some very bad news on Sunday. Starting quarterback Matt Grothe will miss the rest of his senior season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during USF’s win over FCS foe Charleston Southern on Saturday. During the second quarter, at the end of a 9 yard rush he was tripped up by CSU defensive tackle David Jackson and then hit while falling forward by cornerback Antwain Harvey.
"Obviously, I am disappointed because you never think this could happen to you," Grothe said in a statement released by the school. "It's a team game and I am still going to be very involved with my teammates and the coaches. I am going to do everything I can to help the Bulls continue to win."
Matt Grothe will finish his senior season with 512 passing yards and 121 rushing yards on the season. He also threw 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He ends his career as the Big East’s career leader in total offense with 10,903 total yards. It is a sad ending to great career by a great player.
"Matt's a franchise guy and an even better human being," South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said in a statement. "We all know that. What he's done in college football is extraordinary. He has been one of the greatest names out there. We all know that and our entire program feels bad for him. Matt is a special, special guy."
Redshirt freshman B.J. Daniels will take over for the Bulls. Daniels was 10 of 13 for 149 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 105 yards on 8 carries with 2 rushing scores. Daniels has yet to throw a pass against FBS competition though. Evan Landi will now be the backup.
New Kicker Stepping Up
With senior Delbert Alvarado struggling on field goals, going 1 for 4 on field goal attempts so far in 2009 another player has gotten a shot. Junior Eric Schwartz kicked a 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, in his first action as a Bull. He also converted on all 4 extra point attempts.
Big Games for WRs
Juniors Dontava Bogan and Carlton Mitchell stepped up for the Bulls on Saturday. Bogan had 72 yards on 3 receptions with 2 touchdowns, one from Grothe and one from Daniels. Mitchell had 63 yards on 4 receptions including a 50-yard touchdown from Matt Grothe, the last TD pass of his career.
Freshman Sterling Griffin got his first 3 catches of the season for 29 yards. Griffin was named as a starter for the season opener but did not catch a pass against Wofford, and did not see any action at Western Kentucky.
Running Backs Struggling
There was much anticipation in the return of starting running back Mike Ford, who was suspended the first two games due to academic issues. He rushed just 4 times in his return for 19 yards, he did score on a 2-yard run in the second quarter though.
True freshman Lindsey Lamar scored his second touchdown of the year on a 2 yard run early in the fourth quarter. Lamar struggled on the day though rushing for just 17 yards on 6 carries. Through 3 games Lamar has 116 yards on 22 attempts though, with Ford back his playing time is likely to go down for the rest of the season though.
Moise Plancher, who started the first 2 games for the Bulls also struggled. He rushed for just 16 yards on 8 carries. This was after two outstanding efforts during the Bulls first two contests, including 115 yards and 2 touchdowns against Western Kentucky.
Redshirt freshman Demetris Murray saw the first action of his career though and took advantage of it. Murray was the most productive Bulls running back on the day in terms of yardage rushing for 59 yards on 11 carries.
September 5, 2009
USF Post-Game Blog
By: Colby Cole
Bulls win 40-7
This game was a lot closer than the final score. With just over a minute to go in the half the game was deadlocked at 7. Defensively, the Bulls struggled to defend Wofford’s triple-option attack. Special teams miscues spelled doom for the Terriers though. Two bad snaps on punts in the final minute of the half gave the Bulls nine points including a six-yard touchdown pass from Matt Grothe to Theo Wilson and a safety with one second left.
USF was able to put the game away early in the third quarter with a nine-yard touchdown run by Moise Plancher, giving the Bulls a 23-7 lead. The Terriers offensive attack is not built to overcome large deficits so at that point the Terriers were in trouble. Wofford had another miscue immediately after the touchdown when backup quarterback Sev Davitte fumbled after an 18-yard run. On the next possesion Eric Breitenstein broke off a 44 yard run but did not secure the fumble as Tyson Butler forced the fumble. After that the Terriers never mustered another threat as the Bulls won going away.Start of game delayed due to lightning
The game was supposed to start at 7PM EST but the opening kick off was pushed back a half hour due to a lightning strike around 6. Raymond James Stadium rules required that all the players leave the field, and not return for 30 minutes after the last lightning strike. The rain subsided around 7 but the starting time was pushed back due to the fact that the pregame routines were interrupted.Matt Grothe Breaks USF Total Offense Record
Matt Grothe came into the season opener needing just 102 yards to break Marquel Blackwell’s record for total offense. Grothe broke the record on a 38-yard run during the second quarter. Grothe finished with 199 total yards in the game bringing him to 10,441 yards in his career. He has a good shot of breaking Pat White’s Big East record next week. Pat White had 10,529 total yards in his career.Moise Plancher takes advantage of opportunity
With Mike Ford suspended 2 games, and Jamar Taylor out due to a knee injury senior Moise Plancher got to start the season opener. He took advantage of his opportunity, rushing for 78 yards on 13 carries. He also scored 2 key touchdowns, including the touchdown early in the third quarter that put the game away.Lindsey Lamar continues to impress
A star in practices and scrimmages during the preseason, the Hillsborough High product continued to shine in the regular season opener. The true freshman had eight carries for 39 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. On the touchdown run Lamar appeared to be stopped at the line of scrimmage by a gang of Terriers. Lamar was able to break free though and scampered to the end zone for his first career touchdown. Lamar also made contributions in the passing game, recording four receptions for 24 yards.Turnover Issues
Special team miscues, and turnovers are what ultimately did Wofford in. However the Bulls also made some mistakes in the season opener. Early in the second quarter Aston Samuels fumbled after a five-yard run setting up the Terriers with a tremendous opportunity. Wofford ultimately missed a field goal. On the next possesion Matt Grothe drove the Bulls down to the Wofford two, but was intercepted in the end zone by Tommy Irvin.Delbert Alvarado Handling All Kicking Duties
Jim Leavitt tried to find an extra kicker during the preseason to try to take some pressure off of senior Delbert Alvarado. However in the opener Alvarado handled punting, field goals, extra points and kickoffs for the Bulls. Alvarado was forced to take over as the kicker after last year’s starting kicker, Maikon Bonani injured his back during the offseason falling from the skyride at Busch Gardens. Alvarado made his only field goal attempt of the night for 30 yards during the third quarter. He also had 2 punts for 84 yards.
Jessie Hester’s Streak Snapped
Jessie Hester entered the season with a streak of 22 consecutive games with a reception. Hester’s playing time was limited in the season opener though due to an ankle injury. He did get into the game during the second half but was unable to record an interception during the game, ending his school record streak.
August 29, 2009
4 Newcomers Cleared by NCAA, Leavitt Impressed With Freshman WR, Still looking for a Kicker
By: Colby Cole
4 Newcomers Cleared By NCAA
On Monday August 24th, four USF Bulls freshmen were held out of practice as they awaited final clearance from the NCAA Clearinghouse. They were tight end Issac Virgin, running back Bradley Battles, and defensive ends Ryne Giddins and Julius Forte. All 4 ultimately ended up getting cleared though. Issac Virgin was cleared on the 25th, while Forte, Battles, and Giddins were all cleared on the 27th.
Issac Virgin is likely to see playing time as a true freshman considering all the injury issues at tight end. Ryne Giddins, the former Armwood standout also would have been a big loss. There is a lot of talent on the defensive line this year, but there is still a good chance that Giddins will contribute.
Leavitt Impressed With Freshman WR
USF freshman WR Sterling Griffin is expected to start in the Bulls opening game against Wofford.
“He is one of the best freshmen receivers we’ve ever had around here” Leavitt said on August 28th.
Griffin was a 3 star recruit out of high school according to rivals.com. He is a graduate of Monsignor Pace High School in Miami. He caught 42 passes for 717 yards and 8 touchdowns as a senior. He chose USF over Purdue which is where his father played.
Still Looking For A Kicker
Leavitt is still looking for someone to handle to kickoff duties, to lift some of the responsibility off of senior Delbert Alvarado’s shoulders. After starting kicker Maikon Bonani injured his back over the summer, Alvarado became responsible for not just punting but also field goals, extra points, and kickoffs. The Bulls do have redshirt freshman punter Justin Brockhaus-Kann on scholarship, as well as walk-ons such as former punter in 2006 Ilia Petrov and freshman Renato Proia, a walk-on goalkeeper for the soccer team who joined the football team after a tryout. However, Leavitt is still holding one walk on spot for a kicker and has offered all USF students the opportunity to compete for the spot similar to Matt Williams walking on at Texas Tech last year.
August 23, 2009
Mike Ford suspended, an Update on Jamar Taylor and
Recap of Scrimmages
By: Colby Cole
Mike Ford Suspended
On August 17th, it was announced that running back Mike Ford had been suspended for USF’s first two games of the season. He will miss games against Wofford, and Western Kentucky for unspecified violations of team rules.
This is his second suspension, as a freshman he was held out of the game against Florida Atlantic for missing class. Over the summer USF instituted a stricter policy on unexcused absences, an athlete who had five unexcused absences during summer classes was subject to a 2-game suspension. Also as part of the penalty, the player would not be allowed at the first practice of fall semester. Ford missed the first 2 fall practices.
Therefore, it is likely that this suspension is related to missing class during the summer. However coach Leavitt has not elaborated on the details of the suspension.Update on Jamar Taylor
As mentioned at the end of last weeks blog, Jamar Taylor was carted off the field during the first fall scrimmage on August 15th. It appeared at the time that it could be a season ending injury, however right now it is reported that he will only be out 8-10 weeks and that the injury was only a sprain. That opens the possibility for Taylor to return to the lineup on October 15th at home against Cincinnati.
With Taylor’s injury, combined with Ford’s two game suspension the Bulls will be without their top 2 backs to start the year. Senior Moise Plancher will have the starting job for the first 2 games, while the backups will be juniors Aston Samuels, Richard Kelly, and freshman Lindsay Lamar.
Second and Third Scrimmages
In the Bulls second scrimmage on Wednesday August 19th, Matt Grothe and George Selvie were held out. Both of the backup quarterbacks, BJ Daniels and Evan Landi, looked good however. Backup running backs Aston Samuels, and Lindsay Lamar also took advantage of their increased opportunity and each scored touchdowns. Freshman safety Victor Marc also had a strong performance, picking off a pass during the scrimmage.
Redshirt freshman TE Andreas Shields, who was a frontrunner for the starting job injured his right ankle during the scrimmage. Leavitt said the X-Ray came up negative but it is questionable whether Shields would return for the season opener against Wofford. If Shields is unavailable, the starting job would likely go to senior Ben Busbee. There have been a lot of injuries at tight end, with junior Andrew Ketchel limited by a shoulder injure and senior walk-on Kenneth Luberice just returning from a hip injury.
In the Bulls third and final spring scrimmage on Saturday August 22nd Matt Grothe was held out again, partly because his hamstring was bothering him and partly to give the backup QBs more reps. His hamstring is not considered to be a serious problem though.
Lindsay Lamar continued to impress with a 30 yard touchdown run against the Bulls first team offense. The freshman has had an impressive fall camp and is taking advantage of his increased opportunity.
The fall semester starts on Monday, which puts USF into a regular game week practice schedule.
August 17, 2009
USF Spring Game Recap + Training Camp Update
By: Colby Cole
Spring Game Recap:
BJ Daniels and Evan Landi will likely battle for the 2010 starting quarterback job after Matt Grothe graduates following the 2009 season. Fans got to take an early look at the two competitors as they both got their chance to shine and took advantage in USF’s 2009 spring game.
Evan Landi showed he could come through in the clutch, throwing a four-yard touchdown pass to senior Colby Erskin on the last timed play of the game. Landi’s white team still trailed 21-20 after the touchdown though and chose to go for two and the win. His pass just barely missed Theo Wilson in the end zone, and the green team held for the one point victory.
Landi threw for 189 yards and threw two touchdown passes, but also threw two interceptions. The green team was led by BJ Daniels who had 181 yards passing, two touchdown passes, and one rushing touchdown as well. Receiver Dontavia Bogan was also impressive with 105 yards, including a 46 yard score on three receptions.Maikon Bonani Out For Season:
On Saturday July 18th Bulls kicker Maikon Bonani fell from the Sky Ride at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Bonani was working as the attendant for the ride and thought the door on one of the gondolas might be unlocked so he held onto the door to check it. He hung on as it took off, then let go 35 feet above a landscaped area. Bonani broke several vertabrae in his back.
The sophomore kicker did not require surgery but on July 29th head coach Jim Leavitt confirmed in an interview with Brighthouse Sports Network that Bonani would redshirt in 2009.
"Our thoughts are to not play him this year, but to have him the year after that, ready to go," Leavitt told the TV network.
Therefore senior Delbert Alvardo will likely handle the kicking duties for the Bulls in 2009. He is also the teams starting punter, and was the teams starting kicker in 2006 and 2007 as well as the early part of last year before Bonani took over on the final play against Kansas hitting a game winning 43 yard field goal. Alvarado has made 25 of 42 career attempts including a Big East record 56 yard field goal as a freshman.Fall Camp Updates:
Bulls fall camp kicked off on August 6th. Newcomers Lindsey Lamar, a freshman running back and junior college linebacker Jacquian Williams made strong impressions on the first day of camp. Leavitt was especially impressed with Williams, whom he called the fastest Bulls linebacker ever.
After missing the first two days of camp, three key inewcomers finally joined the Bulls on August 8th. Those newcomers were freshman defensive end Ryne Giddins, freshman quarterback Issac Virgin, and junior college transfer defensive tackle Leslie Stirrups. Junior running back Mike Ford also made his first appearance, after missing the first 2 days with class conflicts. Also, freshman cornerback Kayvon Webster began working with the Bulls first team defense in their nickel packages.
After just one practice at quarterback, Issac Virgin asked to be moved to tight end. At 6-4 and 245 pounds he has the size and athleticism to play tight end. The Bulls don’t have a lot of returning experience at tight end. Senior Ben Busbee is the most experienced, and he has just 11 career catches. Therefore, Virgin has a good shot at earning significant playing time in 2009. Leavitt also moved the previously mentioned Evan Landi who had some late game heroics in the spring game to wide receiver. On August 9th, Leavitt moved freshman Bradley Battles from running back to safety.
On August 14th Leavitt invited three soccer players to come to camp and compete for kick off duties, to take some responsibility off of Alvarado who already has to handle the punting and place-kicking duties.
On August 15th junior running back Jamar Taylor, who had been competing for the starting job injured his right knee during the first scrimmage of the preseason. It remains to be seen how serious the injury is.