Voodoo Five

EA NCAA Football 11 Simulation - USF at Florida

2010-09-09T13:00:58Z

More photos » Sam Greenwood - Getty Images

The CPU decided to crush our hopes of an upset under a barrage of 15-yard completions by John Brantley over the middle. And not one mishandled snap.

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Time to fire up the PlayStation 3 and see what NCAA Football 11 says will happen when the Bulls and Gators face off on Saturday. As you'll recall, A.J. Love is out for most of the season with an arm injury, and he was not in the lineup.

Not that it really mattered.

FINAL SCORE: FLORIDA 41, USF 17

The Gators took the opening kick right down the field to the Bulls' 6, but then had a touchdown called back by a holding penalty. Then Caleb Sturgis hooked a 36-yard field goal.

After a punt, Florida drove the field again and this time got in the end zone for a 7-0 lead. USF responded with a 15-play, 80-yard drive that included four third-down conversions, and finished it with a 3-yard pass from B.J. Daniels to Dontavia Bogan to tie the game.

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

Then came two pivotal plays. Will Demps fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but Florida recovered. After a sack of John Brantley, the Gators were looking at 3rd and 15. But Quenton Washington blew his coverage on Deonte Thompson and Brantley hit him for a 59-yard gain. (The snap was low and it looked like Washington went into run contain, thinking Brantley would abort the play, instead of staying with his man.) A couple plays later, Washington missed a tackle on Justin Williams that let him score a touchdown.

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

The teams then traded four-and-outs. Florida tried a fake punt and failed, and USF subsequently went for it on 4th and 4 from the Gators 39 but only got two yards on a screen to Demetris Murray.

With time running out in the first half, the Bulls made a costly decision, accepting a holding penalty that made it 2nd and 20 instead of 3rd and 10. The Gators picked up the first down, then went on to kick a field goal right before halftime. Florida took a 17-7 lead to the locker room.

The game basically ended on the second play of the third quarter. B.J. Daniels slid right and tried to throw an off-balance pass to his left. It was intercepted by Jelani Jenkins and returned to the USF 19.

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

Demps punched it in to give Florida a 24-7 lead, and then the Gators scored another touchdown as the Bulls' pass defense completely fell apart. The rout was on from there, with a couple garbage time scores on both sides added on.

Brantley had a huge game, going 30-for-40 for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Thompson went over 100 yards receiving, and he was nearly joined there by Williams (99 yards) and Chris Rainey (90 yards). The Gators got chunks of yards over and over again with crossing patterns, "levels" plays, and mesh routes, as the Bulls continued to blitz defensive backs and stubbornly refused to run any robber coverages to help take away the middle of the field. Meanwhile, B.J. Daniels played terribly. He was 15-for-30 for only 123 yards, with the one touchdown and one interception. For whatever reason the AI told him not to take any shots down the field or take off running, even when the plays were there to make. (The only two rushing attempts Daniels had were the two times he got sacked.) He dumped off way too many passes, especially on third down when he consistently threw short of the first-down line. It was really frustrating to watch the game sim out when I was seeing big plays and adjustments to make, and the computer wouldn't make any of them. (A few weeks ago I played this matchup as USF with the exact same settings -- All-American difficulty and 8-minute quarters -- and whacked the Gators 38-7.)

This will steal a little thunder from Friday's Five Keys, but the game played out as a guide of what you cannot do if you want to #BeatFlorida. You can't blow coverages. You can't make bad decisions. You can't take pointless, repeated risks.

You have to take advantage when you get chances like this one. Notice T.J. Knowles open down the middle for a potential touchdown before Daniels gets sacked.

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

And you can't give the ball away. In addition to the Daniels pick to start the second half, Mistral Raymond had an INT of his own early in the fourth, but then fumbled it right back to the Gators inside the 10. Two plays later, it was 38-7.

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

The Bulls drop to 1-1 on the sim-season, with two weeks to lick their wounds and get ready for Western Kentucky.

"15 For 15" - The 2nd Greatest Player in USF Football History Is...

2010-09-09T12:30:26Z

J.R. Reed. Defensive back. Kick returner. Badass.

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J.R. Reed, FS/2000-03

It's a shame that J.R. Reed has fallen through the cracks a little bit with the newest generation of Bulls fans. Between Grothe and Selvie and Allen and Jenkins and Pierre-Paul, there have been plenty of stars worth remembering. But if you didn't see J.R. Reed play, you missed out. He was an absolute badass.

Reed came to USF as a relatively highly-touted recruit from Tampa's Hillsborough High School, and considering the Bulls were just coming out of I-AA when he signed in 2000, it was quite a coup for Jim Leavitt. Reed played immediately, getting into all 11 games his freshman year and then starting the last 33 of his career at free safety, where he proceeded to make more big plays than I can even begin to count. He was the only three-time winner of USF's Defensive Playmaker award, in addition to being the team's Defensive MVP in 2003, the same year he was named to the All-Conference USA first team.

You know how some defenders just seem to have the ball come to them all the time? Reed was one of those players. He holds the USF career record for interceptions with 18, and is also tied for the single-season interception record with 7. He is one of six USF players to recover two fumbles in one game, and he's tied for second all time for the most recoveries in a season (3) and in a career (5). Reed has the longest fumble return in school history (63 yards against Houston in 2001).

Wait, there's more. Reed is tied for the most passes defensed in a game (5), tied for second for passes defensed in a season (16), and second for passes defenses in a career (45). On top of that, he holds the record for the most tackles in a game (19 against Cincinnati in 2003), and he's the only defensive back in school history to have 300 or more tackles in his career. If there was a big play to be made on defense, J.R. Reed was probably the guy who was going to make it. One of his biggest highlights was an incredible interception to seal the Pittsburgh win in 2001, where he took the ball away from the Panthers receiver as he was falling to the ground and landing flat on his back. (Doug Graber's "WHOA!" in the broadcast booth was much louder than normal when Reed came up with that ball.)

But that isn't even in the same stratosphere as Reed's last college game. It was the best single-game performance in USF football history, and if you ask me it's going to take one hell of an effort to surpass it. I don't want to hear about something Grothe or Blackwell or Selvie did. Your argument is invalid, and I'll prove it after the jump.

November 29, 2003. The Bulls rolled into Memphis to finish up their first season in Conference USA. A few weeks earlier, the Big East had announced that USF was coming aboard in 2005, along with Cincinnati and Louisville. The Memphis fans were beyond pissed, and you can understand why -- if Memphis wasn't where it was on the map, they may well have gotten the nod instead of us. Clearly the Tigers faithful were not letting this go easily, as nearly 48,000 of them showed up to this otherwise pointless game to scream and yell at USF for stealing their spot in the big time. The mood at the Liberty Bowl was decidedly ugly, right up there with UCF two years ago as the most hostile opposing crowd the Bulls have ever played in front of.

Statistically, Memphis dominated. They outgained USF 458-192 and held the Bulls to 25 yards rushing. But they lost 21-16 because J.R. Reed almost single-handedly stole the game from them.

First, Reed returned the second-half kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7. After Memphis drove for a field goal and then immediately got the ball back to start another drive, Reed recovered a fumble and ran that back for a touchdown, making the score J.R. Reed 14, Memphis 10.

At the end of the third quarter, Reed made his second interception and ran it back to the Memphis 14, a distance short enough that the weak USF offense was able to punch it in for a touchdown and a 21-10 lead. The Tigers started driving again and reached the USF 17, but Reed made his third interception in the end zone to kill the drive. Memphis got another touchdown late, but they couldn't put together one more drive to win the game.

That game is one of my favorites in USF football history. There's nothing more delicious as a schadenfreude-inclined fan than seeing your team make a bunch of opposing fans hate them even more than they already do, especially if they can twist the knife in the process. Not only did J.R. Reed have the greatest game any USF player has ever had, but he ripped Memphis fans' guts out at the same time. I don't think I'll ever forget that game, or the guy who basically won it by himself.

Previous entries: #3 - Matt Grothe, #4 - Kawika Mitchell, #5 - Andre Hall, #6 - Anthony Henry, #7 - Mike Jenkins, #8 - Stephen Nicholas, #9 - George Selvie, #10 - Nate Allen, #11 - DeAndrew Rubin, #12 - Hugh Smith, #13 - Kenyatta Jones, #14 - Ben Moffitt, #15 - Chad Barnhardt

Bulls Recon: Alligator Army talks Gator Football

2010-09-08T23:56:02Z

More photos » Sam Greenwood - Getty Images

5 days ago: GAINESVILLE FL - SEPTEMBER 04: Jonathan Bostic #52 of the Florida Gators attempts an interception against the Miami University RedHawks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 4 2010 in Gainesville Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

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One of the best blogs on the network belongs to mlmintampa, who runs our SBNation sister site Alligator Army. He was nice enough to spend some time answering some questions on Mike Pouncey's snapping, John Brantley's first start, and where to get a bite to eat around Gainesville.

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1. One major concern that you had from the Miami game was Mike Pouncey's inability to snap the ball to John Brantley. Has Coach Meyer said anything about making a change for Saturday's game?

Meyer said Pouncey was not locking his wrist and his hands were slick. Then Pouncey said he changed where he was gripping the ball, moving his hand more to the top (the point facing the defense).

Frankly, all of that sounds like no one knows why Pouncey struggled against Miami-Ohio. If Pouncey struggles, expect to see Sam Robey, who is coming off a knee injury but nearly made the lineup last season.

2. There were a few starters that were out of Saturday's game for various reasons. Will any of them be available for the game?

S Will Hill and OL Carl Johnson will be back. WR Frankie Hammond is also back after a DUI suspension. OL Xavier Nixon is also expected to be back after a knee issue. Johnson and Nixon are the most important to add depth to an offensive line that looked awful against the Redhawks.

3. What did you think of Brantley's first game as a starter?

Considering he spent half the time chasing snaps, I thought he did ok. He was more likely to throw short than long, and he forced a few balls, but it was his first game. Florida fans are spoiled and had unrealistic expectations, even considering the lowly opponent.

4. Who are a couple of new players that we should keep an eye on?

S Matt Elam and TE Omarius Hines were the most impressive to me last Saturday. Elam was highly recruited and got a lot of time as a nickel back due to Hill’s suspension. He was occasionally a step behind, but was physical and aggressive. Hines needs to work on his blocking, but has massive hands and Eric Heiden’s legs. He had three catches, one for a TD, and tipped Chris Rainey’s TD into his hands after it looked like Brantley threw it out of the end zone.

5. Are you worried at all Saturday? Give us a few predictions on the game.

I worry about Saturday because I was at USF’s win over FSU and I remember their win at Auburn. As a Tampa resident, I know a lot of the kids at USF are only there because UF, FSU or a Southern powerhouse didn’t have room for them. For some reason, USF gets better talent than the other Florida schools not in Gainesville, Coral Gables or Tallahassee. The Gators realize that, but I don’t think the fans do as much.

I think UF will win, but it will be a game for three quarters. I don’t see UF covering the 15.5 point spread.

Bonus 6th Question. Give us your favorite place to go for a bite to eat while in Gainesville that no one really knows about.

The problem with Gainesville is the same problem every Florida town has; too many chain restaurants. The "Gainesville" place to eat is Swamp on University Avenue, across from campus. For drunk pizza, it’s Italian Gator on University. For good pizza, I like Leonardo’s on University, just east of 13^th Street. Their companion restaurants, Leo’s 706 and Bistro 1245 are very good for a sit down meal. If you got the money and reservations, Mark’s U.S. Prime is a very good steakhouse in downtown and is a favorite of the ESPN crews. Also downtown is Paramount Grill (American), Dragonfly (Japanese) and Emiliano’s (Latin), which are highly respected.

For drinking establishments, Grog House and Gator City are the most popular on University/Midtown. Below Grog is Balls, Salty Dog and Cantina, which are somehow favorites of the Greek system. Downtown is Stubbies, Durty Nelly’s, Lillian’s (more of an older crowd), Common Grounds (they have a Friday show) if you just want to drink. The Bank, Rue Bar and Eight Seconds (country) are if you want to wear nice shoes and/or dance. Also, all bars in Gainesville are 21-and-up after 9pm.

By the way, you’ll hear people call the University area across from campus "Midtown." No one called it that until Joakim Noah did it after the 2006 basketball championship. But now, it’s Midtown.

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Thanks again to mlm for answering these questions, and be sure to check out Alligator Army for news on our opponent this weekend.

@AlligatorArmy Regarding Saturday's game from a friend who is going, "UF kids are treating [USF]...

2010-09-08T16:27:20Z

@AlligatorArmy Regarding Saturday's game from a friend who is going, "UF kids are treating [USF] like FIU. USF kids are buying tix like it's a BCS game."

Alligator Army on Twitter a little while ago. I figured there would be an enthusiasm gap for this game, but I didn't think it would be this big.

Position Paper: Why I Greatly Dislike the Florida Gators

2010-09-08T12:00:55Z

Want to know why we really dislike the Gators? This tells you everything you need to know. via aprilbrunjes.files.wordpress.com

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This is a difficult piece to write without sounding bitter or jealous. Let's face it, our neighbors to the north have been the standard for intercollegiate athletic success for a long time now. On the field, they've won three football national championships, two more in men's basketball, and enough Olympic sport and SEC titles that Jeremy Foley should probably put an in-house jeweler on staff for the rings. Their fundraising arm, the University Athletic Association, donated over $8.5 million last year to the general scholarship fund of the university. UF is one of the few major programs where athletics truly does benefit academics directly. And their student athletic fee is a minute fraction of what USF's is, so the right people (donors, TV contracts, ticket sales) are paying the freight for their nine-figure athletics budget.

They've also done it without the taint of scandal. Despite being the most successful school in terms of revenue sports championships over the last 15 years, they've managed to mostly steer clear of the NCAA so far. And unless Chris Rainey is allowed to give a press conference every day, they'll probably stay wide of that for a while.

Is there some little brother syndrome involved in my dislike? Absolutely. It's hard to admit that, but it's true. In 2002 I went to the O'Connell Center three times in three days, as USF Volleyball was in the NCAA Tournament Friday and Saturday, and men's basketball played the Gators on Sunday. We beat FSU on Friday in volleyball, but lost a four setter to end a great season to an eventual Final Four UF volleyball team. We then got worked by Billy Donovan the next day, with our USF allocated seats far in the upper deck. But what doesn't stand out was the end of a great season and a great match, but what happened in the stands during that volleyball loss.

As we're down two sets to none on Saturday night, we noticed something the Gator student section had written on a whiteboard. They were writing random things on it throughout the match to bait our fans and players, doing what good fan bases do. But the one that stood out, and still rips at my soul, was this one:

"RIVALS WIN SOMETIMES."

There is simply no response to that. Unless you're the former USF student-athlete that was sitting next to me and had more than a few beverages before the match. In which case you run into the Gator student section, steal the whiteboard, take off running, then break it over your knee before you get kicked out of the O-Dome.

And that's the problem. I don't want petty violence and stupidity to rule. I just want to win fair and square. You can belabor the inherent advantages Florida has over USF in every measurable category of intercollegiate athletics (budget, facilities, history, generations of invested alumni, rings), and they are numerous. But until you do something about it on the field, there is no comeback. This isn't the Premiership, where Blackpool is just happy avoiding relegation. It is the stated mission of USF Athletics to compete for conference and national championships. To get to that point, we're going to have to go through Gainesville a significant portion of the time. And so far, our record in that department has been wanting. Justifiably so considering the difference in history and funding, but still... these are tough numbers to see:

Men's basketball - 5-17 all-time against UF (teams have not played since 2002)
Women's basketball - 5-30 all-time (last USF win was in the 2005 WNIT)
Baseball - 22-49
Softball - 11-30
Women's soccer - 0-3, though USF did win an exhibition match this year
Volleyball - 3-30
Men's tennis - 3-40
Women's tennis - 1-47

That's a total of 50-246, or a combined winning percentage of 16.9%. Yikes.

We've got a lot of catching up to do, and that sucks. And this type of catching up doesn't take seasons, but generations. The plus side is it's nice having the benchmark for where you want to get to be just two hours north on I-75. So yes, they are the big brother and we the little one. But I have no doubt that we will continue to level the playing field over my lifetime. Though as it stands now, we are what we are, and they are what they are.

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But jealousy isn't the reason for my great dislike of everything orange and blue. It's the arrogance. The unrelenting, unfettered arrogance. Not necessarily from the alumni, as most that any of us know are pretty nice people. They might be a bit full of themselves regarding their alma mater's athletic accomplishments, but that I can't begrudge. If we had that resume, I'd be shouting it from the rooftops as well.

Instead, it's the Daywalkers that irritate me. They've adopted the university as their own simply because of the name and the state of residence of birth. The bar is set pretty low for being a Florida fan. Be born in a state full of enough crazy people that Carl Hiassen became a multi-millionaire documenting them, and declare your superiority to all comers by simply yelling, "IF YOU AIN'T A GATOR, YER GATOR BAIT! WOOOOOOO!!!"

/finishescanofNattyIce
/scratchesConfederateflagtattoo
/throwscanoutthewindowofmovingvehicle

Don't give me that "this is cognitive bias" argument, either. As a rule, the less time you've actually spent in a classroom is directly proportional to the increased likelihood your being a Gator fan. I of course can't prove this with data, but rather the decades of experience living in this weird, quirky, and beautiful state I call home. And let me say that it's not just Jort Nation that makes me want to drive into oncoming traffic. Our friends at Da U have the same problem with Miami-Dade residents. It happens everywhere. But I'd argue it's probably worse with the Gators than any team outside of the Crimson Tide. What Notre Dame calls its "subway alumni", Florida should refer to as its "Maury/Jerry/Tyra alumni."

To be fair, we have our idiots as well. Check our message boards. Plenty of morons crapping in their hand and flinging in any direction just trying to see what sticks. (A fate we're sworn to avoid here.) But per capita, I'd argue our fan base is certainly more informed and less ridiculous. I think that's because if you root for USF, you're more likely an alumnus, a student, or a parent of one. There's a tie to the university that filters out some, but certainly not all, of the white noise.

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It's pretty easy to be a Gator fan, too. They don't lose very much. They give you lots of points of pride. But just like it's pretty annoying to see LeBron James, born and raised in Akron, be a Yankee fan for no other reason than they win a lot, it's just as disturbing to see so many people harboring allegiance to UF simply because they win. I'm not saying fandom should be hard, but picking your favorite team for no other reason but you want to root for whomever the likely victor is seems pretty shallow to me. As USF has grown, we've actually started to have a few of these types pop up around us as well. Though no program can grow without them, they're pretty awful to have to tolerate. And Jort Nation (a separate entity from Gator Nation, to be sure) is just terminally awful to deal with in this state, with their insufferable arrogance being their biggest crime against humanity.

Sometimes that arrogance can extend to the teams as well. Urban cursing out a reporter for accurately, though out of context, quoting Deonte Thompson is just the latest example. Don't like what is said about your program at a public university? No problem. Kick the media out of practice, and hire your own in-house reporter -- who coincidentally was hired away from the USF beat for the Tampa Tribune, where he did a fine job -- to cover your team as you see fit. Don't like the paradigm? Change it without consequence. That isn't the way it should be.

There's also the legislative cabal doing everything they can to keep a school in the middle of Nowhere, Florida, as the state's "flagship" school. They have tried to codify this on multiple occasions, almost guaranteeing that state education funds aren't allocated based on merit, but rather a preset formula that will act as a ceiling on other state schools that might excel, and thus assuring the largest piece of the pie. My alma mater is one of those schools, and probably the one most likely affected by that decision. As those that follow the higher education politics of this state know, the system of funding and governance has changed frequently, and will change again over the next years and governors' terms. But the built-in system of consistent funding and power grabs for Tallahassee and Gainesville is really difficult to watch, especially when a school like USF has all the resources and facilities in place to continue to narrow the gap with a fair funding fight. Yes, the system is the system. But this isn't the way it should be.

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There is also one perception that continues to stick in my craw, though it is one that lessens every day. That's the belief that Gainesville is a better place to attend college as an undergraduate than Tampa. I've often said that happiness is Archer Road in your rear view mirror, and that's because our state's most well-known school sits in a cultural wasteland. Granted it's a great place to party, and I've done my fair share of it there. But if doing something that occasionally does not involve getting hammered is more your speed, Gainesville is certainly not your destination of choice.

So the arrogance of Gator Nation that UF is better place to attend college is something I'll never understand. For a much fuller academic and social experience, give me SoHo, TBPAC, Channelside, St. Pete's waterfront, Clearwater Beach and Siesta Key, Boliche Boulevard, and even Ybor City (daytime only -- I'm not that delusional). I got a world-class, Research I education in a wonderful city. The "Drive Thru U" reputation of USF has been justifiably dead for over a decade. We're an outstanding school to attend as an undergraduate, and the social side has caught up with the campus culture anywhere.

I'll put our bars on college nights and our fraternity parties up against anything you'll see at UF. But the difference is at USF, you can do your internship and take classes at the same time, because there are real businesses here that need real help. You can head to class during the day, then a college night at a Rays or Lightning game in the evening. You can get elegantly wasted in the parking lot at Ray Jay for a home football game with your girl, then take her to Bern's the next night and have a five-star dinner to apologize for getting that sloppy. It's the best of both worlds. And as more and more graduating high school seniors realize this, the gap between USF and UF will continue to shrink. But because these things take time, the perception hasn't caught up to the reality.

Before I get flamed, you're absolutely right. I didn't have the grades or the athletic talent to attend UF out of high school. I went to USF, then did a few community college classes, and transferred back to USF before I earned my A.A. degree, and eventually my B.A. And just like every other A.A. recipient in the state of Florida at that time, I could have attended UF. I actually thought about it for about 10 seconds. But I knew I was in on the ground floor of a penny stock. I knew we would get there one day, and I'd rather be a part of building traditions than carrying them on (something I'm proud to say I got to do).

That's not a slam. UF does a wonderful job of carrying the past forward. But maybe the masochist in me would rather climb the mountain than have the helicopter drop me off on the summit. It just means that much more when you get there.

It might not be this week, or this year, or even this decade. But we will get there. And if the glory in the fight and struggle doesn't make sense to you, then maybe USF isn't your school. The size of the gap we've already closed is enormous, and done at relative lightning speed. Our builders went to Auburn, and that roar still rings in our ears. The passionate went to FSU, and showed that the future is now. If you're a builder, join us. If you have a passion for working to create greatness where none previously existed, get on our team. If you dream big, think big, and are willing to stick it out when times are tough because you know that the light at the end of the tunnel is brighter than the flashlight that will ever be handed to you, become a Bull.

Don't get in the helicopter. Climb the mountain.

#BeatFlorida Thursday

2010-09-07T16:27:05Z

If you have a twitter account, I hope for one that you are following all three of us. Second, I'm sure you've seen the #BeatFlorida tweets that have been popping up from USF fans since midway through the third quarter of the Stony Brook game.

Syracuse fans have been running a great bit for the past two years each Friday during football season where they just let loose on the opposing team. No one is safe from ridicule, and they are hilarious.

I want to start the exact same thing on Thursdays* for USF. UF is the guinea pig, and if it works, we will make it a weekly thing.

We will have the best tweets of the day on our site along with the twitter handle of the person who wrote it.

Sound good?

*We will do #BeatOpponent Weekday games the day before. For example, #BeatRutgers will be on Tuesday.

Week 2 BlogPoll Draft

2010-09-07T15:13:59Z

Voodoo Five Ballot - Week 2

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Alabama Crimson Tide	--
2	Ohio St. Buckeyes	--
3	TCU Horned Frogs	--
4	Boise St. Broncos	--
5	Oregon Ducks	4
6	Texas Longhorns	1
7	Virginia Tech Hokies	-1
8	Nebraska Cornhuskers	--
9	Florida Gators	-4
10	Wisconsin Badgers	--
11	Miami Hurricanes	3
12	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	--
13	Penn St. Nittany Lions	2
14	Iowa Hawkeyes	2
15	Utah Utes	6
16	West Virginia Mountaineers	3
17	Pittsburgh Panthers	-6
18	USC Trojans	--
19	Oklahoma Sooners	-6
20	Georgia Bulldogs	3
21	LSU Tigers	-1
22	Stanford Cardinal	--
23	North Carolina Tar Heels	-6
24	Auburn Tigers	--
25	Florida St. Seminoles	--
Dropouts: Oregon St. Beavers

SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings "

Not too much of a difference compared to the preseason ballot. FSU sneaks in while Oregon State is the sole team kicked out of the poll. Oklahoma, Pitt, Florida, and North Carolina all dropped while Oregon and Utah were the big movers this week.

What do you guys think? Anyone you think should be in the poll over another team? Let us know in the comments, and if they are good enough, you might make us change the poll before tomorrow's deadline

Film Study - USF vs. Stony Brook

2010-09-07T13:01:00Z

Chris Young - AP

8 months ago: South Florida quarterback B.J Daniels throws a pass against Northern Illinois during the first half of the International Bowl NCAA college football game in Toronto on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

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After watching the game again, I realized this wasn't going to be a good game to do any deep examination. Stony Brook was so outmatched that many of the things I saw on Saturday are unlikely to be repeated, because this is the weakest team on the schedule (and probably by a wide margin). Once I saw Marcus Shaw's touchdown run, where the right defensive tackle broke into the backfield behind the vacated pulling guard and actually stood there watching Shaw run away from him, I knew this wasn't going to be of too much value. Against some other teams, the play would have been disrupted or shut down.

I also wasn't helped by the broadcast. Not having it in HD was hard, not because of the picture quality, but because those extra 5-10 yards that you can see down the field on a widescreen make this a lot easier to do.

So instead, I thought I'd take a look at a few select moments from the game in more detail and see what we could apply forward.

CLIP 1 - AUTOMATICS

USF's first play from scrimmage looked like a called run. Stony Brook certainly expected one, as both safeties started towards the line at the snap, basically giving the Seawolves nine in the box. The offensive line started blocking like it was a run off the left guard. (They may have been fortunate not to be called for an ineligible man downfield.) But the left corner was playing a good 10 yards off Dontavia Bogan. Daniels read the run defense and quickly threw it out to Bogan, who took a step back from the line when he saw Daniels turn to throw him the ball. With everyone committed towards the middle to stop what they thought was a run, Bogan only had to make his man miss and he could outrun everyone to the end zone. That's exactly what happened.

If this was in fact a checkdown from run to pass, then these are the kinds of plays USF will need to recognize and make on Saturday. It's hard enough to move the ball against Florida, and if there are easy yards available then they have to take as many as they can get. I don't think the Gators will let Bogan run 60 yards for a touchdown on a play like this, but it can help the Bulls stay ahead of the chains.

Some more clips after the jump.

CLIP #2 - THE ILLEGAL FORMATION PENALTY THAT WASN'T

Take a look at these three punt setups and try and guess which one was called for an illegal formation penalty.

They all look pretty much the same, right? Seven guys up on the line of scrimmage, three upbacks, and the punter. It turns out the second one was called for illegal formation. The officials said USF only had six players on the line, even though none of these formations would appear to be legal based on that explanation. The call wiped out a Justin Brockhaus-Kann punt that Donte Spires had downed inside the 5. Then when USF lined up to rekick, they got into the EXACT SAME FORMATION. No penalty this time. But instead, the snap was low, Brockhaus-Kann fielded it on a knee, and the play ended immediately. The blown call cost USF about 70 yards in field position, and eventually 7 points.

CLIP #3 - WAS THE BLOCKED PUNT REALLY A TOUCHDOWN?

This one confused me. First, I still don't know why Drew Evangelista, the Stony Brook punter, would go ahead and kick the ball after retrieving it in his own end zone with two Bulls rushing towards him. The punt was blocked easily, and it rolled around in the back of the end zone. Chris Lane had to step over the end line to avoid Evangelista, and with his last step before picking up the ball for a touchdown, his foot was still partially on the end line and therefore out of bounds.

I looked for about 20 minutes to try and find the NCAA's rule on establishing yourself back in bounds before touching a live ball if you went out during a play, or if you're even allowed to touch the ball at all. But I couldn't find anything. I also couldn't figure out what the penalty would have been if there was one. Is it a safety because the ball was touched in the end zone, and the illegal touching makes it a dead ball? Does Stony Brook get to punt it again? I guess I shouldn't complain, because a touchdown was the best outcome.

CLIP #4 - B.J. DANIELS' LASER ROCKET ARM -- AND QUICK RELEASE

I already knew B.J. Daniels had a huge throwing arm, but seeing some of the throws he made on Saturday also showed me how fast he gets rid of the ball. There was one play that was very similar to the spring game, where the pass went for a touchdown. Evan Landi was supposed to run a hitch pattern, but saw the coverage and kept going up the field. Just as Landi got into the seam of the cover 2 defense, Daniels fired a pass in there for a 22-yard gain.

That's a hard throw to make and time out correctly unless you have superior arm strength and/or a quick release. Daniels has both. In fact, he wasn't even really set with his feet to throw that pass -- he just flicked the ball out there as soon as he saw he could hit the seam. Next week, with the windows likely to be much tighter when the Gators go to a zone, those talents are going to be vital.

Volleyball News, Or How My Favorite USF Team Is Doing

2010-09-07T02:34:20Z

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Full disclosure: As we've noted here before, we cannot rationally discuss USF Volleyball with any sense of integrity or impartiality. That's because we are complete and shameless shills for this program. They could be caught on video beating up old people for their change purses, and we would still be at the next match yelling our undying support. However, we really do believe everything we're writing below.

After two weekends, it looks like USF Volleyball might be on to something. The Bulls have played a monster schedule over the opening two weekends that will certainly help in the RPI, taking on four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year in their first five matches. They come out of that gauntlet at 2-3, including a heartbreaking 5 set loss to #16 Kentucky in Lexington. But with such a young squad, Coach Claire Lessinger and her team now have a much better sense of who they are and what it will take to be successful in BIG EAST play.

The big question marks coming into the season were how the Bulls would replace five seniors, including four time All-BIG EAST outside hitter Marcela Gurgel and one of America's leading middle blockers last season, Alli Arbogast. So far the outside hitter spot has been filled with two sophomores, with Latvian Maija Strazdina leading the team in kills at a 3.0 per set so far, and Clearwater High's J'Beria Davis taking All-Tournament honors last weekend in Lexington. Davis proved she could terminate balls against high level competition while playing Kentucky, leading both teams with 16 kills on 41 attacks.

The middle blocker of the future appears to be Venezuelan freshman Andrea Rodriguez Gomez, who seems to have all the tools to be a superstar. But like most 17-year old freshman, she needs to figure out what she's doing first. She has 29 kills and 17 blocks so far this season, but also 20 hitting errors and six blocking errors. I was at the Bulls preseason scrimmage, and Rodriguez Gomez was the player that really stood out with her combination of athleticism and power. Every time I looked up from the stats computer I was manning she was putting a "1" set away beautifully. And Lessinger and her staff have proven over the years that they can develop players at the middle blocker position. Both Arbogast and 2007 graduate Nakia Williams came to Tampa as raw as a California sushi roll (and believe me, that's being kind), and both left as All-BIG EAST performers. Rodriguez Gomez is light years ahead of them at this point, and looks to go nowhere but up from here.

The other middle is redshirt sophomore Caitlyn Breen, who starts for the second straight season. Breen led all BIG EAST freshman with 1.11 blocks per set last season, and will be counted on to contribute even more in 2010 for this team to head up the conference ladder.

Senior leadership will come from right side Allie Boaz and setter Mariana Thon. Boaz is the teams emotional spark plug, who plays with an infectious joy that is fun to watch. A true lefthander both on and off the court (yes, that means flaky), Boaz will need to step up offensively to take some of the pressure off the inexperienced middle blockers and outside hitters up front. Thon is an athletic setter with a monster jump serve and four years of starting experience. In 2010 she is on the court full-time, as the Bulls switch to a 5-1 offense from their usual 6-2, meaning Thon will play in all six rotations instead of just the three in the back row. Without Gurgel, her ability to distribute will be even more important in keeping defenses honest, and keeping blockers away from attackers.

The libero will be junior Janice Rivera, who will be the one inspiring the question "why is that one girl wearing a different color jersey?" The libero is a defensive only position which can substitute for any player in the back row at any time, usually the middle blocker. Rivera is exactly what you want in a back row specialist; someone that is an exceptional passer and defender, and a vocal leader. Rivera had 31 digs against Miami, Ohio on Saturday, and her ability to consistently give Thon the ball in the proper spot will be huge for the Bulls to succeed.

The Bulls get one more road test before conference play this weekend, heading to Carbondale, Illinois to take on Doug Woolard's alma mater in the Southern Illinois tournament, as well as Southeast Missouri State and MIssissippi State. Then they finally come home to the often raucous madhouse of The Corral for their own tournament with New Mexico, FAU, and Jacksonville.

It's a young team, but one that has talent at all positions and the potential to improve greatly as the season goes along. They'll need to get better every weekend if they want to return to their fifth straight conference tournament, as only the top eight teams make it to the season finale.

And as an aside: If you haven't been to a volleyball match, make sure you get to one this season. The good part is the sport and the team are entertaining enough where we won't have to encourage you to come back again, you'll do that on your own. There is no better fan environment at USF than The Corral, and no team and fan base more welcoming of new friends. /shamelessshilling

USF-Stony Brook Animated Drive Chart

2010-09-06T20:21:08Z

One of the cooler things on the internet is the animated drive chart that Rocky Top Talk rolls out for everyone the Sunday after each game. So if you missed the game, here is what you missed.

FULL SCREEN VERSION

USF Bulls try to treat Gator week like any other week

2010-09-06T16:23:06Z

USF Bulls try to treat Gator week like any other week

Good to see that they are keeping everything in perspective.

Seen at the USF game last night. AND IT'S ON. #BeatFlorida

2010-09-05T17:34:37Z

Seen at the USF game last night.

AND IT'S ON. #BeatFlorida

Postgame Thoughts: Bulls Throttle Stony Brook 59-14

2010-09-05T03:48:08Z

More photos » Chris O'Meara - AP

4 days ago: South Florida wide receiver Dontavia Bogan runs by the Stony Brook bench on the way to a 59-yard, first-quarter touchdown reception from quarterback B.J. Daniels during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Just imagine what a beating this would have been if the special teams hadn't been so wobbly. All 14 of Stony Brook's points came off short fields set up by mistakes in the punt game -- Faron Hornes muffed his first punt, and then fumbled away the second, at which point he left the game. And after the officials blew an illegal formation call on a punt that USF downed inside the 5, Justin Brockhaus-Kann had to field a low snap on one knee on the rekick, instantly killing the play.

But other than that, the Bulls dominated. They outgained the Seawolves 562-249, forced four interceptions of Michael Coulter, and did pretty much whatever they wanted to do whenever they wanted to. The talent gap was obvious from the first USF offensive snap. B.J. Daniels threw a quick hitch to Dontavia Bogan, and all he had to do was make one man miss and then outrun everyone else to the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown. So even when USF briefly fell behind 14-7, I had no concern that they might actually lose the game. Once the special teams stabilized, it was over.

I'll do some more digging into specific parts of the game tomorrow when I chart everything. But some other quick thoughts:

-- Stony Brook has to find a quarterback with a stronger arm. I tweeted that I thought I could throw a football further than Coulter, and I'm not sure that was a joke. They made themselves one-dimensional because their quarterback may not be able to throw the ball more than 25 or 30 yards down the field. He threw one quick out that hung in the air for what seemed like forever, even though he and the receiver were only about 15 yards apart.

-- It looks like USF got out of the game totally unscathed on the injury front. Daniels gave us all a scare diving headlong into the end zone on USF's first touchdown, but he was OK. And Lindsey Lamar got racked up in the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, although he got back in the game later on. I didn't see anyone else get hurt on the Bulls side during the game.

-- Note to Drew Evangelista, who otherwise had a solid game punting for Stony Brook. When the ball goes over your head and into the end zone, just take the safety. You should not try to punt it with three guys at close range running right at you. This is not advised under any circumstances.

-- For a guy who was a running back a month ago, Joel Miller made a great catch on that touchdown at the end of the first half. That play pretty much iced the game at 31-14 with the Bulls getting the ball out of the locker room.

-- It was fun at the time to see the Bulls score 52 unanswered points. But I feel a little guilty. I know they were paid well for their time, but the Seawolves were just totally outmatched. It must be nearly impossible for them to get the kind of athletes you would need to stay in a game like this. USF was faster and better across the board. On the plus side, it looks like the Bulls' talent level is in the ballpark of where it was the last few years.

-- Yeah, we're going to have a nice highlight reel of the outstanding camera work from that game. Fortunately we get the same crew for the Western Kentucky and FAU games. And was it just me, or did it sound like J.B. Long and Shaun King (who has gained at least 100 pounds since his playing days) weren't even in the stadium?

-- We can now start talking about the Gators, who had an... um... let's say interesting game against Miami University this afternoon. A remotely competent team would have beaten them today. If Florida comes out anywhere near as limp next Saturday as they did this afternoon -- who knows?

USF-Stony Brook Haiku

2010-09-05T02:31:05Z

More photos » Chris O'Meara - AP

4 days ago: New South Florida coach Skip Holtz, center, runs out onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Stony Brook on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Bulls Destroy Seawolves

Need to Work on Special Teams

Florida is next

Stony Brook at USF GameThread - Saturday 9/4, 7:05pm

2010-09-04T22:01:44Z

Phil Coale - AP

11 months ago: South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels, left, is tackled in the fourth quarter by Florida State defensive end Kevin McNeil during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla. South Florida won 17-7.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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Next Game

Stony Brook Seawolves
@ South Florida Bulls

Saturday, Sep 4, 2010, 7:05 PM EDT
Raymond James Stadium

Complete Coverage >

There's been this little button on our spiffy Manager dashboard ever since we started the blog marked "New GameThread," and we haven't been able to click on it for anything.

Until now.

FINALLY SOME FRIGGIN' FOOTBALL. LET'S DO THIS.

Go Bulls.

EA NCAA Football 11 Simulation - USF vs. Stony Brook

2010-09-04T20:59:18Z

I set up an NCAA Football 11 dynasty for USF and then got out of the way to let the computer handle the season. (I went ahead and made everyone healthy again because there was no way to remove every player on every team who is hurt to start the season. So that means A.J. Love, Sterling Griffin, and Mark Popek are all in.) Every week I'll "play" the game and then post a recap.

First up, the Bulls played "FCS West" because I didn't change them to "FCS East" before I started the season. It doesn't really matter, though, they're all pretty much the same.

FINAL SCORE - USF 37, STONY BROOK STAND-IN TEAM 13

The game wasn't really as close as the score indicated. Stony Brook/FCS West got 10 of their 13 points off two turnovers - a deflected B.J. Daniels pass that was intercepted in USF territory, and a fumble return for a touchdown. Actually the Bulls were -4 in turnovers, giving it up four times while FCS West/Stony Brook was turnover-free.

Mo Plancher had a huge game, carrying 25 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns, including this 70-yard run on the second play of the game. However, he did lose two fumbles, including the one returned for a score.

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

Because of all the turnovers and some weird AI-influenced decision making, Stony Brook/FCS West was actually in the game in the third quarter. But down 27-13, they stalled in the USF red zone and then yanked a 28-yard field goal. On their next possession, they tried an ill-advised puntrooskie and failed miserably.

B.J. Daniels was 22-for-29 for 255 yards and two touchdowns, with Dontavia Bogan racking up 8 for 128 and a long touchdown right before halftime. The defense managed 14 tackles for loss, led by four from Keith McCaskill. Overall USF outgained FCS West/Stony Brook 471-236 and limited them to only six yards rushing.

One dim note - A.J. Love tore his pectoral and is out for 12 weeks. He won't be back until the Miami game.

Here's Bogan's touchdown and a monstrous sack by Terrell McClain that briefly knocked the Stony Brook/FCS West quarterback out of the game.

EA Sports: NCAA Football 11 Video

EDSBS - Football Season Has Ended. Football Season Has Begun.

2010-09-04T07:45:03Z

EDSBS - Football Season Has Ended. Football Season Has Begun.

You've probably already read this, but if not, Spencer Hall explains everything. I mean, everything.

Friday Five Keys - USF vs. Stony Brook

2010-09-03T23:11:36Z

More photos » Fred Beckham - AP

George Baker (above) and the rest of the USF defense is unknown now, but it may only be a matter of time before he or someone else steps up and becomes the next household name.

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The day before each game, we'll share our five keys to the game. This week, here's what we'll be looking for against Stony Brook.

1. Stopping SBU's running game

From what Sam Kilb at The Statesman told us, the strength of the Stony Brook offense is their running game. With Mat Brevi, Stony Brook's top returning receiver, not making the trip due to injury, the Seawolves may have to rely even more on the run to keep them in the game. So there's a good opportunity for USF to begin proving their mettle against the kind of run-oriented teams that have given them so many problems the last few years, especially in Big East play. Getting the Seawolves offense off the field will also play into some of the other keys to the game.

2. Overcoming the excitement, and avoiding the temptation to look ahead to the Gators

Both teams have an excitement factor to contend with. This is the first time Stony Brook has ever played an FBS opponent, and I would guess this will be the biggest crowd they've ever played in front of. And of course it's the first game for USF with Skip Holtz in charge. Whoever can get all that nervous, excited energy out of their system and start playing football first will have an edge.

USF's other problem is that you can't help but look forward to next week's game before you've played this week's game. The same thing happened against Elon to start the 2007 season. USF was clearly looking forward to the game at Auburn the next week, and the Bulls came out flat, only winning 28-13.

3. Start creating identities on the team

Every preview that places USF low in the Big East rankings cites that they lost all these great players. Jason Pierre-Paul, George Selvie, Matt Grothe, Nate Allen, Kion Wilson, Carlton Mitchell - they're all gone. But it's not like there won't be new players taking their place. We just don't know who they are yet. Often people confuse "anonymous" with "bad", and they only change their mind when you have players that they recognize. This is the first chance for someone to step up and get back some of the buzz and the attention that you only seem to get when people know your players.

Who's going to step up at wide receiver, especially with A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin injured? Is anyone going to separate themselves from the crowd at running back? Who will be the next big thing on the USF defense? Can B.J. Daniels take the next step up and become a nationally-known quarterback? It's hard to make a big leap in public perception against an FCS team, but this is where it starts.

4. Get comfortably ahead so the backups can get some much-needed reps

Figuring Stony Brook is likely to run the ball a lot, and knowing USF's weak link on offense is its passing game, this could be a fast, maybe even defensive-oriented game where the Bulls don't have much of a chance to pile up a safe lead. Possessions could be limited and the clock could be almost constantly running. Can USF get far enough ahead of the Seawolves soon enough that they can get some of their young players and second-teams some valuable (and necessary) game experience? The Bulls will need to cash in as many early opportunities as possible to do this.

And this goes without saying, but the earlier you get safely ahead, the earlier you get your star players off the field so they are healthy for the Florida game.

5. How much of next week's game plan do you want to work on in the game?

The eternal argument of "how much do you show the week before a big game." Hopefully the Bulls can work with a relatively easy game plan and not have to use any of what I like to call Billy Barool plays - the ones you go to when you absolutely need something that will work. That might be a play designed to take advantage of a matchup or a scheme, or an exotic blitz or coverage on defense. The more you can take into Gainesville that the Gators haven't seen on film, the more options you have. At the same time, maybe you work on some of next week's game plan anyway, because it's more important to get the execution right in game conditions. The eternal argument.

"15 for 15" - The 3rd Greatest Player in USF History is...

2010-09-03T21:37:11Z

More photos » Chris O'Meara - AP

about 1 year ago: FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2008, file photo, South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe prepares to throw a pass against Connecticut during an NCAA college football game in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

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Matt Grothe, QB/2006-09

Matt Grothe was the other quarterback in the 2005 recruiting class. Most thought that Carlton Hill was going to be the greatest thing ever at USF , and even then-offensive coordinator Rod Smith thought Grothe should move to safety. After redshirting in 2005, Grothe moved ahead of Hill at QB, and was neck and neck with senior Pat Julmiste on the depth chart. Julmiste started the 2006 opener against McNeese State, but after Pat injured his knee midway through the 2nd quarter, Grothe went in and Pat Julmiste became the USF version of Wally Pipp.

Grothe took over the team, although there wasn't much buzz nationally on what #8 was doing in Tampa. Then, on a sunny November day against Pitt, Matt did this.

(via mattgrothedotcom)

And then he did this five minutes later.

(via mattgrothedotcom)

The crowd couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe it, even the announcers couldn't believe it. Grothe earned cult status across the nation after that game. The media finally had a face with the program, and Matt was the perfect face for USF football. Matt played above his abilities, and the program rose to prominence quicker than anyone expected.

Matt took this team to heights I couldn't have even conceived when I first stepped on campus in 2003. The win against West Virginia in 2006, Grothe to Hester, The Night Tampa Became a College Town, the NUMBER TWO BCS RANKING in the country, the comeback win against Kansas in 2008 where he put the team on his shoulders. The ALL-TIME yardage leader in Big East history. There are probably 50 other things that I'm missing that you guys will add.

Previous entries: #4 - Kawika Mitchell, #5 - Andre Hall, #6 - Anthony Henry, #7 - Mike Jenkins, #8 - Stephen Nicholas, #9 - George Selvie, #10 - Nate Allen, #11 - DeAndrew Rubin, #12 - Hugh Smith, #13 - Kenyatta Jones, #14 - Ben Moffitt, #15 - Chad Barnhardt

Week 1 College Football Buffet: Previewing Every Game So You Know Which To Consume - SBNation.com

2010-09-03T17:27:17Z

Week 1 College Football Buffet: Previewing Every Game So You Know Which To Consume - SBNation.com

Sean from Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician has the primer for your lost weekend of football. Although we are thrown in with the other FBS v FCS matchups, we all that Tampa will be the place to be Saturday.