BullGrad95

I purhased the mall.....

Bulls' Problems Deeper Than Just One Game Skip directly to the full story. By JOE HENDERSON Published: Jan 11, 2007 TAMPA - Not long after Louisville finished an 81-55 smackdown on his team Wednesday night, Robert McCullum declared the upcoming game against Cincinnati was a "must win." As the men's basketball coach at the University of South Florida, McCullum must be one part salesman and one part tent show revivalist, but this was stretching things even by those standards. Must win? Must get clue first. McCullum is a fine man and coach, but let us be honest. Louisville administered the 66th loss of the McCullum era, against 37 wins. This was USF's third loss in as many Big East games this season. The Bulls are 9-8 overall, but four of those wins came against MEAC teams. Throw those out and, oh … who cares? That's really the problem here. Not enough people care. Even outrage would be a better emotion than the indifference that shrouds the Sun Dome. Must win? Must care first. USF basketball has flat-lined, and this effort against Louisville may cause the attending physicians to put away the cardio paddles and start pulling the sheet up over its head. Just 4,410 fans showed up at the Dome to watch the Bulls and Louisville, and most of them began meandering toward the parking lots during the Cards' six-minute explosion early in the second half. Blew Game Open The Bulls trailed 30-26 with 17:49 to play when Louisville's Brandon Jenkins hit consecutive 3-pointers and then another basket. By the time the Cards' Will Scott hit a 3 with 11:19 to play, Louisville led 52-33. "I thought we had them right where we wanted them," USF center Kentrell Gransberry said. We should mention that this isn't exactly a powerhouse group from the 'Ville. Rick Pitino was missing two key players - one injury, one discipline case - and ferried five walk-ons on the plane to Tampa. The Cards needed wins against Georgetown (Ky.), Bellarmine, Sacramento State and Savannah State to inflate their record to 11-5. This was the kind of game USF needed to win. Has to win. Yet, Louisville fired up 30 3-pointers and hit 43.3 percent of them. The Cards outscored the Bulls 28-10 off turnovers. Jesus Verdejo, USF's transfer guard from Arizona, is hailed as a big-time scorer, yet he only had four shots all night. Much of the time in the second half he was alone in the corner, pleading for the ball but rarely getting it. "I don't know how we could have put more emphasis on defending the 3 in practice," McCullum said, but the message never seemed to get through. That raises another troubling issue that goes beyond one more bad night. At some point it's reasonable to wonder if it is ever going to get better on McCullum's watch. He has two years left on his contract, worth about $600,000. Some USF boosters went hunting for a replacement in March, trying to entice Bob Huggins to come to Tampa. USF's administration stuck with McCullum, but if this keeps up that will be four consecutive losing seasons. Most coaches wouldn't survive that, although the apathy around the Bulls right now may actually work in his favor. Kind of sad when you think about it. Same Ol' Story Then again, McCullum isn't the only one to find the road too tough at USF. Seth Greenberg, you may have noticed, took his Virginia Tech team into Cameron Indoor Stadium last weekend and beat Duke. He never could beat a ranked team on the road while at USF, though, could he? No less than **** Vitale has declared this to be the toughest coaching job in the nation, and he might be right. The endless drone of mediocrity around this program has created suffocating apathy, and what high school All-American wants to be part of that? Even going as far back as Lee Rose, the Bulls have sought the magic formula for building a consistent winner. Rose took Purdue to the Final Four but never made it beyond the NIT here, which proves that McCullum is far from the first to run into difficulties. McCullum's team consists primarily of junior college players and transfers, suggesting he is out for a quick fix. Alas, this has been neither quick nor fixed. The Big East isn't as strong as it was a year ago, and still it's hard to see these Bulls being much better than 1-15 again. Will that send boosters stampeding for their checkbooks? Well, it could, I suppose. I wouldn't bet on it, though, because that would suggest a passion in the community for USF basketball that has rarely existed and certainly isn't anywhere close to existing now. So Sunday's game against Cincinnati is a must win? Well, OK. Winning would be nice, all right. But the problems with the Bulls go a lot deeper than just one game. http://www.tbo.com/sports/MGBSSDGPSWE.html This article hits it straight on the head!

USF No Match For Louisville Skip directly to the full story. By BRETT McMURPHY The Tampa Tribune Published: Jan 11, 2007 TAMPA - University of South Florida coach Robert McCullum said on his pregame radio show the Bulls needed to defeat Louisville to keep their Big East title hopes alive. "We absolutely must win to stay in the race for the Big East regular-season title," McCullum said before Wednesday night's game. "It's extremely difficult to start 0-3 and come back [and win the title]. You have to win 13 straight." This just in: USF is not going to win the Big East title. The question is: Can the Bulls finish at least 12th in the league and reach the Big East Tournament? I understand that as a coach, you have to keep a positive attitude, but, honestly, this is just too much.  I used to love watching USF basketball, but I can't even imagine wasting my time with it right now. http://www.tbo.com/sports/bulls/MGBMFEGPSWE.html

That was the impression I was under as well. Thought he was a Leto grad and his wife was from the area as well. I did see he and CJL have some VERY heated arguments on the sidelines during several games this past year. Best of luck in the Sun Belt.

didn't that guy used to be on channel 13?

Not only did our game have a crappy payout, look at what our guys got compared to what some of the other teams are getting. http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=621250

Just a side note to Greg's blog. Gene Chizik was a linebackers coach at Seminole High School while I played there from 1987-1990. Coach Sam Roper was Chizik's coach at Clearwater. Roper became the SHS head coach in the mid 80's, and when Chizik came back from college, I believe his first job was at Seminole. Iowa State picked up a helluva coach with passion and fire similar to CJL's. He's also a great person.

no it doesnt.  its on a SATURDAY...and if you drive home after the game, or hell early sunday morning, you get home in plenty of time for Christmas Eve festivities... doesn't matter that its SATURDAY, but it is the DAY BEFORE the holidays and many, myself included have to TRAVEL to family functions.  i can assure you if it was not on 12/23, i'd be there this year.

looks tight on my desktop. excellent work.

Just drove that route over the Thanksgiving weekend. Speed does slow to 50mph in some spots, but it was not too bad when I went through on Friday.

Be assured that an road that starts with "US" instead of "I" will have it's share of small towns and stoplights on the way. Talked to my father who travels Florida/Bama all the time with work, and his best suggestion was taking I-75 to ATL and then taking I-20 to B'Ham.

watching CJL's emotions after the game choked me up. couldn't be more proud to have him as our coach. he truly loves this program.

just saw on UM's thursday night game that Herbstreit said that UM's facilities were probably in the lower third of all the D1 schools. why would CJL leave a brand new building and a budding program for crappy facilities and instability in the program down there? don't see it happening

just my .02, but I think that Williams is starting because, right now, he's a less timid runner than Ponton is. don't get me wrong, Ponton is the better all around back, but he's tiptoeing his way to the line right now, where Williams hits the holes a little stronger. many times today, Ponton seemed indecisive when he was running the ball.

are you an apologist for every other school out there???

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263150058

that picutre must be old. thought I just heard that they actually tore down the upper deck. the only good it served was to protect us from the rain in 2004. I was weary that it was gonna collapse on us.

Would completely agree that "legendary" Legion Field is nothing more than a rust bucket. Was there in 2004 for the UAB "monsoon" game. What a pit. Was only there for 24hrs, but the city itself seemed fairly nice.

1. Who is your Defensive "PlayMaker" (not MVP) of the season so far? Chris Robinson. Has come up with great pressure at the right times 2. In the first 100 games, what was your "High Light" game ? Beating #9 Louisville last year 3. In the next 100 games, what do you think will be your "High Light game ? A top tier bowl win 4. Top recruiting need ? (1 Position) RB 5. Peanut Butter, smooth or crunchy ? Crunchy

highly doubt it. just rest for MG.

could not agree more. kickoff coverage is aweful the fact that we have to use "rugby" style punting is laughable field goal kicking is lucky to be called putrid leavitt needs to replace himself as the special teams coach

congrats on the newest addition to Bull Nation.

those are SWEET!

and what's up with this dude and the "shocker"?

you'll love it e.t. i've got my little bull giving the "horns" with her fingers. cutest thing ever when your daughter says, "hey, dad, go bulls!" absolute heaven