TakeItOrLeavitt

I actually expected FIU and FAU to challenge for supremacy right away in the Sun Belt. It's been a strange year for the Sun Belt though with the usually dominant (in conference) N. Texas playing very mediocre and the two Florida teams in the cellar. Btw, congrats on the win.

I realize that (mistake on my part for using the word clinch,) but I think they clinch it with another win and since they still have a game against 0-8 Rice I figured it's a pretty safe bet to happen.  Just looking at the standings and remaining schedule of all teams involved it would take a miracle of miracles (how's that for a jinx? ;D) for them not to get into one.

USF 21-3 365 Amarri Jackson

Congrats Knight fans. I can't wait until we, as Bulls fans, get to experience clinching a bowl. So for today, and only today , I am envious of Knight fans everywhere.

I would say S. Piss for three reasons. 1) They are a in a decent sized SOUTHERN market. Unless it's PSU or ND I do not want to add another northern school. 2) We have a short but exciting rivalry with them that i'd like to see continue. They're probably the closest thing to a true rival that we've had in our brief history. And... 3) If they were in the BE the bkb team could count on atleast one conference win a year.

Very hard news to take. His fight was truly inspiring. The sincerest of condolences go to Bradley's family and friends.

USF 24-20 326 Peyton

FireFickleFans.com

In Leavitt I trust.

QB - Julmiste starts. WR - S.J. Green is the Bulls' leading receiver. Peyton and Garris are 3rd and 5th respectively in receiving among the WRs (Andre Hall is ahead of both.) OL - I think Walker, Capogna, and Springfield are all on the 2 deep. I'm pretty sure Griffin is up there also. DL - Robinson starts at DE and is 3rd among DL in tackles to go along with a sack. LB - Nicholas, St. Louis, and McCullough are the Bulls' 2nd, 3rd, and 4th leading tacklers, respectively. Moffit and Balloon are 2nd stringers. DB - Jenkins, Trae Williams, and Verpaele all have started at one point this year. Brant is the backup right corner. Williams also is the Bulls' leading kick returner (25.3 avg.) and has their lone INT on the season, which he returned for a TD. I think that covers most of the young guys but somebody like SBien, E.T., or Howie might be able to break it down a little better.

I think these are most of our top youngsters: QB - Pat Julmiste (So.), Louis Gachette (Fr.), and Courtney Denson (Fr.?) WR - Johnny Peyton (Fr.), S.J. Green (So.), J.B. Garris (Fr.), Jackie Chambers (Fr.), and Marcus Edwards (Fr.) RB - Ricky Ponton (Fr.), Andre Copeland (Fr.), and Chad Simpson (Fr.) OL - Nick Capogna (Fr.), Shadie Jones (Fr.), Jake Griffin (Fr.), Martin Toewe (Fr.), Matt Huners (Fr.), Jerome Springfield (Fr.), Walter Walker (Fr.), and Marc Dile (Fr.) DL - Tavarious Robinson (So.), Richard Clebert (Fr.), Ramon McCullough (So.), and Josh Julmiste (Fr.) LB - Stephen Nicholas (So.), Patrick St Louis (So.), Josh Balloon (Fr.), Ronnie McCullough (Fr.), Ben Moffit (Fr.), and C.J. Hunnicutt (Fr.) DB - Mike Jenkins (Fr.), A.J. Brant (Fr.), Danny Verpaele (Fr.), Trae Williams (Fr.), and Carlton Williams (Fr.) That doesn't count the players who didn't qualify from our last recruiting class who still plan on coming here(as far as I know). Guys like Jariette Buie and Terrance Jones.

Spurrier (yes, that Spurrier) watches USF By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer Published October 17, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAMPA - It's the stuff rumors are made of, but Steve Spurrier was at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday only as a father. His son, Scotty, a senior at Loudoun County High in Leesburg, Va., made a recruiting visit with his parents and could call USF home next fall. "I hope he comes here," said the former Gators and Redskins coach who watched from a luxury box. "Here's where he ought to be, even if it's as a walk-on. But he's going to make his own decision." Scotty Spurrier, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound defensive back who scored a touchdown Friday, was a good-luck charm last weekend during a visit to East Carolina, which ended a nine-game losing streak with a win against Tulane. In addition to USF, Spurrier is considering ECU, where former Gators quarterback Noah Brindise is the offensive coordinator, and Marshall, where coach Bob Pruett is a former defensive coordinator under Spurrier. Jerri Spurrier talked before the game with USF assistant coach Carl Franks, a longtime Spurrier assistant who played under him with the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits. Her son likely won't make a decision until he visits Marshall, but Scotty said he's a huge USF fan and watches every game he can on DirecTV. When inclement weather bumped Loudoun County's game to a Saturday earlier this season, Spurrier said he was upset he couldn't watch the Bulls live. http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/17/Sports/Spurrier_yes__that_Sp.shtml

I can't believe anybody is seriously calling for CJL's job... un-fricken-believable to me. 7 years in-between losing seasons is acceptable to me at this point. That doesn't mean I like it, but I understand where we are as a program and the hiccups that will come with that. Coaching had nothing to do with the Peyton dropped td pass, Julmiste goal line int, and Gramatica missed FG away. Peyton is skilled enough that he should never drop a wide open pass. Every college QB should be able to complete a 5 yard pass to an open WR. And a 38 yarder should be a gimme kick for Santiago. No amount of coaching is going to fix these problems. You just have to hope Peyton will get better as he matures, that we get a capable QB in here next year, and that Gramatica will rebound.

Wish her the best of luck.

Got a minute? Jackie Chambers WR USF By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer Published October 13, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You're a Miami guy. What's your favorite sports team? Heat, Dolphins, Marlins, Panthers. I like all of them. How good can the Heat be with Shaq in the post? Very good, but I hear we have no bench now. Okay, no more football. Favorite breakfast cereal? I have to go with Corn Flakes. Really? I have to respect that. They're so plain. Can't do it. No, the frosted corn flakes. With the tiger. Oh. Frosted Flakes. Major difference. Last movie you saw? Lord of the Rings, the second one. You've got to see more movies. Best sports movie ever? Any Given Sunday. And Varsity Blues.

By GREG AUMANN Published October 13, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USF won't move to the Big East for another year, but basketball coach Robert McCullum is already making a move to build his team with players from the heart of his new conference's recruiting territory. McCullum already has a commitment from guard Chris Howard of Fort Washington, Md., who led Friendly High to two state championships. He's also a contender for a bruising post player in Dennard Abraham, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound Baltimore native. And if Baltimore and Washington, are the gateway to the Big East's home turf, McCullum is working hard to land players from the heart of northeast basketball - New York City. The Bulls are in the mix for three players from the New York Gauchos, a Bronx club team that has produced NBA stars such as Rod Strickland, Stephon Marbury and Kenny Anderson. USF is recruiting point guard Levance Fields and two-guard Saiquan Stone, both at Xaverian Academy, as well as guard Jessie Sapp, a Gauchos player now at National Christian Academy in Fort Washington. The man escorting USF into key Big East neighborhoods is first-year assistant Julius Allen, a former Gauchos player who coached the team last year and has worked in the Baltimore area as a coach at Howard and Towson. To be able to recruit successfully in New York, a program must have someone on staff with strong local ties. "He knows the city, and a lot of people here know who he is," said Dwayne Mitchell, a coach in the Gauchos program. "It's definitely going to help South Florida. They've got a great shot at these kids, because Tampa is a great place and Julius has a good relationship with those kids. If those kids give them a chance, it can definitely happen." USF isn't forgetting its own backyard in the shift to the Big East. In landing a commitment from Brandon guard Zaronn Cann, the Bulls beat out one former Big East team (Virginia Tech, with former USF coach Seth Greenberg, to boot) and a future conference rival in West Virginia. Building a sustained presence in the Northeast for recruiting will lead to a competitive showing on the court, another huge step in USF's transition to a major basketball league. "If they're coming up here to recruit, they're going to have to keeping working hard," said National Christian coach Trevor Brown, noting that Georgetown and St. John's are also chasing Sapp. "What's going to be the biggest factor for them here is just how well they do once they're in the Big East." http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/13/Sports/Bulls_recruiting_in_b.shtml

Bulls 20-3 315 Bain

I'm confident the Bulls would beat UConn, Pitt, and 'Cuse right now. USM also went into Lincoln and beat Nebraska so our loss to them at home is not all that alarming in what should be considered a "down" year.

USF lands 2nd prize recruit By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer Published October 8, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brandon guard Zaronn Cann isn't the only talented recruit who said he will play for South Florida next season. The Bulls have picked up another promising backcourt commitment from 6-foot-2 guard Chris Howard, who led Fort Washington (Md.) Friendly High to state championships in 2002 and 2003. Howard, who is playing at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Mass., this season, committed to USF during an official campus visit last weekend. He also was being recruited by Massachusetts, Boston College and Illinois. "He sees the whole floor, and he's a great passer," said Notre Dame Prep coach Bill Barton, who guides one of the nation's most reputable prep academies. Howard, who can play either guard position, averaged 17.9 points for Friendly as a senior in leading his team to its second straight state championship and 31-6 mark. The versatile guard had eight triple doubles his senior year for a team that finished the season ranked No. 1 in the D.C. area by the Washington Post. Oral commitments are nonbinding until an athlete signs a national letter of intent, and the early signing period for basketball opens Nov. 10. The Bulls have a full allotment of five scholarships available as they build a roster for their first season in the Big East in 2005-06. USF is a strong contender for a third recruit who made an official visit last weekend, 6-foot-9, 260-pound Denard Abraham of South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. Abraham, who graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, Va., was ranked as the nation's No. 24 center prospect in 2003 by rivals.com and had committed to Conference USA rival Saint Louis. But he but did not have the necessary requirements for initial eligibility. He enjoyed his trip to USF, according to SPC coach Steve Green. "I think he liked it a lot," said Green, who said other colleges, including Towson State, are recruiting Abraham, but no other schools have merited an official visit. "Obviously, the lure of going into the Big East is attractive to him." http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/08/Sports/USF_lands_2nd_prize_r.shtml

Not sure if this has been posted yet. Got this from todays SP Times. 6-2 G Chris Howard from Notre Dame Prep School in Fitchburg, Mass. He led Fort Washington H.S. to state titles in '02 & '03. He chose us over UMass, BC, and Illinois. They also mention that we are a contender for 6-9 260-pounder Denard Abraham of South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. He was apparently rated the #24 center prospect by Rivals in '03. The story isn't on sptimes.com yet so there's no link.

PJ is our best QB. Hands down.

I'm proud of how our guys played against S. Miss. tonight. Remember, USM is 3-0 and went into Nebraska and beat the 'huskers. We'll be fine.  ::toasting::

USF 24-14 317 Sheffield

I don't care who the announcers are as long as the road games keep getting televised.

Amen to that. **** Bankee$ >