AP: Improved South Florida excited to face No. 13 Florida State

[Brad]

Improved South Florida excited to face No. 13 Florida State

By FRED GOODALL

— Sep. 23, 2016 6:34 PM EDT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — South Florida's Willie Taggart rejects the notion that facing Florida State is his team's biggest challenge of the season.

The fourth-year coach understands what upsetting the 13th-ranked Seminoles could mean for the national perception of his program, however he insists the Bulls are approaching the Saturday matchup as they do every game on their schedule.

"When things were tough and it was hard to win around here, you had to find ways to motivate your guys to go out and try to win a game," against tradition-rich opponents such as Florida State, said Taggart, who has resurrected a program that fell on hard times after climbing as high as No. 2 in the country in 2007.

 

"With our team now, I don't think we have to do those things. Our guys understand what it takes to win ball games."

Nevertheless, beating the Seminoles (2-1) on national television could go a long way toward ...

 

Link

[footnfan1]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17624670

[raptorcj]

Much anxiety as I have about this game, I don't at all feel like it would be a surprise if we get the W this time. In 2009, I was surprised.

[ArmyBull]

Sweet baby Jesus, the minutes are crawling by.  I am too amped.  

[gibbsak]

2 minutes ago, raptorcj said:

Much anxiety as I have about this game, I don't at all feel like it would be a surprise if we get the W this time. In 2009, I was surprised.

I remember 2009 started with a ton of hype for FSU around Ponder.  
Grothe had just gone down with an ACL injury the previous week RS Freshman Daniels got his first start.

Best Away game I ever attended. 

[Gismo]

2 minutes ago, gibbsak said:

I remember 2009 started with a ton of hype for FSU around Ponder.  
Grothe had just gone down with an ACL injury the previous week RS Freshman Daniels got his first start.

Best Away game I ever attended. 

Definately one the best games I have attended ever. 

 

2009 we were big under dogs. It's quite a long way from there today where some sites and computers are predicting a USF win and we have the best offense we have ever had. We are averaging over 40 points a game which is still hard to believe when two years ago we averaged about 16 points a game.

Now USF is the team with the stud QB and FSU is the team with the questionable QB. And we compare to just last year we have the stud RB and FSU's Cook is questionable.

[Gismo]

If I were an FSU player I would be really nervous seeing how well USF has played since incorporating the gulf coast offense. Think about it, you just got blown out, I mean like an FCS team, by UL, you now know you are vulnerable. You started in the hole against Ole Miss but were able to pressure their pocket QB, Flowers will not take sacks or just give up like Ole Miss QB was under pressure. Then you saw usf go on a 45-3 run against Syracuse and actually holding them lower the UL defense. While you know you have more talented team from high school you also know this USF team has the Florida speed too.

 

You can hype and focus and work and effort all you want but I think it would be impossible to get rid of all of the little doubts that may be lingering after that whooping by the cardinals. All it is going to take is a big play or two from USF, then doubts some doubts or self talk may pop into those FSU players heads, and then some hesitation here or there and it goes downhill from there. 

 

The Bulls are operating on Redline      since last year and are confident and will not have little hesitations. FSUs anger at themselves may not translate it better play, it may just create frustration and amplify mistakes.