GoUSFBulls.com Pregame Prep: LOUK'S CLOSER LOOK: GAME 8

[Brad]

LOUK'S CLOSER LOOK: GAME 8

By JIM LOUK
Voice of the Bulls

TAMPA, OCT. 24, 2017 - The numbers continue to be remarkable - 12 consecutive wins, a record 24 straight games of 30 points or more, the first 7-0 start in team history, and 17-3 in the last 20 conference games.  The Bulls are one of eight remaining unbeaten teams in FBS college football.
 
USF is now 25-4 in its last 29 games, making this by far the most successful era in USF Football.
 
Saturday, the Bulls return home and try to keep all of those numbers improving.  Here's a little information on both our guys and this week's opponent, the Houston Cougars:
 

• The Bulls and Houston don't meet frequently; this will be just the fifth game for the two teams, with the series tied 2-2.  The Bulls won non-conference games in 2001 and 2002, and Houston won American contests in 2013 and 2014.
• The 2013 game in Houston, which was won by the Cougars, 35-23, marked Mike White's first USF quarterback start.  Marvin Kloss connected on his 13^th straight field goal attempt in that game, a team record that was tied by Emilio Nadelman this season.
• Oct. 28 has been a good day to play for the Bulls.  In 2000, they recorded their first win over a 1-A opponent (UCONN, 21-13) and on Oct. 28, 2016, they beat Navy, 52-45.
• Quinton Flowers is now 27-7 as a Bulls starter. Only Marquel Blackwell (30) and Matt Grothe (28) have more wins as a starting USF quarterback. Flowers has the best winning percentage (.794).
• D'Ernest Johnson caught the 68^th pass of his USF career last week, tying him with Rafael Williams for most ever by a Bulls running back.
• The Bulls got their 16^th interception of the season last week against Tulane, and they continue to lead the nation in that category.
• It'll be an interesting race for the rest of the season; Flowers is now 402 yards behind Marlon Mack for the all-time USF rushing lead.  He's at 3,207 yards coming into this game.
• Houston has won 25 conference games since the beginning of The American, more than any other team in the league.
• The Cougars feature one the top defensive linemen in college football in sophomore Ed Oliver.  He had 23 tackles for loss as a freshman in 2016.

 
If there's ever been an official USF Football starting time on the quarter hour before, I can't remember it, but this one will start at 3:45 Saturday afternoon. Our radio broadcast will start at 1:45 p.m. Eastern with the pre-game on AM-820 in Tampa. Broadcast affiliates include FM-99.9 in Brooksville, AM-1070 in Port Charlotte/Ft. Myers, and 106.9-FM in Sarasota.  You can also hear the game on USF Bulls Unlimited on the iHeart app.  Follow @BullsUnlimited for the full program schedule, including live games, replays and special shows.  You can also listen online Saturday at GoUSFBulls.com. 
 
This will be our annual Salute to Service game, so there will be a lot going on in and around the stadium.  And of course, the number of opportunities to see this special team (and the winningest senior class in Bulls history) is dwindling.  This game and Tulsa are the last two regular season home games on the schedule.  Hope you can come out and enjoy a cool (or at least cooler) Saturday afternoon with us. 
 
GO BULLS!