STRONG HAS BULLS POISED TO PRODUCE IN HYPED-UP WAR ON I-4

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STRONG HAS BULLS POISED TO PRODUCE IN HYPED-UP WAR ON I-4

November 21, 2017

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, NOV. 21, 2017 – Friday can't get here fast enough for two fan bases that are blowing the roof off when it comes to buzz about USF-UCF.

At this point, social media is flooded with back-and-forth bragging between the programs' faithful while TV stations are pumping the storylines leading up to the most important War on I-4 battle to date.

"It's more than just a game," said senior center Cameron Ruff (Tampa). "A lot has to do with pride. You're representing your school and representing not just yourself, but everybody that goes there. It's pride for the rest of the year to have that over the other school. It means a lot."

Winning Friday also means booking a trip to the conference championship game as The American's East Division champion. Hungry for its first league title, USF (9-1) knows it must be on point to beat UCF (10-0) on the road and fortunately for the Bulls, they have a head coach that has them poised to produce.

"We're going to need a complete game to beat this team," said Charlie Strong at Tuesday's weekly press conference. "It's the only way we're going to beat this team because this is a really good football team."

When Strong talks, the Bulls listen, especially this week with the stakes the highest they've been all season. Strong definitely knows how to handle situations like this after leading Louisville to consecutive conference championships (2011-12) and winning two national titles as Florida's defensive coordinator (2006, 2008).

"The buildup is going to be there and don't buy into everything because at the end of the day, you've got to get yourself ready to go play," Strong said. "It's going to be a mindset there. You talk about the toughness, it's going to be a mental part of it and a physical part of it."

All around, No. 22/19 USF will have to stay in its zone for 60 minutes and a veteran coach like Strong says simple aspects about the game will speak volumes.

"We've got to be able to control our emotions and then it settles," he said. "Once it settles, let's see if we can go move the football on offense, go stop them on defense and change the field position in the kicking game."

Stopping No. 12/13 UCF's offense will be a tall task, considering the high-powered Knights lead the nation in scoring (48.2 ppg) with 10 straight 30-plus point outings this season.

"We've just got to be gap sound," Strong said. "We can't give up the big play and the thing we can't do is let one big play lead to another."

Averaging 37.9 points per game, USF's offense also isn't one to take lightly and the Bulls will be going up against the conference's second-best defense that ranks behind only USF. Opponents have averaged just 21.6 points at Spectrum Field this season and only one foe has broken the 30-point mark.

"This is two high-caliber teams coming at each other, fighting for the same goal," Ruff said. "We know they're going to get our best and we know we're going to get their best. It just depends on who is going to give more and who is really able to put it all out on the field."

Friday can't get here any sooner for both programs and until then, Strong is determined to help USF handle the hype. Ruff said keeping things in perspective won't be a problem as the Bulls clearly see the big picture.

"Now that we're in the driver's seat, our future is technically in our hands. We're able to write our own story and that's the way we like it. That's the way we love it," Ruff said. "We control our own destiny right now and we're going to put everything we've got into keeping it going."

Rivalry Is All About Respect
Strong and Ruff were both asked at Tuesday's press conference if the Bulls use the word "hate" when talking about their rivals.

"It's all a sense of pride," Ruff said. "We're trying to be the best, and to be the best, we've got to beat the best. Right now, they're in front of us in the conference. I wouldn't say it's about hate. It's all about pride."

"Respect" was a common word in Tuesday's press conference that was directed toward UCF because of all the Knights have accomplished. One of only four remaining undefeated teams in the FBS, UCF has come a long way since its winless 2015 season and the Bulls give them a lot of credit.

"He's done a really job," said Strong of UCF head coach Scott Frost. "He's a really good football coach and that's a really good staff that he has. You have to have a lot of respect for what he's done."

Friday's showdown will certainly feature lots of field chatter between the programs, but another thing to keep in mind is both teams share a lot of common ground.

"A lot of these guys, they grew up together. Some of them were teammates and some of them are really best friends," Strong said. "…Even in rivalry games now, you don't see so much where it's just hatred because all these guys have grown up together, they've seen one another, and they respect one another. There's a lot of respect for the game."

Bulls Bits

• BOWL-BOUND TEAMS: For the second straight year, USF and UCF will battle as bowl-eligible teams and this year is the first time both programs are ranked heading into the rivalry game. USF and UCF are two of only nine teams left in the nation with one or fewer losses this season.
• NO. 1 VS. NO. 1: Friday's showdown will match up UCF's top-ranked conference offense against the top defense in The American. USF leads the league stat sheet in total defense (323.5 ypg), pass defense (200.5 ypg), pass defense efficiency (101.3) and scoring defense with just 19.9 points allowed per game. The Bulls also lead the conference with 17 interceptions, one ahead of the Knights.
• BULLS SUCCESSFUL IN ORLANDO: Leading the all-time series, 6-2, USF is 3-1 in War on I-4 games played in Orlando after a 44-3 victory in 2015.

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