Second Half Is Best Half For USF - Trib

[E.T.]

Second Half Is Best Half For USF

By BRETT McMURPHY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Oct 20, 2006

TAMPA - So far this season, the University of South Florida has used the adage "It's not how you start, but how you finish."

The Bulls have dominated opponents in the second half and USF's second-half domination is a big reason the Bulls are 5-2 entering Sunday's game at Cincinnati.

"The second half is the most important because it's the end of the football game," USF junior linebacker Ben Moffitt said. "You can make or break yourself."

USF has outscored its opponents after halftime by an average of 17-7. That's why the Bulls won their first three games against McNeese State, Florida International and UCF, despite trailing each one at the half.

"It's motivation," USF wide receiver Amarri Jackson said. "The captains on the team step up and talk. Coach [Rod] Smith comes in and tells us what we have to do. We go to the board and draw up some stuff and just try to look at the weaknesses of the defense.

"But it's all execution. We came back out and had some long drives and we got it done. The offensive line stepped up more. As a team, we just got it done and moved the ball. The receivers were blocking on the perimeter and [quarterback] Matt [Grothe] running his offense. We were hitting on all cylinders."

In three of its past four games, USF's offense has scored touchdowns on its opening drive of the second half.

Several players credited Smith, USF's offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator Wally Burnham for the adjustments and USF's second-half success.

At halftime, USF's coaching staff gets together before addressing the players in the locker room. They review what adjustments to make or maybe discuss something their opponent is doing differently than what they've seen on film from past games.

"The first drive of the second half is one of the most important drives," Moffitt said. "On offense you have to push the ball down their throat or on defense you have to stop them."

While the Bulls offense has been successful at the outset of the second half, USF's defense also has done its part. USF's opponents have only managed two field goals on seven opening drives in the second half.

"There are always adjustments," linebacker Patrick St. Louis said. "You've got to adjust. If you don't adjust, you get burnt by what you got burnt by in the first half.

"They adjust to you, you adjust to them."

As part of USF coach Jim Leavitt's season-long ban of his assistants speaking to the media, Smith and Burnham were not allowed to comment for this story.

"If something's not working, Coach Burnham realizes we have the best view on the field," Moffitt said. "Either Pat, Stephen [Nicholas] or I let him know what we're seeing on a certain play, we get together and we get it straight.

"Coach Burnham is pretty straightforward. He's not overly excited, he just get in there and wants to take care of business."

Added cornerback Trae Williams: "We're always making adjustments at halftime. In the second half, we just don't let up. We keep pushing, keep fighting."

Leavitt has been pleased with the Bulls' second-half play, but is still upset about losing to Rutgers 22-20, a game USF led 14-10 at the half.

"We try to make one or two adjustments [at halftime], but you have to play 60 minutes," Leavitt said. "You're not going to be a good football team if you don't. Overall, we've probably played better in the second half."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

SECOND-HALF SUCCESS

In its seven games, USF has outscored the opposition 119-49 (an average of 17-7) in the second half. A big part of USF's success has been on the opening drives of the second half. A comparison between USF and its opponents on their respective opening second-half drives:

TDs FGs Points Avg. Yds.  

USF 3 0 21 43.3

Opp. 0 2 6 31.8

Brett McMurphy

[amie_abull]

Second Half Is Best Half For USF

By BRETT McMURPHY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Oct 20, 2006

As part of USF coach Jim Leavitt's season-long ban of his assistants speaking to the media, Smith and Burnham were not allowed to comment for this story.

What exactly did this add to the story? Why does it even need to be mentioned???   :  :  :  :

[Matt]

yea i have noticed several times where the media makes it a point to print that Leavitt didnt let someone talk.  WHO CARES?  when this happens at other programs you usually see "the coaches were not available for comment"  not grandpa leavitt wouldnt let them talk.

[Greg Auman]

Guys, it's standard practice. If someone is mentioned prominently in a story but not quoted, you should explain why they're not being quoted, whether it's that they were unavailable for comment, declined to comment, or that they work under Leavitt.

[amie_abull]

Well technically, if their boss told them not to talk to the media, then they ARE "unavailable for comment"!  ;D  ;D  ;D  I'm just saying, the Tampa media (and the Trib particularly) seem to be trying to make a bigger deal out of this "media ban" than it really deserves. It's not like NOBODY in the program is allowed to talk to the media. Plenty of players and even Jim Leavitt himself are quoted in multiple sources every week.  I don't see the reason to continually point out the obvious.  Comes across to fans as a cheap shot at their program and their coach.

[WoolyBully]

Point being...we're very good at those doggy-style (come from behind) wins.

[E.T.]

;D

Doggy-Style WINS  

Hope we continue winning in the first half as we did with UConn and UNC  8-)

[bulls96go]

jump on them early and jump on them some more in the second half