It could be a lot worse then Pizza... 2002!

[USF03]

USF bowl hopes are dwindling

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times

published December 8, 2002

A day after its hopes of going to the Hawaii Bowl were dashed, South Florida apparently lost an opportunity to go to the Motor City Bowl with Washington State's 48-27 win over UCLA on Saturday.

The trickle-down effect of the Cougars win is expected to be an extra bowl-eligible Big East team. Motor City Bowl executive director Ken Hoffman said Saturday night his bowl will award its at-large berth to Boston College (8-4) or Virginia Tech (9-4) of the Big East if, as is anticipated, Notre Dame is bumped out of the BCS.

Had Washington State lost, Hoffman said USF (9-2), Texas A&M (6-6) or Wake Forest (6-6) would have been competing for the berth, and he indicated USF might have been the strongest candidate.

The Seattle Bowl has the lone remaining at-large bid. USF athletic director Lee Roy Selmon said he spoke with Seattle Bowl representatives last week and "they indicated very heavily they were looking for a West Coast team."

Since no Pac-10 team is expected to be available, USF is clinging to the possibility the Seattle Bowl will reconsider its geographic desire.

"We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out," Selmon said.

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/12/08/Sports/USF_bowl_hopes_are_dw.shtml

[Feld44]

That was devastating not having that team in a bowl game. Arguably the best team the USF has fielded.

[Guest BasketBull.]

We got robbed that year.  

[Bull Matrix]

That is why every bowl that USF goes to is always going to be special to me. That team in 2002 would have killed to have a chance to play in a bowl game, so I hope USF fans understand that it is an honor to be invited to a bowl. Thanks again to the Menieke Care Care Bowl and the Papa Johns.com Bowl for inviting USF.

[flipflop4900]

so 2002 team better than 2006 team???....I did not watch USF in 2002 alot so dont know.

[E.T.]

Hard to tell, the only losses were at Arkansas and Oklahoma.

But this was a heavy c-usa schedule ... this team is stronger and deeper.

[Minotaur]

I used to think that the 2002 team was better than the 2005/2006 teams but now I know better. There is no way that those teams could have beaten UWV. It would have taken a miracle and this team did it playing an average game on offense.

The upside to THIS team in the next three years is unbelievable. Grothe will make a mockery of all the USF passing records. Selvie will be a top 10 pick if he continues to develop at a pace even close to what he has in the last year and I guarantee there are freshman that chipped in this year that will become USF legends.

This teams speed and talent are friggin ridiculous and if I ever hear anyone complain about the recruiting again I will dismiss anything they ever say again.

I am still in love with the teams from 1997-2002. Without those guys none of this would have been possible. Barnhardt, Dixon, Mitchell, Henry, Hippolyte, Dell, Rubin, Royal and countless others will always be amazing but the depth on the team now is head and shoulders above any team we have ever had.

[Guest]

Hard to tell, the only losses were at Arkansas and Oklahoma.

But this was a heavy c-usa schedule ... this team is stronger and deeper.

It was more of a C-USA "lite" ... only 4 games against C-USA... I think the 2005 and 2006 teams are better.

[USF03]

The team now is better, look who we are playing!  It's hard to argue that we are worse, isn't it!?!

I just thought I would remind everyone why we should be thankful, only 4 or so years later...

BD