E.T. Posted November 13, 2004 Group: TBP Subscriber III Topic Count: 4,751 Content Count: 37,676 Reputation: 2,368 Days Won: 29 Joined: 12/24/2001 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Published Saturday, November 13, 2004 Bulls Still Have a Shot at a Bowl TAMPA The buzz around the South Florida Bulls now is whether or not they can become bowleligible, a possibility that developed when they upset Alabama-Birmingham last week. But if USF's players have that in the back of their minds -- and they do -- don't ask coach Jim Leavitt about it. Leavitt says he thinks no further ahead than that day's practice. As for his players, "I don't know what they're thinking," Leavitt said. Sometimes, when you watch them play, you wonder yourself. But with the UAB win giving them a new glimmer of hope, this group of Bulls would definitely like to be the first USF team ever in postseason competition. "That was our goal when we started the season, to play in a bowl," senior center Alex Herron remarked. And it's now a possibility, although definitely not a probability. To become bowl-eligible, USF must win three of its last four, and the only one of those the Bulls will be favored in is tonight's game against East Carolina. Which means nothing. If you can lose to Army, you can lose to East Carolina. Army, Herron says, was a wake-up call. "We're not good enough to just throw our helmets out there and win," he said. "And if there ever was any doubt about that, we know it now. This conference is just too evenly matched." The Bulls, obviously, can ill afford to take anyone for granted. By the way, just to clarify: The rules say USF can count its win over Division 1-AA Tennessee Tech for bowl purposes. The NCAA allows teams to count a win over a Division I-AA team once every four years so long as that team gives at least 60 football scholarships. That said, USF has a hard road ahead. In addition to winning three of its final four, the Bulls must beat Cincinnati. Technically, they could lose to the Bearcats and still be bowl-eligible, but being bowl-eligible does not automatically mean you are bowl-bound. USF was bowl-eligible in both 2002 and 2003 and didn't get an invitation, and the only way to ensure that it gets a bid this time is to qualify for one of the five bowls tied to Conference USA. Don't ask which ones they are because with the exception of the Liberty Bowl, you've probably never heard of them. But to get back on point, four teams -- Louisville, Southern Miss, UAB and Memphis -- will almost assuredly take four of those spots. That leaves one. Cincinnati, off this week, is sitting at 5-4 with USF and Louisville left. The Bearcats aren't going to beat Louisville, so USF can knock them out of the bowl picture with a win. If the Bulls can win at Cincinnati and then go on to qualify, they have a very good chance of being the only other team in Conference USA besides the big four that will be eligible for a bowl. TCU could also sneak in, but it has to beat Southern Miss and has already lost to USF. So Cincinnati is the biggie for USF. After that, it's Memphis and Pittsburgh at home, and if the Bulls beat East Carolina and Cincinnati, they'd still have to win one of those two. Hmmm. This seems like a good time to take Leavitt's approach. Let's not think about that. Correspondent Patrick Zier covers USF football as well as auto racing for The Ledger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoolyBully Posted November 13, 2004 Group: Bull Backers Topic Count: 194 Content Count: 6,786 Reputation: 864 Days Won: 3 Joined: 08/01/2000 Share Posted November 13, 2004 To become bowl-eligible, USF must win three of its last four, and the only one of those the Bulls will be favored in is tonight's game against East Carolina. Doesn't sound too hard. Oh yeah, as an aside, Memphis beat Southern Miss 30 x 26. 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiTownBull Posted November 13, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 879 Content Count: 5,691 Reputation: 1 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/27/2001 Share Posted November 13, 2004 i thought we were not eligible last season because of the two I-AA teams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bishop of Bulltown Posted November 13, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 39 Content Count: 618 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/24/2003 Share Posted November 13, 2004 I don't believe we were eligible either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotsofbull99 Posted November 13, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 114 Content Count: 6,744 Reputation: 912 Days Won: 17 Joined: 02/17/2002 Share Posted November 13, 2004 we aren't going to any bowl, put down the crack pipes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markeymark Posted November 13, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 693 Content Count: 5,550 Reputation: 13 Days Won: 1 Joined: 12/24/2001 Share Posted November 13, 2004 we aren't going to any bowl, put down the crack pipesMy prediction: the only bowl USF is going to get close to is if they go down to RayJay on Jan. 1 - hope I'm wrong, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smazza Posted November 14, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 9,898 Content Count: 66,091 Reputation: 2,434 Days Won: 172 Joined: 01/01/2001 Share Posted November 14, 2004 we look worthy so far tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kizarvexis Posted November 14, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 164 Content Count: 1,386 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/25/2001 Share Posted November 14, 2004 Well here are the current C-USA standings.7-1 (5-0) Louisville - Bowl Eligible (Liberty)6-3 (4-2) UAB - Bowl Eligible5-3 (4-2) So. Miss - needs 1 win (@TCU, UAB, Cal)6-3 (3-3) Memphis - Bowl Eligible5-4 (3-3) Cincinnati - needs 1 win (USF, @Lou)4-4 (3-3) USF - needs 2 wins (@Cin, Mem, Pitt)3-7 (3-4) Houston - out4-5 (2-4) TCU - needs 2 wins (USM, Tul)4-5 (2-4) Tulane - needs 2 wins (@TCU, Lou)2-7 (2-5) ECU - out2-7 (2-5) Army - outC-USA could have as few as 3 bowl eligible teams or as many as 7 depending on how the final games work out.Kizarvexis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulls96go Posted November 14, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 724 Content Count: 10,219 Reputation: 2 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/17/2002 Share Posted November 14, 2004 we will be teased again this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smazza Posted November 15, 2004 Group: Member Topic Count: 9,898 Content Count: 66,091 Reputation: 2,434 Days Won: 172 Joined: 01/01/2001 Share Posted November 15, 2004 if we win outwe are inthe bowls love strong finishes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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