Memphis game 11 AM on ESPN2

[Guest HowieP1]

Memphis Game Gets A Morning Start

Published: Nov 14, 2004

TAMPA - Set those alarm clocks and get ready for Breakfast with the Bulls. South Florida's Nov. 27 home game with Memphis has been moved to an 11 a.m. kickoff and will be televised on ESPN2.

It's the earliest starting time in USF's eight-year history and will only be the second home game that didn't start at 7 p.m.

ESPN officials still haven't determined if USF's regular- season finale with Pittsburgh Dec. 4 will be televised. ESPN can wait until Nov. 21 to make a decision, but USF officials aren't optimistic.

GRAMATICA INJURED: Senior K Santiago Gramatica suffered a pulled groin in warmups and was replaced by senior kickoff specialist Justin Geisler in the second quarter.

Gramatica made a 30-yard field goal and the extra point after USF's first touchdown. However, Geisler handled all the place-kicking duties starting late in the second quarter.

Geisler's four extra points and 34-yard fourth-quarter field goal were the first points of his USF career. He had missed his only other field goal attempt from 31 yards in 2001.

FIRST TIME: USF junior TE Derek Carter, of Jesuit, made his first career start and had his first career reception near the end of the first quarter.

Freshman NT Allen Cray replaced Curtis Chance in the starting lineup and RG John Miller started for Frank Davis, who did not play with an ankle injury.

ROOKIE DEBUT: Chad Simpson made his USF debut on special teams, the eighth freshman to play for the Bulls this season.

The others: Chance, WR Jackie Chambers, DT Richard Clebert, RB Andre Copeland (who is injured and will seek a medical hardship), DE Woody George, WR Johnny Peyton and SS Danny Verpaele.

PLENTY OF SEATS AVAILABLE: Saturday's announced attendance of 25,408 was the Bulls' smallest home crowd against a Conference USA opponent since joining the league last year.

ODDS AND ENDS: USF senior Sidney Simpson had his first two career interceptions, including a 26-yard return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was USF's fourth interception of the year, three of which have been returned for touchdowns. ... Verpaele recorded his first career sack in the second quarter. ... USF junior WR Travis Lipp had a career-long 58-yard reception, setting up a second-quarter touchdown. ... ECU has 25 Floridians on its roster, 17 among its two-deep, including freshman DL Fred Hicks of Armwood. Starting sophomore QB James Pinkney, of Boca Raton Olympic Heights, was recruited by USF. Ironically, his first career start was last year against the Bulls. ... USF RB Billy Henderson, who tore his ACL in the spring and was thought to be out for the season, saw his first action of the year in the fourth quarter. Also, QB Anthony Severino (Jesuit) played in his first career game.

Brett McMurphy

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGBPEV3PI1E.html

[E.T.]

Breakfast with the BULLS

Let's show the early National Crowd BULL Nation

So will the gates open at 8 AM ?

[ChiTownBull]

will this be the first daytime home game?

10AM for me....

[USFJDawg21]

will this be the first daytime home game?

10AM for me....

No, USF hosted Austin Peay back in 2000.  Kickoff time was at 3:30 pm.

[Bull Matrix]

I am sorry but the start time sucks. This is going to be USF's lowest attended games IMO. Why did USF agree to the early kickoff?? Why not kick the game off at noon instead. What does ESPN have scheduled??

[The_Reaper]

It's all about da Money!!!  Money Money Money Mo-----ney!  "Snoop DoG

Well instead of beer and brats....bloody Mary's and breakfast!!!!!

[sdgukhsdgl]

this actually is fantastic news for me cause i had an obligation that evening that I dont know if I was going to be able to get out of...  I kinda like it even with out my situation though

[TripleB]

The only good part of it is it's on Thanksgiving weekend and you shouldn't be competing against any youth sports. If this had been on another Saturdays, it would have been 10 times worse than it's going to be. There are TONS of kids at these games .......

[WoolyBully]

Why this start time?

Get on the horn to either SJSU or BSU and ask them about their 09:00 start time yesterday in scenic downtown San Jose.  E$PN calls the tunes, and we dance to that ... not the other way around.

The 3:00 Austin-Peay game was not too bad. I don't really have a feel for how this plays out being T'giving weekend either. My gut reaction is that - not unlike last night - the season ticket holders will be there but the game-day folks will probably not be t'gating, and will result in a reduced gate.

Oh well...scheduling happens.!  

[sdgukhsdgl]

student turnout will be average at best IMO.... being thanksgiving weekend everyone goes off somewhere and not many of the students are diehards to leave weds and drive back Friday for the Saturday game.  

However I will be that idiot driving home weds night and coming back Fri night....