Deja Vu, FSU??

[JupiterBull]

4 years ago, we were a 12-14 pt dogs v FSU. Who cares? Similarities 1. Big underdogs on road, following opponent's big road win (FSU crushed BYU, Houston crushed Rutgers). 2. With FSU, a USF freshman QB made his debut in a hostile environment (BJ Daniels, RS Freshman). It turned out to be one of his best games ever, and caught FSU completely off guard. We have no idea what White can do...and neither does Houston. 3. USF's main strength was defensive line...which played lights out, and punished future NFLer Christian Ponder. USF's main strenth now? D-line. I'm not saying Lynch, Giddens, Mims & Forte are as good as JPP, Selvie and the gang, but they COULD have a career day when we really need them to protect our secondary. Hey, I'm not calling for an upset...but I think it's worth noticing the parallels, and holding out hope for notching another upset in our short history. GO BULLS! Gore the Cougars!!

[BULLZ]

Man I'm delusional but even I don't get that high

[hm101]

What kind of defenses have they faced?

Can our defense stop UH enough to give our O a chance to get lucky? These are my questions. 

[South_Florida_Flip]

What kind of defenses have they faced?

Can our defense stop UH enough to give our O a chance to get lucky? These are my questions. 

 

I am a bit surprised at what they did to Rutgers.

 

If Shaw is back, then I think it helps us tremendously.

[USFbulls24]

You must be out of your mind. The team we had then could compete and play with any team in the country. The team we have now clicking on all cylinders would be a 4-8 team.

[JupiterBull]

What kind of defenses have they faced?

Can our defense stop UH enough to give our O a chance to get lucky? These are my questions. 

I thought Rutgers was good, but they give up 30+ points a game (take away the shutout of Norfolk State, and its 35).  They gave up 49 or more 3 times.

 

Avg points given up by Houston foes:

Temple 31 (22 to Houston)

Rice 23 (31 to Houston). Rice is atop CUSA's West Division

UTSA 34 (59 to Houston)

Memphis 23 (25 to Houston)...Memphis may be the most underrated AAC team.

BYU 21 (46 to Houston, in a shootout)

 

What this says is they haven't faced a really stout D yet, but they typically score more than average.  But...that could be said for SMU, too, but they are also give up 42 a game, and are 3-4.

 

Houston's O is impressive and their D is solid.  I don't see them as good overall as Lville, but they are nearly 20 point faves for a reason.  We know what we have to do to keep it close, and even win.  But we haven't see the O produce enough to beat a team like Houston (although Cincy may be better, so who knows??).

[JupiterBull]

You must be out of your mind. The team we had then could compete and play with any team in the country. The team we have now clicking on all cylinders would be a 4-8 team.

I guess reading isn't one of your strong points.  I was merely posting some interesting parallels from the 2009 game v FSU.  I clearly said (to most able readers) that I am not calling for an upset.  I don't like our chances...but I've learned to rarely say "never" about this program.

 

I was at Tally for the game.  Fans were almost congenial, apologizing for the whipping we were about to take at the hands of their Noles, fresh off a blow out of #7 ranked BYU (AT BYU!).  They weren't sweating us at all. Then, Lejieste "pop heard 'round the world" hushed the crowd.

 

Again, I'm NOT saying this team is as good as the 2009 (who, by the way, lost the next 5 of 7, and limped into a Canadian bowl few cared about...not exactly untouchable legends).

 

But I did think some of the parallels were interesting...and that some fans might want to read something other than "woe is me, we're dead".

[Damon]

Houston =/= FSU in any way shape or form. Neither does the team we have now come close to that 09 team.

Edited October 29, 2013 by Damon

[NCBull]

Good OP.  +1

[JupiterBull]

Houston =/= FSU in any way shape or form. Neither does the team we have now come close to that 09 team.

*sigh*.  I wasn't comparing Houston to FSU or the 2013 Bulls to the 2009 Bulls. And Taggart isn't Leavitt.  I get it.

 

There are common circumstances that I find interesting, and made no prediction the results would be replicated.

 

Side note:  That FSU finished unranked, with a win over WVU in the Gator Bowl (finished 7-6, fired Bowden).  Our team that Bulls24 says could play with anyone in the country lost 5 of 7, including a 31-0 beating at Rutgers, a 41-14 thrashing by Pitt and a 31-10 dismantling by Miami.  I know it's great to embellish the past, but the 2009 likely doesn't beat FSU again in a rematch that year in Tally.  The stars aligned.  The team rose to the challenge.

 

All that said, see the parallels or don't...I just think it's cool to see a new QB on the road, against the odds, maybe repeat history a bit.