UMass to AAC?

[Mama_Bull]

UMASS? .... *sigh

 

Shades of Evan Kraky. LOL

 

For people who don't know that name, he was a one time "can't miss" star HS QB recruit for USF, who ended up transferring out and ultimately playing for UMass.

 

"Kraky, the best statistical quarterback in the history of Pennsylvania high-school football -- breaking Ron Powlus' previous passing yardage record with 7,400 yards, including 90 touchdowns -- was considered a recruiting steal for USF even after his ankle problems surfaced, causing Leavitt to redshirt him."

 

Thread at the time:

 

http://www.thebullspen.com/topic/32784-what-ever-happened-to-evan-kraky/

[BullFan98]

Wait a minute, they score?

They would, but only against us.

[MaltLiquorBull]

Please no.... no more adding quantity, only quality if at all. They threw this conference together by adding programs that had no business "moving up" a conference (if you can even call it that) with Tulane, SMU, Tulsa, etc.

I think I saw this post on a Big East board about a decade ago.

Beat me to it ... scary.

If I remember correrctly the SAME comment was made years before that about us when we went to C-USA. I believe it was made by the USM coach at the time. I seem to remember a thread on here lambasting him. Meanwhile, USM never moved on. LOL

Flashback:

Bulls prove to be ready for prime-time players

SOUTH FLORIDA 16, SOUTHERN MISS 13: The Bulls beat the team that has won four of six titles in the league that kept USF waiting until 2003.

[Times photo: Bill Serne]

USF coach Jim Leavitt, foreground, and players celebrate after Southern Miss kicker Curt Jones missed a field goal on the final play.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times

published October 13, 2002

TAMPA -- It's official: Conference USA severely underestimated South Florida.

The Bulls could have provided a jolt to a flat conference this season. Instead they jolted the best team in league history Saturday, coming from behind to defeat Southern Miss 16-13 before a raucous 28,101 at Raymond James Stadium.

As time expired, Southern Miss' Curt Jones missed a tying field goal from 44 yards. Bedlam instantly ensued and USF cavorted on the field long after the kick drifted wide right.

"They told us we shouldn't be in Conference USA. They said, "quality, not quantity,' " said USF safety J.R.

Reed, paraphrasing a 1999 comment from Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. "But we showed them quality tonight."

USF (4-2) wanted to join C-USA in 2001, but in 1999 the league presidents, two months after Bower's comment, determined the Bulls would not begin C-USA play until 2003.

As everyone knows now, the Bulls, despite being in their sixth season, have proven they belong well before their official arrival.

"I don't have the words for it," said USF quarterback Marquel Blackwell, who was 20-for-37 for 246 yards with no interceptions or touchdowns. "It's a pretty huge win. It was crazy."

The four-year-old snub from the league, and Bower, was extra motivation. So did the 41-7 whipping Southern Miss administered to USF in 2000 and the defense of a home winning streak that reached 16, fourth-best in the nation.

"Basically, we've been waiting for this game for two years," USF middle linebacker Kawika Mitchell said.

Southern Miss (4-2), which has won four of the six C-USA titles, is by far the best team the Bulls have beaten in the winning streak.

photo

[Times photo: Bill Serne]

Bulls defensive end Shurron Pierson sacks Golden Eagles quarterback Dustin Almond in the fourth quarter.

A school-record four sacks by Shurron Pierson and electrifying punt returns by DeAndrew Rubin provided the impetus. Rubin had a 50-yarder in the first quarter to help stake USF to a 3-0 lead.

The Bulls, repeatedly settling for Santiago Gramatica field goals in the red zone, trailed most of the game. But Rubin's 39-yard punt return in the fourth quarter, with USF trailing 13-9, brought the crowd alive and put the Bulls at the USM 28.

Three plays later, receiver Hugh Smith scooted in from 7 yards on a reverse, with an escort from Blackwell, giving the Bulls a 16-13 lead with 9:31 left and inspiring resounding chants of "USF! USF!"

"It was a great call," Blackwell said.

With less than four minutes to go, Pierson forced a fumble which Chris Daley recovered deep in USM territory. USF moved the ball to the 1 but Blackwell bobbled an exchange, and the Golden Eagles recovered.

Then things got testy.

Southern Miss, starting from its 1, had 1:47 and three timeouts to get into field-goal range. Two completions by Dustin Almond (24 of 39, 258 yards) moved the ball to the USM 25. After a Pierson sack (breaking the mark of three, done five times, including once by Pierson), two more completions got Southern Miss across midfield.

With the crowd exhorting the defense, John Miller knocked away an Almond pass, and a short completion set up fourth and 2 from the 36 with 15 seconds left.

Eschewing a 53-yard field goal try, Almond hit LeRoy Handy for a first down at the 29. Derrick Nix ran up the middle for 2 yards and USM called timeout with two seconds left as Jones came on for the 44-yard try.

Jones hit a 45-yarder in the third quarter but pushed this one.

"We sure made it exciting at the end," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "Our team battled and battled. We just fought hard."

Louisville's upset of Florida State aside, C-USA has impressed few this season. Now a USF team labeled not strong enough to join the league yet has knocked off the conference's all-time leader in wins.

It was sweet redemption for the Bulls, who have felt slighted since 1999 and were humiliated by the loss at Southern Miss two years ago. The deferred conference membership meant the past two USF senior classes were denied the opportunity to play in C-USA.

"It meant a lot for our seniors," said junior running back Vince Brewer, who had 80 of USF's season-high 218 rushing yards.

The Bulls started strong. USF forced a punt on the first possession and Rubin returned it 50 yards to set up a 28-yard field goal by Gramatica for a 3-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles inserted Almond for starter Micky D'Angelo in the first quarter after D'Angelo took a big lick from Kevin Verpaele. Almond engineered two scoring drives to make it 10-3 USM with 5:51 to go before halftime.

A good kickoff return by Rubin put the Bulls near midfield to start a drive and Gramatica's second field goal, also from 28 yards, made it 10-6 at intermission.

The Golden Eagles threatened to extend the lead early in the third quarter but Nix (21 carries, 126 yards), rumbling in the open field, was hit from behind by Verpaele and fumbled. Bulls defensive end Tim Jones recovered at the USF 1.

The teams exchanged field goals to make it 13-9, setting up Smith's touchdown run.

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/13/Sports/Bulls_prove_to_be_rea.shtml

Remember being at this game! In your face, USM!

[Mama_Bull]

We were there too.

 

I believe it was in another later game where the USM coach was vehemently complaining about our band. There was some bad blood between our two teams. We need more of that in the AAC.

[WoolyBully]

 

 

 

 

 

Please no.... no more adding quantity, only quality if at all. They threw this conference together by adding programs that had no business "moving up" a conference (if you can even call it that) with Tulane, SMU, Tulsa, etc.

I think I saw this post on a Big East board about a decade ago.

Beat me to it ... scary.

If I remember correrctly the SAME comment was made years before that about us when we went to C-USA. I believe it was made by the USM coach at the time. I seem to remember a thread on here lambasting him. Meanwhile, USM never moved on. LOL

Flashback:

Bulls prove to be ready for prime-time players

SOUTH FLORIDA 16, SOUTHERN MISS 13: The Bulls beat the team that has won four of six titles in the league that kept USF waiting until 2003.

[Times photo: Bill Serne]

USF coach Jim Leavitt, foreground, and players celebrate after Southern Miss kicker Curt Jones missed a field goal on the final play.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times

published October 13, 2002

TAMPA -- It's official: Conference USA severely underestimated South Florida.

The Bulls could have provided a jolt to a flat conference this season. Instead they jolted the best team in league history Saturday, coming from behind to defeat Southern Miss 16-13 before a raucous 28,101 at Raymond James Stadium.

As time expired, Southern Miss' Curt Jones missed a tying field goal from 44 yards. Bedlam instantly ensued and USF cavorted on the field long after the kick drifted wide right.

"They told us we shouldn't be in Conference USA. They said, "quality, not quantity,' " said USF safety J.R.

Reed, paraphrasing a 1999 comment from Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. "But we showed them quality tonight."

.

 

Remember being at this game! In your face, USM!

 

That is the only home game I've ever missed. 

Aaarrgghh! 

[charsibb]

Y'all stop dissin' UMass. My grandaddy wore one of these for the Minutemen before he went off to be an artillery officer in WW One

 

[raptorcj]

Y'all stop dissin' UMass. My grandaddy wore one of these for the Minutemen before he went off to be an artillery officer in WW One

 

Artillery, eh? EEHHHH?

[charsibb]

[cophbulls]

I was at that USM game as well. I think i need to start keeping my ticket stubs to pro.....ah nobody cares. Any rate, sure bring on UMass the more the merrier. I'd love a road trip up there.

[Rocky Style]

This addition would move the needle and sell out football games while being an affordable road trip option. I am for it!