Last year, USF went down Miami-way and got a scare from a feisty Florida-Atlantic (that's FAU, not FIU, for you non-floridians!) squad. We escaped with a 35-23 victory that was closer than the final score indicated (we tacked on a gimme TD in the final seconds). The Bulls clearly underestimated FAU and played a very sloppy game, committing 4 turnovers, and we couldn't muster a passing game either. We were bailed out by an excellent running attack.
Do my beloved Bulls face a similar ambush threat versus FIU today? We are on the road, and they are opening a new stadium. The game is apparently sold-out, so the FIU fans will probably be raucous.
But, I don't think so. For one thing, we've faced a common opponent- Kansas- and we were 33 points better against them than FIU was. Also, i think the memory of last year's scare will still be on the minds of this year's players, which will act as a guard against a sense of complacency.
USF 38 FIU 9
USF will roll and crush FIU. USF has way too many offensive weapons for FIU. With USF ringing up 500 yds a game against KU and UCF, they might get 600 against FIU. Their crowd might be loud for a quarter (as loud as 18K can get), but this one will be over at halftime. USF 45 FIU 7
FAU was the 4th best team in the State last year. FIU is 120 out of 120 Division I-A teams. Big difference. USF just needs to play smart and make sure it comes out injured and gives plenty of reps to 2nd and 3rd teamers; ie QBs BJ Daniels & Greg Gregory.
Time for the kickoff...
The Bulls got lucky. The ref saw his elbow hit the ground before the ball came out at the 3 yard line. Replay confirms it too...
TD Bulls. WVU could have use Ford on Thursday. A big back comes in real handy at times...
USF, quit fumbling the ball. That is the only hope fiu has.
Well, it was ugly, but a win is a win.
If USF plays like that next week, we'll take our first loss.
It definitely seemed that USF was looking past FIU. But ya'll are right. A win is a win. You sure as heck don't get any style points with the media for it though.
quo vadis Wrote:Well, it was ugly, but a win is a win.
If USF plays like that next week, we'll take our first loss.
True, but people were saying that last year and USF responded with a 64-12 beatdown. Your guys will be ready.
Very ugly game for USF today. The injury to Brouce linebacker Mompremier overshadows all, as he may have a spinal injury and was airlifted out of the stadium. Hopefully he has movement in his limbs and will recover.
As for the game, USF dominated stats wise but was only up 10-0 after 3 quarters. The Bulls led 17-0 with 3 minutes left, but gave up a safety and then allowed FIU their first offensive touchdown of the season with under a minute left to only win 17-9. Nothing positive about this game, with the injury and the fact that USF was a 28 point favorite over a sad sad team but had to recover an onside kick at the end to preserve the win.
CollegeCard Wrote:Very ugly game for USF today. The injury to Brouce linebacker Mompremier overshadows all, as he may have a spinal injury and was airlifted out of the stadium. Hopefully he has movement in his limbs and will recover.
As for the game, USF dominated stats wise but was only up 10-0 after 3 quarters. The Bulls led 17-0 with 3 minutes left, but gave up a safety and then allowed FIU their first offensive touchdown of the season with under a minute left to only win 17-9. Nothing positive about this game, with the injury and the fact that USF was a 28 point favorite over a sad sad team but had to recover an onside kick at the end to preserve the win.
Injury aside, that is almost a carbon copy of last year's USF win. I mean weren't you guys posting the SAME THING last year when USF barely survived last year? I mean the same posts, saying there was nothing positive about it, how the #6 or whatever rank USF had the time, barely won and there was nothing positive about it. How they were exposed. How they barely beat a bad team they were favored to beat by multiple touchdowns and needed a defensive stop to beat them, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. The next week they beat an eventual 8 win Central Florida team by 52 points.
I was at the game and man we played with no spark, it just seemed like we were going thru the motions.
Mompremier from what we hear is in stable conditions and has movement of arms and legs but is staying in hospital for more scans.
We also had Selvie out of game with maybe an ankle sprain. We also had our starting DT McClain hobbling out.
The offense just was not in synch all game long, fumbles, penalties.
Hope we play better next week.
I was wrong on my prediction.
I watched it on TV and I saw the same thing. USF just went through the motions. It looked like they thought they could just show up, roll out of bed, and get a W. FIU meanwhile, was tremendously overmanned, but played with PASSION and ENERGY until the very final whistle. They had no quit in them. This game should have been a complete blowout, and if this happens next week, we will lose. That's what I saw anyway. Some USF players did play hard, but it looked to me some did not. I hope the coaches use this as a motivational tool.
I hope Mompremier is OK, Selvie got hurt too, and a couple other players that I can't remember right now.
CatsClaw Wrote:quo vadis Wrote:Well, it was ugly, but a win is a win.
If USF plays like that next week, we'll take our first loss.
True, but people were saying that last year and USF responded with a 64-12 beatdown. Your guys will be ready.
I sure hope so. NC State and their fans will be at a fever pitch coming off the upset win over ECU. They'll be looking to add our ranked-scalp to their collection.
Can't allow that to happen ...
I wonder if we even deserve to be ranked after this so called "win".
CollegeCard Wrote:Very ugly game for USF today. The injury to Brouce linebacker Mompremier overshadows all, as he may have a spinal injury and was airlifted out of the stadium. Hopefully he has movement in his limbs and will recover.
A USF spokesman says he has movement in the arms and legs, which is the critical thing. God bless him ...
Cubanbull Wrote:I was at the game and man we played with no spark, it just seemed like we were going thru the motions.
Not necessarily a bad thing .. as Magic Johnson once said, you can't be hyped for every game, and the great teams know how to win on auto-pilot against lesser competition.
Let's hope it's that way again ...
quo vadis Wrote:CatsClaw Wrote:quo vadis Wrote:Well, it was ugly, but a win is a win.
If USF plays like that next week, we'll take our first loss.
True, but people were saying that last year and USF responded with a 64-12 beatdown. Your guys will be ready.
I sure hope so. NC State and their fans will be at a fever pitch coming off the upset win over ECU. They'll be looking to add our ranked-scalp to their collection.
Can't allow that to happen ...
The Wuffies are certainly going to be waiting on you guys. Take your "A" game, because the Wuffies are going to play it like it is their BCS bowl game.
We will lose next week if we play anywhere near the level we did today.
I know NCSt wil be fired up at the shot of beating back to back ranked teams