2003 USF Bulls

The Bulls had a couple of schools make late cancellations, so they had to scramble to fill those schedule openings with two Division I-AA teams. Lee Roy Selmon said, "We feel the 2003 schedule is still the toughest and most exciting we have faced in our seven seasons. We're especially excited to play our first season in Conference USA." Head coach Jim Leavitt elaborated on the fact this would be the Bulls first year of conference play. "I have a great deal of respect for Conference USA. I think Conference USA is a very strong conference and I think anybody you play you better be ready to play."

The season opened at Legion Field in Birmingham with the largest crowd, 76,780, to ever watch the Bulls. For Alabama's Mike Shula, who was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator from 1996 to 1999, it was his first game as a head coach. Ronnie Banks (17 of 33 for 199 yards) made his first career start at quarterback for USF and tossed a 13 yard touchdown pass to Brian Fisher to put the Bulls up 7-0. Charlie Peprah returned a Banks interception 51 yards and the game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter. Fisher, a junior from Pensacola Pine Forest High School, lined up at QB for South Florida and ran 17 yards for a score and a career long 45 yard field goal by Santiago Gramatica made the score 17-7 Bulls. Brodie Croyle (14 of 27 for 203 yards) threw a TD pass with 26 seconds left in the half, then USF fumbled the kickoff and a Crimson Tide field goal tied the game at the break. The second half was all Alabama. The USF defense held the home team to 8 total yards in the first quarter, but the Bulls were out-gained by 276-69 in second half and 'Bama finished with a 361 to 256 advantage in total yards. Running back Shaud Williams ran for 98 yards with two second half TDs and also returned a punt for a score. Bulls linebacker Maurice Jones did tie the team record with 18 tackles in a 40-17 defeat. Jim Leavitt was not pleased that the Bulls allowed 33 unanswered point and collapsed in the second half. "I didn't do enough at halftime. You can jump up and down and break a locker and sing songs, whatever, but the guys have to come out and play." Leavitt continued, "What do you take from something like this? Anger, I get angry."

Division I-AA Nicholls State came to town for the home opener and the Louisiana based Colonels gave the Bulls all they could handle. A USF turnover lead to a Colt Colletti touchdown run and a 7-0 lead for the visitors after one quarter. Colletti's second TD run put Nicholls State up 17-7 in the second, before the Bulls closed to within 17-14 at the half. USF shut down NSU in the second half and finished with a 530 to 315 advantage in total yards. Quarterback Josh Son was 5 of 12 for 48 yards and sacked three times. Ronnie Banks (16 of 31 for 288 with an INT) threw four touchdown passes and Elgin Hicks caught two scoring passes. Hicks, a senior from Punta Gorda Charlotte High School, had five catches for 132 yards and his first career TDs. The Bulls won 27-17 to extend their home winning streak to twenty games. Jim Leavitt was not satisfied with the team's ten penalties for 61 yards and two costly turnovers. "We made as many mistakes as a football team can make." The head coach, talking about the locker room at halftime, said "I was fairly violent in there. I was pretty animated."

College GameDay

Since 1987, ESPN has featured its popular College GameDay pre-game program each Saturday. Beginning in 1993, the show has been broadcast live from college campuses. Before the USF-Army game, the show originated from West Point, N.Y. The cable network promoted it as "an opportunity to honor the cadets who lay their lives on the line to protect our freedoms." On hearing about it, USF receiver Huey Whittaker said, "I want to see Lee Corso with Rocky the Bull on his head." Analyst Corso traditionally dons the mascot head of the team he predicts to win the game. While the game itself was not shown on ESPN, and a lightning storm forced the network to finish the broadcast from the studio, Corso did wear the Bulls head.

Due to the scheduling problems, the Bulls had the very unusual occurrence of having back-to-back bye weeks. USF had two weeks off to prepare for the schools's first Conference USA game. The first conference game took place at historic Michie Stadium in West Point, New York. The stadium was home to Army football for eighty years.

The South Florida offense played like they had been off for three weeks. The Bulls had thirteen penalties for 123 yards, lost one of four fumbles, missed two field goals and Ronnie Banks (22 of 41 for 218 yards) was intercepted twice. After a scoreless first quarter, USF scored three times in the final 2:54 of the first half to take a 13-0 lead. DeJaun Green, a senior transfer from Georgia, ran for a score and Clenton Crossley ran for a fourth quarter TD to make it 21-0. The Bulls had 370 yards in total offense, but it was the defense that played well that afternoon. USF recovered three of six fumbles, had three interceptions, allowed just 17 yards rushing and 179 total yards. Defensive end Tim Jones tied a school record with five tackles for a loss, Lee Roy Selmon, Jr. forced two fumbles and Kevin Verpaele returned an interception 29 yards for his first career touchdown. Quarterback Zac Dahman (17 of 40 for 116 yards with 2 INTs) and the Black Knights never moved the ball inside the USF 31 yard line, as the Bulls won 28-0. Freshman quarterback Pat Julmiste, from Miramar High School, saw his first action for USF. Jim Leavitt was not totally happy with the football program's first conference victory stating, "We made a million mistakes and we have to get them corrected." Banks said, "If I want to be the leader, I have to do better."

Undefeated Louisville was the opponent for the first conference home game. Just 1:13 into the game, Lionel Gates ran 67 yards for a quick 7-0 Cardinals lead. USF answered with a Ronnie Banks (26 of 47 for 256 yards with 3 INTs) to Huey Whittaker (9 catches for 93 yards) touchdown pass, then a DeJaun Green TD run gave the Bulls a 14-7 lead after one quarter. The score would stay that way until Louisville tied the game early in the fourth quarter. Midway through the quarter, Louisville took a 21-14 advantage. USF had the ball at their own 33 yard line with 5:07 on the clock and moved to a fourth and goal at the 1 yard line. Brian Fisher came on at QB and ran the option, pitching the ball to Clenton Crossley who scored with ten seconds remaining. The game was tied at 21-21 and headed to overtime. In the first OT, Fisher came on again and ran it into the end zone. Louisville responded with a Stefan LeFors touchdown run. LeFors (19 of 39 for 267 yards with 2 INTs) did it all that night, as he threw a scoring pass, caught a TD pass on the option play and had the 1 yard TD run. In the second overtime, Devon Davis picked off LeFors and almost returned it all the way for the victory, but the sophomore linebacker from Miramar High School was brought down at the Louisville 20 yard line. A 26 yard Santiago Gramatica field goal provided the winning margin. The largest crowd to watch USF at Raymond James Stadium, 36,044, poured onto the field to celebrate the 31-28 victory. Jim Leavitt said, "It was a pretty good game, I'd say."

The Bulls twenty-one game home winning streak was on the line against number eighteen ranked TCU. Quarterback Tye Gunn (10 of 19 for 133 yards) threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to Cory Rodgers and the Horned Frogs had a 7-0 lead after one quarter. The USF defense played well, the Bulls forced ten TCU punts and recorded four sacks, and the score was 13-3 after three quarters. The Texas Christian defense was stifling and Ronnie Banks had a tough night. Banks (11 of 21 for 68 yards) was sacked nine times, including three straight times on

21-Game Home Winning Streak

1. 9/2/00 - Jacksonville State - 40-0

2. 9/16/00 - James Madison - 26-7

3. 9/30/00 - Troy State - 20-10

4. 10/21/00 - Liberty - 44-6

5. 11/4/00 - Western Kentucky - 30-24

6. 11/18/00 - Austin Peay - 59-0

7. 9/29/01 - North Texas - 28-10

8. 10/13/01 - Connecticut - 40-21

9. 10/20/01 - Southern Utah - 42-12

10. 10/27/01 - Liberty - 68-37

11. 11/3/01 - Houston - 45-6

12. 11/10/01 - Western Illinois - 48-17

13. 11/24/01 - Utah State - 34-13

14. 8/29/02 - Florida Atlantic - 51-10

15. 9/7/02 - Northern Illinois 37-6

16. 10/12/02 - Southern Miss - 16-13

17. 11/2/02 - Charleston Southern - 56-6

18. 11/9/02 - Memphis - 31-28

19. 11/16/02 - Bowling Green - 29-7

20. 9/6/03 - Nicholls State - 27-17

21. 10/4/03 - Louisville - 31-28

one fourth quarter series. Brian Fisher returned a punt to the TCU 32 yard line and then came in at quarterback. Fisher (4 of 5 for 36 yards) ignited the crowd with a 19 yard scoring pass to Elgin Hicks with 9:27 left, but that was the way the game ended. USF set team records for fewest total yards (126), fewest rushing yards (22) and suffered a team record ten sacks. TCU broke the home winning streak and handed USF its first conference defeat. Jim Leavitt said of the 13-10 loss, "We made too many stupid mistakes and it comes down to coaching."

Ronnie Banks was a little banged up and did not play against Charleston Southern, so Brian Fisher made his first start at quarterback for USF. As it turned out, the Bulls only threw eleven passes against the Division I-AA Buccaneers that night at RJS. Pat Julmiste (2 of 7 for 72 yards) replaced Fisher (1 of 3 for 7 yards) at QB and connected with Joe Bain on a 53 yard scoring pass. It was the first TD pass of Julmiste's career and the first touchdown catch for Bain, a sophomore wide receiver from Dade City Pasco High School. Cedric King (0 for 1) got into the act and played QB late in the game. The Bulls rushed for 250 yards and Clenton Crossley had 12 carries for 105 yards with two touchdowns. For Crossley, it was his first career 100 yard game and the first time the Bulls had a 100 yard rusher in 27 games. The defense held Charleston Southern to 134 total yards, including a USF record negative 52 yards rushing. Johnnie Jones, a junior defensive back from Sarasota Booker High School, and junior defensive lineman Matt Groelinger each recorded two sacks. The Bulls lead 17-0 after the first quarter, 34-0 at the half and cruised to a 55-7 victory.

A few big plays decided the outcome at Southern Miss. Dustin Almond (10 of 22 for 175 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT) heaved an 80 yard pass to Marvin Young (5 catches for 104 yards) and the Golden Eagles lead 6-0 after just four seconds. USF answered with a Santiago Gramatica field goal and it was 6-3 after the first quarter. The Bulls had no trouble moving the ball. Huey Whittaker had a career high 122 receiving yards, as Ronnie Banks (22 of 52 for 260 yards) threw the ball 52 times. For USF, putting points on the board was another story. Gramatica attempted to tie the game, but his kick was blocked and returned 61 yards by Ron Davis for a 13-3 advantage for the home team. On the next possession, USF fumbled the ball away at the USM 4 yard line. The Golden Eagles, with Anthony Harris rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown, were able to control the second half. Stephen Nicholas, a freshman linebacker from Jacksonville Lee High School, did record two of the Bulls four sacks. Ten penalties for 129 yards was just another way USF hurt themselves that afternoon. After the 27-6 defeat, linebacker Maurice Jones said, "We're dumb sometimes, we don't understand. We're good on paper, but then we get in the game and start making penalties and turn the ball over." Jim Leavitt added, "It's deplorable. We can't talk about championships or bowl games or anything like that."

Cincinnati came to town for a Halloween Friday night game. With Ronnie Banks (1 of 6 for 3 yards) struggling, and the Bearcats holding a 7-0 half time lead, Pat Julmiste (5 of 12 for 67 yards) and Brian Fisher (8 of 12 for 33 yards) would share the duties at quarterback. Julmiste threw a 36 yard touchdown pass to Elgin Hicks to tie the game, then Cincinnati regained the advantage 10-7. With 4:20 left, Santiago Gramatica was good on a 30 yard field goal and the game was tied again. Cincinnati had a chance to win as time expired, but Huey Whittaker blocked a 40 yard Chet Ervin field goal attempt and the game headed to overtime. In the first overtime, Gino Guidugli (20 of 36 for 212 yards with 2 INTs) threw his second TD pass of the game and Fisher responded with a 4 yard scoring run for the Bulls. On the first play of the second overtime, DeJaun Green broke several tackles on his way to a 25 yard touchdown run. When Lee Roy Selmon Jr. caught a deflected pass for his first career interception, USF had an exciting 24-17 homecoming victory. Jim Leavitt said afterwards, "This was as emotional game as I've been through. I never really thought about losing, I always thought there would be a chance somehow."

On November 4, as part of another wave of conference realignment, the Big East Conference announced that USF would be joining the league. The Bulls, along with four other Conference USA schools, would join the Big East for the 2005 season. USF President Judy Genshaft said of the new affiliation, "Academically and athletically, it's a strategic position that we love. Now is the time for USF and now is the time for the Bulls to take advantage and to be on the national stage, to assume its rightful place among top tier teams, to compete in venues like Madison Square Garden, and to secure the Bowl bid we deserve. So get ready Big East, there are new colors in the conference. Green and Gold! And a Bull is coming today, the USF Bulls!" Athletic Director Lee Roy Selmon added, "How about a Go Bulls! We should begin to say that a whole lot louder than we have in the past."

Pat Julmiste made his first start at quarterback at East Carolina. USF blocked a punt and Julmiste hit Elgin Hicks on a 10 yard pass for the game's first score. A 50 yard fumble return by Kevin Verpaele gave the Bulls a 14-0 lead after one quarter. DeJaun Green rushed for 117 yards, his first career 100 yard game, and an 11 yard TD run by Vince Brewer made it 21-0 early in the second quarter. The home team fought back and closed the gap to 21-14 at the half. ECU also had a red-shirt freshman making his first start, James Pinkey (16 of 34 for 146 yards with 1 TD and 4 sacks), but it was the running game that paced the Pirates. East Carolina rushed for 216 yards with Vonya Leach running for 111 yards with three touchdowns and Marvin Townes rushing for 107 yards. Early in the second half, a miscommunication on the snap gave ECU an easy touchdown and sent Julmiste (4 of 6 for 15 yards) to the bench. Ronnie Banks came into the game and tossed a 33 yard TD pass to Elgin Hicks and USF was back in front. With 21 seconds left in regulation, ECU tied it up and the game went to overtime. A 40 yard Santiago Gramatica field goal tied things up after the first OT and he passed brother Bill Gramatica as the all time leading scorer at USF. Banks (6 of 16 for 86 yards) threw his second TD pass, and Hicks caught his third of the afternoon, to start the second overtime. East Carolina answered with a touchdown, however, Huey Whittaker got a finger on the PAT and USF had a 38-37 victory. The Bulls became the first college team to win three overtime games in a season. While the Bulls were penalized just twice for a school record low fifteen yards, they did lose three of four fumbles. Jim Leavitt said of a game were USF lead 21-0, and then had to go to double overtime, "We made a million mistakes and we were real fortunate."

USF had a school record six turnovers and were penalized sixteen times for 145 yards in the home finale. Ronnie Banks (6 of 15 for 70 yards with 1 INT) got the start, then Pat Julmiste (6 of 16 for 74 yards with 3 INTs) and Brian Fisher (0-1 with 1 INT) saw action, and all three quarterbacks were intercepted. The Bulls lead 3-0 after the first quarter and Alabama Birmingham, behind 121 receiving yards and a TD by Roddy White, took a 19-3 advantage through three quarters. Despite all the miscues, a blocked punt would spark the Bulls. Vince Brewer ran for a score, Fisher ran for a two point conversion, and it was 19-11. Just over three minutes later, Brewer again had a short touchdown run and he caught a pass from Fisher on the conversion to even the score. A J.R. Reed interception gave the Bulls a shot at winning the game, but the offense could not move the ball. Nick Hayes booted his third field goal, this one from 42 yards with nine seconds left, to give the Blazers a 22-19 victory. Fisher said of a loss that eliminated any chance of going to a bowl game, "This one really hurts because of the way we fought back." He also admitted, "Anytime you have that many penalties and turnovers, you don't deserve to win."

Memphis running back Derron Perquet rushed for 164 yards and quarterback Danny Wimprine (25 of 51 for 271 yards) threw two touchdown passes. The Tigers finished with 23 first downs, compared to eight for USF, and 458 total yards to the Bulls 192. USF had to punt ten times, and Pat Julmiste (8 of 17 for 167 yards) was sacked four times, but J.R. Reed just about single-handedly willed the visitors to victory at the Liberty Bowl. With the Tigers leading 7-0, Reed returned the second half kickoff 96 yards to tie the game. Memphis regained the advantage, then Reed returned a fumble 45 yards for a score and a 14-10 lead after three quarters. Reed finished with a team, and Conference USA, record three interceptions and one of the picks setup a DeJaun Green touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the Bulls a 21-10 advantage. His last interception, and the Bulls fourth of the afternoon, was a beautiful catch at the back of the end zone to stop a Memphis drive. USF forced a school record seven turnovers in a 21-16 victory. Jim Leavitt said of the result, "It's probably the biggest win we've ever had because of the situation. Everybody thought we were dead and we were. The last loss to UAB destroyed me and our team. We said this was a character game." On the play of J.R. Reed, the head coach asked, "Has a guy ever had a game like that in the history of NCAA football? He's a phenomenal football player." Reed commented, "This feels great, but I just wish I had a bowl game to go to."

Free safety J.R. Reed had an outstanding season and was the first USF player named first team All-Conference USA. He lead C-USA, and set school records, in interceptions (7) and kickoff return average (31.7 yards). Reed also was the Bulls career leader in interceptions with 18. Brian Fisher set a new team record with 47 punt returns. Offensively, junior Ronnie Banks struggled at quarterback, as red-shirt freshman Pat Julmiste started two games and Brian Fisher started another. The Bulls also lead Conference USA in penalties (103).

South Florida had a senior class of fourteen players and lost some leaders on defense, such as, J.R. Reed, Maurice Jones, Kevin Verpaele and Ron Hemingway. Offensive losses included Huey Whittaker, DeJaun Green, Chris Iskra, Vince Brewer, Quinton Callum and Elgin Hicks.

Related Links

2003 USF Bulls Results

2003 USF Bulls Statistics

2003 Conference USA Standings

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