2005 USF Bulls

On July 1, USF officially joined the Big East Conference. At a ceremony raising a flag with the new conference logo, Jim Leavitt said, "Nobody dreamed ten years ago we could go from I-AA to playing in a conference with an opportunity for a national title. It's unbelievable."

Jim Leavitt gave Auburn transfer Courtney Denson, a sophomore, his first college start at quarterback for the season opener at Penn State. Twenty-two Bulls would make their debut in that game at Beaver Stadium and play before the largest crowd to ever see USF play (99,235). It would also be the first time the Bulls would face a member of the Big Ten Conference. Denson (0 for 3) lasted three possessions, did not complete a pass and had a fumble returned 16 yards by cornerback Alan Zematis for a touchdown. Pat Julmiste came on and was intercepted on his first series. The Nittany Lions had a 17-0 lead, but Julmiste (21 of 35 for 200 yards) would settle down and tossed two TD passes to Johnny Peyton. Stephen Nicholas lead the defense with two sacks of Michael Robinson (9 of 15 for 90 yards with 1 INT) and a forced fumble. PSU running back Tony Hunt had a key 70 yard run late in the game and finished with 140 rushing yards with a TD. After defeating USF 23-13, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno said, "It was a closer game than maybe the final score indicated. They're sound and well-coached." Leavitt commented, "I'm not saying we played smart, but we played hard."

The home opener featured Florida A&M, the only Division I-AA team on the schedule, and the Bulls dominated the Rattlers. Andre Hall rushed for 156 yards, a USF record tying three first half touchdowns and tied the school record with his seventh 100-yard game. The Bulls lead 30-0 at the half and it was not until midway through third quarter that FAMU got a first down. USF set a record by holding FAMU to four first downs, finished with a 490 to 85 advantage in total yards and had a team record 377 yards rushing. Pat Julmiste (6 of 10 for 71 yards) started, Courtney Denson (2 of 7 for 42 yards) threw his first TD pass, and Carlton Hill (0-1) also saw action at quarterback. Freshman Cedric Hill, out of Valdosta (GA) High School, caught his first TD pass and freshman Ricky Ponton, from Tampa's Hillsborough High School, ran for his first TD. One negative was the kicking game, as Mike Benzer missed two field goals and an extra point. Kyle Bronson, a freshman from Wharton High School, did come on and kicked a field and three extra points. Another negative was fifteen USF penalties for 119 yards. After the 37-3 victory, Hall said, "We were a little down after Penn State last week, but I think we've built back the confidence now." Jim Leavitt added, "I thought about Central Florida most of the second half, thinking about we have to get better."

When Central Florida made the trip from Orlando, the RJS attendance record fell for the second straight week with 45,139 in the stands. Even though the Golden Knights were has lost sixteen straight games, there was talk this could become a serious rivalry. The Bulls again got the job done on the ground with 66 rushes for 326 yards. Andre Hall finished with 155 yards, his school record eight career 100 yard game, and had a touchdown run and a TD catch. Pat Julmiste (10 of 16 for 95 yards) had a TD run to go with the TD Pass. UCF QB Steven Moffett (19 of 40 for 208 yards) also ran for one TD and threw for another. USF went up 21-0 at the half and cruised to a 31-14 victory. After the game, some players talked about the rivalry aspect of the game. Senior defensive end Terrence Royal, who recorded two sacks that evening, "There's no sense talking before the game. We said what we wanted to out on the field." He also added, "You haven't seen our best game yet. Just wait." Chris Carothers, a senior offensive lineman from Clearwater High School, said of the match-up, "It was time to put up or shut up. They didn't put up." Jim Leavitt commented, "The Big East games are more important to me."

Ninth ranked Louisville came to Tampa as a twenty point favorite in the first Big East Conference game for both teams. An Andre Hall touchdown run gave USF a 7-0 lead after one quarter. Wide receiver Amarri Jackson, a sophomore from Sarasota Riverview High School, ran for TDs on two reverse plays and the Bulls were up 21-0 midway through the second. Michael Bush scored on the first of his two 1 yard touchown runs to put the Cardinals on the board, but USF held a 24-7 advantage going into the locker room. Any thought of a second half Louisville comeback evaparated quickly. Chad Simpson, a freshman from Miami Edison High School, returned the second half kickoff 94 yards for a score and the USF defense forced a fumble on the Cardinals next possesion. On a fake reverse, Jackson threw a touchdown pass and the Bulls were up 38-7 less than four minutes into the half. A second Hall TD run put USF up 45-7 in the fourth quarter. While Brian Brohm (29 of 47 for 389 yards with 1 INT) threw for the second most yards ever against the Bulls, USF attempted a school record low ten pass. Pat Julmiste went 4 of 9 for 93 yards with an interception in the 45-14 victory. It was the program's first win against a team ranked in Associated Press top 25 and easily the biggest victory in school history. Defensive end Terrence Royal proclaimed, "We're going to show you we're the best of the Big East."

USF would play its first road game against an in-state opponent at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The game against the Hurricanes was the second consecutive week that the Bulls would face the number nine ranked team in the country. USF would self destruct in the first half. Three first quarter turnovers and Miami had a quick 17-0 lead. The Bulls had five first half turnovers and Miami defensive back Lovon Ponder had two picks. Courtney Denson (6 of 6 for 22 yards with 1 INT) relieved Pat Julmiste (8 of 25 for 47 yards with 3 INTs) for a couple of series at quarterback, but nothing helped as USF finished with just 69 yards passing. While Tyrone Moss did run for three scores, the USF defense contained Miami QB Kyle Wright (13 of 26 for 173 yards with 1 INT) and forced four turnovers by the Hurricanes. Johnny Peyton caught a fourth quarter TD pass to avoid a shutout in South Florida's first loss to a Florida school. Jim Leavitt said after the 27-7 defeat, "Our defensive effort was really outstanding, but I was disappointed the offense didn't play better. We couldn't get anything going."

Linebacker Ben Moffit, a sophomore from Bushnell South Sumter High School, blocked a punt setting up a Pat Julmiste touchdown run and Kyle Bronson added a field goal to give USF a 10-0 advantage after the first quarter at Pittsburgh. Turnovers would lead to the Bulls collapse and the Panthers would score 21 points in a six minute span. Julmiste (18 of 35 for 222 yards) threw a 76 yard TD pass to Andre Hall (7 catches for 131 yards) and the score was 21-17 at the half. The Bulls would never seriously threaten in the second half. Tyler Palko (15 of 21 for 203 yards) tossed three TD passes and ran for a score, while Greg Lee had three receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. The Pitt defense also sacked Julmiste five times. The USF defense had plenty of lapses, but did record four sacks and Terrence Royal forced two fumbles. Jim Leavitt was not pleased with his team's effort. "I thought we played horrible," the head coach stated. "There's really no excuse today. None. I was very disappointed in our football team." Andre Hall said allowing a 10-0 lead to evaporate into a 31-17 defeat, "We just kind of rolled over."

Due to the threat of Hurricane Wilma, the homecoming game against West Virginia was postponed until December. With a bye the following week, USF would go two weeks without playing and would have had only one game over four weeks.

USF returned to action, and got off to a quick start, at Rutgers Stadium. The Bulls defense scored twice within 86 seconds, Johnnie Jones returned an interception 32 yards for a score and Terrence Royal scooped up a fumble and ran 11 yards for a TD, as the visitors jumped to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter. In addition to his first career touchdown, Royal picked off a pass to set up another TD. While not turning the ball over themselves, the USF defense forced six turnovers, including four interceptions. Andre Hall carried the ball a career high 35 times for 168 yards and with his three scores became the school's career leader in total touchdowns. Pat Julmiste (13 of 21 for 135 yards) was steady and started the game with nine straight completions. The Bulls were penalized ten times 90 yards, Kyle Bronson had an extra point and a field goal blocked, and South Florida had trouble putting the Scarlet Knights away. Ryan Hart (15 of 25 for 217 yards with 3 INTs) threw for three touchdowns and Ray Rice ran for 158 yards, however, the Bulls held on for the team's first Big East road victory 45-31. Jim Leavitt said, "It was a hard fought game. I'm worn out and I didn't even play."

USF Skunks

When ESPN.com columnist Ivan Maisel called USF "the skunk in the BCS garden," the team embraced it. He wrote that if the Bulls defeated Syracuse, Cincinnati and UConn, "the bad news is that South Florida, at 7-3, could be playing for a BCS bid." After defeating Syracuse, safety Johnnie Jones said, "We know what skunks do in a garden, they tear it up. We said in the locker room, 'skunk this, skunk that.' We're going to leave a little stinkness behind in the Carrier Dome." Following a victory over Cincinnati, wide receiver Amarri Jackson, wearing a skunk hat that he had worn around campus (pictured), stated "We're known as the Big East skunks and we're stinking it up." A tough loss at Connecticut ended the dream of a Big East title and the Bulls ended up losing the season finale against West Virginia.

The Carrier Dome in Syracuse was the site of USF's first indoor game. It was also homecoming and the Orange retired the number 44 jersey worn by such notables as Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis. South Florida running back Andre Hall would steal the show. Hall rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns. He became the Bulls all time leader in rushing yards, career rushing TDs and broke his own record for rushing TDs in season. USF ran for 338 yards and Pat Julmiste (5 of 12 for 89 yards with an INT) only had to put the ball in the air a dozen times. The Bulls defense recorded four sacks and picked off three different Syracuse quarterbacks. USF was penalized eleven times for 92 yards in a 27-0 victory. An article talking about the possibility of USF winning the Big East and becoming "The Skunk in the BCS Garden" served as motivation. Jim Leavitt's response, "The old skunks, huh?. They're beautiful. Skunks are a very clever animal and they can destroy a room in a heartbeat." Hall added, "We're the skunk in the garden and we all want to stink as one."

After eight weeks away from home, South Florida returned to Raymond James Stadium to play Cincinnati. Andre Hall scored a second quarter touchdown and the Bulls lead 10-7 at the half. Hall finished the afternoon with 100 yards on the ground and became the first player in school history with consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons. Senior defensive back D'Juan Brown, from Belle Glade and Glades Central High School, intercepted Dustin Grutza (19 of 30 for 241 yards with 2 TDs) and returned the ball 26 yards for a score to break the game open. Even though USF tied the team record with 18 penalties for 137 yards, the Bulls topped the Bearcats 31-16. Pat Julmiste (12 of 21 for 155 yards) said of the team becoming bowl eligible, "We still got our sights on something greater." Hall added, "Celebrate? No sir. Not us. Not yet."

Rentschler Field in East Hartford saw the coldest weather ever for a South Florida game. It was 33 degrees at kickoff and the temperature dropped into the 20's as evening fell. Lou Allen rushed for 101 yards and his 60 yard sprint on the game's third play gave Connecticut an early 7-0 lead. The Bulls had plenty of blunders, including five turnovers, and a safety made the score 9-0. Pat Julmiste (10 of 26 for 168 yards) threw a 31 yard touchdown pass to S.J. Green, a junior wide receiver from Brandon High School. Any momentum was lost when freshman Darius Bulter returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score and a 15-7 half time lead for the Huskies. The Bulls defense played well with two forced fumbles and three sacks of Matt Bonislawski (8 of 26 for 81 yards). The UConn defense made its own mark by picking off Julmiste three times, forcing two fumbles and recording three sacks. Despite it all, the Bulls added a third quarter field goal and had a chance to go ahead with a third-and-goal from the Huskies' 1 yard line with about six minutes left in the game. An incomplete pass, a questionable call for a gimmick play on fourth down, and the dream of a Big East title and a BCS bid evaporated. Jim Leavitt said after the 15-10 defeat, "We couldn't have made more mistakes in one game. I don't think it's possible. There's no doubt it's the toughest loss in the ten years I've been here." Lineman Chris Carothers added, "Words cannot describe this loss."

While the game against twelfth ranked West Virginia was no longer for the conference championship, the re-scheduled game did have the largest crowd to watch USF play at Raymond James Stadium (45,274). USF was inside the West Virginia 5 yard line twice, had to settle for field goals and the Mountaineers held a 14-6 third quarter lead. Two other drives deep in West Virginia territory ended in interceptions. Redshirt freshman quarterback Pat White (5 of 10 for 89 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT) made the difference for the visitors. White rushed for 177 yards, including second half touchdown runs of 65 and 76 yards to put the game away. Pat Julmiste (9 of 17 for 123 yards with 1 INT) started for the Bulls with Carlton Hill (10 of 21 for 98 yards with 2 INTs) playing most of the second half. Hill scored his first career TD on an 11 yard run with 1:20 left in the Bulls 28-13 loss.

Shortly after the game, when Louisville defeated Connecticut, USF earned a bid to the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. The school's first bowl bid would come in the program's 100th game. Senior offensive lineman Frank Davis said, "We lost this game, but at least we have something to look forward to." Sharing the mixed emotions was senior offensive lineman Jon Simmons, out of Clearwater Catholic High School, who said, "Everybody is excited about the bowl game, but losing this game was tough." Jim Leavitt's perspective was, "How many teams go to a bowl in their fifth year of Division I-A? It will never happen again."

The defenses were in control at Bank of America Stadium and the game saw fourteen punts. Terrence Royal sacked NC State quarterback Marcus Stone (9 of 19 for 127 yards with a TD) three times and forced a fumble. Linebacker Stephen Tulloch garnered MVP honors with 15 tackles and three of the six Wolfpack sacks. The USF quarterbacks had a rough outing. Pat Julmiste (8 of 25 for 91 yards) was intercepted in the end zone and Carlton Hill (1 of 2 for 37 yards) fumbled the ball away on consecutive plays in the third quarter. Andre Hall was the Bulls only bright spot on offense with 118 rushing yards. When it was over, USF had suffered the first shutout loss in school history 14- 0. Jim Leavitt said afterwards, "We came here to win a football game and we didn't play good enough. That's the bottom line." The head coach was also looking ahead to next year. "We're not that far away. We have 70 freshmen and sophomores. We've got a chance to build this program."

Andre Hall lead the Big East in rushing and was named first team all conference. Hall broke his own team rushing records for yards (1,374) and touchdowns (13) records. He had twelve 100-yard games in his two year career at USF. Terrence Royal equaled the team record with ten sacks and became the team's career sack leader with 19.5. The Bulls lost thirteen seniors, including Hall, Royal, Tim Jones and Brandon Baker.

During the season, Jim Leavitt signed a seven year, $7 million dollar contract extension. On being the team's coach through the 2012 season, he said, "Everybody knows I grew up here. Obviously, I love the University of South Florida and I really wanted to build a heck of a program." On his pay raise, Leavitt commented, "I came here for $75,000 my first year and I was happy to get that. I've said from the very beginning that USF is one of the best coaching jobs in America and it's something I never take for granted."

Related Links

2005 USF Bulls Results

2005 USF Bulls Statistics

2005 Big East Standings

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