Bring on Conference USA
(October 14, 2002)

When the University of South Florida defeated Southern Miss Saturday night, it proved they are ready for big time conference football. They defeated one of the best teams in the Conference USA, a team they had lost to 41-7 back in 2000, and three more C-USA teams on this year's schedule. Are the Bulls ready? Bring it on!

It is hard not to be giddy about the win over the Golden Eagles. The win at Pittsburgh last year was huge, but this one comes close. There is revenge for the drubbing two years ago and the snub factor to consider. South Florida wanted to join Conference USA in 2001, however, Southern Miss was one of the schools preferring to make USF wait until 2003. There was the "quality, not quantity" remarked attributed to the USM head coach. Yes, this was a special victory.

The season started innocently enough with an expected lopsided 51-10 victory over Florida Atlantic. A win over Northern Illinois was not a surprise, even if the 37-6 score was. A 42-3 beating at Arkansas was not unexpected. The Bulls did not play too badly against the number two ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a 31-14 loss. It was not pretty, but road wins are tough to come by and USF won at North Texas 24-17. Then came Saturday night's 16-13 surpise. A missed field goal as time ran out sent Raymond James Stadium into a frenzy. Players celebrating, coaches running on the field and crowd sounding much louder than 28,181.

What can we expect the rest of the way from South Florida, now 4-2 with five games remaining? More exciting games and a record better than most would have imagined. On the surface, this Saturday's game at East Carolina looks like to toughest left on the schedule. The next home game, against Charleston Southern is the easiest and should stretch that home winning streak to seventeen games. Memphis in Tampa is win-able, then Bowling Green comes to town and they may be the best team left on this year's slate. A game at Houston, closes out the schedule.

It has been fun watching this team develop. Future schedules include the likes of Alabama, Penn State and Florida. Next year, conference play begins. Bring on Conference USA!