First Impressions of USF's Third Season
(November 17, 1999)

The University of South Florida has completed the third season for the football program. There were some pluses and minuses, highs and lows, in a 7-4 record. A brief recap of the season is followed by some first impressions.

The season opened at San Diego State and the Bulls first Division I-A opponent. USF stayed with the Aztecs for awhile, but lost by a 41-12 score. A win in the home opener, against Southwest Texas State, sewed up the starting quarterback job for red shirt freshman Marquel Blackwell.

A 21-6 win at Western Kentucky and a 21-14 victory over Southern Illinois showed progress for the football program. USF had loss to WKU the previous two seasons and SIU defeated the Bulls handily in South Florida's first homecoming game in 1997. In between, in a game USF lead at one time 21-7, was a 41-24 trouncing at Troy State. Mental errors showed additional progress was needed.

A 28-0 victory over Liberty was followed by an exciting two weeks at Raymond James Stadium. Sixth ranked Illinois State missed a field goal with a couple of seconds remaining and USF won its first game in seven tries against a ranked opponent. Next was the school's first overtime game and it took two overtimes to decide a winner. When a two point conversion by New Hampshire failed, USF prevailed 42-41. For two straight weeks, the Bulls won in the final seconds and stormed the field.

South Florida's playoff chances started to evaporate with a 13-3 loss at James Madison. A 41-27 victory over New Haven kept the Bulls slim playoff hopes alive, but a 42-23 pounding by Hofstra in the season finale ended that dream.

Last year, the team finished 8-3. It may appear there was a drop off to 7-4, but this year's schedule was tougher. Replacing a NAIA team with a Division I-A opponent was most likely responsible for one loss and the slate of Division I-AA opponents was also upgraded. Starting a red-shirt freshman quarterback, while valuable to the future of the program, may have also cost USF a victory along the way. The injury bug also hit the team hard.

South Florida finished ranked nineteenth in The Sports Network Division I-AA poll last year and are currently twenty-fifth. Another week will determine the Bulls final position and if they finish as a ranked team again.

Next year, it is good-bye to Division I-AA. With too may scholarships for I-AA, it is a transition year to Division I-A in 2001 and Conference USA play in 2003. The season opener at Kentucky and a trip to Baylor highlight the schedule. With a mix of Division I-A and I-AA opponents, there will a chance at revenge against the likes of James Madison and Troy State.

1999 was a decent year for South Florida on the ambitious road to the future.