USF coach Jim Leavitt said Wednesday that true freshman kicker Maikon Bonani will handle field goals for the Bulls in Friday night's game against No. 13 Kansas, replacing junior Delbert Alvarado.
Alvarado has made just one of four attempts in two games and missed a 42-yard attempt with 11 seconds left in regulation in Saturday's overtime win at Central Florida.
"We're going to go with Bonani,'' Leavitt said. "The biggest thing probably is Delbert doing the punting and the kicking. You really don't see many people in the country do all that. He's been punting so well.''
-- Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
His yards per punt is good, but how about his within the 20 and the return yards against? I think he's okay, but not great, not even very good.
Posted by: Ken | September 11, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Steve Stacy,
I know, dude. I know. When I say "supporter", I don't mean that I was in favor of using PJ over MG. I was just the one guy in the room that would defend PJ when everyone started to rag on him.
I like Grothe. After all, Tim Tebow wears Matt Grothe pajamas.
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | September 11, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Mike Lakeland,
I was a Julmiste supporter, too...until I saw Grothe's 45 yard TD against McNeese State (to whom we were losing, I might add).
And the rest, as they say, was history.
Good luck to both kickers. Glad to see CJL pull the trigger, though.
Posted by: Steve Stacy | September 11, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Bulls just need to score touchdowns on every drive, then we won't have to discuss punting or place kicking :)
Getting psyched for Friday, Go Bulls!!!
Posted by: Norb | September 11, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Alvarado is above the national average as a punter, and that's good enough for me. Maybe with the chance to focus only on punting, he'll be able to add an extra yard or something.
At PK, there's just no way that Bonani could be any more unreliable. What was his high school long? Maybe Alvarado can handle the really long (and straight on) kicks.
But if we're going to beat Kansas and/or win the Big East, the kickers have to become far more accurate inside of 45 yards.
Posted by: Dave W | September 11, 2008 at 08:21 AM
I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I was a Pat Julmiste supporter and I do like Delbert.
However, this move is exactly what we need right now. Delbie, don't let me down on the punts, broham.
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | September 11, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Now I'm not so nervous about Friday's game... this is great news!
Posted by: Amanda | September 11, 2008 at 06:18 AM
Ah. So it was 2nd for most of the year, or so Leavitt said. He was hundredths behind Syracuse and whoever isn't listed (minimum number of punts not taken or something) on ncaa.org from the big east. I see 38th out of 100 on that list.
whatever, that all depends on where the field position is anyway. Someone find how many he had inside the 20...
Posted by: Windbane | September 11, 2008 at 03:51 AM
there is a god!!!!
Posted by: JCM | September 11, 2008 at 12:36 AM
2nd sounds better for his argument than 4th, why lets facts get in the way. Alvarado is a decent punter, lets not get all happy because he is finally out of the position he is horrendous at. Im relived too but cmon Ari, All-conference?
Posted by: Herman Momart | September 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM
He wasn't second in the Big East last year. He was fourth.
Posted by: G.A. | September 10, 2008 at 10:40 PM
our special teams suck in general, missing field goals is simply the easiest and most obvious gripe... CJL needs to bring in a good special teams coach to not only work on technique with our place kickers, but to improve punt return coverage, kick-off return coverage, blocking, etc. this is the big leagues now. time for the program to start bringing in talented coaches from the outside and forget all this "inside promotion" junk.
Posted by: Bully | September 10, 2008 at 09:55 PM
Hmmm. I thought I posted a reply.
He kicks relatively low, line-drive type punts. When they "work," he gets them away from the returner and good bounce and roll. Sometimes, though, they are fielded in the air, and the returner has lots of room. I much prefer a high punt with lots of hang time that the coverage team can cover. How can they possibly cover those low line drives?
Posted by: Ken | September 10, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Generally he kicks low line drives that the coverage has no chance of getting to. Sometimes he gets a good bounce and roll and ends up with a great average (and he looks fabulous), but sometimes they get taken in the air and the returner has lots of room. I'd much prefer a high punt with lots of hang-time. How's the coverage team supposed to defend his line-drives?
Posted by: Ken | September 10, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Alverado is an All-Conference punter. Leavitt made a good move.
Ari - who says "why kick a man while he is down. You got 2 ---rissseee UPPAA!"
Posted by: Ari Hinkelberger | September 10, 2008 at 08:53 PM
This the best news I've heard in a while.
Posted by: Falko | September 10, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Ken, what's wrong with his punting? He was 2nd in the Big East in punting average last year. It's our punt coverage that needs work.
Posted by: Windbane | September 10, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Delbert, you are now doing what is right for you and your future. I can safely say that you have no future as a kicker, but as a punter, I think you have potential. Stay Strong!
Posted by: Reality | September 10, 2008 at 08:24 PM
He's a great Bull, but I'm not sold about his punting either.
Posted by: Ken | September 10, 2008 at 08:24 PM
In fairness to Alvarado, he's a very good punter and he's proud to be a Bull.
A team player.
Posted by: NickLurby | September 10, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Posted by: Mike | September 10, 2008 at 06:55 PM
My last post was before I read the previous blog post. I'm not feeling to good about either kicker right now.
Posted by: Blake | September 10, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Cue the Hallelujah Chorus
Posted by: Blake | September 10, 2008 at 06:42 PM
All I can say is THANK GOD! Maybe we'll have a shot at winning if it gets close rather than going into overtime.
GO BULLS AND GO GREEN VS KANSAS!
Posted by: BULLS Fan | September 10, 2008 at 06:16 PM
GREAT NEWS!
Now it time to replace the Offensive Coordinator ... Stop running Grothe every 3 plays and learn how to get some red zone touchdowns.
Posted by: | September 10, 2008 at 06:13 PM
He better be good to be wasting a redshirt year.
Then again, how much is BJ Daniels going to benefit...I really thought he'd get in the UCF game...*sigh*
Oh well, this is potentially our year and despite keeping Grothe we could struggle next year losing so many people, so I guess it's worth trying to find someone that can at least consistently hit a field goal under 40 yards. That's not much to ask for...
Posted by: Windbane | September 10, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Also wanted to add this...
Delbert has had a little over two seasons to win this job, and the patience extended has been unprecedented. Thus, I would hope the coaches & fans would extend at least SOME measure of patience with Bonani.
In other words, for all you Alvarado fans out there, don't say "I told you so" if Bonani struggles at first. he may be good, he may not. Time will tell. But he needs to have the same chance Delbert had.....well, maybe not THAT much of a chance!!
Posted by: RR | September 10, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Hahaha. Yeah, this is good.
Posted by: cg | September 10, 2008 at 06:02 PM
FIRST!
Posted by: cg | September 10, 2008 at 06:01 PM
YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!
FINALLY!!
Posted by: RR | September 10, 2008 at 06:01 PM