No answer: Bulls' plummet quickens in loss

TAMPA -- As devastating as last year's midseason collapse was for USF, the Bulls were somehow able to pull out of that fall in time to win three games in November.

On Saturday, as the Bulls dropped their third straight game, an embarrassing 49-16 humbling at the hands of a Rutgers team that came in with a losing record, there were signs that USF might not get out of a tailspin that is still yet accelerating.

"Our football team is certainly down, about as down as you can get," coach Jim Leavitt said after the most lopsided home loss in his program's 12-year history.  "We'll rise up. I don't have any doubt about that."

But will they? USF (6-4, 1-4) saw its offense give up six turnovers, and the defense allowed Rutgers (5-5, 4-2) to score touchdowns on five of six possessions at one point. Neither coordinator had an explanation for the disappointing showing.

"We got our tails beat pretty bad in the second half. They just owned us," said defensive coordinator Wally Burnham, who had 16 days to prepare for Rutgers' prolific passing attack. "Second half, we couldn't do anything ... It's a mystery to me, too. Hell, if I had an answer, I would have damn sure corrected it."

The Bulls have never given up so many points at home, never lost by so much at home, and never had so many huge questions looming over them: Will they win again this season? Will they salvage the fast-dwindling honor of any bowl game at all? And how have the Bulls fallen so hard in losing four of their last five games?

"I have no idea why. It's basic fundamentals," offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said. "... They are hard things to explain. It's hard to account for those. Maybe we're asking them to do things they can't do ... We have to go back and look at everything and try to find a football team by next Sunday."

USF's defense gave up a 93-yard touchdown from Mike Teel to Kenny Britt, and allowed the Scarlet Knights to convert 10 of 14 third downs. All the trademark frustrations of USF's 2008 season were there -- red-zone inefficiencies, costly turnovers, 10 penalties for 100 yards, one field goal blocked, another missed, a botched extra point.

Quarterback Matt Grothe, who threw just three interceptions as USF opened to a 6-1 record, has thrown eight interceptions in the three losses since, including three against Rutgers. With little from USF's running backs, he accounted for 94 percent of USF's total yards, and to make matters worse, he sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter and wore a boot on his injured foot after the game.

"It seems like the last few weeks, everything goes the other way. We can never get anything to go our way," Grothe said. "It's hard to win when you can't get anything to go your way. ... It's no fun. It (stinks), quite frankly."

After USF's last game, a 24-10 loss at Cincinnati, linebacker Tyrone McKenzie "guaranteed" the Bulls' season would not go down the drain. He and his fellow seniors called a players-only meeting last week, trying to get the team to play with passion, to have fun again. On Saturday, he saw a 49 on the scoreboard, previously unthinkable on the scoreboard at Raymond James Stadium, where much of a season-low announced crowd of 47,216 left early.

"It's on the players. It's our fault. I take full responsibility," McKenzie said. "(The score is) disrespectful. You practice all week, you go out and perform like that and see a score like that on the scoreboard. There's no excuses. We just got a butt-whipping."

USF is assured of a losing conference record for the first time since it joined the Big East. Down 28-16 with the ball near midfield late in the third quarter, the Bulls lost another turnover, and Rutgers scored the game's final 21 points. Leavitt said he was surprised to see his team not competing to the end.

"That's the first time I've seen our team do thaat in a long time," he said. "I've been here a number of years, and if you look at our football team, that doesn't happen often. Why, again, I don't know. We'll try to figure it out."

Comments

[RR]

You mean Leavitt's job isn't drinking 47 Pepsis per day, running sprints, head-butting players, and giving unintelligible interviews?

[Al]

"This is as good as it is going to get for us until we can start recruiting the top tier players, not just the leftovers."

Posted by: Matt | November 16, 2008 at 01:50 PM
****************************************

Convincing those top tier players to join the program is the responsibility of the coach...recruiting is job one...job two is coaching the players you recruit to perform to the best of their ability day in and day out.

As head coach:

Jim Leavitt and Jim Leavitt alone is responsible for HIS recruiting.

Jim Leavitt and Jim Leavitt alone is the person responsible for the performance of HIS staff.

Jim Leavitt and Jim Leavitt alone is the person responsible for the performance of the HIS football team.

Jim Leavitt is being paid too much for the mediocre product he is producing.

I believe Doug Woolard is the one responsible for Leavitt's contract being extended and compensation increased despite a lack of increased performance on the field in Big East.

How bad is this bulls team, real bad. Fire Leavitt, this isn't high school and we don't need a coach that runs win sprints. Moron

as a former player I can tell you that yes gregory needs to go and canales needs to take over as OC it will be a huge help next season to have him at the helm...

[Grant Crawford]

Enough penalties. Enough turnovers. Is anone else sick of Grothe and the horrible offensive playcalling by greg Gregory.

Lets recruit some guys with half a brain that dont jump offsides every other play. WHere is the heart? How about looking outside of Florida. A bunch of castoffs from FSU, UF and the U. So disappointing this season.

[Simon]

Well it is pretty clear that all of the hype surrounding USF was nothing more than that, just hype. It is equally appearent that Leavitt is no where near the caliber of coach needed to elevate this program where it needs to be. The problem is the AD doesn't have enough balls to fire the guy or make any other hard decision necessary to ensure success at USF. Let;s see here lowest APR in both football and basketball and the teams finish last in the conference, seems there is a connection. To quote the famous saying "you can't make chicken salad out of chicken s%@&!"

[Couches in Morgantown]

Noooooo!!!!
Someone hide the lighter fluid & Zippos ... it's gonna get REAL hot here pretty soon!

[Say What?]

"USF Deserves better."

REALLY? they do??? LOL ... says who?

After annointing themselves part of "the big 4" and playing like absolute GARBAGE now you think you deserve better?
To quote Coach Gruden: you get what you deserve!

[Steve O'Neal]

A friend of mine has a son that starts on the offense at USF. He told me before game that his son said the team meeting was BS and also mentioned that OC Gregory had to go. Sounds like team has lost confidence in OC. That being said, the OC or any coach, didn't commit 10 penalties or have 6 turnovers.

[Don G]

After my last post, I checked the records of the two other former C-USA teams that moved to BE in 2005 with USF: Louisville & Cincinnati. I found the comparison very interesting. Since all 3 teams started BE play, here's their records: Louisville (32-15/15-11), Cincinnati (30-17/14-12) and USF (30-18/13-13). Although I've been a big critic of Leavitt's coaching, based on this research, USF hasn't done that bad when compared to L'ville & Cincy - 2 teams that have been playing 1-A ball for longer than the Bulls. This info is for all of us, just for perspective sake. I still think USF's 8-8 conference record in C-USA & current 13-13 in BE is not laudable, but maybe we give him thru the 2010 season before we ask for his head?

[Mike Lakeland]

We will lose against UConn, but win against WVU to let Cincy go to the BCS. This season sucks!

Hey, at least we're not UCF....

[Don G]

Due to Leavitt's contract, we'll have him at the helm for at least two more years or more. Next yr is a rebuilding year, so it'll be 2010 before we can really judge whether Leavitt & crew can coach at this level? By 2010, everyone should be able to say that he's had sufficient time to build this team.

[Don G]

Gray haired lady, you made good points about Grothe. Hard to knock someone that is approx 95% of a team's offense. I think some of his INTs are the result of Grothe pressing too much to make something happen. Now, as for the coaching, if offense had better play-calling, good chance Grothe would be more consistent and the team more productive. Fumbles are not coaches fault, but Bulls red zone offense is terrible - or is that "terribull?" I'm not asking for Leavitt's head bcuz of one year. His mediocre record in C-USA & BE so far speaks for itself.

[G.A.]

Posted it in another note, but actual attendance was just over 33k ...

[Gray haired lady]

Give me a break Rutgers got most of their points on Grothe interceptions- someone here apparently doesn't know math. Rutgers scored 49 points- even if they scored on each int that's only 21- so 49-21=28 so the defense gave up 28 points, hardly Grothe's fault. Hester fumbles as we are driving down to score, that's Grothe's fault too. AJ Love's fumble is Grothe's fault too. The missed tackles, oh yeah, they are Grothe's fault. He's 94% of the offense, should he be 94% on defense and special teams too? Without Grothe we probably score 7. The team lost and you all should not be so quick to blame Grothe.

[Marty]

I'm not calling for Leavitt to be fired because of a bad season. I happen to think his last four teams have been horribly inconsistent due to a lack of real leadership from the head coach, a lack of respect for his assistant coaches, and a lack of commitment to the academic responsibilities of his players. Leavitt's made too many false promises to recruits and their families. This program needs someone else to take it to the next level.

USF fans never cease to amaze me with their stupidity... Calling for a coach to be fired because of a bad season is what dumb football fans do like dell and RSSmooth... It's time for the real loyal fans to get behind the team... say goodbye to the bandwagon

[Cat]

Yes, yesterday was ugly and hard to watch. Alas, sometimes a good butt-kicking can be motivating. Maybe the guys will come together and really work as a team. I saw scores from some other games that were blowouts yesterday (even in the top 25). It happens. It does seem that we don't get many breaks but oh well. Hopefully against UConn we can get in some situations that we can try some new things. I'll be watching. Go Bulls!

[Al]

Like someone else said, go to the game and have some beers and hotdogs and a good time. PS, there are ALOT of hot babes at Bulls games.

Posted by: Junior.Barnes | November 16, 2008 at 12:26 PM

*****************************************

I don't go to the game to drink beer, eat hot dogs, or look at hot babes...I go to watch quality football.

P.S. "ALOT" is not a word in the English language.

[Al]

Has CJL ever fired anyone on his coaching staff?

[Sarasota Ralph]

As I see it, CJL has one more year. I'm willing to believe that he expected better out of a veteran group, and didn't get it. He can't get the players to care. Heart begins with the student athlete. However, he can and must start disciplining players so that they'll appreciate their situation. Those of us who are alumni put money into the program, not because we want to buy victories, but because we support the program. I'm a second generation Bull, my son is generation 3. We both love the school, and back it. However, it is difficult to care about the football program if the players themselves don't seem to. CJL needs to look long and hard in the mirror when looking for answers.

[Matt]

This is as good as it is going to get for us until we can start recruiting the top tier players, not just the leftovers. We are left to recruit "athletes" which works at times but it will not take us to a BE title because for every Selvie there is a Denson and five more just like him. We lack the depth of talent that the true top 25 schools have. As for the defense, it just goes to show how valuable Mike, Trae and Ben were to us. Last year every run by an opponent seemed to end in the announcer saying "Tackle by No. 59." Wilson is nowhere close in quality. Our offense has always been hit or miss and will be as long as our offensive line is inconsistent and Grothe continues to miss open receivers. That being said I will be at every home game supporting my team, I hope to see all of you there

[Al]

Wow, how quickly the fans have turned. Wasn't that long ago that the Bulls and Leavitt walked on water, and the "fan base" was rejoicing in the fact that they were right up there with UF in the rankings (even if the Gators had a retard for a coach, who was really little more than a recruiting coordinator).

And now you're calling for Leavutt's head?

Perspective.

Get some.

Posted by: Dave | November 15, 2008 at 09:26 PM

***************************************

Only those wearing very thick green goggles bought into that crap...I've been saying that CLJ isn't the guy who will take USF to the next level.

He was a good "starter coach" but he really hasn't progressed since the Bulls moved into conference play in 2003, except in the salary department.

2003 5-3
2004 3-5
2005 4-3
2006 4-3
2007 4-3
2008 1-4

USF Deserves better.

[Junior.Barnes]

Yes, this team is undisciplined, and that fault is assigned to the coaching staff. Leavitt probably does need his walking papers. He hasn't a clue as to why this program continues to backslide? Jimmy has run his course here at USF. Time for some new blood. And, ditto on not giving up on the Bulls. That mentality is bush league. Like someone else said, go to the game and have some beers and hotdogs and a good time. PS, there are ALOT of hot babes at Bulls games.

[SMH]

The USF haters are out in full force. I don't think Leavitt has to go. If he goes, what a are our options? I think he really needs to evaluate his staff including himself as some of the decision making this season has been questionable (clock management, lack of adjustments). I understand some of the benefits of rotating players but I think sticking with your best 11 and some key subs is the best way to go. We need to use these last two games to experiment a bit. Lets see some two back sets with Kelly in front of Ford or Taylor.

[BullBard]

Grothe says he will play next week, but why not rest him for two weeks in hopes he can be healthy for West Virginia and see how the offense performs with Greg's boy at the helm? Seeing him fumble on our last offensive play was pitiful but it would put some real pressure on the Gregory chumps to produce for USF at a meaningful juncture. (help improve bowl game odds)

Regardless of the performance this season complacent support would be worse. NFL teams make money regardless, twelve year old football programs fighting for "the" talent in Florida requires support.

I personally do not see Leavitt or Burnham leaving but OC Gregory better find a way to improve this offense the next two games.

GO BULLS!!!

[CD]

You can't coach heart. This team has none.

Grothe threw numerous bad interceptions and setup Rutgers for most of their points. Its hard for the D to perform well when they are stuck on the field way too often. Grothe needs to sit down. Look at his TD - INT ratio. Its awful. This kid would not start on any good team.

[Reality]

As the real Reality, I agree with my namemate on most everything, except getting rid of Leavitt and benching Grothe, other than that, I am on board!

Gregory must go!

[Leavitt is a moron]

6 turnovers, missed field goal, blocked field goal, botched extra point, interception returned for a touchdown, 5 dirves inside Rutgers 30 for only 16 points. USF outgains Rutgers by 80 yards in the first half. Its hard to think you can win when you should have been up by 2 to 3 scores going into halftime. I'm amazed that USF had the ball down only 12 in the third when Hester fumbled. After everything they did to hamper themselves they should have lost this game by 90 points.

[Reality]

I cannot bear to watch USF play anymore. We are the laughing stock of the Big East. Jim Leavitt cannot coach special teams, does not know when to call time outs, does not know when to schedule bye weeks, cannot out coach Big East Coaches, is a poor recruitor, cannot discipline his team to avoid penalties, and does not know how to play the best players. Greg Gregory is great at getting big numbers against I-AA but numbers are near last in the Big East. Matt Grothe's time is up, he should be replaced by B.J Daniels. Even Wally Burnham is no longer untouchable. We have the worst corners in the Big East and the linebackers (except McKenzie) are not too good either. I am afraid that Leavitt has become another Eddie Cardieri. A little good at the beginning, then many years of subpar play that is inferior to other lower level Florida teams (UCF, Univ. of Tampa, Stetson, etc.). Get rid of Leavitt before it is too late. When you make the same mistakes week after week, it shows that you do not know what you are doing.

[Leavitt is a moron]

Sure the second half was disappointing, but so was the first half. USF drove inside the Rutgers 30 yard line five times and only came away with 16 points. USF should have been up so big that Rutgers would have never even been able to muster the hope to come back. I know the USF Defense sucked, but consistently watching your offense week after week fail to finish drives has to be disheartening for the defense.

[Don G]

BA, so, from someone that you say doesn't understand the game and is one of the "uneducated," I find an issue with your so called educated assessment. So, if USF plays teams that only run, Bulls will be just fine!? What!? Come on BA, think about that statement. Hmm, let's see about just scheduling teams that don't pass very well. Good luck!

[Don G]

Steve, I know what you mean about FSU & character and I felt the same, but that's the point. My comments were what I picked up from conversation with a recruits dad - not mine. That tells you a lot about USF's program when a recruit sees FSU as having players with better character than USF. If recruits take character & smarts into account, then this dad's point is valid. After UF, FSU & believe it or not, Miami, who's to say what type of players remain for Leavitt & staff to recruit? I'm not convinced that that's 100% accurate, but as I said, it must be considered when it comes from a recruit's family.

[Ken]

Clearly you non-USF fans are enjoying this moment, and some of the more fair-weather fans are jumping ship. It is bad now; it will be better.

[Ringo]

Leavitt has to go, thanks Brendan O'Leary

[DELdaBULL]

BA,

Running teams run it right down our throat (see Pitt, UL). Non running teams (RU) run for 127 yards. Our defense is very bad.
Most people (like myself) are upset because we see a team that lost 4 starters on defense and 2 on offense and therefore thought this could be aour best season (10 wins or better, 5-2 in Big East or better). Well we are nowhere near that. Actually we look as bad as that 4-7 squad from a few years ago. The only bad thing is this team is full of Juniors and Seniors instead of Sophomores and Freshmen.

Very dissappointing season. The coaches have lost the players with their lack of competence.

[Reality]

Isn't it sad when last year we couldnt stop the run, Ray Rice destroys us and now we can't stop the pass and Mike Teel destroys us. Could we not possibly scheme to make up for our deficiencies? Or maybe replace Tyler? If he is our best player back there, then we are in TROUBLE!

Leavitt, don't listen to these people, they are the same ones that want Stan Heath to stick around, so they don't know which coach needs to go!

[BA]

Relax. It's been a tough season and yesterday's game was no exception. Those who know and understand the game realize the thing RU does well (pass) is the thing we don't do well (cover). It's unfortunate the internet and blogs in general give the uneducated a voice.

The coaching staff does not need to be fired, nor do we need to stop recruiting our base. UConn should be a much different game as they run and we play the run well.

Go to the games and support the team and have a few beers with friends. BE and even a NC will come with time.

Go Bulls!

Go Bulls!

[Ric]

when we joined the Big East they said the strength of the conference was down and that it would take time for teams to get stronger. Although the BE is still the weakest BCS conference, it's evident we are falling behind, being outplayed and outcoahed. And the gap is going to grow wider next year. Watch out for Syracuse next year in the dome.

[Steve]

DonG,

not as quality character guys as FSU? Are you smoking crack? 5 FSU players were suspended tonight for getting into an on campus brawl where an innocent bystander was hit with a chair... not to mention the massive cheating scandal, or parker who was caught with a semi-automatic weapon and pot in his car...

Yeah, those are the kind of 'character' guys I want...

And I know you didn't put 'character' and Miami in the same sentence... You gotta get a better example than that buddy...

[702JV]

Observations:

Play-calling terrible

Rotating RBs every series = no rhythm for offense

Every yr our WRs continue to fumble

Offensive Line was overmatched

LBs got beat nearly on every play

Special Teams gives up kick returns for 40 and 50 yards all yr

Grothe clearly lost his confidence

Tackling is horrible, Murphy didnt even try to wrap up the WR on the 93 yard play

GA, can you ask CJL what his answers would be to these observations. Since he doesnt know what happened I thought I would point out the obvious. These are answers I think Bulls fans should hear CJL provide.

[Al]

Since entering the Big East in 2005, here's Leavitt's record against conference rivals:

1-3 vs Cincinnati
1-2 vs Connecticut*
1-3 vs Louisville
2-2 vs Pittsburgh
1-3 vs Rutgers
4-0 vs Syracuse
2-1 vs West Virginia*

That's 12-14 with two games left this year. If we lose out, which is likely, USF will be 12-16 in its first four years in the Big East. While Leavitt has managed a couple of upsets each year, is a .429 conference record acceptable?

Posted by: Marty | November 15, 2008 at 10:20 PM

****************************************I'm I'm not going to spend the time to look at the rest of your figures, but your USF vs Louisville W-L record is WRONG

USF vs UL
Big East
2005 USF 45 UL 14 H Won
2006 USF 08 UL 31 A Lost
2007 USF 55 UL 17 H Won
2008 USF 20 UL 24 A Lost

[Jay]

No discipline. Lack of unity. I saw many a time, players give up on a play. Good teams do not give up. Hear me? Good teams.

Decide how you want to be remembered Bulls!

[USF95]

This program is done. I hated college football before USF and now I hate it again. I am done with USF and college football for good. College football is rinky dink football. Pro is king in this country and always will be. Just look at the TV ratings. GO BUCS! I hope Leavitt is enjoying that $1,500,000 a year because he is certainly the most overpaid coach in the nation. This just opened up my Saturdays again during football seasons for more enjoyable past times like the boating and fishing and golf in the Florida sunshine. One day a week is plenty of football for me and that is Sundays with the highest level of football. PRO!

[Kool-Aid-Drinking-Bulls-Fan]

Some of you people need to calm down.

I don't see why you think the season is lost. I'm pretty sure the Big East's BCS berth is still within our reach.

Last time I checked, there is a chance all seven of the other conference teams are hit with an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague, thus rendering them incapacitated and unable to represent the Big East in a BCS bowl.

So just chill, guys. We're still sitting pretty.

Leavitt is getting just what he deserves...a losing season. The way he talks to these young men and the way he behaves on and off the field is DISGUSTING!!!! He is a piss pour excuse of an individual and a dissapointment. And we wonder why college athletes are messed up, go figure look what kind of example or lack of they have up in front of them every day!!! His athletes dispise him his staff is embarrased and discusted by his behavior. Jim Leavitt deserves NO RESPECT!!!!!!

[Marty]

Since entering the Big East in 2005, here's Leavitt's record against conference rivals:

1-3 vs Cincinnati
1-2 vs Connecticut*
1-3 vs Louisville
2-2 vs Pittsburgh
1-3 vs Rutgers
4-0 vs Syracuse
2-1 vs West Virginia*

That's 12-14 with two games left this year. If we lose out, which is likely, USF will be 12-16 in its first four years in the Big East. While Leavitt has managed a couple of upsets each year, is a .429 conference record acceptable?

[Don G]

Dave, I've gone to nearly all home games since USF started playing football and have been a season ticket holder the last 3 seasons. While that doesn't make me an expert on USF, I have to say that 3 years ago me and my buds (8 of us) have had the same feeling about Leavitt's lack of real coaching ability. Let's see, since Bulls went 6-0 last season, they're 8-8 against 1-A teams. Of those 8 wins, 5 were against Syracuse (2x), UCF, FIU & NC ST - hardly good teams. Last 8 yrs, USF is the ONLY team in NCAA to finish in top-10 in penalties in each of the last 8 yrs (# of yrs USF has been in 1-A). Of those last 8yrs, Bulls have had all new players and new OC & DC, but only common factor has been Leavitt. He may not be the only problem with this team, but I think he is a problem. So, at least look for a new OC next year. Next yr is a rebuilding yr. Grothe will need to share duties wth B.J. Daniels or be demoted to backup behind B.J. to allow Daniels experience for his final 3-yrs after next (2010-2012) when USF should be competitive again.

USF is clearly not as good as the team or their idiot fans thought they were.

UF, FSU and Miami are the big three.

USF belongs with FAU, UCF and the other midlevel state schools.