Find a spot on the couch, fire up the high definition television and your laptop and get ready for a day full of USF Athletics. The best part may be that you day is lined up perfectly with men's basketball tipping off at Noon, women's basketball at 2 p.m. and former USF wide receiver Taurus Johnson taking part in the East-West Shrine Game at 4 p.m. Eastern.
Don't forget to check GoUSFBulls.com late Saturday for results from the Track team at the Indiana Invitational.
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
January 16 |
TJ Making a Splash at the East West Shrine Game
Former Bulls wideout Taurus Johnson is raising his draft stock at the 84th
East-West Shrine Game practices. His performance at this week's practices has turned a few heads as the Cape Coral High School product looks to continue his football career at the next level in preparation for the 2009 NFL Draft.
Johnson had 38 receptions for 498 yards and six touchdowns in 2008. He completed his career as one of the most accomplished receivers in USF history. His career totals in touchdowns (12), receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,434) are all among the top three in USF history.
Check out what the the people in the know are saying about No.89.
"South Florida WR Taurus Johnson: Did not catch my attention on the first day but started off very well on Tuesday. Caught the ball well several times in traffic and won the majority of his one-on-one match-ups. Still not sure of his straight-line speed, but he showed some suddenness and an ability to make catches in tight coverage."-
National Football Post.com's John Murphy
"Wide receiver Taurus Johnson of South Florida had a productive week of practice. He's got real good hands and has good awareness. Any time he had an opportunity to catch the ball along the sidelines, he did a good job getting his feet down. I really thought he stood out down here."
- NFL Scout Todd Brunner of 49ers.com
"Johnson shows the quick footwork to accelerate and reach full speed in a blink and the speed to separate on downfield routes. His quickness and agility help him change direction to create space. He shows the hands, leaping ability and concentration to catch passes over defensive backs."
-Russ Lande of the Sporting News
Be sure to check out Johnson in the annual East West Shrine Game on Saturday as he turns his patented No. 89 for No. 81. The game will be aired live on ESPN2 at 4 p.m.
Make sure to mark down these important dates this winter/spring for USF football:
Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 4 p.m. - National Signing Day Press Conference (BIG EAST Room)
Monday, March 9 ? First Spring football practice (USF)
Friday, March 13 ? Pro Day (USF Soccer and Track Stadium)
Saturday, April 11 ? USF Spring Game (Raymond James Stadium)
Daily Links
? Brian Bennett, ESPN's BIG EAST Blogger, names Matt Grothe and George Selvie as the BIG EAST's Top Two players for the 2009 season as both are being tabbed as the faces of the conference.
? WIth George Selvie returning for his senior season, Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com lists the Bulls as winners in terms of retaining underclassmen. He writes,"The Bulls kept their most visible player, junior defensive end George Selvie, who overcame an ankle injury and constant double-teams to record 5? sacks in 2008.
The only repeat All-American in South Florida history, Selvie had 25? sacks the past three seasons. Even after his injury-plagued junior campaign, Selvie was projected as a potential first-round pick. "
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
January 15 |
Daily Links
? Greg Auman breaks down the women's loss to No. 7 Louisville. Auman writes,"Ranked opponents have given the USF women trouble this season, but not as much as free throws on Wednesday night.
The Bulls gave No. 7 Louisville a scare, cutting an 18-point lead to six with six minutes to play, but a frustrating 14-for-28 night at the line doomed USF in a 76-60 loss at the Sun Dome."
? Rob Biertempfel, a Times Correspondent, writes,"USF conquered the snow. It did not have as much success against top-ranked Pittsburgh.
Wednesday's game at the Petersen Events Center tipped off 25 minutes late because USF's team bus got stuck in a rush-hour snow squall. The delay seemed to have a greater effect on Pitt, which led by just four at halftime."
? Brett McMurphy writes that the Bulls couldn't duplicate their upset of two years ago as he writes,"Two years ago when Louisville brought a nationally ranked one-loss team to Tampa, the Cardinals left town with an upset loss to the University of South Florida.
Wednesday, the No. 7-ranked Cardinals survived their trip to the Sun Dome, defeating the Bulls 76-60."
? Tony Defazio, a Tribune Correspondent, writes "Despite a valiant effort and big games by their big guns, South Florida fell to No. 1 Pitt 75-62 at the Petersen Events Center on Wednesday night."
? The USF Oracle Sports Section has recaps of both men's and women's games and a preview of men's tennis's matchup with No. 11 Florida State on Monday.
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
January 14 |
Daily Links
? In his preview of the Bulls match-up at No. 1 Pittsburgh, Brett McMurphy believes tonight's game, despite being a huge challenge, is a great oppurtunity for the Bulls. He writes," There are Top 25-ranked teams. And then there is the No. 1-ranked team.
"One is unique," University of South Florida coach Stan Heath said. "The other [rankings] are impressive, don't get me wrong. No. 1 has a little more uniqueness to it."
No. 1 is dead ahead for the Bulls. Wednesday night, USF (6-9, 1-2 Big East) visits No. 1 ranked Pittsburgh (15-0, 3-0) at 7 (ESPNU)."
? McMurphy takes a look at women's hoops match-up against the No. 7 Louisville Cardinals, the Bulls third game against a Top 10 team, tonight at the Sun Dome. He writes,"Tonight's game pits contrasting styles: one of nation's top offenses against one of the nation's stingiest defenses.
USF has the nation's third-highest scoring team (86.3 points), while Louisville ranks seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense (opponents are shooting only 33.6 percent) and 10th in scoring defense (53.1 points allowed)."
? Greg Auman features the friendship between USF's Chris Howard and Augustus Gilchrist and Pitt forward Sam Young, who together won back to back state championships at Friendly High School. Auman writes," Chris Howard and Sam Young won two state championships together in high school, and it's a rare day that the USF point guard doesn't trade phone calls or motivational text messages with Pittsburgh's athletic forward.
"That's my best friend, like a brother to me," Howard said. "We talk every day, communicate maybe four or five times a day."
Young is the leading scorer on the No. 1 team in college basketball, and Howard is trying to guide USF into what would be the biggest upset in school history. The two probably won't trade calls today, but will talk back and forth, up and down the court, the length of the game, pushing each other's buttons."
? Auman previews both the Men's and Women's Games, as both take on Top 10 foes.
? Kerry Klecic of the Oracle takes a look at tonight's game at Pitt. He writes," Minutes after South Florida's 80-58 victory over DePaul on Saturday, sophomore guard Dominique Jones sat in the locker room with a determined look on his face. He chose not to celebrate.
? Alex Cobb of the Oracle believes that the women's team understands the grind that is the BIG EAST Conference schedule. He writes,"Hard, grinding games are staples in the Big East.
Including tonight's opponent, the only team without a winning record on USF's remaining schedule is Providence (7-9), who the Bulls play Jan. 20."
? John Grupp of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review writes,"South Florida was picked to finish last, again, in the 16-team Big East, but don't blame the Bulls' backcourt.
South Florida's talented guards will be the defensive focus for Pitt when the No. 1 Panthers (15-0, 3-0 Big East) play host to South Florida (6-9, 1-2) tonight at Petersen Events Center."
? The AP Preview of the Men's game.
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
January 13 |
Daily Links
? Greg Auman has an intresting piece in his blog.He writes,"Now, we can look at the most recent figures -- through Dec. 1, 2008 -- and see that USF has moved ahead of Central Florida to No. 5 among the state's college license plates. Here's a chart showing the total registrations in November 2006 and December 2008. USF has easily the largest percentage growth -- up 50 percent in two years, when the closest rival is Florida, up 20.2 percent from what was the state's biggest total two years earlier. Of the nine top state programs with football teams, you'll see that four of them -- including Florida State and Miami -- actually have fewer license plates than they did in 2006."
? Greg Auman's Blog
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? John Antonik of Mountaineer SportsNet tabs the Bulls as the early preseason favorite. He writes,"With the early defections, look for USF to nab top preseason honors in 2009 with quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie returning. Both players considered leaving but did not get grades good enough to warrant early departures. "
? Joe Rienzi of the Oracle thinks that USF should beware of scheduling . He writes,"Last week there was a pretty big announcement from USF Athletics ? the Bulls and the Florida State Seminoles signed a two-game football deal with the first game on Sept. 26.
There was a lot of hoopla around campus. Naturally, after the series was announced, it took all of two seconds for Facebook groups to pop up, and status bars to read things like: “Looks like FSU finally found the courage.”
Well, the only thing I can say to people like that is: Be careful what you wish for."
? Kerry Klecic reports that former USF women's soccer captain will be heading to Europe to continue her soccer career. He writes,"Former South Florida women's soccer captain Jeannette Dyer left Tampa on Tuesday to continue her professional playing career in Germany.
Dyer, who graduated this fall, will have her board and transportation compensated for, as well as a stipend of 800 euros (about $1,100) a month playing for TSV Crailsheim of the German Women's Bundesliga."
? Oracle Sports Editor Kerry Klecic's Blog
| GoUSFBulls.com Daily News Wire |
January 12 |
Former Bulls wide receiver Taurus Johnson begins preparation for the 2009 East-West Shrine Game on Monday. Johnson and the East Team will hold their first practice Monday from 1:30-3 p.m. The annual event is an opportunity for seniors that have exhausted their college eligibility to showcase their skills to scouts and team executives prior to the 2008 NFL Combine and 2009 NFL Draft.
Johnson was a late addition to the East roster. Coincidentally, he joined the roster the same day fellow former Bull Tyrone McKenzie dropped out of the event to participate in the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl.
Johnson had 38 receptions for 498 yards and six touchdowns in 2008. He completed his career as one of the most accomplished receivers in USF history. His career totals in touchdowns (12), receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,434) are all among the top three in USF history.
The game will be aired live on ESPN2, Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern. Stay tuned to GoUSFBulls.com as we canvas the media coverage of the event for tidbits on Johnson's efforts and performance this week.
Daily Links
? The St. Petersburg TImes staff reporter recaps women's basketball's thrilling 81-71 overtime win over St. John's saturday night. He writes," Senior center Jessica Lawson had USF's first six points in overtime, finishing with 19 on 8-for-10 shooting, and the Bulls edged St. John's 81-71 on Saturday night at the Sun Dome.
The Bulls went 7-for-8 on free throws in overtime after struggles there allowed St. John's to tie the score late in regulation."
? St. Petersburg Times Correspondant highlights the men's big road win Chicago saturday afternoon over Depaul. He writes,"When first asked how he felt after Saturday's game with DePaul, South Florida guard Dominique Jones said "cold."
For the previous two hours, Jones and his teammates did their best to bring Chicago's snowy chill inside the Allstate Arena, icing the Blue Demons for an 80-58 victory. USF's second-ever Big East road victory is among the biggest in coach Stan Heath's two seasons.
Rivals.com has the Bulls tabbed in at No. 24 in their 2009 Early Preseason Poll
? Greg Auman's Blog
? The Tribune Wire report recaps the Bulls overtime win over St. John's.
? Brett McMurphy's Blog
? Kelli Polson of the USF Oracle highlights the men's tennis team and their weekend as host of the USF Invitational.
? Kerry Klecic of the USF Oracle writes,"It was 29 degrees, windy and snowing in Chicago on Saturday, but it didn't take long for South Florida to heat up Allstate Arena.
Sparked by its first half performance, USF scored a season-high 80 points and won its Big East road opener 80-58 at DePaul University in front of a crowd of 7,422."
? Alex Cobb of the Oracle looks back at the Bulls win over the Redstorm. He writes,"South Florida senior guard Shantia Grace scored the last two points in overtime to seal the win, but she could have ended Saturday night's game five minutes earlier.
Grace hit two free throws as time dwindled in overtime to capture USF's first Big East victory with an 81-71 win over the St. John's Red Storm at the Sun Dome.
“It's a lot of pressure, having to make free throws down the stretch,” Grace said. “It's either you take your time and make it, or you put your head down and miss.”
