Back To Where It All Started

Football USF

Back To Where It All Started

by Charles Terenzio, USF Athletics Communications

TAMPA- It was New Year's Eve in 2005. The USF football team was coming off its inaugural season as a member of the BIG EAST Conference, and the Bulls boasted a 6-4 record just nine short years after starting a football program.

The University of South Florida football program had always had lofty goals, but the team's trip to Charlotte for the Meineke Car Care Bowl was a monumental step for a program in their first season of BCS level football.

Fast forward six years, and the Bulls are heading back to Charlotte to take part in same bowl they played in years ago.

Throughout those six years, a lot has changed for the green and gold, but there have been a few constants.

USF, after making their first-ever trip to a bowl in 2005, have now been to a bowl game in all six seasons since, including three bowl wins in that span.

Many players have come and gone since the last trip to Charlotte, but there is one member of the 2010 roster that has been a part of the magical ride since that 2005 season.

Moise Plancher, the Bulls' senior running back joined USF for the 2005 season as a true freshman, and has been an intricate member of the team in 2010. He can recall USF's first trip to the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

"It was really exciting," Plancher said. "Coming in there, I didn't play much, but I travelled every game."

Plancher got the opportunity to learn from one of the most decorated backs in program history, Andre Hall.

Hall is USF's all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards per game, and was instrumental in helping to groom the young Plancher during his senior season in 2005.

"I watched everything that he did," Plancher said. "I took every tip that he gave me. He was a great player."

Hall, who spent the past five seasons in the National Football League, is currently with Omaha in the United football league, and helped to show Plancher what it took to be successful at the college level.

"It was a great experience rooming with him and having him teach me the ropes," Plancher said.

When Hall left for the NFL in 2006, Plancher was primed to help carry the load at running back, but a torn ACL knocked him out for the year in the opening game of the season.

Plancher battled through, and eventually returned from the knee injury in time for the 2007 season, one in which the Bulls rose to No. 2 in the country, but Plancher had to fight for playing time in a crowded backfield.

"Back then, I was just a young Bull. I was just trying to watch those guys and get them ready in practice," Plancher said. "I was trying to take all the reps that I could and better myself."

Plancher increased his production in 2008, and led the running backs with 581 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 2009.

After five seasons with the Bulls, Plancher earned an opportunity to keep playing after being granted a sixth year by the NCAA for his medical hardships.

The 2010 season began with the coaching changes, and so the 2010 team looked to Plancher and the seniors for guidance and leadership.

"There are times in practice when I sit back and try to coach the younger guys," Plancher said. "They ask me questions, and I can tell them what they did wrong. I try and go out there everyday, whether it is in the morning or the rain or the cold, to try and get better. I try and keep myself motivated and look at the big picture."

Plancher and the Bulls fought their way to a 7-5 record, including another historic season, one in which Plancher led the Bulls in rushing yards, for the first time in his career.

A win over in-state rival Miami gave the Bulls seven wins and earned them a return trip to Charlotte to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

"When you lose a few games or a few conference games, we still expect to go to a bowl game. We strive for greatness, and we expect to be good," Plancher said.

In 2005, the Bulls faced off against a tough defensive front with NFL talent, and this year Plancher will get to follow in Hall's footsteps to face the tough defensive front of Clemson.

"It was really exciting back then to face Mario Williams and the other great players on their line," explained Plancher. "It is going to be equally as tough this year, because Bowers is a top-five pick from what I hear. His talent shows on film. The other guys on that defensive line you can't take anything from, because they are always penetrating a disrupting the plays. Their whole front four has been doing a great job as far as I have seen on film."

Now, Plancher returns to the location of his and USF's first bowl game, and as always, he is just hoping for a good team performance and the opportunity to get better.

"I just want to play the best possible game that I can and put in a great effort," Plancher said. "And, hopefully we end the game with a win."
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Players Mentioned

Moise Plancher

#3 Moise Plancher

RB
5' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Moise Plancher

#3 Moise Plancher

5' 8"
Senior
RB