USF Athletics

Louk's Closer Look: Game 2

August 29, 2017

USF FB GAME NOTES - vs. Stony Brook

By JIM LOUK
Voice of the Bulls

TAMPA, AUG. 29, 2017 - Come on, you weren't really worried.
 
We've seen the Bulls get behind in plenty of games over the years, and when it happens, the feeling isn't always the same.  Sometimes you know it's going to be a hard road back, sometimes it just feels like a matter of time before things get rolling.  A lot about how you feel has to do with what you think about the team's makeup and abilities. 
 
When USF was down, 16-0, to San Jose State last week, none of us were very happy and a few folks were pretty apprehensive. 
 
But the simple fact is, there is so much talent on this team, and so much resolve, the situation never seemed desperate.  It reminded me of USF-Syracuse in the Carrier Dome in 2016; down multiple scores early with nothing going right. 
 
The Bulls came back in that 2016 game as well. When your offense can score in a flash and your defense can take the ball away, things tend to get straightened out, as they did in California last week.
 
That doesn't mean there won't be any challenging moments ahead, but we probably should just remember a few of those panicky USF-San Jose tweets before getting too upset next time.
 
Now, we welcome the Stony Brook Seawolves to town for their second visit to Raymond James Stadium.  A little preparation for this week's water cooler discussions:
 

• The first visit by Stony Brook was on Sept. 4, 2010, the first game of Skip Holtz's USF tenure.

• The Bulls won, 59-14, that day and wasted little time getting started.  B.J. Daniels hit Dontavia Bogan for a 59 yard touchdown pass on the very first play from scrimmage.
• Despite that dramatic first play, it wasn't a fast start for the Bulls. Stony Brook led, 14-7, at one point before the Bulls closed with 52 unanswered points.  The game marked Stony Brook's first-ever matchup against an FBS opponent.
•  The Bulls have won their last three home openers and are 19-1 overall. The sole home opener loss occurred in 2013.
•  USF is a perfect 2-0 on Sept. 2. The Bulls beat Jacksonville State, 40-0, on Sept. 2, 2000, and they beat McNeese State, 41-10, on Sept. 2, 2006.
•  Look for the running game to get rolling again. The Bulls ran a team record 101 plays against San Jose State, and 74 of them were runs (also a USF record).
•  Quinton Flowers scored his 31^st career rushing touchdown last week.  If he gets another one this week, he'll tie Marlon Mack for the USF all-time lead with 32.
•  The Bulls will try to keep an impressive streak going; they've scored 30 or more points in 18 straight games. The last time they didn't, they still won the game, 22-17, over East Carolina on Nov. 7, 2015.

 
Television coverage will be on ESPN3, beginning at 4 p.m. On the radio, we'll begin at 2 p.m. Eastern time with the pre-game on AM-820 in Tampa, with affiliates FM-99.9 in Brooksville, AM-1070 in Port Charlotte/Ft. Myers, and 106.9-FM in Sarasota.  We'll also be live on USF Bulls Unlimited through the iHeart app and on GoUSFBulls.com as well. 
 
I hope you can join us at the stadium Saturday. A season that could be special will be even more memorable with some good home crowds. The Bulls have a road game after this, so don't miss the opportunity to spend part of your Labor Day weekend with USF Football.
 
GO BULLS!