USF Athletics

Louk's Closer Look: Catch War on I-4 Clash Friday at Ray Jay

November 21, 2018

NEXT GAME: No. 8/9 UCF (10-0, 7-0 in AAC) at USF (7-4, 3-4 in AAC)
DAY/TIME: Friday/4:15 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV: ESPN
RADIO: 820-AM, 98.3-FM, Bulls Unlimited
FOLLOW: Live stats | Twitter
GAME NOTES: USF | UCF
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com



By JIM LOUK
Voice of the Bulls
 
TAMPA, NOV. 21, 2018 – It's War on I-4 week! This game has blossomed into a highly anticipated annual event, and the day after Thanksgiving has proven to be a great date to build tradition. 
 
Even though the Bulls fell short, 49-42, in last year's game, the consensus among many people was that it was one of the most entertaining games of 2017.
 
A game like this pits friends against friends and high school teammates against high school teammates.  There are few secrets heading into these kinds of matchups, and emotions will be high. That's part of the fun.
 
This will be the 10^th meeting between the Bulls and the Knights, and the series has had some moments.  Here's a little background on the teams:
 

• The all-time series with UCF stands at 6-3 in favor of the Bulls. The teams played four consecutive years from 2005 to 2008, and then resumed the game in 2013.
• USF won the first four games, including a 64-12 victory in 2007.  Also included in that time frame was the only USF-UCF game ever played at the Citrus Bowl, won by the Bulls, 24-17, in 2006.
• There have been five games played since the series resumed, with UCF winning three of them. The Knights handed USF a rare shutout loss in 2014.
• Like the Bulls, the Knights have been to nine bowl games. They are 4-5 overall, including wins in the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl.
• UCF's first season of football was 1979. The Knights have had feast or famine at times, enduring three winless seasons (1982, 2004 and 2015) but also enjoying an undefeated season (2017) that they are close to replicating this year.
• The Knights started as a Division III independent, moving to Division II status in 1982. They moved to the FCS in 1990, and to the FBS in 1996. Past conferences include the MAC (2002-2004) and Conference USA (2005-2012).
• This is Senior Day for the Bulls, with 18 players being honored. This senior class is the winningest in USF history, with 36 victories in the past four years. Learn more HERE.
• Bulls linebacker Khalid McGee (Miami) has 90 tackles in 10 games this season.  If he can get 10 more, he'll have the 15^th 100 tackle season in USF football history.
• With 1,065 yards rushing, Jordan Cronkrite (Miami) now has the seventh-best individual rushing season in Bulls history. He'd move to sixth with 14 more yards, but would need nearly 500 additional yards to catch single-season leader Quinton Flowers (1,530 in 2016).
• With 56 catches, Tyre McCants (Niceville, Fla.) now has the third highest single-season total in Bulls history. He trails only Rodney Adams (67 in 2016) and Hugh Smith (62 in 2002).

 
Kickoff will be at 4:15 p.m., with TV coverage on ESPN. We'll begin on the radio side at 2:15 with the pre-game AM-820, 96.7-FM (Hillsborough), 98.3-FM (Pinellas) and USF Bulls Unlimited through the iHeart Radio app. 
 
While the last few weeks haven't gone as we might have wished, I hope you'll come out and support the Bulls in this big game. The seniors in particular deserve it; all those wins over the years are impressive, and the fact that the team will soon go to a fourth consecutive bowl game is a testament to the work this class has put in.
 
After this one is done, the Bulls will wait a few days for their bowl assignment. This year's bowl game will be the 10^th in the 22 seasons of the program.
 
Rivalry game. The best possible time to show your USF pride. See you Friday.
 
Horns up!
 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
 
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.