Seniors Hope to Make More Memories in Final Game at Ray Jay
NEXT GAME: USF (4-6, 2-4) vs. No. 18 Memphis (9-1, 5-1)
DAY/TIME: Saturday/4 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV/RADIO: ESPNU/USF Radio Network:
Over the Air: WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM &
Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: Memphis leads, 5-4. USF won last meeting, 49-42, at Memphis in 2016
PURCHASE TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com
GAME NOTES: USF (PDF)
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, NOV. 19, 2019 – Time flies when you're having fun and that's certainly been the case for
Kirk Livingstone.
The defensive end from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., arrived at USF as an aspiring college football player during the summer of 2015. Before he knew it, four years flew by and suddenly Livingstone is preparing for his final game as a Bull at Raymond James Stadium.
Prior to USF's 4 p.m. matchup with No. 18 Memphis on Saturday, Livingstone and 16 other seniors will be commended for their contributions to a proud program that's on a run of four straight bowl appearances.
"I'm happy, but I'm also sad," Livingstone said Tuesday. "It will be my last time going out there with the guys and things like that – walking out the tunnel, just embracing that, and being with the team in the locker room, embracing things like that."
Livingstone and many other Bulls in the senior class have been a part of an exciting era for the program. From 2015-18, USF accomplished its most successful stretch yet, winning 70.5 percent of its games (36-15), including bowl victories over two Power 5 opponents (Texas Tech, South Carolina).
Seniors like Livingstone, right guard
William Atterbury (Clearwater, Fla.), right tackle
Marcus Norman (Sebastian, Fla.), tight end
Mitchell Wilcox (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), defensive end
Greg Reaves (Bradenton, Fla.), linebacker
Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.),
Trevon Sands (Miami) and receiver
Stanley Clerveaux (North Miami) played a part in USF's two winningest seasons (11-2 in 2016, 10-2 in 2017).
Aside from on-the-field accomplishments, 11 members of the senior class have already earned their college degree. Seniors also help make up a total of 16 Bulls slated to receive their bachelor's or master's degrees during commencement ceremonies this December.
"Hopefully we leave (the program) in good hands, just with the way that we've worked and shown the younger guys what to do and what not to do," said Livingstone, a spring 2019 graduate and
2019 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
After starting Saturday with special moments, USF's seniors hope to lead a late-season surge that results in a fifth straight postseason appearance by the Bulls. USF needs to win both remaining regular season games to make it happen and the first order of business is taking care of the talented Tigers.
"Memphis is a great, great team. They have great players," Livingstone said. "I remember playing them back in 2016. We were able to pull out a close, close win."
Livingstone said his favorite USF football memory yet was during his redshirt year in 2015. Fans celebrated on the Raymond James Stadium turf long after the Bulls routed No. 21 Temple, 44-23, to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.
"That's kind of when the program changed. Just seeing all the fans storm the field and the excitement there was great," Livingstone said. "That's my first time seeing the fans storm the field. I was kind of in amazement."
Another big celebration would be in store for the Bulls at Ray Jay on Saturday if they can post their first victory over a ranked opponent since 2016.
"Being my last time there just playing, it would definitely be great to come out with the win," Livingstone said.
Like Livingstone, Freshman Joiner Wants to Leave His Mark
With 31.0 career tackles for loss, senior defensive end
Kirk Livingstone needs 1.5 more to end his accomplished collegiate career in USF's top 10.
On the other side of the ball, promising freshman
Kelley Joiner Jr. is starting to leave his mark on the program. The versatile running back from Clermont, Fla., ranks third on the team with 226 rushing yards after registering a career-high 72 yards on the ground and leading the Bulls with 121 all-purpose yards last week against No. 17 Cincinnati.
"It's very exciting," Joiner said. "Going into the rest of my career, I expect to be a threat for USF in special teams and offense, wherever they want to put me at."
Through his first nine college games, Joiner is averaging 5.0 yards per carry and 13.2 yards per catch in what's turned out to be a surprise season for the former South Lake High School standout. As a prep senior, Joiner rushed for 1,005 yards and 17 touchdowns in just three games before suffering a broken right leg that ended his season.
"Honestly, I thought I was going to redshirt coming into here," he said. "I was gonna work on getting strength back in my leg, but they're using me."
Joiner has definitely gotten stronger since working with USF's strength staff and he's showcased his 11-second, 100-yard dash speed on numerous explosive plays, like his 51-yard run against South Carolina State and 49-yard reception against the Bearcats.
"He just needs the reps and the more that he gets, he's gonna be just unbelievable," head coach
Charlie Strong said.
Bulls Bits
HORNS UP RALLY SET FOR FRIDAY: Get ready for game day by attending the final Horns Up Rally of the season that's set for Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Park & Rec (100 4th Street) in St. Petersburg. The free USF fan gathering will feature appearances from Rocky the Bull and the USF Spirit Squads, the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, DJ'd music, interactive games for all ages, a Kids and Photo Zone, merchandise tents and promotional giveaways. Learn more HERE.
MACON HAS HIS MIND ON MEMPHIS: Senior linebacker Patrick Macon still leads USF in tackles (67) this season despite missing last week's game with an ankle injury. Head coach Charlie Strong is hopeful Macon will return for Saturday's action. "He wants to play because he's from Memphis and knows a lot of these guys," Strong said Monday. "I think he'll do everything that he can to work to get back."
McCLOUD MAKING PROGRESS: Redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan McCloud has set a new career high in passing yards in two straight games after completing 18 of 27 throws for 267 yards and a touchdown against No. 17 Cincinnati. "If you protect the quarterback and just give him a throwing lane, he can make the throws," Strong said. "He made some big ones there Saturday." Against the 9-1 Bearcats, McCloud stretched the field with completions to Randall St. Felix (55 yards), Kelley Joiner Jr. (49 yards), Eddie McDoom (41 yards) and Xavier Weaver (37 yards).
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed just its 22nd season of football, and 19th at the FBS level, the USF football program has earned 10 bowl appearances, including a current run of four straight, and owns a record of 6-3 in bowl games. The Bulls have appeared in the national top 25 rankings in each of the past three seasons, including a program record run of 20 straight weeks in the top 25, and in 2018 reached the program's 150th win faster than any FBS program in state of Florida history. USF has posted a pair of 10-plus win seasons in the last three years, including a program-record 11 wins (11-2) in 2016, and logged 15 winning seasons overall. Since first taking the field in 1997, the USF program has reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings (2007), seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 29 earn first-team all-conference selection.
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– #GoBulls –
