Louk's Closer Look: USF-Georgia Tech Part II
NEXT GAME: USF (0-1) at Georgia Tech (0-1)
DAY/TIME: Saturday/2 p.m.
LOCATION: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
TV/RADIO: ACC Network/95.3-FM, 620-AM, Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: USF leads, 1-0 (49-38 win in 2018)
By JIM LOUK
Voice of the Bulls
TAMPA, SEPT. 5, 2019 – After the season opener didn't go the way we wanted, it's good to get right back at it with another challenge. This week, the Bulls take a rare trip to the state of Georgia for a game against Georgia Tech. It will be a rematch of one of USF's most exciting wins of 2018.
Here are some random facts to get you ready for Week 2:
- It's a little hard to believe, but this will be only the second time USF has played in the state of Georgia, and you have to go a long way back for the first game. The Bulls played in Statesboro, Ga., on Nov. 14, 1998, dropping a 28-23 decision to Georgia Southern.
- Sept. 7 has not been a busy day in Bulls history. USF is 1-1, with a win over Northern Illinois (2002) and a loss to Michigan State (2013).
Many Bulls fans remember the first USF-Georgia Tech game as the Terrence Horne game. He had touchdowns on consecutive kickoff returns (97 and 98 yards) and also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass.- What is sometimes forgotten about that game was the Bulls fourth-quarter comeback. USF scored the final 21 points of the game to overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit. It was the team's fourth straight win over a Power Five conference foe.
- Georgia Tech's head coach is Geoff Collins, who has coached against the Bulls while leading Temple's program. It's his third tenure at Georgia Tech. He was previously an assistant coach and later director of player personnel.
- Georgia Tech is in somewhat of a transition this year as it moves away from the triple option. Georgia Tech also is very young, with only 11 seniors on the roster.
- The Yellow Jackets have been good on special teams. They have blocked 19 kicks since 2013, seventh best in the FBS. Ironically Collins' old team, Temple, leads the nation in that time span with 25.
- Bobby Dodd Stadium, the home field of Georgia Tech, seats 55,000. Football has been played at its site since 1905. It took stadium form in 1913, and was re-named for the popular former coach in 1988. It was the site of the famous 222-0 win over Cumberland in 1916.
The Bulls are 8-10 all-time against the ACC. Georgia Tech will be USF's first ACC road opponent since 2016, when the Bulls beat Syracuse, 45-20.
Our first hour of radio pregame will be exclusive to USF Bulls Unlimited. Download the free iHeart radio app, search for us, and you'll hear USF Athletics from anywhere in the world.
The second hour of the pregame and the game itself will be on AM 1250 as well as Unlimited. We begin at noon on Saturday. Soon the games will move to 95.3 FM and AM 620, but Week 2 will be on AM 1250 WHNZ. TV coverage will be on the new ACC Network.
It will be good to get back to work. Don't forget the Bulls are home again next Saturday. Horns Up!
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.
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
– #GoBulls –
