Keys to Victory: Bulls Seek Turnovers vs. Tulsa
USF (1-4; 0-1 American) vs Tulsa (2-4; 1-1 American)
Saturday, Oct. 16 • 12:00 P.M. • Tampa, Fla. • Raymond James Stadium (65,857)
SURFACE: Tifway Bermuda
TV: ESPNU: Mike Couzens (p-by-p) & Dustin Fox (analyst)
RADIO: 95.3 FM/620 AM WDAE
AUDIO STREAM: iHeartRadio - Bulls Unlimited1
SERIES: USF leads, 3-1
IN TAMPA: Tied, 1-1
IN TULSA: USF leads, 2-0
LAST: Tulsa won, 42-13, in Tampa in 2020
ON ESPNU: 27-14
GAME NOTES (PDF)
By Joey Johnston
The USF Bulls have been working hard for their touchdowns, averaging 70.8 yards on their last eight scoring drives with a long of 94 yards and three 75-yard jaunts.
When the Bulls (1-4, 0-1) face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-4, 1-1) in Saturday afternoon's American Athletic Conference game at Raymond James Stadium (noon, ESPNU), USF could use some takeaways, perhaps a pick-six or a scoop-and-score, to build some momentum.
"We are due,'' USF coach Jeff Scott said. "On one end, you've got to create those opportunities. On the other end, the ball has to bounce your way.''
The Bulls have done a decent job at protecting the ball of late. USF freshman quarterback Timmy McClain has 79 consecutive pass attempts without an interception after throwing two picks in the season-opener at NC State. McClain has lost three fumbles (one on a quarterback sneak).
But the larger issue is the lack of significant takeaways by USF's defense. In five games, the Bulls have four interceptions and one fumble recovery. Two of the interceptions — in the second half against Florida — set up a field goal and touchdown. Against SMU, linebacker Dwayne Boyles had an interception on a tipped pass, but had to dive for it and was unable to get additional yardage.
"The big message to our team is if you're where you're supposed to be and doing what you're supposed to be doing, then more opportunities are presented,'' Scott said. "The second thing is don't be surprised when that opportunity comes. Be prepared to take advantage of it and don't just be satisfied with an interception. Let's try to score with the ball.
"Those are the momentum plays that we haven't created enough of on defense and special teams. There's a little bit of luck involved as well. I'm looking at it as our time is coming. Hopefully, that will be this week.''
Last week at SMU, a Mustang punt returner dropped the ball, but it was quickly scooped up.
"It was available, but we didn't have a guy there to get on it,'' Scott said. "There was an opportunity, but we weren't framed up around the returner. I think it's 75 percent of the things you create and 25 percent for the ball to just bounce your way.''
On the positive side, McClain's lack of interceptions is another factor that could position USF for victory.
"Timmy is getting more experience and he probably learned from two poor decisions really early (in the season),'' Scott said. "Sometimes, young quarterbacks want to force the ball. In practice, that guy has been open all week. But during a game, even when he's not open, they throw it anyway.
"There's a progression. If it's not there, check the ball down to a wideout on a hitch or throw it to a running back. Those are really good plays, but it's sometimes hard for a young quarterback to understand that or to know that it's sometimes good just to throw it away. Let's live for another day and get to second-and-10 instead of forcing the ball.''
USF has made strides in avoiding the giveaways. But the takeaways — perhaps leading to easier points — have been slower to surface.
The Bulls will also look to increase their take in the hidden yards on special teams, where the Bulls are averaging 15.8 yards (with a long of 33) on kickoff returns. USF's last kickoff-return touchdown was on Sept. 8, 2018, when Terrence Horne took two back against Georgia Tech.
If the Bulls can get a bigger opening on special teams — or make some takeaways show up on the scoreboard — it could make all the difference against Tulsa.
The USF-Tulsa series
Tulsa won the last meeting 42-13 in 2020 at Raymond James Stadium, running away with it after leading just 7-6 following the first quarter.
But that is Tulsa's only win to this point in the series, which USF leads 3-1. That includes two of the Bulls' most impressive comeback victories (both at Tulsa). In 2014, the Bulls erased a 20-point deficit and won 38-30 behind the stellar play of receiver Andre Davis (six catches, 154 yards, three touchdowns). In 2018, the Bulls overcame a 14-point deficit in the last 7:10, winning 25-24 on Coby Weiss' 22-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.
Connections
• Tulsa has one Floridian — junior running back Steven Anderson from Live Oak Suwannee High School, a transfer from Southern Miss. USF has no players from Oklahoma.
• USF defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer is accustomed to matching wits with Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery. They had several duels in the Big 12 Conference, when Spencer was Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator and Montgomery was Baylor's offensive coordinator.
Trivia Time
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, one of the patriarchs of USF football, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He was joined in that class by a Seattle Seahawks wide receiver who played at Tulsa. Can you name that player? (Answer below).
Looking Ahead
USF continues its home-stand next Saturday night (Oct. 23) when it hosts the Temple Owls at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Temple (3-3, 1-1) will be coming off an open week.
The Owls have victories against Akron (45-24), Wagner (41-7) and Memphis (34-31). Its three defeats (against Rutgers, Boston College and Cincinnati) were by a combined 141-20 margin.
Temple leads 5-2 in the series against USF and has three consecutive victories, including last season's 39-37 win at Philadelphia. There were five lead changes in the wild game. USF held a 31-20 lead late in the third quarter, but the Owls took command with 19 unanswered points.
Trivia Answer
In 1995, Lee Roy Selmon was joined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class by Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent, who had 2,385 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns at Tulsa from 1973-75.
