Bulls Looking Forward To An Electric, Night-Game Atmosphere For Opener
USF GAME NOTES
USF (0-0; 0-0 American) at NC STATE (0-0; 0-0 ACC)
Thursday, Sept. 2 • 7:30 P.M. • Raleigh, N.C., • Carter-Finley Stadium (57,583)
TV: ACC NET: Dave O'Brien (p-by-p), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst) & Kelsey Riggs (sideline)
RADIO: 1250 AM WHNZ
AUDIO STREAM: iHeartRadio - Bulls Unlimited1
SERIES: NC State leads, 2-1
By Joey Johnston
After last season's COVID-induced sounds of silence, the USF Bulls are preparing for a rowdy atmosphere in Thursday night's season-opener against the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. (ACC Network, 7:30 p.m.).
Jeff Scott's 2020 USF head-coaching debut against The Citadel at Raymond James Stadium featured no one in the stands.
Literally, no one.
"For us, it has been two years since anybody played in front of (normal) crowd noise,'' Scott said Monday. "That's something we tried to do a good job of (simulating) in practice.
"Last year, if a guy lined up wrong, you could yell across the field, in the middle of the play or before the play, and they could hear you. That's not going to be the case this year.''
And that's a good thing.
College football is all about atmosphere — the fans, the marching bands, the pageantry — and now it has returned.
During Monday morning's workout, the Bulls ran plays with a recording of crowd noise at full blast, including some junctures of a band playing the NC State fight song.
"It's going to be fun to play in front of a big crowd,'' Bulls senior defensive lineman Thad Mangum said. "All we need to do is worry about us and execute the game plan.''
With USF young players and transfers expected to play key roles, a major emphasis in fall camp was building chemistry, communication and continuity.
"I'm expecting an electric atmosphere Thursday night,'' Scott said. "You always have (butterflies) and as a competitor, that's a good thing. If you lose that (anticipation) as a player or coach, you're not where you're supposed to be.
"There's going to be some nervousness (among the players) with starting off a new season in the first game. You've got to channel it in the right way. We've got to make sure we're not playing the game in pregame. Everybody is going to be excited. The music will be cranking. We've got to prepare the right way and be ready to play a four-quarter game.''
Meanwhile, in Raleigh, Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren told reporters he wants a "four-quarter crowd'' this season while making everyone "jealous about how special it is here on game day.''
USF at NC State.
Game on!
This time with feeling — and real noise, too.
Playing fast
Of course, the scoreboard is the ultimate factor. But how else will Scott judge whether the Bulls have made progress?
If the Bulls play fast, Scott will be pleased.
"Is it going to be perfect? Absolutely not,'' Scott said. "But the big message to our guys is play full speed. If you watched those (season-opening) games Saturday, you saw a lot of mistakes. But if you're out there playing full speed, responding and reacting to the situation, that's what you want.
"There are going to be mistakes. But you (need to) make them at full speed. You've got to respond by not continuing to make the same mistakes. As a coach, you do all you can to prepare your guys and put them in the best position. But at the end of the day, the first game is the first game. Whether you win or lose, there's a lot of stuff to correct. Usually, you make the most progress from game one to game two.''
Scott said the ability to play fast is rooted in preparation and confidence, being comfortable with assignments and thoroughly knowing the game plan. With those attributes, playing fast should be natural.
Quality opponent
For only the seventh time in USF's 25-season football history, the Bulls will open their season on the road.
And it's against a quality opponent.
The Wolfpack, beginning their 130th season of football, were 8-4 in 2020 with a 7-3 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. NC State wound up in the Gator Bowl, where it was defeated by Kentucky 23-21. But in the ACC schedule, the Wolfpack avoided Clemson and Notre Dame and were just 2-3 against teams that finished with winning records (beating Liberty and Pittsburgh).
Regardless, NC State returns 18 of 22 starters (including 10 on defense) and both kickers. In most projections, the Wolfpack are picked for second in the ACC's Atlantic Division behind Clemson (which visits NC State on Sept. 25).
"It's probably their best team since he (Doeren) has been there,'' Scott said.
Junior linebacker Isaiah Moore and sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson are preseason All-ACC picks, while the backfield of sophomore Zonovan "Bam'' Knight (788 yards, 10 touchdowns) and junior Ricky Person (643 yards) looks especially formidable. The Wolfpack are looking to build upon the 2020 success and make a run at the second double-digit victory season in program history.
"This is a big game for us,'' Bulls senior receiver Bryce Miller said. "We've got to come out, play fast and not tip-toe around. We have a great game plan in store and we want to set a good tone for this season.''
