USF (1-9; 0-6 American) at TULSA (3-7; 1-5 American)
Saturday, Nov. 18 • 9:00 P.M. • H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000) • Tulsa, Okla.
SURFACE: Field Turf
TV: ESPN2: Roy Philpott (PXP), Andre Ware (Analyst) & Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
RADIO: 102.5 FM/102.5 HD 2
AUDIO STREAM: TuneIn - Bulls Unlimited 1
SERIES: USF leads, 3-2; STREAK: Tulsa last 2
IN TAMPA: Tulsa leads, 2-1
IN TULSA: USF leads, 2-0
LAST YEAR: Tulsa won, 32-31, in Tampa
ROAD GAMES: USF lost last 17
AAC GAMES: USF lost last 11
USF GAME NOTES
137 yards. That is what USF sophomore running back Brian Battie needs to become just the program's sixth player to achieve a 1,000-yard rushing season.
At Battie's recent rate of productivity, which included 145 yards in his last outing vs. SMU, that milestone could be reached Friday night, when the Bulls (1-9, 0-6 AAC) travel to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (3-7, 1-5 AAC).
"It will mean a lot,'' said Battie, who has posted three consecutive 100-yard rushing games en route to his season total of 873. "My offensive line keeps saying every day, 'We've got to get that 1,000 … we've got to get that 1,000.' So, it's going to mean a lot not only for me, but for my big guys up front.''
Battie made a huge name for himself last season when he earned consensus All-American status as a kickoff returner. But in his two previous seasons, he had just two 100-yard rushing performances, while hitting double-digit carries in just five of his 20 career games.
USF's crowded backfield had some openings with injuries to Jaren Mangham and Kelley Joiner. Battie has picked up the slack — and then some.
"We like it when the ball is in his hands,'' USF interim head coach Daniel Da Prato said. "And the other team probably doesn't like it when the ball is in his hands. He's special with the ball.
"One of his biggest assets is his ability to go in a step or step-and-a-half from zero to top speed. He can accelerate. He has an unbelievable one-cut where he can go from one side of the (field) to the other and it seems like everybody else didn't move.''
If Battie reaches 1,000 yards, Da Prato said it's a body of work that should be shared by the offensive line, tight ends and receivers blocking on the perimeter. USF has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2018, when Jordan Cronkrite galloped for 1,121.
"We're going to do everything we can to win the football game and if the ball is in his hands, great,'' Da Prato said. "If that's not the situation, then he's all in on that because he's just like every kid on the team. They all want to find a way to win the ballgame.
"Bat has done a tremendous job. We want to try and get him the ball, get it to him often, get it to him in space, whatever it may be. We're excited about him and his opportunity to (make some USF history).''
In a season marked by injuries, inconsistency and frustration, Battie and linebacker Dwayne Boyles, himself heading toward just the 13th 100 tackle season in program history, have been the most reliable performers. Because of his size (5-foot-8, 165 pounds), Battie has often been overlooked and underrated as a back. This season, though, his statistics scream for attention.
"I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far,'' Battie said. "But I also know that I still have a lot more to accomplish. I don't let what has happened this year get to me too much.
"One thing that Coach (Jeff) Scott always told us was even when things were good, you've got to stay right there in the middle. He gave the same analogy when things were bad. Just stay in the middle. Anything can happen. You come in not knowing exactly what your role is going to be, but you stay prepared for anything.''
Battie is poised to join a USF 1,000-yard rushing club, which includes: Quinton Flowers (1,530 in 2016, 1,078 in 2017); Marlon Mack (1,381 in 2015, 1,187 in 2016, 1,041 in 2014); Andre Hall (1,374 in 2005, 1,357 in 2004); Jordan Cronkrite (1,121 in 2018); and Dyral McMillan (1,017 in 1999).
Battie wants to maintain his perspective — never too high, never too low. But when considering the potential of a 1,000-yard season, it's quite a rush.
"The main thing is we need some victories desperately right now,'' Battie said. "That's what we're all concentrating on. We're just taking things day by day right now and trying to do our job.''
The best way to view Battie's season?
A job well done.
– Go Bulls –
