When the USF Bulls take on the Florida Atlantic Owls in Friday night's ESPN2 match-up, it's unquestionably an important game. As head coach Alex Golesh points out, it's obviously important because it's USF's next game.
But for two USF defensive players — call them ex-Owls who flew the coop — it's extra special.
Linebacker Jamie Pettway and defensive lineman Decarius (Hawk) Hawthorne, who gave a combined six seasons of service as defensive stalwarts at FAU before transferring to USF, will face their former team in Boca Raton.
As a whole, the Bulls (3-4, 1-2 American Athletic Conference) have a score to settle with the Owls (2-5, 0-3), who prevailed 56-14 during last season's game at Tampa. Pettway, who joined the Bulls in 2023, played for USF that day, while Hawthorne still lined up for FAU.
"This game is all Hawk and I have been talking about,'' said Pettway, a 6-foot-2, 237-pound middle linebacker, who began his career at Missouri before jumping to FAU and now USF. "We're ready to see that O-line. We're ready to see the guys we know in the box for real.
"It's almost like a practice game. You know their flaws. You know where they're going to go if they get tired. They know us. It's a fun game and it's going to be very, very interesting.''
Adding another twist, USF defensive coordinator Todd Orlando (2021-22) and defensive line coach Kevin Patrick (2020-22) were on the FAU staff — and they are the primary reasons why Pettway and Hawthorne shifted to the Bulls.
"Getting ready for this game will not be an issue for those guys,'' Orlando said. "It's like being back with your buddies, only now, they're the competition. But once the ball gets put down, it's go time.
"I know how competitive those guys are. Any time you leave somebody, then go back and play them, I think you want to prove a point. It's a fascinating kind of game and I think both of them will be ready to play. There's no question that they each have brought a lot of value to our defense.''
Pettway joined the Bulls shortly before their first game last season because he first had to pass seven classes during FAU's summer semester before he could transfer.
"All I did was work out in the morning and do my classwork the rest of the day — over and over again,'' said Pettway, a native of Albany, Ga., who played high-school football against his father, the head coach at a rival program. "It was scary, but I feel like after going through that, I can accomplish anything. Like Coach Golesh says, you can make adversity into your platform or your prison.
"If you keep going and never quit, man, God's going to bless you. I just went with it. In a way, because I got to USF so late, I never felt like I got under way. But it also allowed me to learn and observe, to see things in a different light. So, I feel like it set me up well for this year.''
With Jhalyn Shuler suffering an injury in the opener against Bethune-Cookman University, Pettway started the next four games and called the defensive signals.
"They gave me the keys for those four games and I didn't crash the car,'' Pettway said with a smile. "I made sure everybody was in the right place and I feel like I did my job at an elite level.''
Pettway has 36 tackles, second on the team, and twice led the Bulls in stops during his starting duty.
"Pett has brought us professionalism and the constant ability to work on his game,'' Orlando said. "He's extremely physical. You noticed that from the minute he arrived on campus. He's going to strike you. It makes it easier to train overall when you have someone with that approach. It rubs off on everyone.''
Hawthorne (6-2, 290) has also brought some endearing qualities — an ever-smiling personality, work ethic and hustle.
Near the end of a home defeat against Miami on Sept. 21 — with the outcome well in hand — Hawthorne ran across the field to tackle a Hurricanes' ball-carrier. During the film-session review, Golesh stopped the tape and addressed his team.
"That,'' Golesh said, "is winning football.''
Hawthorne, who acquired his "Hawk'' nickname at FAU after he lumbered in with a pick-six during practice, said he's all about superior attitude.
"Every play means something and every play is important,'' said Hawthorne, a native of Birmingham, Ala. "To me, effort is non-negotiable. Everyone has their own battles that they are fighting. But once you get on that field, you need to play as hard as you can for as long as you can. That is football.''
Hawthorne, well-established at FAU, said he felt there was a greater opportunity for him with the Bulls. The reunion with Orlando and Patrick was a huge factor as well.
"Change is very difficult and this has been an adjustment for me,'' Hawthorne said. "But I was accepted in willingly. I feel at home now. It's just a matter of getting acclimated into another brotherhood. I feel like I'm fitting in at USF.''
Orlando said there's no doubt.
"Hawk's personality is incredible,'' Orlando said. "If you talk to Hawk, he's never rattled. He always has a big smile on his face. He's a very athletic kid who makes plays and he's just fun to be around.
"Even beyond the plays he makes, he's always talking to people and picking them up. It's refreshing because normally, some of your better players don't do that. They're kind of on their own, doing what they do. But Hawk goes out of his way to do anything for the team. Hawk and Pett are the same in that respect. They carry a lot of clout for our team. They're two great kids.''
After defeating the UAB Blazers to end USF's three-game losing streak, Pettway and Hawthorne are determined to finish the season with a flourish — and another postseason bowl berth for the Bulls.
"Going into November, it's the hardest football that you'll play, no matter where you're at in the standings,'' Pettway said. "Everybody's tired. Everybody's beat up. How you respond in November tells you what kind of team you have.
"We can play with anybody in the country. When you play selfish and do your own thing, it doesn't work. But when you play together and run to the ball on defense, I'm telling you, we have the talent to get some big things done. It's going to be a special game for Hawk and myself. The bottom line is FAU is just the next team in our way and we're looking to get this thing rolling.''
–#GoBulls–
