The USF Bulls have been rolling with the changes — lots of them — but interim head coach Kevin Patrick said the focus hasn't wavered during preparations for Wednesday's Cure Bowl match-up against the Old Dominion Monarchs in Orlando.
USF football (9-3, 6-2 American Conference) has been making plenty of news. There was the Dec. 3 hiring of head coach Brian Hartline, the Ohio State University head coach, following Alex Golesh's departure to Auburn University.
There were other staff changes, prompting tight ends coach Jack Taylor to serve as offensive coordinator for the bowl game (with an assist from running backs coach Micah James, who will now work with the offensive line).
Meanwhile, quarterback Byrum Brown, coming off a landmark regular season performance (becoming the 12th Football Bowl Subdivision player to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season), will not play in the bowl game. But he will serve in a coaching role, while still participating in all team functions and practices.
That means sixth-year quarterback Gaston Moore, formerly of UCF and Tennessee, will cap his lone USF season by getting his first start in the final game of his college career.
Deep breath. That's a lot of changes.
But according to Patrick, one thing hasn't been altered.
"We're working hard and our players are really excited to be playing in this bowl game,'' said Patrick, who has previously worked specifically with defensive linemen. "It's a chance to get to 10 wins (for the third time in program history). It's a chance to win our third straight bowl game (achieved only one other time in program history).
"All of these guys — particularly the 30 seniors that we have — have so much pride and love for this program. For a lot of them, it will most likely be their last time going on the field of battle. The heart and soul they've poured into this program, the love they have for each other and the respect they have for this game, I don't think I've seen it to that level in the long coaching career I've had. I can't commend these guys enough.''
Other than Brown, all other USF players (except those with injuries) are expected to play in the bowl game.
"It's about the players,'' Patrick said. "It's always about the players. The scheme is just the scheme. The players are what make it all. Great players make great coaches. I'm just honored to be a part of it.''
Patrick, an original USF staff member, is on his third stint on the Bulls' staff. He led USF players out of the Tampa Stadium tunnel for the program's inaugural game — an 80-3 victory against Kentucky Wesleyan — while helping to coach and recruit the likes of luminaries such as Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie.
While Patrick readily admits that "none of us knows what the future holds,'' he's relishing the opportunity to lead a USF program that remains near and dear to his heart.
"This has been a unique week-and-a-half, but Rob Higgins (CEO of Athletics) has done a hell of a job leading us through this transition,'' Patrick said. "I'm really honored that he thought of me in that way (to be named interim head coach) and I want to do a great job.
"I think the program has made a great hire (with Hartline) and I couldn't be more happy with the direction it's going. I was here when we started the program. This place is really unique and special to me. I don't take this lightly and I've got so much pride in USF. I appreciate the staff that is still here and now we're going about the business of working to win a bowl game.''
Patrick said ODU (9-3, 6-2 Sun Belt Conference), despite the opt-out of starting quarterback Colton Joseph (1,007 yards rushing, plus 2,624 yards passing and 34 total touchdowns), will be a formidable foe. Patrick said he particularly noticed ODU's receiving corps, which includes Tre Brown III (37 catches, 20.3-yard average), Ja'Cory Thomas (38 catches, 17.7-yard average) and Na'Eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (46 catches, 13.2-yard average).
The Monarchs were defeated 27-14 at Indiana, the College Football Playoff's No. 1-seeded team, in their opening game. ODU limited opponents to 10 points or fewer in seven of their nine victories and own a top 20 ranked scoring defense (allowing 19 ppg).
"Old Dominion wants to get to that 10th victory, too, so we'll have our work cut out,'' Patrick said.
USF's veteran players said they are working to go out on the right note.
"KP (Patrick) has deep roots here at USF and he has respect from everybody on the team,'' senior center Cole Best said. "When they named KP to that interim head coaching role, it was a sense of relief. We knew we were in good hands. Now we get to go play another football game in December, so we're excited and it's business as usual.''
"It's amazing and it's a blessing,'' said senior linebacker Mac Harris, who will finish his USF career near his hometown of Wildwood. "Being able to play with my brothers for the last time, regardless of the location, that's what matters to me the most. That and being able to leave USF in a better place than where we came in and found it.''
–#GoBulls–
