The slogan appears on USF football workout T-shirts. It has become the offseason mantra.
"Fourth and inches.''
Football fans know that situation pretty well, the moment when you stand on your feet, yelling your lungs out, imploring your team to go for it … or to stop the other team cold.
"Fourth and inches.''
But what's the larger meaning for the Bulls?
"It's doing all the little things at an elite level,'' defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said. "It's going into meetings and being prepared for the meetings, writing things down, digesting concepts. It's being elite in school. It's all of that.
"These guys have free time on their own where they have choices to make. Time is the enemy because the guys with NFL dreams, they only have a short window to do that. So, fourth and inches means, 'Hey, am I willing to sacrifice some of the stuff I would do outside of my academics and football? Am I willing to dive in and get to know a play better or take care of my body better? We emphasize that there's a certain way to work, there's a standard. When you're doing things at an elite level, you do what it takes to perform in those fourth-and-inches situations.''
At the Hawaii Bowl, where the Bulls defeated San Jose State 41-39 in an epic five-overtime clash, it was a third-and-inches play that swung open an opportunity for USF.
On third-and-inches as the final minute approached, Bulls defensive lineman Michael Williams stopped Spartans running back Floyd Chalk IV for no gain. Had Chalk gained those inches, San Jose State probably wins the game. But because he was stopped short, USF regained possession and booted the game-tying 41-yard field goal (caroming in after hitting the right upright) with two seconds remaining in regulation.
The little things.
It was defensive back Jarvis Lee, who forced a San Jose State goal-line fumble. It looked like a touchdown. It became a touchback.
It was linebacker Mac Harris, who batted away San Jose State's final pass attempt to end the marathon game.
"Fourth and inches means finishing a play,'' said safety Tavin Ward, who finished second on the team in tackles (62) and first in interceptions (3) in 2024. "For example, the bowl game. We went to overtime, but the game wasn't over yet. Everybody was tired. But we all knew that we just had to finish.
"There are tons of little things in a game, for sure. If it doesn't go your way, don't get discouraged. Hang in there. Stay the course. Make a play. It's like winning in the margins. You never know which play is going to win us the game. So, it's a next-play mentality … because that might be the biggest one.''
Cornerback DeShawn Rucker said it could be as simple as always running to the ball, never giving up on a play. That point was brought up last season against Tulsa, when freshman defensive back James Chenault chased down running back Anthony Watkins (after the back had a 15-yard head start). It looked like a 79-yard touchdown run, but Chenault made a supreme-effort, diving tackle at the 2-yard line. Tulsa then failed to score on four downs.
"Little things make a difference,'' Rucker said.
Orlando said attention to detail can allow USF's defense to reach a much higher level.
"Overall, with the new guys and the veterans, we're seeing a lot of player leadership,'' Orlando said. "That's when it's so refreshing to go on the field and not have the coaches kind of setting the standard.
"It's great to see players go out there, grab a younger guy and say, 'No, that's not the way we do it. Do it again.' When you watch players interact with each other in a healthy way, it's awesome. We teach fundamentals, technique and scheme. But when we go out in the field, we (coaches) are not with you. This is your battle. On a player-led team, you're trained a certain way and you know how to uphold the standard. You know what's important.''
It's about the little things.
And little things always lead to big things.
–#GoBulls–
