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Bulls Unable To Shake Memories Of 'Voodoo 5'

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

Updated: 10/27/2007 12:44 am

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Two years later, University of South Florida senior wide receiver Courtney Denson still bristles when asked about the most famous play in program history.

'Ahhhh, Voodoo 5,' Denson said. 'I was trying to forget about that.'

USF won't forget 'Voodoo 5' anytime soon, especially with the No. 11 Bulls (6-1, 1-1 Big East) visiting Connecticut (6-1, 2-0) today.

Two years ago at UConn's Rentschler Field, USF only needed a win to stay alive for the Big East title and a BCS bowl bid.

USF trailed UConn 15-10 midway through the fourth quarter when Amarri Jackson returned a punt 37 yards to the 8. Two runs put USF at the 1.

On third down, the Bulls called 'Rocky,' a play in which the Bulls rush to the line for a quick snap and give it to running back Andre Hall.

However, senior guard Chris Carothers, who was playing center for the first time because starter John Miller injured his right elbow on the first series, was penalized for a false start.

On third-and-goal from the 6, quarterback Pat Julmiste was nearly intercepted.

Facing fourth-and-goal from the 6 with 6:08 remaining, USF coach Jim Leavitt decided to go for it instead of kicking a field goal and hoping to get the ball again for another field goal attempt.

Then-offensive coordinator Rod Smith called 'Voodoo 5,' a wide receiver reverse pass from Denson to Julmiste.

Denson, usually a slot receiver, lined up on the outside. 'I remember UConn was shouting out 'Watch No. 1 Denson's jersey number;' they had an idea of the situation coming,' Denson said. 'Their coaches also were screaming.

'They probably realized I wasn't ever on the outside spot, and I had played quarterback starting the season opener at Penn State. They probably caught on to it.'

Julmiste took the snap and pitched to Hall, who was running left. Hall then pitched to Denson, reversing behind him as Julmiste circled around right end awaiting a pass from Denson. However, Julmiste wasn't open. Denson tried to run, but he was sacked by defensive end Dan Davis for a 13-yard loss.

USF's defense, which limited UConn to four second-half first downs, got the ball back with 2:46 remaining, but Julmiste threw an interception on the first play.

'That probably wasn't the best call,' USF senior nose tackle Richard Clebert said. 'Whenever you don't score when you're supposed to, people are going to have something to say.

'That hurt a lot. That game was something that's been burning in me since we played them. We could have had a chance at the Big East title, but they ended our run.'

The Bulls probably wouldn't have needed 'Voodoo 5' if not for five turnovers and allowing a UConn kickoff return for a touchdown.

'Do you wish you could take stuff back? Yeah,' Smith said after the game. 'But it's easy to look back and see what you did wrong. During the heat of the battle, you do what you think is best, and you do that collectively as a staff.'

The Bulls were devastated. After the game, defensive end Terrence Royal, tears streaming down his cheeks, stood at midfield for several minutes and wouldn't leave until a USF assistant coaxed him to the locker room.

'The way the game happened, when you lose a game you have a handle on and you have a chance, it makes it harder,' Leavitt said.

Carothers said his false start was 'a play I'll have to live with the rest of my life.'

Ironically, Carothers has family from Connecticut and will attend today's game.

'If you call that play and it works, you're a genius,' Carothers said. 'If not, you get your head ripped off.

'The past is the past. Today will bring back some old memories. These guys are having a great season. They can pay back UConn to what they did to us two years ago.

'If that play had worked, I could be sitting here now with a Big East title.'

Like two years ago, USF needs a win today to keep alive its Big East hopes. And don't think they've forgotten it.

'It's been brought up by the players and the coaches - 'Just remember that feeling,'' Denson said.

When running sprints at practice, if a player is offside, strength coach Ronnie McKeefery has the Bulls back up 5 yards and start again. 'Coach Mac will be like, 'Remember we were on the 1-yard line at UConn and this is what happened,'' Denson said. 'Little things like that count.'

Denson, who has earned his communications degree, wants to be known for more in his USF career than 'Voodoo 5.'

'It ain't going to be on my tombstone,' Denson said. 'It's not even in the playbook anymore. It's out of there. We just blew it. We didn't get the job done.'

USF-CINCY TIME SET: South Florida's home game against Cincinnati a week from today will start at 3:30 and be televised by WFTS, Channel 28.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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