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Good News Is, Bulls Did What They Were Supposed To Do

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By JOE HENDERSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 31, 2008

Updated: 08/31/2008 12:24 am

TAMPA - Normally we issue disclaimers for games like these. As professional spoilsports, we gently remind everyone that no matter how one-sided the scoreboard looked in favor of the home team, you have to keep perspective, because the opponent was hopelessly outclassed.

But then all these upsets started happening in college football, so there's no such thing as a win you take for granted. Who really cares if you've never heard of the opposing team before the game was scheduled and likely never will again?

So we'll just simply say that on the first night of the new football season, the University of South Florida looked pretty darned good against a hopelessly outclassed opponent named Tennessee Martin.

The final - 56-7 before an exuberant gathering of 48,058 at Ray-Jay - could have been much more lopsided had Bulls coach Jim Leavitt willed it so. He chose instead to empty the bench early. If you had a uniform on Saturday night, you probably got to play.

"I guess the thing I'm happiest about is that sometimes we play a team like that and we haven't done what we're supposed to do," Leavitt said.

The only worry was potential exhaustion for the USF cheerleaders, who had to do push-ups after every touchdown equal to the number of points the Bulls had scored.

Every number in the statistics book suggested total dominance, which only confirmed what every set of eyes that focused on the game already knew.

Running backs Benjamin Williams, Mike Ford and Jamar Taylor basically ran as they pleased, leading to 300 yards on the ground and 520 overall. Moise Plancher broke off a 34-yard touchdown run. Marcus Edwards could prove to be an interesting weapon as a punt returner.

The defense was smothering, holding the Skyhawks to 97 total yards.

The "Right" Cupcake

What else would anyone want from the opening night to the most anticipated season in USF history?

We all know how dangerous the first game of the season can be to a favored team, which Michigan (again) and Pitt found out Saturday by losing to teams most everyone figured they would beat. The trick is to pick the right cupcake for an opening opponent, and the Bulls certainly chose well.

The visiting Skyhawks were missing only frosting and some of those tasty little sprinkles.

"I do recognize that we've got some different teams ahead," Leavitt said.

Yeah, the game was a blowout from the opening kick, which was just fine with the home fans. The Bulls put up four touchdowns in the first quarter alone, which was the best way to answer anyone wondering how they'd handle being nationally ranked for the first time heading into a season.

Openers tend to be sloppy (remember the Elon game last year). This one wasn't, at least not overly so.

The Bulls kept penalties to a minimum, although a fumble by freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels (their third quarterback to play) did turn into a touchdown for the Skyhawks. Naturally, he came back throwing well and moved the Bulls right down the field.

"I felt like we did some good things," Leavitt said. "I'll leave it at that."

Tougher Days Ahead

It gets interesting now, though. UCF is next week, then Kansas.

The Bulls look ready for it. We couldn't say that after the Elon game. That's where the experience of having 17 starters back pays off.

"They took it on themselves," Leavitt said. "They wanted to come out start real strong and play well. Our last game that everybody remembers was our bowl game a 56-21 loss to Oregon, and that wasn't a lot of run. But it was good to get out there and playing."

Not just playing, but playing well and winning easily.

That's not something any team can take for granted any more.

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