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Bulls Bemoan Lost Season

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Jim Leavitt and the Bulls are left to wonder what became of a promising 2008 season.

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By BRETT McMURPHY

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: November 1, 2008

Updated: 11/01/2008 03:13 am

CINCINNATI - Next season has already arrived for the University of South Florida.

Even with three regular-season games and a bowl remaining (call now: St. Pete Bowl operators are standing by), the Bulls have started adjusting their sights toward next year.

"It's disappointing," USF senior C Jake Griffin said. "We wanted a Big East championship. Now you just have to go out and play for the next snap, play for your brother, play for the young guys.

"Hopefully, get them ready for next season."

The 24th-ranked Bulls' 24-10 loss at Cincinnati on Thursday night ended any long-shot hopes for a Big East title and will send them out of the national rankings.

"All the work that we put in, I'm not going to say it was in vain, but it stands for nothing right now," USF junior LB Kion Wilson said. "Realistically, we understand we're eliminated. All we can do is prepare and play hard, as if we were still in the running."

The Bulls (6-3, 1-3 Big East) began the season with their first preseason national ranking and reached No. 10. Now, they are reduced to playing make-believe.

"It's not gone the way we intended," USF senior LT Ryan Schmidt said. "We still have a chance, three more games. We can still have a 10-win season. We're devastated. We've got a week to turn it around."

Added QB Matt Grothe, who has five interceptions in USF's last two games:

"We couldn't do anything. They did a good job of stopping us, and we did a good job of stopping ourselves."

WHAT WENT RIGHT

RB Ben Williams had a season-high 79 yards rushing on 17 carries. ... The defense forced a season-high-tying three turnovers (fumble recoveries by Craig Marshall and George Selvie and a Sabbath Joseph interception).

WHAT WENT WRONG

USF allowed four pass plays of 25 yards or longer at Cincinnati. In USF's first four games, the Bulls allowed only five completions of 25 yards or longer. In their last five games, they have allowed 13. "We're giving up a lot of big plays," USF senior LB Tyrone McKenzie said. "It's what we've never done, I don't understand. We have to get it fixed soon." ... The Bulls committed eight penalties, their season average. USF had three other penalties (two pass interference and a defensive holding) negated because UC took the result of the play. ... Thursday's loss was only the third time in Grothe's career he did not have a TD run or pass. Cincinnati, which also did it in 2006, is the only team to hold Grothe scoreless twice. ... The Bulls had seven possessions in UC territory, but managed only 10 points. In USF's three losses, the Bulls have five offensive TDs.

Brett McMurphy

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