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Bulls Disappointed To Miss Shutout

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By JEFF BERLINICKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 21, 2008

MIAMI - For the second time this season, South Florida came oh so close to a shutout win.

Both times, late scores have prevented the shutout in an otherwise routine win. On Saturday, an outmanned Florida International (0-3) scored on a safety and a touchdown in the final three minutes as USF came away with a lethargic 17-9 win. Coach Jim Leavitt said it would be wrong to say his team wasn't trying to pitch a shutout.

"Every day we talk about a shutout," Leavitt said. "How do I answer a question like that? Everyone wants a shutout."

The No. 12 Bulls (4-0) also allowed a late touchdown in the season-opening 56-7 win against overmatched Tennessee Martin. For some of the Bulls, the zeroes are important. For the coaching staff, it's a different story.

"I'll take a win over a shutout anytime, but it isn't that important," defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said. "We would love to get a shutout, and that's just natural. We had one almost, except for one play."

The one play happened after USF quarterback Matt Grothe was sacked in his end zone with 2:20 remaining in regulation. After the free kick, FIU quarterback Wayne Younger found T.Y. Hilton over the middle for a 61-yard gain. FIU punched it in for a touchdown two plays later.

USF All-America defensive end George Selvie was limping with a left ankle sprain after the game, and he said the team didn't deserve a shutout after a lackadaisical win.

"I can't say we played as well as we could," Selvie said. "Sure, I think we were all thinking about a shutout, but some nights are like this. I'll be ready, and the team will be ready, next week."

The Bulls travel to North Carolina State next Saturday. The Wolfpack upset No. 15 East Carolina earlier Saturday.

Leavitt was more critical of his anemic offense than the defense, but no one escaped his comments after the game.

"We made mistakes on both sides of the ball you just can't make," Leavitt said.

The Bulls held FIU to 72 yards rushing and 189 yards overall, 61 coming on the one play. The defense didn't get a lot of pressure on FIU's two quarterbacks, getting only one sack, but it only allowed three plays of 10 yards or more.

Linebacker Kion Wilson said he and the rest of the Bulls know that won't be good enough when the Bulls schedule gets more difficult.

"We thought we came out ready," Wilson said. "We wanted that shutout and didn't get it. We are better than that. We strive to be great. Our motto is, 'Swarm and Punish.' We started looking at a shutout, and you saw what happened."

Senior defensive end Jarriett Buie, a graduate of Armwood, said the same thing.

"We did everything we could do all night to get that shutout," Buie said, "Losing it will only make us play better. It means a lot to us. Winning is the most important, but a shutout is really sweet."

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