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Bulls' Hermann out; line shuffled

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By SCOTT CARTER

scarter@tampatrib.com

Published: November 13, 2009

Updated: 11/13/2009 12:23 am

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - South Florida not only played Rutgers on Thursday night without its top receiver, Carlton Mitchell, but the Bulls were also without their most experienced offensive lineman.

Junior RG Zach Hermann did not accompany the team to Rutgers, instead staying in Tampa with an unspecified injury. Hermann has started 26 games during his career, including all eight this season until Thursday.

While Hermann's presence was missed, the Bulls moved starting RT Jake Sims inside to replace Hermann, and redshirt freshman Mark Popek started his second consecutive game at tackle in place of Sims.

Meanwhile, with Mitchell out of the lineup after catching a pass in 15 consecutive games, Jessie Hester made his first start of the season.

Which team is from Florida?

The temperature was 51 at kickoff, but with a howling wind blowing through Rutgers Stadium, it felt much cooler.

Both teams had heated benches on the sideline, but not in the balance you might expect with a team from Florida playing. Rutgers had six heated benches on its sideline, while USF had just two to keep players warm.

Plan goes awry fast

As USF coach Jim Leavitt prepared for kickoff, ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews spoke with him briefly about his chief concern entering the game.

"We've got to handle the atmosphere here," Leavitt said. "B.J. (Daniels) has to do his thing, throw and run. If the pass isn't there, he can take off. We've seen that. We've got to protect the football.

"If we can't do that, we'll struggle."

The Bulls struggled mightily in the first half as Daniels threw two interceptions and fumbled once, and punt returner Faron Hornes muffed a kick that was recovered by Rutgers' Devin McCourty.

Daniels, who racked up 336 total yards without a turnover in USF's victory against West Virginia on Oct. 30, was just 5-for-10 for 101 yards in the first half Thursday. He added 19 yards on eight carries.

A mixed homecoming

USF senior CB Jerome Murphy was playing his final game in front of his family and friends from Elizabeth, N.J. Murphy got off to a regrettable start when he was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a late hit on Tim Brown on the game's second play.

Leavitt pulled Murphy from the game briefly but later reinserted him. Murphy redeemed himself by picking off a pass in the second quarter, only the second career interception in 179 attempts for Rutgers QB Tom Savage.

Extra points

Sophomore DT Keith McCaskill made his second career start, replacing Aaron Harris in the starting lineup. Harris entered the game as a reserve. ... Daniels' 10 TD passes entering the game ranked tied for fourth in the nation among freshmen passers, trailing only Oklahoma's Landry Jones (17), Boston College's Dave Shinskie (11) and Kent State's Spencer Keith (11). ... Senior LB Kion Wilson became the ninth different Bull to wear the No. 10 jersey of former USF player Keeley Dorsey, who passed away following a conditioning drill in January 2007. Dorsey would have been a senior this season.

Scott Carter

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