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Following Daniels' lead, USF delivers an inspired effort

Staff photo by JASON BEHNKEN

B.J. Daniels provided the vast majority of USF's offense Friday night, whether by passing or running.

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2009

Updated: 10/31/2009 12:34 am

TAMPA - He has started only five college football games.

Remember that about South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels.

Already, what a ride it has been.

And think of how far there is to go.

He started with only the biggest win in school history, against Florida State up in Tallahassee, his hometown. A few weeks later, Daniels re-entered the atmosphere, along with USF, with a loss to Cincinnati. Last week, he threw only eight passes, two interceptions, before leaving that disaster at Pittsburgh. Two losses.

Then there was Friday night against 20th-ranked West Virginia, a game South Florida desperately needed. Jim Leavitt and his reeling Bulls ran from the tunnel at Raymond James on Friday night. Right on their heels was their image problem.

They've been the Sultans of Slide for three seasons.

The Big East schedule arrives, the Bulls depart.

They were out to stop that.

B.J. Daniels made sure they did.

"Our motto this week was 'Do what gotcha here,'" Daniels said. "Do what got you to South Florida."

And so he was everywhere, in the air, on the ground, 336 yards of offense, more than West Virginia, and three touchdown passes as the Bulls beat the Mountaineers 30-19. It was inspired work on both sides of the ball.

But Daniels led the way, with big plays, with sustained drives. He got off the roller coaster he has been riding, the one all freshmen ride, and made few if any mistakes and steadied his teammates and this season.

Five games - four against ranked teams, and he's batting .500.

Not bad, kid.

Remember: He's a redshirt freshman.

He might just be scratching the surface.

Think of how much fun this could be.

Friday, USF attacked its reputation, the one that says the Bulls fade as the season goes on, that they fold when the going gets tough.

They attacked and attacked.

B.J. Daniels attacked.

"We let our hair down," he said.

He threw a 49-yard touchdown to Carlton Mitchell to immediately answer West Virginia's touchdown on the game's opening drive.

Later, he found Mitchell again, 69 yards, to set up another score, Daniels' scrambling 11-yard scoring pass to A.J. Love.

By halftime of this game, West Virginia had 171 yards of offense. B.J. Daniels had 257 - 193 passing and 64 rushing. He threw his third touchdown pass, a sweet little 6-yarder to Sterling Griffin, late in the third quarter. Daniels' game totals: 232 passing yards, 104 rushing.

USF was up against it against West Virginia, its third ranked opponent in as many games. So when West Virginia came out and, on the first play from scrimmage, hit a pass for 28 yards, and later scored a touchdown, well ... slip sliding away?

Maybe South Florida fans have come to expect as much at this time of year.

Well, the Bulls answered. The defense, devoured the last two weeks, stymied the Mountaineers, stuffing rushing star Noel Devine for just 42 yards. The Bulls didn't have the most penalties in the world. They even made three field goals without missing one.

But Daniels answered loudest, right from the start.

There was no sitting back and waiting.

Twice, once early in the game, and again early in the fourth quarter, USF went for it on fourth down and short in its own territory. The night demanded it. Both times the Bulls made the first down. The second time, it was Daniels who carried.

There was one major scare. It happens when you are young and you try to do too much, or don't see enough. Up 27-19, Daniels threw a pass to the left side that was nearly intercepted by West Virginia's Sidney Glover.

He would have taken it back for a touchdown.

But he couldn't get it.

The Bulls breathed easier.

I bet B.J. Daniels' heart didn't even skip a beat.

South Florida has something here.

Think, just think, how much fun this could be.

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