Another challenge awaits Bulls

The most common phrase you hear University of South Florida coaches and players use to describe the 2009 season is "up and down."

The Bulls reached new heights with a win at Florida State in late September, and followed that milestone victory with a win at Syracuse to become the only BCS program in the nation to start 5-0 three consecutive seasons.

Then the roller-coaster ride took a swift downturn with back-to-back losses to Big East leaders Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, ending any dreams of USF's first Big East title. Right when it appeared the season was about to totally collapse, the Bulls played perhaps their best game of the season in a victory against West Virginia.

That was followed by the season's low point: a 31-0 loss at Rutgers before a national TV audience on ESPN. In the two games since, USF rebounded to defeat Louisville and then lost 31-10 at home to Miami on Saturday, failing to pull off what would have been a major coup if it could have swept FSU and Miami in the same season.

"Miami wasn't that much better than us," freshman running back Lindsey Lamar said. "It just seemed like we didn't come ready to play."

USF (7-4, 3-3) better be ready to play today in the regular-season finale at Connecticut to avoid five losses in its final seven games. The Bulls also are playing for bowl positioning and a winning record in the conference, something USF failed to do a season ago for the first time since joining the Big East in 2005.

"How are we going to respond (after losing) to Miami?" Bulls coach Jim Leavitt said of his team's latest challenge. "How are we going to respond in a game like this, when a lot of people think this is a tough challenge for us?

"I think it's going to be real important as we move forward in the future for our program and our team."

The loss to Miami showed how far USF still has to grow as a program before being able to contend with elite programs on a consistent basis. The Hurricanes were more physical, deeper and talented in certain areas.

While the loss was a disappointing one for the Bulls, they had to refocus quickly at practice with Connecticut (6-5, 2-4) waiting in the regular-season finale. The Huskies have one more loss than the Bulls, but they have won two in a row, including a 33-30 double-overtime win at Notre Dame two weeks ago.

With the bowl outlook still fuzzy - USF and UConn have each been projected to go to the St. Pete Bowl, the Papajohns.com Bowl and the International Bowl - the better bowl could be in store for the winner. The Bulls know it won't be easy.

"UConn is an outstanding team. Going to Notre Dame - and I don't care what people say about Notre Dame - you don't go in there and beat them unless you have a pretty good football team," Leavitt said.

And unlike USF, UConn played the Big East's top two teams - Cincinnati and Pittsburgh - very close, losing 24-21 to Pitt and 47-45 to Cincinnati. USF lost to the Bearcats by 17 and the Panthers by 27.

"This is a must-win game for us, I believe," USF senior linebacker Chris Robinson said. "It's important to win because we have close to the same record, and if they beat us head-to-head, more bowls might take them."

USF freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels has directed the Bulls' up-and-down season since senior starter Matt Grothe suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game. Daniels has had his moments, but he's also struggled at times, such as a 6-for-16 performance against the Canes.

He'd like to cap the regular season on an upswing.

"We want to have a winning record in the Big East," Daniels said. "That would be important for this season as far as a bowl game is concerned, and especially for momentum going into next season.

"I just know (today) is important in getting a win."