USF Bowl Practices Notes
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles
With Christmas in the rearview mirror, the South Florida Bulls football team arrived in Miami this past Monday to begin their final week of preparation for the Minnesota Gophers, a team the Bulls have never faced and don't share a common opponent with this season.
It's been a busy month for the Bulls since they beat the Oklahoma Sooners in Houston. A few quick notes:
Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren 'in good standing' despite struggles
USF had a pretty good run of defenses which seemed to have slowed down the past two seasons with the team allowing a mediocre 28.2 points per game and being 119th in total defense and 126th in pass defense. They are, however, second in the Big 12 and after a strong second half showing in the Big 12 championship game, Doeren is in good standing with the program and is expected to be back next season as DC if he chooses to.
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Sophomore LB Hughes practicing with the team; expected to play in National Championship Game
USF's defense should get a big boost when it plays Minnesota as star linebacker Travis Hughes was spotted as the team's final practice in Tampa before traveling to Miami. Hughes has missed the past few games with an injury but was on pace to have yet another award winning season. Hughes is second on the team in tackles with 93 and would be a key piece in slowing down tight end Jerry Brown, who won the Mackey Award which is given to the nation's best tight end. Brown has 159 career receptions for 2426 yards and 29 touchdowns. He has 16 touchdowns his season and over 1,100 yards.
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Bass, McFarland could go pro depending on NC performance
Junior WR Joel Bass and redshirt junior QB Mike McFarland have both had slow starts to their USF career but strong third seasons have them contemplating the draft, especially McFarland. Those within the program "wouldn't be surprised" if McFarland does choose to go pro while Bass is "more 50/50". Other draft eligible upperclassmen that could be playing be their last games for the Bulls include safety Ray Thompson and offensive guard Bernard Livingston, two All-Americans.
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USF keeping an eye on SEC expansion talks; relationship with Big 12 'beyond repair' according to source
The rumors of a SEC/ACC trade that would send South Carolina and a considerable exit fee to the ACC in exchange for Florida State and Miami was laughed off message boards. In recent weeks, however, it's gaining steam with more credible reports substantiating the once sophomoric gossip fodder. According to an ESPN report, the ACC is open to the discussions and a conclusion is expected to be reached within the next few months. The original plan was for Florida State and Miami to replace Missouri and Texas A&M but with South Carolina also out, it does leave the room open for a potential third team should the SEC decide to stick with fourteen members. USF has reportedly tried to begin chatter with the SEC due to its deteriorating relationship with the Big 12 which has been described by a Big 12 source as 'beyond repair'. A source within the SEC's offices, however, has told The Tampa Bay Chronicles that the interest at this point is "one-sided" as the conference is not looking to add a fourth Florida team should Florida State and Miami join the University of Florida in the SEC.
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Bulls expected to hire offensive coordinator to call plays in 2025
Despite having tremendous success in his second go-round as the Bulls play-caller, head coach Malcolm Francois Sr. has reportedly been interviewing potential offensive coordinators. Since the retirement of Doc Holliday, Francois has served as the team's offensive coordinator. Charlie Weis has been a reported potential hire along with former Bulls offensive coordinator and recently fired Hawaii head coach Walt Wells. Wells was the original OC in Francois' first staff at USF and would be a logical hire.
Last edited by Soapy on 09 Apr 2021, 19:55, edited 1 time in total.
National Championship Game Preview: vs. #1 Minnesota Gophers
Record: 13-0, 10-0 Big Ten
Head Coach: Clarence McKinney (60-41 at Minnesota, 8th year, 80-48)
Team Leaders
Passing: Patrick Byrd (66.1% completion, 3704 yards, 45 TD, 9 INT, 170.8 QB rating)
Rushing: Jeff Mayhew (1235 yards, 7.2 ypc, 12 TD)
Receiving: Jerry Brown (73 receptions, 1122 yards, 16 TD)
Defense: Chris Anthony (43 tackles, 16 PBU, 5 INT)
Team Rankings
Total Offense: 5th
Total Defense: 36th
Points Per Game: 4th
Turnover Differential: 6th
Team Schedule
at NC State: W 41-17
vs. #20 Missouri: W 39-38
at Ohio: W 41-31
at Michigan State: W 38-20
at #23 Iowa: W 38-21
at Northwestern: W 52-35
vs. Wisconsin: W 45-14
at Purdue: W 24-14
vs. Nebraska: W 37-28
vs. Maryland: W 45-20
vs. Illinois: W 35-14
vs. Rutgers: W 45-19
vs. #4 Ohio State: W 40-38
Justice Wins Second National Championship for Bulls With GW Field Goal
During his childhood summers, Malcolm Francois would, in his own words, escape the harsh realities of living in Liberty City and spend a few weeks with his uncles in Carol City, a stone throw away from Miami Gardens.
"It's funny looking back at it now because most people would consider Carol City just another ghetto," said Francois in a 2018 interview, "But to me as a kid, it was paradise compared to what back home was like."
It was only fitting that Miami Gardens would be the site of Francois' crowning achievement, winning his second national championship for his alma matter and his son scoring two touchdowns in USF's electric 45-42 win over Minnesota.
Francois Jr.'s second touchdown tied the game with 1:39 left in the game. Minnesota was driving down the field until another Miami native, linebacker Travis Hughes, forced a fumble and gave USF the ball back. It wouldn't be long until sophomore Kevin Justice knocked in his 23rd field goal of the season and his most important one, a walk-off victory for the Bulls.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[MINN] K. Darby, returned interception 62 Yds (9:41)
[USF] K. Justice, 42 Yd FG (7:21)
[MINN] J. Mayhew, 40 Yd run (6:12)
[USF] R. Fox, 4 Yd run (0:30)
Quarter 2
[USF] M. Francois Jr, 22 Yd pass from M. McFarland (7:00)
[MINN] L. Brown, 9 Yd pass from P. Byrd (4:41)
[USF] M. McFarland, 40 Yd run (3:25)
Quarter 3
[MINN] J. Ferwerda, 11 Yd pass from P. Byrd (7:14)
[USF] K. Justice, 22 Yd FG (3:48)
[MINN] R. Bennett, 1 Yd pass from P. Byrd (3:01)
[USF] J. Barbour, 31 Yd pass from M. McFarland -- 2pt (0:41)
Quarter 4
[MINN] M. Madsen, 6 Yd pass from P. Byrd (5:47)
[USF] M. Francois Jr, 16 Yd pass from M. McFarland (1:39)
[USF] K. Justice, 37 Yd FG (0:00)
---------------------------------------------------------------- #2 South Florida Bulls
QB Mike McFarland: 30 of 43, 413 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
HB Derrick Green: 15 carries, 78 yards.
HB David Fuller: 10 carries, 73 yards.
WR Joel Bass: 7 receptions, 94 yards.
WR Jason Barbour: 7 receptions, 88 yards, touchdown.
WR Darius Downs: 5 receptions, 72 yards.
TE Vincent Everett: 3 receptions, 46 yards.
WR Malcolm Francois Jr: 2 receptions, 38 yards, 2 touchdowns.
LB Travis Hughes: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss.
CB Ray Hill: 5 tackles, interception.
#1 Minnesota Gophers
QB Patrick Byrd: 36 of 46, 349 yards, 4 touchdowns, interception.
HB Jeff Mayhew: 15 carries, 117 yards, touchdown.
WR Leon Brown: 13 receptions, 154 yards, touchdown.
TE Jerry Brown: 5 receptions, 57 yards.
WR Rob Bennett: 5 receptions, 47 yards, touchdown.
CB Chris Anthony: 9 tackles, tackle for loss.
LB Jim McDonald: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack.
S Greg Deangelis: 9 tackles, interception.
CB Kasey Darby: 4 tackles, interception.
Texas, USF likely won't be potentially 14th member of new SEC line up
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles
The SEC and the ACC are reportedly finalizing an historic trade that will send ACC staples Florida State and Miami to the SEC in exchange for South Carolina and a lessen exit fee as opposed to the standard $50 million per team.
The move would allow the Southeastern Conference to replace Texas A&M and Missouri with more natural fits in Florida State and Miami but would leave them with thirteen members due to the South Carolina loss.
Geographically, there aren't a ton of other options and the ones fans quickly jumped to was reigniting rumors of Texas going to the SEC while USF has been begging, even before their Big 12 move, to be let in those doors. The Bulls even went as far as not wearing Big 12 patches on their jerseys or logos during the national championship game.
Those are likely options, however, if a recent SI.com report is correct. In the report, Howard Schwartz reported that the SEC and the Big 12 has a reported "gentleman's agreement" where the SEC, in exchange for the Big 12 voluntarily paying a small exit fee on behalf of Texas A&M and Missouri despite conference rules not requiring one, would not go after any Big 12 teams.
"A&M and Missouri leaving the SEC was much their idea as it was the SEC's," said Schwartz on his weekly podcast, "The SEC wanted to make a play for Miami and Florida State in order to load up for their next TV deal and it was going to cost a lot of money in order to make that money. They didn't want to split the money up sixteen ways anyway so A&M and Missouri were probably on the chopping block anyway, same with Vanderbilt and some other schools. They got down to twelve, got some money for it but the one stipulation, which from what I'm hearing wasn't anything official, was that they not go after Texas. [Big 12] was mainly worried about Texas and potentially Oklahoma but I would think this would flow down to USF as well who -- by the way -- just won a national championship."
While it's looking more and more like USF will stay put in the Big 12, don't expect the Bulls to go down without a fight.
2024 USF All-Americans First Team
G Bernard Livingston
DE Dale Bolen
DT Daniel Elliott
LB John Reed
LB Dallas Gross
LB Travis Hughes
CB Ronnie Gay
S Jake Lott
S Ray Thompson Second Team
DT Josh Brown
CB Sid Robinson
K Kevin Justice
P Marcus McClelland Freshman
WR Darius Downs
WR Jason Barbour
DT William Levine
2024 USF All-Big 12 First Team
HB David Fuller
G Bernard Livingston
G Brad Jones
C Joel Dixon
DE Mark Robinson
DE Dale Bolen
DT Daniel Elliott
DT Josh Brown
LB John Reed
LB Dallas Gross
LB Travis Hughes
CB Sid Robinson
CB Ronnie Gay
S Jake Lott
S Ray Thompson
K Kevin Justice
P Marcus McClelland
KR Malcolm Francois Jr. Second Team
WR Darius Downs
RT Jimmie Hurd
DT William Levine
CB Ray Hill
2025 South Florida Bulls Stats
Passing
QB Mike McFarland, Rs Junior: 229 of 309, 3042 yards, 27 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, sacked 39 times.
QB James Pittman, Rs Senior: 130 of 187, 1748 yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, sacked 24 times.
QB Nick Williams, Rs Freshman: 30 of 39, 413 yards, 5 touchdowns.
Francois, Bulls agree on contract reworking to become highest paid head coach
Anthony Washington -- The Tampa Bay Chronicles
USF has reworked head coach Malcolm Francois' contract through 2031 in order for Francois, fresh off his second national championship, to become the nation's highest paid head coach.
Francois and the Bulls had agreed to a four-year extension just one off-season ago which put him around $8 million per year with incentives that topped off at $9.1 million. The new deal now guarantees Francois a yearly salary of $9.5 million reportedly, the most in the country.
With opening in Tennessee and Nebraska, two success starved programs, the deal keeps Francois comfortable in Tampa although the two-time national champion has shown no signs of being interested in other positions.
The Bulls were reportedly looking to hire an offensive coordinator in order to assist Francois and relieve him of his play-calling duties. It remains to be seen if this new deal changes those plans as there is now less money in the pot to go after a big time name. Charlie Weis and Jimbo Fisher were big names that were rumored as well as former Bulls OC Walt Wells.
Wells hired at USF as OC; will take over game-planning and play calling responsibilities
Cooper Byrd -- Dynasty Sports Staff Writer
The band is back together.
After a decade away, Walt Wells has returned to USF and reunited with Malcolm Francois on the Bulls coaching staff.
Wells was a member of Francois' original coaching staff when he took over the program in 2013 before leaving following the 2014 season to be the head coach at Hawaii. Following his dismissal on the heels of a 4-7 season, Wells served as an advisor during bowl preparation before being hired full time this week.
In the press release, it was announced that Wells will be in charge of game-planning and play calling responsibilities for the offense. Under Wells, the Bulls ran a more pro style offense as opposed to a more spread offense that Francois has ran, particularly in his second stint as play caller.
Former Bull and NFL quarterback Grant Oliver was also hired as the team's quarterback coach. Oliver spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant and offensive analyst. QB coach Marcus Foreman, whose held the position since Doc Holliday retired, was hired at Baylor as the team's new OC.
Notable Head Coaching Changes
Wake Forest :: Jarrett Anderson replaces Barry Odom (left)
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Nebraska :: Kyle Flood replaces James Walker (fired)
Rutgers :: Barry Odom replaces Rich Skrosky (fired)
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Baylor :: Dan Vinson replaces Bob Stoops (fired)
Iowa State :: Mike Williams replaces Paul Chryst (fired)
TCU :: Jason Phillips replaces Jimbo Fisher (fired)
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Utah :: Paul Haynes replaces Brent Pease (fired)
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Tennessee :: Marcel Smith replaces Butch Jones (fired)
Texas A&M :: Jason Candle replaces Eddie Gran (fired)
