USF football’s troubles continued last weekend against the Temple Owls, where the
Bulls extended their losing streak to four games and moved to 0-2 in Big East conference play.
The Owls pulled away late in the back-and-forth affair in Philadelphia to win 37-28.
The way in which the loss played out was all too familiar to the Bulls, who are no
strangers to close losses that should never have happened. The match-up against Temple was
supposed to provide redemption for a team that has struggled in the vast majority of its games,
but there was none to be found by the time the clock struck zero.
Turnovers once again played a key role in the Bulls’ loss. USF fumbled the ball three
times, two of which were recovered by the Owls and quickly turned into scoring opportunities.
Senior quarterback B.J. Daniels also continued to battle his propensity for throwing interceptions
at pivotal moments in the game, having a pass picked off by Temple defensive back Chris
Hutton on the first play of a potential comeback drive.
Perhaps the most disturbing trend that the Bulls continued in this game is the one that
sees them constantly having to come from behind to try and earn a win, especially against teams
that they have little business losing to in the first place.
The Bulls knew they were lucky to get a last-minute victory against Nevada earlier in the
season. They also realized clawing their way back at the end of games wasn’t something they
could continue to do and expect to be successful.
Yet here the Bulls are with another loss on the season in spite of the last-minute heroics
that have followed the team from game-to-game. USF must now take this off-week opportunity
to evaluate the many issues the program is currently facing. The turnovers, the lack of third down
conversions, and the frivolous penalties cannot continue if this season is to be turned around.
The Bulls are now 2-4 with six games left on the schedule. If the team wants to avoid
missing a bowl game for a second straight season, they need to win at least four more games.
That’s easier said than done for USF, as the road does not get any easier with five of six
remaining games against Big East opponents.
If anyone understands the magnitude of the remaining games, it is Coach Skip Holtz, who
is on the hot seat with a 15-16 record through three seasons with the Bulls.
“We’re all hurting a little bit,” Holtz said in a post-game press conference. “When I say
all, I mean the players, the coaches, the fan base, the alumni, the administration… We’re going
to keep plugging, we’re going to keep working at it. It’s the only way I know how to try to get it
straight.”
Samantha Ouimette is the sports editor at The Crow’s Nest. She can be reached at sports@crowsneststpete.com.
