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Streaking Bulls face tough test in Huskies

USF looks to avenge last season's loss today at win-friendly RJS.

By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 7, 2002

TAMPA -- If Miami loses at Florida today, ending the Hurricanes' national-best 23-game winning streak, the school with the longest streak still might be from the Sunshine State.

The Gators? Nope. The Seminoles? Wrong again.

Try South Florida.

With a win over Northern Illinois at 7 tonight at Raymond James Stadium, USF will have eight consecutive wins. At worst, the Bulls would tie Pittsburgh for the nation's longest Division I-A win streak. If the Panthers lose to Texas A&M today, USF would stand alone atop 116 I-A teams.

Not bad for a second-year I-A team.

USF's last defeat came Oct. 6 at Utah 52-21. It dropped the Bulls to 2-3, then they reeled off six straight wins to finish 8-3. USF opened 2002 with a 51-10 rout of Florida Atlantic.

As impressive as it is, it might be the second-most impressive streak the Bulls are protecting. USF has won 14 straight at home, dating to a 42-23 loss Nov. 13, 1999, to Hofstra.

The streaks could grab national media attention for USF, but coach Jim Leavitt won't say much about them. He barely acknowledges "The Streaks" because they are a distraction.

"I think about Northern Illinois and executing. The streaks, I don't think about that stuff," Leavitt said. "When you have a streak of 20, 30 games, then that's pretty impressive, but we're not anywhere near that. I don't think about those kinds of things."

The players are aware of the streaks and are particularly proud of protecting the home turf.

"In order to be a good team you have to win at home, there is no question about that," said senior quarterback Marquel Blackwell, who has guided USF to every win in the streaks. "In order to take your team to the next level you have to also win on the road.

"At home it's just a totally different atmosphere. You're more comfortable, you're more relaxed. The preparation toward the game is a lot smoother. We have a good thing going at home."

The home streak is tied for fourth-best with Texas and Washington, a couple of national heavyweights. Nebraska (23 games), Miami (17) and Toledo (15) are the top three.

The Hofstra loss came in the 1999 season finale, and the Bulls were perfect at home in 2000 and 2001. They have had two close games in that span, 20-10 over Troy State on Sept. 30, 2000, and 30-24 over Western Kentucky on Nov. 4, 2000. The closest home win last season was 28-10 over North Texas.

The Bulls have outscored their past 14 home opponents 575-173, an average of 41-12.

Impressive stuff.

The streak is in danger today. Northern Illinois of the Mid-American Conference beat USF 20-17 in DeKalb, Ill., last season on a final-play field goal. The Huskies, 6-5 last season, showed they are competitive again with a 42-41 overtime win over Wake Forest last week. Many have picked NIU to win the MAC West.

USF's romp over FAU served as a prelude to the "real" season, which begins today. Perhaps the most significant aspect will be USF's run defense. NIU bulldozed its way to 200 yards on the ground against the Bulls last season. Thomas Hammock has 34 carries for 177, including 63 in the pivotal fourth quarter.

"That's what really counts, who wins in the fourth quarter, and I have (what happened last year) in the back of my mind," defensive tackle Tavares Jurineack said. "They caught us in a couple schemes we weren't ready for. They have a pretty good, strong O-line.

"This (time) we're stopping the run. We're going to be mentally and physically prepared for what they've got for us."

Also distressing was USF's third-down conversion rate: 2-for-15. The NIU game was the first for the Bulls' no-huddle, shotgun, spread offense, and while it yielded two 50-plus yard touchdown passes, it faltered in the clutch.

"There is a lot of motivation in knowing that we had the lead, and we didn't take care of the lead," Blackwell said. "Coach pointed out yesterday that we only had 53 yards passing in the second half. That was our first game with the new system. We watched the film and we saw a lot of things that we just didn't handle.

"We understand what's at stake. We want to take care of our own back yard."

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