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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The team that led the nation in penalties last season picked up an old habit.
In a 27-6 loss to Southern Miss on Saturday, South Florida committed 13 penalties that cost it 129 yards and hurt its chances for a conference title.
Coach Jim Leavitt called the lack of discipline, which included four personal fouls, "deplorable."
"That goes right to me," Leavitt said. "We're not playing real disciplined football, and we've got to change that if we're ever going to build a successful program."
In the first quarter, USF committed a penalty on every series, offense and defense, except the first. On that series, Southern Miss' only play was an 80-yard touchdown pass.
The Bulls pulled to within three in the first quarter on Santiago Gramatica's field goal. From there, the Bulls and Eagles jostled between many plays. USF senior defensive end Cedric Battles said the intensity at the start of the game gradually turned into the lack of discipline.
"We were pretty jazzed up at first, but penalties will kill you," he said. "You can't have that many and think you can win."
Battles said unlike play execution, which can be fine-tuned during practice, addressing penalties comes from within.
"We've got to talk about being smarter," he said. "You can run and run in practice, but then what are you going to do? We've got to be smarter."
Defensive back Kenny Robinson echoed that.
"You've got to look at yourself inside," he said. "If you shouldn't (hit late), you shouldn't do it. "It's not the coach's fault if you hit somebody late. Only you can prevent that."
Two personal fouls came late in the third quarter, with the Bulls trailing 20-6 after a second Gramatica field goal. Brandon Baker punted 41 yards, but a helmet-to-helmet hit by Javan Camon moved the Eagles to their 39.
USF forced a punt, and Brian Fisher returned it 18 yards to the USF 27. But Camon's late hit moved the Bulls back to their 14. The drive stalled three plays later at the 18.
The Bulls had 386 yards of offense but were just 2-for-4 in the red zone, including a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.
"We didn't finish. We didn't get in the end zone," quarterback Ronnie Banks said. "We kept moving the ball. It was frustrating."