College football

USF's nightmare ends BCS dream

UCONN 15, USF 10: Turnovers, offensive struggles and UConn's big plays crush the Bulls' Big East title ambitions, and make a bowl bid less certain.

By GREG AUMAN
Published November 27, 2005

	[AP photo]
	Lou Allen runs 60 yards for a touchdown on Connecticut's first possession in the first quarter. It was the Huskies' only offensive touchdown.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - For all the talk of sub-freezing temperatures affecting them on the field Saturday, it was the cold reality that hit the Bulls after the game that really stung.

Their dream season was dead at their own hands.

The 15-10 loss to the Huskies in 27-degree weather ended USF's hopes of a Big East championship and a BCS bowl appearance, and left the Bulls uncertain whether they'll play in a bowl at all. This was the coldest game in USF's history, yes, but it will likely be remembered more as the most disappointing.

The same team that celebrated themselves as potential "skunks of the BCS" suddenly struggled to find things about their game that didn't stink: costly penalties, questionable play-calling, five turnovers and one agonizing loss.

"We couldn't have made more mistakes in one game. I don't think it's possible," said coach Jim Leavitt, whose team next faces No.12 West Virginia, but with far less on the line than the Bulls had hoped.

That was what froze the Bulls after the game.

Receiver S.J. Green, who lost a fourth-quarter lob pass in the lights, turning a potential go-ahead score into an embarrassing interception, stayed on the bench for several minutes with his head in his hands.

Defensive end Terrence Royal, who led a defense that held Connecticut to one offensive score and 241 total yards, lingered on the field, doubled over in disbelief that the Bulls had let such a crucial game slip away.

"It's dead in there right now, and it hurts," running back Andre Hall said after leaving a quiet locker room.

Had the Bulls won, Saturday's home game against West Virginia would have been a nationally televised Big East championship game, the winner landing a coveted BCS berth. Instead, the Bulls may need the win to secure any bowl appearance, because if Connecticut can upset Louisville on Saturday, they might take the spot USF would have had in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. That could leave USF to scramble for an at-large berth with a bowl not affiliated with the Big East.

The way the Bulls (6-4, 4-2) lost made it only more painful. Trailing 15-10 in the fourth quarter, USF had a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jackie Chambers negated by not one but two penalties. Given third and goal at the 1-yard line, the Bulls were flagged for a false start, then misfired, setting up a pivotal fourth-down decision.

That Leavitt went for it on fourth and 6 with 6:02 to go was bold; that he went with a botched gimmick play - a reverse pass that backup quarterback Courtney Denson never got off - was difficult to explain.

"We wanted to score so bad. That was one of the best chances we had to score," said Hall, who rushed for 93 yards. "Inside the 5, it should be a guaranteed touchdown to put us ahead."

USF got one more chance, after a 10-yard Huskies punt gave the Bulls the ball on the Connecticut 44 with 2:46 to play. Julmiste lofted a pass to the end zone on first down, but Green pulled up at the 5, having lost the ball in the lights, and cornerback Tyvon Branch had an easy interception.

"I put the burden on myself," said Green, who caught USF's only touchdown in the second quarter. "I didn't come through. ... I didn't see the ball until he caught it, to be honest."

Saturday's loss wasn't about one mistake on one play. The Bulls committed five turnovers, gave up their first safety in four years and their first kickoff return for a touchdown in three seasons. But their defense kept them in the game, holding Connecticut (5-5, 2-4) to 90 total yards in the final three quarters.

The Huskies essentially won on two plays: a 60-yard touchdown run by Lou Allen on the game's third play, and a 90-yard kickoff return by freshman Darius Butler for their final score in the second quarter.

"We didn't play good football. As bad as we played tonight, to be in the game was amazing," Leavitt said. "Our kickoff team really disappointed me. We had a bunch of turnovers, what, five or six? You've got to bring your team back, and it won't be easy. When you invest a lot into something and you have the opportunities ... it's tough."

The loss was felt most by seniors like Royal and safety Johnnie Jones, who threw his helmet down in disgust at midfield, then did it again after Leavitt handed it to him.

"I feel so bad for those guys," junior Thed Watson said. "We've worked so hard to get to this point in our season. For it to come out like this, it's not a good feeling."

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 01:18:21]