USF: For the fans
By GREG AUMAN
Published September 1, 2006
COACH: Jim Leavitt
STAFF: Wally Burnham, defensive coordinator/linebackers; Bernard Clark, defensive line; Lawrence Dawsey, receivers; Troy Douglas, safeties; Carl Franks, running backs/recruiting coordinator; Greg Frey, offensive line; Greg Gregory, tight ends; Rich Rachel, cornerbacks; Rod Smith, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
CONFERENCE: Big East
CONFERENCE TITLES: None
RADIO: WFLA-AM 970
WEB SITE: www.gousfbulls.com
RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM
CAPACITY: 65,000
TICKETS: Single-game tickets start at $20, and five-game season tickets at $99. Single-game seats in select sections cost $24 or $29. Visit ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-GOBULLS for information.
PARKING: Game-day parking in lots to the north and south end of Raymond James Stadium is $7.
DIRECTIONS: Raymond James Stadium is about 1 mile west of Interstate 275. From the north, take the Himes Avenue exit (Exit 23C), and the stadium is between Himes and N Dale Mabry Highway. From the west, take the N Dale Mabry exit (Exit 23A) and follow north to the stadium.
2006 SCHEDULE
Saturday McNeese State 7
Sept. 9 Florida Intl. 7
Sept. 16 at Central Florida 2:30
Sept. 23 at Kansas 7
Sept. 29 Rutgers 8
Oct. 7 Connecticut TBA
Oct. 14 at North Carolina TBA
Oct. 22 at Cincinnati 8
Nov. 4 Pittsburgh Noon
Nov. 11 Syracuse TBA
Nov. 18 at Louisville TBA
Nov. 25 at West Virginia Noon
3 GAMES TO WATCH
SEPT. 16 AT UCF
The Bulls' first real challenge, on the road against a motivated team that has much more to gain by winning than USF does. Struggle here and it's a bad sign for Bulls fans in 2006.
SEPT. 29 VS. RUTGERS
The Big East opener is a key game against the Knights, picked by league coaches to finish one spot ahead of the Bulls. With a national ESPN audience on a Friday night, it's a pivotal game. A victory over Rutgers and the following week against Connecticut would put USF atop the Big East's second tier.
NOV. 18 AT LOUISVILLE
The Cardinals want revenge for last year's embarrassing 45-14 throttling in Tampa. If Louisville can beat Miami, the Cardinals could come in undefeated. Going to Louisville and delivering another upset would be as improbable as last year's dominating win for USF.
3 STATS TO WATCH
RECEIVER TOUCHDOWNS
The USF receivers caught two touchdowns in the final 11 games last season. When nobody in the group totals more than 290 yards for the year, it's an offense in dire need of a real downfield threat.
FIELD GOALS
The Bulls made only 11 of 19 attempts. Only one loss was by fewer than 10 points, so there weren't game-losing misses, but the Bulls and new kicker Mike Benzer won't be happy with five misses inside the 40 in 2006.
NICHOLAS' TACKLES
Senior linebacker Stephen Nicholas needs 10 for losses to be USF's career leader. Nicholas starts the season fourth on the list with 381/2. Greg Walls (1999-2002) has the record with 48.
2005 RESULTS (6-6)
at Penn State L 23-13
Florida A&M W 37-3
Central Florida W 31-14
Louisville W 45-14
at Miami L 27-7
at Pittsburgh L 31-17
at Rutgers W 45-31
at Syracuse W 27-0
Cincinnati W 31-16
at Connecticut L 15-10
West Virginia L 28-13
CAR CARE BOWL
N.C. State L 14-0