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Colleges

Bulls' loss puts 3-0 start in perspective

By JOHN ROMANO
Published September 24, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The magic is not gone, it has simply been exposed.

Suddenly, you could see the hidden strings. You understood the sleight of hand, and recognized the way they pulled cards from their sleeves.

All at once, you figured out why the Bulls appeared to be so special when the hour was late and the outcome was in doubt.

Because the rest of the time they play so horribly.

Another USF comeback ended short of completion Saturday night with an interception in the end zone, and a 13-7 loss to Kansas.

"Silly little mistakes," quarterback Matt Grothe said.

Yes, there were a few silly little mistakes. They were the ones that preceded the ridiculously big mistakes.

Penalties. Turnovers. Missed tackles. A goofy play call at the goal line. I'm guessing the chef probably burned the pregame meal, too.

"We did shoot ourselves in the foot a couple of times," receiver Amp Hill said.

In years past, this might have been seen as another close call against a team in a major conference. This time, it means something else. Something more ominous. This time, it calls into question USF's place in the Big East Conference.

A season ago, the Bulls surprisingly showed up as contenders for the conference title. Now, you're not sure if they can keep up with Rutgers and Cincinnati, let alone Louisville and West Virginia.

It makes you want to re-evaluate the first three games. You suddenly remember that the Bulls beat a Division I-AA opponent and a pair of weaklings from inferior conferences.

It suddenly occurs to you that none of the three teams USF has beaten this season has a victory against a Division I-A school. It makes you wonder if their best start since 1998 wasn't a bit deceiving.

"It's because we're not coming out in the first half ready to play," said tight end Devin Gordon. "It's like we have to be down to get that extra incentive."

Perhaps this was good for South Florida. Maybe, late in the season, the Bulls will look back at this game and say it was the moment they grew up.

Either that, or it will be remembered as the night they were revealed.

Do not be fooled by the lack of scoring. This defense has problems. The type of problems that were too hard to sweep under the Astroturf.

You can survive without a strong pass rush. And you can have the occasional defender wandering aimlessly in the secondary. You just can't have it at the same time. For USF, it was happening most of the night.

It seemed like the only time defensive backs got close to Kansas receivers, they were called for pass interference. The only time the defensive line got close to quarterback Adam Barmann, he was setting up a shovel pass.

The Bulls had too many guys missing tackles, and too many others taking coffee breaks on third down.

They held Kansas scoreless through the first two quarters, and it was like watching a pitcher throw a 13-hit shutout with six walks.

You want to know what saved USF in the first half?

Pooch punts.

Grothe and Justin Teachey each dropped awkward-looking punts inside the Kansas five, which meant the Jayhawks were forced to drive 95 yards or more on most of their first-half possessions.

How's that for a battle cry?

Beware of the pooch.

Remarkably, the Bulls still had a pulse in the final minutes. And for that, they can thank Grothe.

He is not the not quickest ballcarrier. And he is not the most graceful passer. It is hard, really, to say where his strengths are found.

What he does, mostly, is make you believe. When the clock is running and the offense keeps stubbing its toe, Grothe steps out of the way of a blitzing linebacker and hits a receiver on third down.

The problem is he can be a one-man show versus the McNeese States or UCFs of the world, but more is needed against real opponents. Much, much more.

When the quarterback is your leading rusher in a victory, you rave about how he can be such an impact player. When he is your leading rusher in a loss, you lament how your team has no alternative weapons.

Grothe had a final shot at reprising his hero role in the final minute. He got USF to the Kansas 27 with 13 seconds remaining, but his first pass went off Ean Randolph's fingertips and his second dropped incomplete in the end zone. On the game's final play, Grothe was picked off in the end zone.

On this night, the magic act fell flat.

And the audience, perhaps, has caught on.

[Last modified September 24, 2006, 02:04:39]