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Bulls must limit options to win

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 20, 2001

TAMPA -- It will be a clash of styles tonight at Raymond James Stadium when South Florida hosts Southern Utah.

A serious clash. Like between the 1970s and the 21st century.

The Thunderbirds are an old-school, triple-option running team. Southern Utah has led Division I-AA in rushing three of the past five seasons.

The Bulls are a no-huddle, shotgun, four- and five-receiver passing team. USF quarterback Marquel Blackwell is second in the nation in attempts (272) and third in completions (145).

A key indicator of which team is having its way tonight -- beside the score -- will be time: A fast game means ground-bound Southern Utah (1-5) probably is running out the clock, a slow game means pass-happy USF (3-3) likely is airing it out.

"Their last game went under three hours, (it was) two hours and something minutes. We haven't had a game that has lasted under eight hours," USF coach Jim Leavitt said, exaggerating a bit but making a point. "(USF's) offensive opportunities will be limited so (we) better do something when (we) have the ball."

The Bulls have not played an option team this season and have played only a handful in their existence. They had mixed results against the most notable option team they faced, Georgia Southern. USF's defense played admirably, but it lost both games to the Eagles, in 1997 and '98.

On a typical option play, the quarterback takes the snap and hands to the fullback, or fakes the handoff. If he keeps it, he usually rolls out and if/when a tackler approaches, he pitches the ball to a trailing running back. Or he fakes the pitch and turns upfield. Or, occasionally, he fakes the roll out, pulls up and passes.

It can get dizzying.

"You have to have someone on the fullback, quarterback and on the pitch," Leavitt said. "They spread you out and they put you out on islands and you have to make plays. They cut block a lot, they try to put everyone on the ground and you have to do a good job using your hands and staying on your feet.

"The discipline of your defense is the key, and you have to have it for 60 minutes."

The onus will be on the linebacking corps. Middle linebacker Anthony Williams and outside linebackers Maurice Jones and Kawika Mitchell must prevent the Southern Utah rushers from getting into the secondary.

The Bulls need not shut down the Thunderbirds entirely, because the Southern Utah defense is suspect, allowing 25.3 points a game. USF's attack should be as effective as it was in last week's 40-21 win against Connecticut, when the Bulls raced to a 40-9 lead behind Blackwell, who rushed for a career-high three touchdowns and threw for two.

USF could be bolstered by the return of center Alex Herron, who hasn't played since the second game of the season against Pittsburgh because of a knee injury. Also, running backs Derrick Rackard (ankle) and Vince Brewer (shoulder) return after missing a game. They likely will play sparingly behind USF's leading rushers, Clenton Crossley and Quinton Callum.

Callum is coming off the best game of his career. The sophomore junior college transfer gained a team-high 51 yards on 12 carries against Connecticut, and he has 89 yards on 17 carries in the past two games.

The best news of all for the Bulls might be the schedule: Tonight is the second of six consecutive home games to conclude the season. (This game was scheduled for Sept. 15 but was postponed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.)

"Yes, it is nice," Leavitt said. "I certainly prefer playing at home."

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