Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Bulls seek second-half surge, end of road skid

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 28, 2000

HARTFORD, Conn. -- With four games remaining in their final season, the seniors on the South Florida football team have decided that there is only one way they want to see their careers end: Undefeated in the "second half" of the season.

A 44-6 win over Liberty last week was a step in the right direction, but this week the Bulls face just a bit of a hurdle.

Their struggles on the road.

The Bulls haven't won away from home since defeating Western Kentucky in September 1999.

Considering that three of those five games were against Division I-A opponents, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said that's not entirely surprising. But it is fact.

An opportunity to earn a much-needed road win will come today when South Florida (4-3) plays Connecticut (3-4) at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Storrs, Conn.

To accomplish that 5-0 goal the seniors have set, the road losing streak must end.

"We're looking forward to this game, especially breaking the road streak," senior linebacker Marshall Smith said. "(Connecticut) is a good team. They beat Akron last week and they (Akron) have a good team. It will be really good for us to come out and finish these last four games strong. That's kind of been the focus of our team -- to finish the last five games with a win in the second half of our season. That's the direction we want to go."

Like South Florida, Connecticut is in the midst of its transition period from Division I-AA to I-A. The Huskies will compete as a I-A independent before joining the Big East in 2005. Their record aside, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said he expects the Huskies to be a tough opponent.

"Connecticut is a good football team," Leavitt said. " ... We're excited about playing them. We respect them a great deal. They had a great win against Akron and when you look at the score (38-35) -- Akron's a team that beat Central Florida and we know Central Florida is a pretty good football team. So it kind of shows the level of football we're playing."

This is also an opportunity for the Bulls to show the level of football they are capable of playing. Despite the huge win last week, Leavitt and the players weren't happy with how the team played.

"Our players know they didn't play and execute as well as we need to," Leavitt said.

South Florida will face an offense that can be explosive. Connecticut is averaging 25.1 points a game, led by quarterback Ryan Tracey (156-of-282 for 1,961 yards in seven games), receiver John Fitzsimmons (30 catches for 522 yards and seven touchdowns) and junior tailback Taber Small (428 yards, seven touchdowns). Tracey has four 300-yard-plus passing games this season. "They've got an explosive offense and a receiver who is supposed to be very, very good, so we know we need to stop him," said senior defensive back Anthony Henry, who has 28 tackles and three interceptions. "They've got a decent running team, but they are mainly pass (oriented) so we've got to put some pressure on the quarterback."

While its offense is potent, Connecticut's defense is allowing 32 points a game, due in part to the loss of three defensive starters to injury this season. But linebackers Razul Wallace and Uyi Osunde are having solid seasons, each with more than 50 tackles. Defensive back Jamal Lundy leads the team with 62 tackles. "I really think it's going to be a real good football game," Leavitt said. "It's going to be a real good matchup. I think it will be very interesting. I've never been to Connecticut, never been up that way. I know very little about the stadium or environment, but I'm fixin' to find out."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

College football