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Road game could prove to be Bulls' biggest win ever

A victory today would show how far USF has come.

By SHARON GINN

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 11, 2000

With no Division I-AA playoff bid to fight for or bowl chances to hope for, South Florida has little to play for this season but pride -- and progress.

The schedule says the Bulls' transition season ends Nov. 18 with a game against struggling Austin Peay, but in many ways it ends today. In their final meaningful game of the season, the Bulls face Middle Tennessee State, a team in its second year of I-A, in Murfreesboro.

The game is another measuring stick in a season that has seen the Bulls beat a I-A opponent for the first time (Connecticut), lose 41-7 to their first ranked I-A opponent (Southern Miss) and beat three ESPN/USA Today I-AA Top 10 teams (Troy State, Western Kentucky, James Madison).

If the Bulls can knock off the Blue Raiders (4-5), who enter the new Sun Belt League next season, it likely would be -- and yes, we know you've heard this before -- the biggest victory in their four-year history.

"We've had so many challenges this year," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "At the end you want to be on the upswing. We have an opportunity to play a Division I program on the road, one that has a lot of momentum."

Middle Tennessee State, which jumped from I-AA in 1999 and went 3-8 as a I-A independent, started slowly this season with losses at Illinois (35-6) and Florida (55-0). But the Blue Raiders have won four of their past seven and last week traveled to Connecticut and walloped the Huskies 66-10, just a week after USF had won 21-13 in Storrs.

Blue Raiders coach Andy McCollum said the scores may not tell the whole story. High, cold winds in USF's game limited offense for both teams, and MTSU played the Huskies on a clear, pleasant day.

Today's game pits USF's experienced defense against a Blue Raiders offense that is ranked No. 18 in I-A and averaging 437.4 yards and nearly 38 points.

But McCollum said USF's offense also is a threat.

"Their quarterback (sophomore Marquel Blackwell) may be one of the best ones we've played," McCollum said. "I know he is this year. ... All (our players) have to do is turn the film on and see a defense that plays hard and runs hard and an offense with a lot of weapons."

The Blue Raiders have their share of weapons. Tailback Dwone Hicks is ranked No. 11 in I-AA in rushing and No. 5 in scoring and is averaging 129 yards, 177 when playing at home. He rushed for a school-record 311 yards and six touchdowns against Louisiana Tech.

Quarterback Wes Counts has had to share some of his duties with Jason Johnson, but between them they are averaging 232.9 passing yards. Meanwhile, MTSU's defense has struggled at times -- just like USF's spotty offense.

As expected, it has taken time for the Blue Raiders to adjust to I-A.

"It's been tough, but I think it also makes your team tough," MTSU coach Andy McCollum said. "You go though adversity that you've got to overcome. We're keeping our heads up and playing with pride, and going out every week and trying to get better."

It's working, Leavitt said.

"They are playing at a high level right now," Leavitt said. "They are doing all the right things, they have a lot of confidence, they have a lot of momentum and you're playing at their place on turf. There are a lot of things that our guys are going to have to be ready for."

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