USF Soccer Anticipates Massive Crowd At Ray Jay For Nationally Televised Homecoming Recreation

#24 South Florida (5-1; 2-0 American) vs. Florida Atlantic (2-3; 1-1 American)

Saturday, October 18 • 7:30 PM • Raymond James Stadium (65,000) • Tampa, Fla.

SURFACE: Natural, Bermuda Turf Grass

TV: ESPNU: Jack Kizer (P-by-P) & Craig Haubert (Analyst)

RADIO: Q105 FM/ Bulls Unlimited digital

SERIES: USF leads 4-2

IN TAMPA: USF leads 2-2

IN BOCA RATON: USF leads 2-0

LAST TIME: USF 44, FAU 21, in Boca Raton, 11/1/2024

VS AMERICAN: 40-58, received 6 of final 8

AMERICAN HOME GAMES: 21-26, received final vs Charlotte (54-26)

HOMECOMING GAMES: 14-14, misplaced final vs Navy (28-7)

GAMES ON ESPNU: 30-19, misplaced final at Tulane (45-10) 

SOUTH FLORIDA GAME NOTES

As No. 19-ranked South Florida (5-1, 2-0 American Conference) prepares for Saturday night time’s Homecoming recreation in opposition to the Florida Atlantic Owls (3-3, 1-1) at Raymond James Stadium, there are quite a few the reason why the Bulls have change into so successful story.

Here’s one of many largest:

The Bulls have compelled a nation-leading 16 turnovers. In Friday night time’s 63-36 street triumph at North Texas, the Bulls bought 5 (4 on protection, one on particular groups) and that helped to rework it from a halftime tie into a convincing rout.

“Certainly, you coach the heck out of creating turnovers,” head coach Alex Golesh said during his Tuesday news conference. “You’re on the defensive guys to punch as exhausting as they’ll at these footballs. … We preach it, possibly as exhausting as anyone. Fumbles do not simply occur. Interceptions do not simply occur. They occur as a result of there’s elite-level effort across the soccer. It’s often the second and third man (there) that creates it. Sometimes, it is a tipped ball. Sometimes, it is a violent collision.

“I really consider it is a mindset and an angle, the place the tradition is like, ‘We’re going to go get that soccer.’ You take a look at our three interceptions (in opposition to North Texas) and every time there was anyone within the quarterback’s face as he threw it. Balls do not simply bounce your approach. You drive balls to bounce your approach. It’s that additional little little bit of effort.”

Against North Texas, two of the Mean Green turnovers had been a direct reflection of additional effort on USF’s half.

USF trailed 14-7 as halftime neared, however North Texas punt returner Miles Coleman was hit by USF’s Tray Kinkle (who was working 23 miles-per-hour, in response to GPS), who compelled a fumble. Cedrick Hawkins Jr. pounced on it on the North Texas 17-yard line with 43 seconds remaining. It led to USF’s tying landing, a 2-yard move from Byrum Brown to tight finish Jonathan Echols.

In the third quarter, to punctuate USF’s run of 28 unanswered factors, nickel again Jarvis Lee laid a giant hit on Mean Green receiver Simeon Evans to drive a fumble, which was scooped up by linebacker Jhalyn Shuler for a 34-yard landing, giving the Bulls a 42-21 benefit. 

“We practice running to the ball … and that’s where plays happen,” Lee said. “That’s when large performs occur. So, we run to the ball and make performs on the ball. Basically, it has been a dominant, violent protection. If you are not dominant and being violent, then it will probably’t be the very best. And we harp on that each day — to be the very best protection we will on this nation.”

Golesh lamented the unfavorable turnovers — USF suffered three within the first quarter, when Brown threw an interception, had the ball knocked away for a fumble and suffered yet one more fumble on a defective alternate with working again Nykahi Davenport — and that have to be fastened.

But Golesh discovered a optimistic in that side as effectively.

North Texas scored simply seven factors off USF’s three turnovers because the Bulls compelled their very own turnover and a three-and-out on two of the North Texas possessions.

USF, in the meantime, accounted for 28 factors off the 5 North Texas turnovers. 

“That’s a big swing in the game and it’s also complimentary football, the ability to respond,” Golesh said. “The factor I’m most happy with is we’re at a degree in our program the place I’m sitting there watching the protection come off the bench after a (USF offensive) turnover and I’m saying, ‘Man, is there anyone who’s going to get annoyed?’

“It’s 11 dudes and 10 coaches sprinting on the sector, excited to go play protection. And that is contagious in so some ways. I feel what these guys have created when it comes to a tradition that they have one another’s backs, it is tremendous cool. It has taken a very long time to get to that time, but when we will maintain that going, it is tremendous optimistic.” 

So far, the Bulls have put collectively a fun-to-watch group, which Golesh mentioned he hopes will translate into a big, spirited crowd for Saturday night time’s Homecoming recreation in opposition to FAU. The new-look Owls have the nation’s youngest head coach in Zach Kittley (34), the previous offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Texas Tech, and a 6-foot-3, 236-pound quarterback in Caden Veltkamp, who leads the nation in completions per recreation (27.3) and the American Conference in completion share (65.1), passing yards (1,781) and touchdowns (14).

“My challenge to our fan base is to show up Saturday night,” Golesh said. “I feel it will be actually, actually electrical beneath the lights. The climate goes to be unbelievable. It’s going to be an thrilling soccer recreation and I feel our gamers deserve it (help). This college deserves it. The metropolis of Tampa deserves an superior crowd. Our college students shall be there. They’ve been there all yr. We want individuals to get to the stadium, pack it out and create an unbelievable surroundings.” 

“We’ve been the same USF team for whoever jumps on and whoever jumps off,” offensive tackle Derek Bowman said. “We’re going to maintain doing us. If you need to help us, nice. We’ll love you for that. And in case you do not, we’ll carry on trucking.”

–#GoBulls–