USF Football To Visit Nevada In 2012 Season

by Jamie DeVriend on Jan 16, 2012 11:29 PM EST in USF Bulls Football

Last week we went through the possible matchups as USF looked to find a 12th game and finish its 2012 football schedule. Tonight, Greg Auman has reported that the Bulls will travel to Reno to face the Nevada Wolf Pack in a non-conference game*. Nevada has September 8 open along with the Bulls, so it seems likely that the game will be scheduled for that date.

The Wolf Pack is joining the Mountain West Conference this season. You probably know them best for their pistol formation, former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and coach Chris Ault, who is in this third stint as Nevada coach and is in the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2010 Nevada finished 13-1, claiming the WAC championship after a memorable win over Boise State (the dawning of the "Tessitore Effect") and finishing the season ranked #11 in the AP poll.

Despite losing its quarterback and two best rushers (Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua), the Wolf Pack went 7-6 last season, playing in the Hawaii Bowl against Southern Miss and taking a huge throng of fans with them to Aloha Stadium on Christmas Eve. Nevada finished the 2011 season ranked sixth in FBS in total yardage. They averaged 522.8 yards of offense per game, and were one of only two FBS schools (Northern Illinois being the other) to rush for over 3000 yards and throw for over 3000 yards. Especially on a long road trip and at altitude in Reno, this will be quite a test for the Bulls and whoever their new defensive coordinator ends up being.

This will be only the third game USF has ever played west of the Rocky Mountains, and their first since 2001. They lost to San Diego State in 1999 in their first-ever game against an FBS opponent, and they were crushed by Utah 52-21 in 2001. Also, I understand gambling is legal in Nevada, which probably has at least one staff member scrambling for airfare and accomodations even as I type this. Boy, how about that flight in?

* as far as we know.

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Comments

How do I add a cell phone pic...

Of all the Hard Rock poker chips in front of me as I read this on Twitter? WEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Editor, Voodoofive.com. The Toughest Blog In America.

by Collin Sherwin on Jan 17, 2012 12:32 AM EST via Android app reply actions

Don't think it's possible to upload photos from a phone. (It should be.)

But I got you covered.

Voodoo Five - South Florida Bulls SBN Blog
The Toughest Blog in America

by Jamie DeVriend on Jan 17, 2012 1:13 AM EST up reply actions

*as far as we know

good idea to put that one in there
#bigeastmountainwestmerger

by Andrew P. on Jan 17, 2012 1:57 AM EST reply actions

I prefer UNLV.

You know, for their basketball… and road trips!

Go Bulls!

by mpetty99 on Jan 17, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Can we go ahead and have the coaching staff start planning for the low humidity?

by jlcolvin on Jan 17, 2012 7:52 AM EST reply actions 4 recs

And LOL.

Rec’d.

Go Bulls!

by mpetty99 on Jan 17, 2012 10:20 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe instead of fall practice at Vero, they can have it in the mountains.

Then again, we won’t be prepared for the humidity at home games if we do this.

by Tankas on Jan 17, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

This means we only get 6 home games next season.

That’s a little disappointing, but it’s better than getting a second FCS team

Go Bulls!

by Leavitt Town on Jan 17, 2012 7:55 AM EST reply actions

not thrilled about this tbh

what do we possibly have to gain from playing a road game against nevada?

by the great gunsby on Jan 17, 2012 8:38 AM EST reply actions

There were not really any other options. Would you rather have played another FCS team?

Go Bulls!

by Leavitt Town on Jan 17, 2012 9:15 AM EST up reply actions

nah but i'd rather play any non-AQ at home

i hate the idea of visiting two non-AQs in the same season.

by the great gunsby on Jan 17, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

Bulls fans probably shouldn't worry about things like this until the Bulls and their coaching staff demonstrate they're capable of not rolling over and dying against inferior competition within their own confrence first..

DRaysBay: Home of garbage-level analysis and circle-jerking writers.

by kericr on Jan 17, 2012 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Need to be realistic about our scheduling cachet.

The old “2-for-1 with non-BCS team” guideline is over. It worked five years ago when no one was questioning the Big East’s legitimacy, but not anymore.

Voodoo Five - South Florida Bulls SBN Blog
The Toughest Blog in America

by Jamie DeVriend on Jan 17, 2012 11:42 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

doesn't mean we have to like it

with all due respect for nevada— they have probably fielded a better team than we have the past couple seasons— does anyone really see the perks in traveling to play them and ball state in consecutive games? the fact that there isn’t a better alternative doesn’t justify things, just makes the situation worse

by the great gunsby on Jan 17, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

Not that we disagree

But we also like having readers. Which we wouldn’t have if we railed against
management all the time.

Voodoo Five - South Florida Bulls SBN Blog
The Toughest Blog in America

by Jamie DeVriend on Jan 17, 2012 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

Well, what would you prefer?

A road paycheck game? A home paycheck game where the ticket sales probably don’t justify the expense, like UTEP last year? A second I-AA home game that forces USF to go 7-5 for bowl eligibility? Toledo? North Texas? UAB?

It’s time to get past the “we’re BCS and you’re not” attitude. Either that distinction is going away, or we’re going away from it.

Editor and Ombusdman, Voodoo Five, South Florida Bulls SBN Blog

by GarySJ on Jan 18, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions