Volleyball News, Or How My Favorite USF Team Is Doing
by Toro Grande on Sep 6, 2010 10:34 PM EDT
in Volleyball
0 comments
Full disclosure: As we've noted here before, we cannot rationally discuss USF Volleyball with any sense of integrity or impartiality. That's because we are complete and shameless shills for this program. They could be caught on video beating up old people for their change purses, and we would still be at the next match yelling our undying support. However, we really do believe everything we're writing below.
After two weekends, it looks like USF Volleyball might be on to something. The Bulls have played a monster schedule over the opening two weekends that will certainly help in the RPI, taking on four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last year in their first five matches. They come out of that gauntlet at 2-3, including a heartbreaking 5 set loss to #16 Kentucky in Lexington. But with such a young squad, Coach Claire Lessinger and her team now have a much better sense of who they are and what it will take to be successful in BIG EAST play.
USF-Stony Brook Animated Drive Chart
by Ken DeCelles on Sep 6, 2010 4:21 PM EDT
in Football
0 comments
USF Bulls try to treat Gator week like any other week
Good to see that they are keeping everything in perspective.
Seen at the USF game last night.
AND IT'S ON. #BeatFlorida
Postgame Thoughts: Bulls Throttle Stony Brook 59-14
by Voodoo 5 on Sep 4, 2010 11:48 PM EDT
in Football
5 comments
Just imagine what a beating this would have been if the special teams hadn't been so wobbly. All 14 of Stony Brook's points came off short fields set up by mistakes in the punt game -- Faron Hornes muffed his first punt, and then fumbled away the second, at which point he left the game. And after the officials blew an illegal formation call on a punt that USF downed inside the 5, Justin Brockhaus-Kann had to field a low snap on one knee on the rekick, instantly killing the play.
But other than that, the Bulls dominated. They outgained the Seawolves 562-249, forced four interceptions of Michael Coulter, and did pretty much whatever they wanted to do whenever they wanted to. The talent gap was obvious from the first USF offensive snap. B.J. Daniels threw a quick hitch to Dontavia Bogan, and all he had to do was make one man miss and then outrun everyone else to the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown. So even when USF briefly fell behind 14-7, I had no concern that they might actually lose the game. Once the special teams stabilized, it was over.
I'll do some more digging into specific parts of the game tomorrow when I chart everything. But some other quick thoughts:
-- Stony Brook has to find a quarterback with a stronger arm. I tweeted that I thought I could throw a football further than Coulter, and I'm not sure that was a joke. They made themselves one-dimensional because their quarterback may not be able to throw the ball more than 25 or 30 yards down the field. He threw one quick out that hung in the air for what seemed like forever, even though he and the receiver were only about 15 yards apart.
-- It looks like USF got out of the game totally unscathed on the injury front. Daniels gave us all a scare diving headlong into the end zone on USF's first touchdown, but he was OK. And Lindsey Lamar got racked up in the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, although he got back in the game later on. I didn't see anyone else get hurt on the Bulls side during the game.
-- Note to Drew Evangelista, who otherwise had a solid game punting for Stony Brook. When the ball goes over your head and into the end zone, just take the safety. You should not try to punt it with three guys at close range running right at you. This is not advised under any circumstances.
-- For a guy who was a running back a month ago, Joel Miller made a great catch on that touchdown at the end of the first half. That play pretty much iced the game at 31-14 with the Bulls getting the ball out of the locker room.
-- It was fun at the time to see the Bulls score 52 unanswered points. But I feel a little guilty. I know they were paid well for their time, but the Seawolves were just totally outmatched. It must be nearly impossible for them to get the kind of athletes you would need to stay in a game like this. USF was faster and better across the board. On the plus side, it looks like the Bulls' talent level is in the ballpark of where it was the last few years.
-- Yeah, we're going to have a nice highlight reel of the outstanding camera work from that game. Fortunately we get the same crew for the Western Kentucky and FAU games. And was it just me, or did it sound like J.B. Long and Shaun King (who has gained at least 100 pounds since his playing days) weren't even in the stadium?
-- We can now start talking about the Gators, who had an... um... let's say interesting game against Miami University this afternoon. A remotely competent team would have beaten them today. If Florida comes out anywhere near as limp next Saturday as they did this afternoon -- who knows?
USF-Stony Brook Haiku
by Ken DeCelles on Sep 4, 2010 10:31 PM EDT
in Football
0 comments
Stony Brook at USF GameThread - Saturday 9/4, 7:05pm
by Voodoo 5 on Sep 4, 2010 6:01 PM EDT
214 comments
There's been this little button on our spiffy Manager dashboard ever since we started the blog marked "New GameThread," and we haven't been able to click on it for anything.
Until now.
FINALLY SOME FRIGGIN' FOOTBALL. LET'S DO THIS.
Go Bulls.
EA NCAA Football 11 Simulation - USF vs. Stony Brook
by Voodoo 5 on Sep 4, 2010 4:59 PM EDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
0 comments
I set up an NCAA Football 11 dynasty for USF and then got out of the way to let the computer handle the season. (I went ahead and made everyone healthy again because there was no way to remove every player on every team who is hurt to start the season. So that means A.J. Love, Sterling Griffin, and Mark Popek are all in.) Every week I'll "play" the game and then post a recap.
First up, the Bulls played "FCS West" because I didn't change them to "FCS East" before I started the season. It doesn't really matter, though, they're all pretty much the same.
FINAL SCORE - USF 37, STONY BROOK STAND-IN TEAM 13
The game wasn't really as close as the score indicated. Stony Brook/FCS West got 10 of their 13 points off two turnovers - a deflected B.J. Daniels pass that was intercepted in USF territory, and a fumble return for a touchdown. Actually the Bulls were -4 in turnovers, giving it up four times while FCS West/Stony Brook was turnover-free.
Mo Plancher had a huge game, carrying 25 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns, including this 70-yard run on the second play of the game. However, he did lose two fumbles, including the one returned for a score.
Because of all the turnovers and some weird AI-influenced decision making, Stony Brook/FCS West was actually in the game in the third quarter. But down 27-13, they stalled in the USF red zone and then yanked a 28-yard field goal. On their next possession, they tried an ill-advised puntrooskie and failed miserably.
B.J. Daniels was 22-for-29 for 255 yards and two touchdowns, with Dontavia Bogan racking up 8 for 128 and a long touchdown right before halftime. The defense managed 14 tackles for loss, led by four from Keith McCaskill. Overall USF outgained FCS West/Stony Brook 471-236 and limited them to only six yards rushing.
One dim note - A.J. Love tore his pectoral and is out for 12 weeks. He won't be back until the Miami game.
Here's Bogan's touchdown and a monstrous sack by Terrell McClain that briefly knocked the Stony Brook/FCS West quarterback out of the game.
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Bulls Football Schedule
| Stony Brook | Sat 09/04 | W 59 - 14 |
@
Florida
|
Sat 09/11 | 12:21 PM EDT |
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | Sat 09/25 | TBA |
| Florida Atlantic | Sat 10/02 | TBA |
|
Syracuse
|
Sat 10/09 | TBA |
|
@
West Virginia
|
Thu 10/14 | 7:30 PM EDT |
| @ Cincinnati | Fri 10/22 | 8:00 PM EDT |
|
Rutgers
|
Wed 11/03 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
@
Louisville
|
Sat 11/13 | TBA |
| Pittsburgh | Sat 11/20 | TBA |
|
@
Miami
|
Sat 11/27 | TBA |
|
Connecticut
|
Sat 12/04 | TBA |
Big East Conference Standings
(updated 9.5.2010 at 4:13 AM EDT)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
| South Florida Bulls | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
West Virginia Mountaineers
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
|
Syracuse Orange
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
Louisville Cardinals
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
Connecticut Huskies
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
