A Final C-USA Season for USF
(August 10, 2004)

The University of South Florida football program's eighth season will be its last in Conference USA. After just two years in C-USA, USF makes the jump to the Big East Conference next year. What can we expect form this version of the Bulls? Will the young program continue to over-achieve? Lets preview the 2004 season.

Last year, USF exceeded many expectations by finishing 7-4 with a 5-3 record (tied for third place) in their C-USA debut. The team won some close games, including three double overtime victories, and two of the team's losses were by three points. However, fourteen seniors are gone from that squad including key leaders on both sides of the ball. Names like J.R. Reed, Maurice Jones, Kevin Verpaele, Rom Hemingway, Huey Whittaker, Chris Iskra, Vince Brewer and Quinton Callum will be hard to replace. This year, USF has 100 players in camp, including 23 returning seniors. The goals remain the school's first conference title and the program's first ever bowl bid.

The Bulls are still trying to replace Marquel Blackwell at quarterback. Last season, senior Ronnie Banks was the starter with sophomore Pat Julmiste as the backup. Julmiste gets the nod this year, but expect a competitive battle between the two. Freshmen Anthony Severino and Louis Gachette are next on the depth chart.

While USF has traditionally has had a glut a running back, senior Clenton Crossley is about the only one with experience returning. An injury may keep junior Billy Henderson out this season, but junior college All-American Andre Hall could make an impact. Returning receivers include senior Joe Bain, sophomore S.J. Green, senior Allynson Sheffield, junior Cedric King, senior Travis Lipp and senior Bruce Gipson, who has switched over from defensive back. It probably will not be long before highly touted recruit Johnnie Peyton works his way into the lineup. Senior Brian Fisher, of the school's most exiting and most versatile offensive weapons, will likely red-shirt this season due to legal troubles.

On both sides of the ball, the line is were USF has the most key players returning. The offensive line has all five starters back, including seniors Alex Herron, Derrick Sarosi and Levi Newton. The defensive line is strong and deep with senior returnees Tim Jones, Craig Kobel, Lee Roy Selmon Jr., Cedric Battles and Matt Groelinger. Junior Terrence Royal is also back.

There is not much experience in the linebacker and secondary positions. Sophomore Stephen Nicholas, junior Devon Davis and sophomore Patrick St. Louis are the top returning linebackers. Incoming freshmen Brouce Mompremier may soon break into that group. Seniors Johnnie Jones and Javan Camon should start at safety with junior DuJuan Brown at one cornerback position. Other players that may break into the secondary include sophomore Drametrice Smith and senior Antonio Warren.

The kicking game should remain strong with place kicker Santiago Gramatica returning for his senior season. The punting duties will again be handled by junior Brandon Baker and senior Justin Geisler will continue to kickoff. The team will still have to find itself a kick returner.

So what are the experts expecting from the 2004 USF Bulls? The national publications are predicting anywhere from fourth to ninth place in the eleven team conference. The C-USA coaches poll placed USF in seventh place and, with no teams in the preseason top 25, this may not be the strongest year for the conference. There is plenty of debate as to who will win the league crown, but little debate that Louisville, Memphis, Southern Miss and TCU are the top four teams. If USF is going to a bowl game, they may be fighting it out with Cincinnati, Houston and UAB for the conference's fifth bowl bid. Army, East Carolina and Tulane are consistently picked at the bottom. The Bulls also had no players selected to the preseason All-Conference USA team. Every other team in the league, except Army, had at least two players chosen.

Ranked at the Division I-AA level, a 17-5 record over two years as a I-A independent and tied for third in their first Conference USA season, the South Florida Bulls have always exceeded expectations. They have over-achieved to a 51-26 record in seven seasons. If the prognosticators are right, this could be a tough year for the Bulls. But then again, the expects have consistently underestimated USF.