USF: Sixteen Games in C-USA
(December 9, 2004)

The University of South Florida Bulls are coming off the worst season in school history at 4-7. After battling back to .500 in this up-and-down year, the Bulls suffered three blowout losses to closeout the season. This young team will have to improve to compete in the Big East next fall. USF spent two seasons in Conference USA and went 8-8 in sixteen games. After this season we would all probably like to look ahead, but first let us take a look at the sixteen conference games the team played in C-USA. The games are ranked from biggest victory to worst defeat.

1) USF 31, Louisville 28 (Saturday October 4, 2003 at Tampa) - The first conference home game was a wild one, as USF scored with ten seconds left to force overtime. A Santiago Gramatica field goal provided the winning margin in the second OT. The next week, the rumors started that USF would be going to the Big East.

2) USF 24, Cincinnati 17 (Friday October 31, 2003 at Tampa) - It was an ESPN Halloween night game were Ronnie Banks, Pat Julmiste and Brian Fisher all saw action at quarterback for the Bulls. Lee Roy Selmon, Jr. intercepted a pass in the second overtime to secure the victory. The following week, USF was officially named a member of C-USA.

3) USF 45, UAB 20 (Wednesday November 3, 2004 at Birmingham) - UAB lead 20-10, the Bulls poured it on in a game broadcast by ESPN2. Andre Hall rushed for a school record 275 yards and USF scored 35 straight points.

4) USF 21, Memphis 16 (Saturday November 29, 2003) - USF was a big underdog against bowl bound Memphis. J.R. Reed returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, returned a fumble for a score and had three interceptions in the season finale.

5) USF 45, TCU 44 (Saturday September 25, 2004 at Fort Worth) - USF was penalized eighteen times, but scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes to force OT. TCU missed an extra point in double overtime and the Bulls had a big road victory.

6) USF 28, Army 0 (Saturday September 27, 2003 at West Point) - This was the first ever conference game for USF. The defense forced six turnovers and Army was never inside the Bulls 31 yard line. Ronnie Banks started and Pat Julmiste saw his first action at quarterback, as the offense struggled.

7) USF 41, East Carolina 17 (Saturday November 13, 2004 at Tampa) - The Bulls amass 509 yards in a relatively easy victory.

8) USF 38, East Carolina 37 (Saturday November 8, 2003 at Greenville) - Pat Julmiste made his first start at quarterback and the Bulls lead 21-0. It would take a blocked extra pint in double overtime for the Bulls to seal the victory.

9) TCU 13, USF 10 (Friday October 10, 2003 at Tampa) - The Bulls twenty-one game home winning streak was broken on this night. There was plenty of defense on display for an ESPN2 audience with USF suffering ten sacks and TCU punting ten times.

10) Southern Miss 27, USF 20 (Saturday October 2, 2004 at Tampa) - Pat Julmiste suffers a school record four interceptions, twice in the final 6:35, in a tight game at RJS.

11) Southern Miss 27, USF 6 (Saturday October 25, 2003 at Hattiesburg) - Ronnie Banks threw 52 passes, but turnovers, penalties and a blocked field goal hurt the Bulls.

12) Memphis 31, USF 15 (Saturday November 27, 2004 at Tampa) - In the final Conference USA game for USF, Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams rushed for 263 yards. This loss officially ended any bowl hopes.

13) Cincinnati 45, USF 23 (Saturday November 20, 2004 at Cincinnati) - The Bearcats generate 577 yards, the most ever against USF, and the Bulls fall apart in the second half.

14) UAB 22, USF 19 (Saturday November 22, 2003 at Tampa) - USF had six turnovers with Ronnie Banks, Pat Julmiste and Brian Fisher suffering interceptions. Even with all the mistakes the Bulls had a chance at the end, but the loss cost the team a shot at a bowl bid.

15) Louisville 41, USF 9 (Friday October 22, 2004 at Louisville) - The Cardinals were ranked fifteenth at the time and they rolled up 517 total yards in a game televised by ESPN.

16) Army 42, USF 35 (Saturday October 16, 2004 at Tampa) - A big homecoming crowd saw Andre Hall rush for 200 yards and the Bulls took a 28-14 lead. Army would score 28 unanswered points and Bulls suffered a key defeat.