Each of USF’s first three games had the feel of final exams in a student’s toughest courses, especially the one last week at Miami. That one included many questions the Bulls weren't able to answer. However, Saturday’s home game against FCS opponent South Carolina State seems more like a pop quiz.
You remember those, right?
As long as you keep up with the classwork, it wasn’t a problem when the instructor threw an unannounced 20-question test at you.
All of this is a roundabout way of saying that the visiting Bulldogs from the MEAC shouldn’t be a problem as long as USF has done its homework.
The Bulldogs are 2-1, after a one-point win over Wofford and a 14-point win last week over Bethune-Cookman. They were beaten 38-10 at South Carolina, but Bulls coach Alex Golesh said the score was deceiving.
“You watch them in South Carolina in a really, really hostile environment, and South Carolina didn't score, didn't cross the 50 in the first half until the two-minute drill,” he said.
Still, after what the Bulls have been through to start the season, how can they take this game seriously? FanDuel didn’t even post a line on this game, and despite the Bulldogs putting up 55 points against Bethune-Cookman, they gave up 41.
Imagine what USF’s offense should be able to do against that. That’s me talking, by the way. I am sure the tone inside the Bulls’ meeting rooms is quite different.
And there is a little history lesson to recall for games like this.
I’m old enough to remember Willie Taggart’s first game at USF. It was against McNeese State, and the Bulls were supposed to roll. They got rolled instead, 53-21.
You have to respect every opponent, even when it seems like a mismatch could be in the offing. Golesh reinforced the first part of that statement while choosing to ignore the second.
“There's nothing our guys need to do other than watch the film to wake up really, really quickly,” Golesh said.
He praised South Carolina State’s athletes, coaches, and basically everything about the Bulldogs. No bulletin board material fought its way past his lips.
“I know it's everybody's job to stand up here and tell you how good of a team they're playing. I'm telling you this is a really, really sound, well-coached, athletic football team that's going to win a ton of games,” he said.
“So for us, it's a big challenge to one, regroup, two, bounce back.”
Oh yes, bounce back.
At his Tuesday news conference, Golesh seemed a little drained after the 49-12 beatdown at Miami. It would be understandable if that were the case. USF went from darlings to dumped out of the AP Top 25.
“Obviously didn't play well enough to have a chance there,” he said.
But somewhere in the aftermath of that beating came the realization for all involved that USF’s goals for this season remain very much intact. Going 2-1 against that triumvirate of teams was a darned good feat.
Let’s face it: Miami is a national championship contender. Starting Saturday, the schedule lightens up for USF over the next few weeks, giving the Bulls time to get their sea legs back under themselves as American Conference play picks up.
With that in mind, the Bulls need a pick-me-up after the Miami. And if they are prepared for this test against South Carolina State the way they should be (and will be), they will have just that.