Goose Bumps and Confusion: How Alex Golesh Keeps USF on Track Amid Odd Schedule

Alex Golesh talks often about the “process-driven culture” he has established for his USF football players and staff members.

In a nutshell, it is not about short-term results. It means daily preparation that pays attention to detail in football, of course, but also in training, nutrition, personal habits, and schoolwork. The idea is to do things correctly so many times that it results in long-term excellence in each of those areas.

In a traditional schedule – in other words, every game is scheduled on a Saturday – there is a plan for what to do every day of the week when leading up to the game.

But when the schedule-maker threw USF a curveball this season, it required substantial adjustments to “the process.”

Yes, the same attention to detail was required and expected – but the time frame changed.

Try to follow along.

The Bulls’ opening game of the season is on Thursday this week. However, when USF reports for practice on Monday, that’s three practice days out from the game against Boise State, so the Bulls will go through their Wednesday process. Since it’s the first game, the adjustments aren’t as challenging as they will be later in the season.

After Boise State, the Bulls will have one more Thursday game (November 6 at home vs. UTSA) and two consecutive Friday games (October  3 vs. Charlotte, and October 10 at North Texas).

On the Friday games, Tuesday will really be Wednesday, and Wednesday will be Thursday.

Got it?

Golesh spent five seasons combined with Northern Illinois and Toledo as an assistant in the Mid-American Conference. MAC teams are frequently mid-week filler programming for ESPN, so he is familiar with the preparation juggling that needs to be done.

“I think that prepared me for any day of the week. That's what I think this year is going to feel like,” he said. "That part will be a little tricky."

USF held a mock game last Thursday – a week out from the opener.

Golesh planned in-game situations, offensively, defensively, and special teams in that exercise.

After that, it was a normal countdown to Thursday’s opener. And no matter what the calendar says, one thing is clear for USF’s excitable coach.

“I got goose bumps talking to the team afterwards (on Tuesday), just how close we really are,” he said.

Goose bumps for a game like this operate on their own schedule.