Alabama represents major challenge to USF football but also an opportunity

Alex Golesh has earned the trust of USF football fans in the 14 games he has been the Bulls head coach. When he says, as he famously did at the American Athletic Conference media days, that heavyweight opponents Alabama and Miami “gotta play South Florida,” well, bravo!

However, I don’t believe even the heartiest Bulls backers underestimate the task that awaits USF on Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Alabama seal-clubbed Western Kentucky 63-0 in Kalen DeBoer’s first game as head coach. That was the first shutout by a ‘Bama coach in his first game for 101 years.

But the score wasn’t even the most eyebrow-raising thing.

I have no idea how good Western Kentucky might eventually be, but the Hilltoppers generally have a representative program for their level. The Crimson Tide treated them like a chew toy.

They have a five-star freshman wide receiver named Ryan Williams, who is 17 years old and should be a senior in high school but reclassified to go to college early. He had TD catches of 84 and 55 yards from quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Media reports from Alabama praised the Tide’s speed and depth, and Fan Duel quickly established ‘Bama as a 27.5-point favorite.

The Bulls did what they were supposed to do in flattening Bethune-Cookman 48-3, although ‘Bama fans will look at that and go, “Yeah? So what?”

You’ll get no argument that the Wildcats presented little challenge to USF, and Golesh kept his offense widely under wraps. The Bulls ran 46 times and threw only 23 passes. It wasn’t necessary to open up any more than that. I’d be very surprised if Golesh and his staff didn’t devote considerable planning time on Alabama during the off-season.

Yes, we know the enormity of this challenge, but it’s also an opportunity. The game will be carried on ESPN, which gives the Bulls a national stage to state their case as a program that has left the struggles of the last few years before Golesh arrived in the past.

It’s like men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Raheem said last season, “This ain’t the same ol’ South Florida, my brother.”

Golesh made it clear last year after the Bulls played ‘Bama tough but lost 17-3 that he’s not into moral victories. From what I’ve seen and heard so far, USF is a much deeper and better team than a year ago.

Yes, it’s Alabama.

Yes, the Tide laid waste to Western Kentucky, and most everyone expects them to do the same to the Bulls.

Notice I said “most everyone.” I feel confident saying that those dressed in green and gold have a different opinion.