Miami fans talk smack about USF but Hurricanes' players and coaches sure don't

A delightful aspect of USF’s game Saturday with Miami is the chance to talk smack with an in-state opponent. I deliberately say “opponent” because it’s clear the U fan base doesn’t consider the Bulls worthy of being called a rival.

Not yet, anyway.

Before we get into that, though, let’s make it clear that as a team, the Hurricanes are taking this game very seriously.

Head coach Mario Cristobol said on his WQAM radio show, “The USF Bulls are the best team we’ve played.”

As an editorial comment, I agree. The Hurricanes pulverized FAMU and Ball State after opening with a win over Florida in The Swamp. That looked good on paper then, but the Gators are cartwheeling in flames toward the ground, seemingly on track for a coaching search.

Back on point, here’s what Cristobol said when asked what stands out to him about the Bulls.

“I think their speed, their physicality, the intensity they play with, the way they get to the football, their ability to tackle their guys on the ground, in space,” he said. “(Then there’s) the tempo they play with on the other side of the ball. There's a lot to them that has made them successful,” he said.

“(I have a) tremendous amount of respect for their head coach and their coaching staff. I've seen them work at other places and what they have been building at USF as well. Put three or four clips watching them play the University of Alabama for everybody to realize how drastic, how big of a step, and how good of a team that really is.”

Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa agreed.

“They have a really good offense. They have a talented offense. They have a very fast offense, too, and they do a really good job functioning as an offense,” he said.

“They have a really good quarterback that can run the ball and throw the ball. They have a really good corps of running backs that are physical and tough.”

Much of the talk about USF centers around its roadrunner offense, but ‘Canes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, Francisco’s younger brother, says the Bulls defense will be a challenge.

“That defense plays hard. They're quite a big, big defense. You know, both the defensive ends and the D lines, especially the D line there, they're really good. They shoot out the ball.

“They're very active, they're very physical, and we just got to hold our ground and give (quarterback) Cam Ward as much time as he needs.”

So, no smack talk from the players. I can almost see Warren Sapp shaking his head in dismay.

But elsewhere …

Fans were asked for predictions on MiamiHurricanes.com.

No one gave USF a chance, and as one fan noted, "Southern Mississippi scored 24 on them. I gotta believe we can do better than 35. " The fan then picked 45-20.

A post on 'Canes Insight asked: "Can we no longer refer to USF as South Florida?
If you're gonna be a directional school, at least get the direction right."

Take this tidbit on State of the U: “A win over the half-squad Bulls isn’t my concern. I am questioning how Miami will fare against ACC opponents like Georgia Tech, Cal, Louisville, FSU, and Syracuse.

Or, there’s this from the same site:

“A jaunt through Twitter-Verse (X-Verse?) revealed that a lot of USF fans have quite the mouth. Apparently, University of Miami coming to town for a football game is really important to them, because there’s a fair bit of squawking out there...”

Speaking  of having quite the mouth, the site noted, adding all caps for emphasis:

ZERO USF Players Have Been Drafted Since 2018.

Miami had 21 players drafted despite a relatively mediocre stretch by Miami’s standards.

Also, this:

Go ahead and call USF “the Replacement School.” In 2004, the University of Miami, along with Virginia Tech and Boston College, left the Big East for greener ACC pastures. USF was tabbed along with Louisville and Cincinnati from Conference USA to replace them.

Of course, Louisville and Cincinnati have since received further promotions to the ACC and Big XII, respectively. USF? Still toiling away in the lower-tier American Athletic Conference with power football programs like North Texas and Florida Atlantic. Fear not Bulls fans, in all likelihood Miami will leave the ACC in a couple years, and the University of South Florida will once again be welcome to take our seat.

You get the idea.

But hey, that’s what makes in-state games great.

Two good teams (yes, Miami, USF is legit good), under the lights, on national TV, big crowd.

What could be better?