QB Byrum Brown's goal for the upcoming USF football season: go 12-0, win national title
USF football coach Alex Golesh spoke for the majority of Bulls Nation when he opened his remarks on the team’s media day Tuesday.
“I'm most excited because I get to go coach football, and all of the craziness is done with, and we get to go work with our kids,” he said.
“I literally couldn't sleep last night. Probably because MK (athletics director Michael Kelly) texted me late at night. I don't think he could sleep either. I get to get to go coach football.
“So no more figuring out who's on what watch list or any of that. Get the strap up and go play. I'm really excited.”
The next stage of USF’s most anticipated season in many years begins with Wednesday’s first practice of summer camp. That will coincide with exactly one month until the Bulls open the season at home against Bethune-Cookman.
And make no mistake about it – as much as the fans anticipate big things from USF this season, the Bulls expect as much or more from themselves.
Just ask sophomore quarterback Byrum Brown. He made the expectations clear when asked about his individual goals for this season
“My biggest individual goal is to go 12-0,” he said. "Our sights are set on a national championship and an American (Conference) championship.”
Of course, every team is undefeated in July, and Brown has earned the right to be confident. Then again, confidence seems to roll through the Bulls program now. It was just a week ago when asked about the upcoming schedule that includes Alabama and Miami, Golesh replied, "'Bama and Miami gotta play South Florida."
So, don't simply dismiss what Brown said as summer camp bravado. He is not someone to make idle boasts, and as a team leader, he sets the tone. As much confidence as Brown has in his teammates, they have at least that much in him—if not more.
Doubt it? Just ask center Mike Lofton.
“Man, where do I start? Handsome, first of all. The guy is a good-lookin’ dude. Athletic, freaky athletic, can throw the ball and run, a great leader, he’s really, in my opinion, everything you want in a quarterback,” he said.
Brown set multiple passing records as a redshirt freshman, but he has left all that in the past. He said he will concentrate on spending more time in the pocket this season and let the Bulls’ talented core of receivers do their thing. He said he has gained 20 pounds since the end of last season, and it looked like all the weight was muscle.
But, of course, fans want to know about the other side of the ball, too. The Bulls struggled much of the season on defense and attacked the side of the ball intensely during recruiting.
“We've done a really nice job in the transfer portal,” defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said, adding that of the players they targeted, “I think we hit on every one of them … it should be incredible competition. That's ultimately how you get people to elevate: when there are people who can take their jobs. And that's what we feel like we have right now in comparison to when we first got here.”
The Bulls addressed all areas of the defense, but especially in the secondary. The extra depth should help USF give up fewer big plays.
Even a modest improvement on defense could turn last year’s 6-6 record into three or four more wins, given the explosive offense that is the trademark of this team.
And Brown is tuning out the hype and focusing on the task ahead.
“I have unfinished business. I mean, I've said multiple times that this is the system for me, and I can’t wait to continue to improve.”
It’s a different vibe at USF, for sure, with unbridled optimism as the calendar flips to August rather than a resignation to mediocrity as the season approaches.
“There's a sense of continuity, a sense of everybody in that room knows what's going on, knows the expectations and knows the standards. Now, it's our job to uphold the standards. And obviously, there are expectations this year from a year ago, which is really, really positive that people care people are talking about it.
“I think we've certainly put South Florida back in a conversation. The hardest thing to do in coaching is when there are actual expectations, to in some way live up to them. So we go right back to nothing else matters outside of what's in that (locker) room. Nothing else matters outside of how we go about our daily business. And as you get sick of me talking about it, what our process day to day looks like. And if our process can continue to improve, we'll have a chance to have a successful season.”