Now we move on.
USF lost the Cure Bowl 24-10 to Old Dominion, and while we're certain those who were on the field gave it their best shot, the game was a victim of circumstance.
At top speed, USF would have won this game by three touchdowns. But neither the Bulls nor the Monarchs were at top speed. Both teams went without their starting quarterbacks, and it showed. So, for USF we close the book on the Alex Golesh/interim era and move onto what incoming head coach Brian Hartline will bring.
The Bulls finish 9-4, but this season will be remembered for what have been rather than what was.
A berth in the American Conference championship game evaporated with late-season 3-point losses to Memphis and Navy. Head coach Alex Golesh jumped to Auburn about 90 minutes after the regular season ended and then took key offensive coaches with him, which put USF in the hands of an interim staff unceretain what incoming head coach Brian Hartline has planned.
Record-setting quarterback Byrum Brown announced that he wouldn't play in the bowl game by "mutual" decision with USF leadership, leaving the game in the hands of back Gaston Moore. Then, before the game top receivers Keshaun Singleton and Mudia Reuben weren't able to play.
Moore left the game in the fourth quarter after an injury, replaced by true freshman Locklan Lewlitt. He had one play in the regular season, but that was a fake punt for a touchdown in the Bulls' opening game. He was welcomed to big-time college football in this one.
At that point, it's kind of what do you expect?
So, the Brian Hartline era begins.
Of course, he won't be on the job full-time until his job as Ohio State's offensive coordinator ends when the Buckeyes complete whatever awaits them in the College Football Playoff. Until then, we'll watch the Transfer Portal for whatever the Bulls delete or deposit when it opens on January 2,
What will Byrum Brown do?
How will Hartline fill out out his staff?
What will the revolving door look like for the Bulls in the portal and recruiting?
We move on.