The Real Deal

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romegajacket

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Fella's this University of South Florida is evidently the real thing. At this point I think we can safely rule out any flukes of them winning games.
I'm surprised that they were able to fling a whoop'n on GOL's UCF the way they did as they whipped UCF worse than UGA did us a few years back.
One of you Florida boys share what's going on with that bunch. Are they using Tampa Bay's players or are they just coming out of the gates playing smash-mouth football. Looks like the latter to me.
Whatever the case, I'm impressed.
 
USF could seriously win out too. I dont think they should be in the national championship game though. But thats just my opinion
 
Not to discredit USF in any way I think it's great what they've done. But I do think that a large reason is that a lot of the good players in Florida who can't quite cut it academically at any of the other schools down there end up at USF. Just a thought I could be completely off-base.
 
TechinItEasy said:
Not to discredit USF in any way I think it's great what they've done. But I do think that a large reason is that a lot of the good players in Florida who can't quite cut it academically at any of the other schools down there end up at USF. Just a thought I could be completely off-base.
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Nick Saban said the same thing and got in a little hot water for it.
 
ncjacket said:
Course that doesn't mean he's wrong.
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Probably why Saban took a little heat for his comments --because his words probably do ring of a little truth. The truth does have it's way of upsetting folks doesn't it?
 
TechinItEasy said:
Not to discredit USF in any way I think it's great what they've done. But I do think that a large reason is that a lot of the good players in Florida who can't quite cut it academically at any of the other schools down there end up at USF. Just a thought I could be completely off-base.
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I had a UCF fan tell me the same thing. In fact he referred to it as the KState recipe for success. Apparently USF recruits guys who have very questionable academic credentials knowing that they'll loose a few to admissions each year; but they get some guys that FSU and UF would like to have but can't touch. Could be a UCF guy crying sour grapes; but I think there is some truth to it.

With the NCAA trying to crack down on academics the past decade or two, we probably should expect a few relatively unknown schools to suddenly find an athletic edge.
 
Aeromech, I thought the point...

aeromech said:
IWith the NCAA trying to crack down on academics the past decade or two, we probably should expect a few relatively unknown schools to suddenly find an athletic edge.
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of the NCAA crackdown (not that I know the details) was to level the playing field somewhat in terms of academics? I agree that schools have different admission standards for students, but I thought the NCAA had a baseline for all athletes. Can you elaborate as to how a kid could NOT be accepted into FSU or UF (which I would not perceive to be very selective schoools) and get into a school like USF?
 
Louisville did the same thing. USF is just the next UL.

But I've said it many times before. If Tech wants to be in the Div1 football business then we should take NCAA minimally acceptable kids too. Throwing stones on this one is poor form I think.
 
romegajacket said:
Fella's this University of South Florida is evidently the real thing. At this point I think we can safely rule out any flukes of them winning games.
I'm surprised that they were able to fling a whoop'n on GOL's UCF the way they did as they whipped UCF worse than UGA did us a few years back.
One of you Florida boys share what's going on with that bunch. Are they using Tampa Bay's players or are they just coming out of the gates playing smash-mouth football. Looks like the latter to me.
Whatever the case, I'm impressed.
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Rome,

Levitt is doing a good job of getting the kids that the big 3 down here pass on. They have picked up a few over the past couple of years which chose USF over the big 3.

Levitt has taken his time and built a program from scratch and is now reaping some success.

The academic issue from what I have been told is fairly close to the big 3. They do take some who may not qualify at the big 3 but overall they have a fairly rigorous academic acceptance policy.

I do not think they will run the table, but anything is possible.
 
One would be crazy to think GT should take NCAA borderline students. If our graduation rate is 51% based on what our current restrictions are, we would be losing scholarships and on probation on that basis.
We don't have majors like PE and Prebusiness to keep kids eligible or graduate. Think!
 
RM-2,
your reply is pretty much what I was thinking to start with. Whatever the reason for their success is, it just appears to me to be good old fashioned smash-mouth football. They don't love anybody and they don't have any reputation to worry about. All they are wanting to do is go out and play football. From what I've seen on tv of them todate, they do have an uncanny knack for cleaning one's plow.
 
They are playing good ball, and are on a roll, but their lack of offense and number of road games remaining will likely cause them to fall from grace...either to Louisville or Rutgers.

Here is their record so far:

Elon W 28-13
at (17) Auburn W 26-23
North Carolina W 37-10
(5) West Virginia W 21-13
at Florida Atlantic W 35-23
UCF W 64-12

USF has a heady quarterback in Grothe, who can and will run, and a stable full of playmakers at WR who have also dropped their fair share of passes. They lack a real quality running back and Grothe actually leads the team in rushing. They are ranked 58th in total offense, even after last week's blowout.

Their defense has speed across the board, and they bring it, if a bit undersized. A great secondary, two great corners, and one of them, Jenkins, may play on Sundays. Their DE Selvie leads the nation in sacks. Their defense leads the nation in tackles for loss, and is ranked 11th overall. They really are impressive on D.

Having watched quite a few USF games, I still think they don't have what it takes to beat a power team from a power conference, as their lack of an effective running attack and undersized lines could be exploited. They did win three games in a row against tough competition, in Auburn, UNC, and WV, but I don't think they will go unbeaten before the end of their regular season -- and four of the remaining six are on the road.

I think BC, OSU and LSU beat them by 2+ touchdowns, and I think we also match up pretty well against them, but in one game you never know what could happen.

All in all, I'm not sold...yet...Mike
 
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Remember that the rankings are partly based on the mighty Big East's reputation, which of course is based on very little: Mighty Cinncinnatti, Mighty Rutgers, Mighty UConn...

USF beat a bad, at the time, UNC team and a bad, at the time, Auburn. They beat WV with White out. Otherwise they play a very easy schedule against limited teams.

As to getting kids into Tech, I should have said that if the coaches felt the kid could succeed and they pass the NCAA minimum, then let them in. (We don't do that). Then measure the coaches on graduation rates.
 
With all due respect, (and I make these comments after both watching and scouting SW Florida HS football for more than 25 years), what we have now is a combination of reasons regarding South Florida's rapid emergence as a true powerhouse.

First of all, their admissions standards are slightly but not overwhelmingly lower than the "Big 3" of Fl State, Florida and Miami. They're 100% directly comparable to those at UCF.

Secondly, there exists a very real and palpable backlash that's occurred over the past 6-8 years, and here's how it goes: A Big 3 team recruits a local star who proceeds to sit on the uber-talented bench, maybe for his entire career. After watching these local HS talents in essence waste their opportunity (at least in their own minds) to provide depth and not get any PT, the more established powers have gotten well deserved reputations for stockpiling high level players and not allowing them to reach their potential (particularly their perceived potential earning power). Kids now are sharp enough to internet source who's being recruited by what teams, how stacked those teams are at any single position and then more realistically evaluate their own possible PT.

Further, the true differences between a Florida prep superstar and his "never heard of" backup or opponent may be fairly minimal after some late development or a growth spurt, and those are the kinds of kids, the ones who have heard stories about being buried at a major school and were maybe just marginally less productive in HS than the local stars, who are now going to USF.

Florida is absolutely rampant with talent. (My grandson played against Edgerrin James and Jevon Kearse back to back in the mid 90's and BTW, Kearse was a freakin' safety in HS) and the athletes produced here can be found dotting the rosters of countless teams.

The simple fact remains that USF is doing a pretty good job of picking up perhaps the somewhat less acclaimed kids, (because not all of them are going to be high profile 4-Star recruiting service choices), and then coaching them up and letting them play.

I believe that's what's making the difference right now. In closing and as an example, keep an eye on a local school here, undefeated and seldom scored on Naples HS, that will be on one of the November ESPN HS games. They have 4 RB's, and each one of them won the "Outstanding Camper" RB awards at the Ohio State, FSU, USF and Miami summer camps, respectively.
 
midatlantech said:
Remember that the rankings are partly based on the mighty Big East's reputation, which of course is based on very little: Mighty Cinncinnatti, Mighty Rutgers, Mighty UConn...

USF beat a bad, at the time, UNC team and a bad, at the time, Auburn. They beat WV with White out. Otherwise they play a very easy schedule against limited teams.

As to getting kids into Tech, I should have said that if the coaches felt the kid could succeed and they pass the NCAA minimum, then let them in. (We don't do that). Then measure the coaches on graduation rates.
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USF is also ranked #1 in 5 of the 6 BCS computer rankings. They are helped by barely beating Auburn before they became good, but I can't really put down their resume compared to anyone elses. I mean, is USC really that much better with their loss to Stanford and close wins against middling PAC 10 schools?

USF also reminds me of GT 1990. No true superstars, just good players playing good football.
 
gsu_paintballer said:
USF could seriously win out too. I dont think they should be in the national championship game though. But thats just my opinion
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Why the hell not? They beat Auburn at Auburn. It shouldn't have even been close. They beat West VA twice in a row. That's credibility. If the same players wore garnet and gold with spears on their helmets you wouldn't think that.
 
RM-2,
Looks like you were right. USF's table run ended last night against a strong Rutgers team.
This Price kid at Rutgers is some kinda force himself. Reminds me some of Hershel Walker some years back from that place over yonder on the left side.
 
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