This is the time of the year when college football teams cross their fingers in hopes that their junior stars will return for their final season of eligibility. As such, it also the time that said juniors test the waters of the NFL draft, to determine whether or not it is worth the risk to return to their alma maters for one more year. That risk is a real one, where an injury can turn a sure thing first round pick to a long shot and a long shot into nothing at all. Bulls fans will remember the long shot known as Matt Grothe, who lost his final season of collegiate play, and any prayer of playing at a higher level, against a cupcake, low- level team that bore no relevance to the rest of the season.
This week, Stanford running back, Christian McCaffrey, joined LSU running back, Leonard Fournette, in announcing that they will sit out their respective bowl games. Their reason is simple: money. Both of them, and their teammates with draft prospects, are in a situation where they could lose millions of dollars in NFL potential to play in a meaningless bowl game with their current teams. They have been widely criticized and praised, with each side having meritorious arguments. USF will face the prospect of losing Marlon Mack to the draft, this year. While he has not indicated one way or another, it is surely going to be on his mind as he suits up for the game in Birmingham, against a 6-6 South Carolina team with nothing to lose.
Looking Back
The formerly undefeated #22/19 USF women’s basketball team stumbled in Las Vegas, losing to Long Beach State in the PLAY4KAY tournament, 73-68. They’ll play either Oklahoma State or Santa Clara in the consolation bracket today at 12:30 PM.
The Memphis Flyer’s Frank Murtaugh lists his top ten Memphis sports moments of 2016, which happens to include the USF game against the Tigers. He laments a would-be pass interference call in that game which may have altered the outcome. You would be forgiven for not remembering such a thing, if it actually happened.
Looking Forward
USF’s top rated football recruit for the 2017 class, 4 star athlete, Bruce Judson Jr., has decided to play the hat game. While still “committed” to USF, he has scheduled an official visit to Willie Taggart’s Oregon and added Virginia Tech and Kentucky to the mix. He’s expected to announce on signing day, but Charlie Strong and company should be looking at their options for that scholarship. Judson has been quoted as referring to Taggart as a father figure. The 5-9, 203 pound athlete should not be counted on by the Bulls.
Yahoo has ranked the coaching hires of the year in college football. Interestingly, spots 1, 2, and 4 feature coaches who left the American Athletic Conference for other teams. The third spot belongs to USF, the highest ranked hire of any AAC team. Houston, Cincinnati, and Temple rank 10, 11, and 12, respectively. Willie Taggart’s hire by Oregon placed second, just one spot above his replacement of Charlie Strong. While this is just the opinions of some sports writers, it says a lot that USF’s former coach and current coach are just one spot difference, when looking at the distance between the other AAC teams who replaced coaches.
And, in that same grain, consider the prospects of next season as it relates to the #1 and #3 men on the above list and their win total next season. The Dallas Morning News has already thought about it.
The USF men’s basketball team will host Northern Illinois University tonight at the Sun Dome. Here is a preview of the game from ABC News Channel 12 out of the Carolinas.
Other Stuff
Former USF quarterback, Mike White, is headed to the Boca Bowl with the team that beat the Bulls in their last bowl game, Western Kentucky. White led his nationally second ranked offense and the Hilltoppers to a 10-3 record, passing for more than 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns. That’s pretty impressive for a guy who had no FBS scholarship offers before being discovered by Willie Taggart.
Oregon’s Register Guard has a story about Taggart’s rise to prominence. It is much of what USF fans are well aware of, now.
