The Clemson Tigers are National Champions, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in a 35-31 thriller, with two touchdowns in the final three minutes of play. It took three touchdowns for Clemson to take down unbeaten Alabama, with the last and final score of the game leaving just one second to play. So ends the 2016 football season. While far from the national playoff stage, the championship game being played at USF’s home field must have fans thinking of what might someday be. The football program, in just their 20th year of existence, and just the 17th at the FBS level, has 11 winning seasons and has been to eight bowl games. For perspective, eight is the number of bowl wins that Birmingham Bowl foe, South Carolina, has in their program’s 124 year history. That 11th winning season marks the first season the team has won 11 games. And, while the team has lost a key player in running back, Marlon Mack, they retain a star with Quinton Flowers, who will likely be a Heisman candidate in 2017, and gain a well-known and nationally respected head coach in Charlie Strong, of Florida fame and Texas infamy. The future is once again looking bright for the Bulls.
Looking Back
The Austin American-Statesman’s Kirk Bohls has a story about new USF football head coach, Charlie Strong. In particular, how happy he looks. Bohls cites all of the exposure that Strong, and USF by extension, got during the run up to the national championship game, hosted at the stadium where Strong will coach games, next season.
Looking Forward
There is good news in the world of men’s basketball, even if it’s not with the team. A year after having just one American Athletic Conference team in the top 50 RPI, there are now three.
The football team is getting more attention in polls. The Bulls have moved up to #19 in the AP poll, but the other polls have not been updated, leaving them 22nd in the Coaches’ poll.
Of course, since the championship game has been played for the 2016 season, it’s time to rank the teams for next year. Interestingly, everyone who publishes a ranking, now, calls it “way to early.” USA Today ranks the Bulls 20th for 2017, with a giant picture of Charlie Strong. ABC News likes that pick, also ranking the Bulls 20th. The Orlando Sentinel leaves the Bulls out. Athlon puts them at 22.
The #20/22 USF women’s basketball team is headed to Hartford tonight, to face the undefeated UConn Huskies. The 14-1 Bulls have a shot at ending the 89 game winning streak of the 14-0 Huskies. Tipoff is at 7 PM and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Other Stuff
One of USF’s first football coaches, Eric Wolford, is joining the South Carolina staff. Wolford coached the Bulls for the first three years of the program.
