The Bulls entered the game No. 23 in the country, but exited whipped and embarrassed as they fell to the Scarlet Knights 31-0.
"We got dominated," head coach Jim Leavitt said. "Offensively, we didn't do a thing. They just completely dominated us. ... They beat the dog out of us."
USF was held to just 159 yards of total offense, with just 30 of those yards coming on the ground. They also turned the ball over four times -- two fumbles and two interceptions. Redshirt freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels accounted for three of those turnovers, all in the first half.
The yardage total was the lowest since the school joined the Big East, while their seven first downs tied the school's low-water mark.
All in all, it was a performance that left Leavitt with little to say in the locker room afterwards.
"I said, 'Let's say the Lord's Prayer and move on. It wasn't the Lord's fault." the coach said.
With the win, Rutgers improves to 7-2, 2-2 in the Big East. South Florida falls to 6-3 and 2-3.
this seems to be a recurring theme with the bulls. i know that leavitt started the program, however when does the coach start being held liable for not getting his players amped up for big games. It seems ever year that they drop 3 or 4 in a row.
I guess USF allumni are happy with playing in the prestigious St. Petersburg Bowl, otherwise you would hear more grumbling about getting Leavitt fired.
Leavitt needs to go - unless the USF football goal after 13 seasons has become "to finish in the middle, win our 6 games and make it to a Bowl game".
Its time to look for another coach that doesn't employ the Noter Dame philosophy of "win 6 baby". Jon Gruden is available and familiar with the facility - wouldn't that be a stick in the eye of the Bucs owners if he took the USF job? We can only hope.
Meanwhile - fireJimLevitt.com should be getting plenty of hits.