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| Monday, August 13 Updated: August 14, 8:46 AM ET Soft schedule gives Bulls cushion in first I-A season By Adam Rittenberg Special to ESPN.com |
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South Florida Bulls 2000 record: 7-4. Coach: Jim Leavitt (5th season, 27-17). Starters returning: 4 offense, 4 defense, 1 kicker. Outlook: South Florida has the luxury of knowing it has a reserved spot in Conference USA for the 2003 football season. The test for Jim Leavitt's squad before affiliation occurs will be winning Division I-A games, something they have not done well the last few years. While the Bulls lost 15 starters from last year's 7-4 team, three-year starting QB Marquel Blackwell will be stationed under center. Last season, Blackwell passed for 2,016 yards and 13 touchdowns while only tossing four interceptions. A dangerous threat in the air and on the ground, Blackwell has the imagination and versatility to create big gains. The lone back in USF's shotgun attack will be freshman Clenton Crossley, a bruising 212-pounder with stellar high school numbers. The Bulls defense is a mix of veteran linebackers sandwiched between an inexperienced line and secondary. A key returning starter is weak side LB Kawika Mitchell, who lead the team with 77 tackles last season. Keep an eye on: WR DeAndrew Rubin. There a few concerns regarding Rubin's chemistry with QB Blackwell -- the two players were high school teammates before arriving at USF. Rubin returns at full strength after an ankle sprain hampered him midway through the 2000 season. Before his injury, Rubin had caught 17 passes for 189 yards and two scores. The speedster is also terrorizing on the punt and kickoff squads, averaging more than 20 yards per return. Key game: The Bulls will get an early taste of Conference USA competition when they travel to Memphis on Sept. 22. If Blackwell puts up some early points and the defense holds a weak Tigers attack, USF could notch a vital road win. It's a good year if... The Bulls post a winning record. Unlike the independents who cash in big paychecks to play the NCAA's elite, South Florida wisely planned its schedule to assess its place in Division I-A. USF's season ends with five consecutive home games, all against beatable opponents. If an inexperienced line can protect Blackwell, the Bulls should stay competitive in most games. |
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