The Skip Holtz Bowl XI
This weekend, as the leaves begin to fall, we have the Skip Holtz Bowl. The legendary Skip Holtz has fingerprints on both programs, one for the better and one for the worse, and it is said that he has been telling college recuits that he is the father of UConn football. Over 100 years after the program began.
The USF Bulls are presently a shell of what they were under the father of USF football, Jim Leavitt. He was fired for allegations of player abuse, low graduation rates and failing to secure recruits. He is now doing very well as the San Francisco 49ers linebackers coach. Leavitt was the Bulls first head coach in 1997, with the Bulls playing as an FCS independent, then became an FBS independent in 2001, then joined Conference-USA in 2003, the same year UConn was invited to join the Big East. After more deflections from the Big East, USF was invited to join the BCS conference in 2005, reaching BCS status in 8 years. 2013 is their 9th year as a member of what was the Big East, now having spent the majority of their existence as a member of our conference. It may seem amazing and a historic climb for a program started from scratch 16 years ago. But at the same time, not really that surprising of an ascent, considering they are the fourth largest public university in Florida with an enrollment of 47,000+ student and already have an endowment that matches UConn.
USF was bowl-eligible from their first season as a member of the Big East until the first season under Leavitt’s replacement, Skip Holtz, making it to 6 straight bowls. More than UConn already. But ever since, it’s been a downhill ride for the USF football program. They went 1-6 in conference play over the last two seasons of Skip Holtz’s tenure, prompting the administration to fire him.
Holtz’s replacement is Willie Taggart from Western Kentucky. His first season is off to a rough start, with the team squeaking by Cincinnati in their first victory of the season. That game happened to be right before their game against UConn.
Just like UConn, USF also has it’s share of embarrassing losses in 2013, losing to McNeese State in week 1. That game set the record for the greatest point differential between an FBS and FCS opponent. They also lost to Florida Atlantic at home in week 3. Their attendance has become dismal. They’re somewhat a reflection of what UConn has been going through over the past couple years. Except they had a great start in 2011, winning at #16 Notre Dame and being ranked for four weeks after. After losing at Pittsburgh in week 4, it’s been a steep decline for USF. UConn did defeat them in 2011 but lost to them in 2012, being one of their 3 wins in the 2012 season. But now, our head coach during those years is gone and we start fresh, while USF still has Taggart as their head coach.
UConn’s all-time record against USF is 5-5. Last year should have been a victory, but unfortunately, Pasqualoni and DeLeone were recklessly running the program. We defeated Pittsburgh at home and Louisville on the road after that game. What an inconsistent regime that was. 2012 was the worst season ever for USF football. 2013 has a chance to be being worse.
Our passing game and defense are superior. But head coach TJ Weist is working on reinventing the offense altogether. True freshman Tim Boyle will start and see his first action as a college player and Weist has made suggestions there will be tweaks made in the running game.
Cincinnati was playing their first game after losing a teammate in a car crash. Two of the touchdowns in USF’s win was a blocked field goal returned and another was a fumble returned. USF lost their starting QB, Steven Bench, a transfer from Penn State, and their starting running back, Marcus Shaw, who was averaging 131.2 yard per game and ranked 10th in the nation in total yardage, to injuries in their victory against Cincinnati. But their replacements are obviously capable players. Turnovers and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown really cost the Bearcats the game.
UConn’s offense right now is an unknown. How well we’ll match up against USF’s defense seems to really depend on not turning the ball over and being able to successfully run the ball. Our offensive line is going to need to turn itself around completely in effectiveness and block the opposition. USF created 8 turnovers in their last two games, against Miami and Cincinnati. Defensively, we need to contain USF’s running game. Their passing game is a glaring weakness, but at the same time, we cannot underestimate Bobby Eveld.
Statistics support us as a favorite, as well as being the home team. But nothing can be taken as granted. This is going to be a fight for both squads on the road of return to respectability. And this is the first meeting between two rookie head coaches who were once co-assistants at a championship program at FCS-level Western Kentucky under Jack Harbaugh.
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