A summary of the anticipated matchup between the Florida Gators and the University of South Florida Bulls.
About the University of South Florida
Nickname: Bulls
Location: Tampa
Conference: Big East
Athletics website: GoUSFBulls
The coaches
Skip Holtz is in his first season at USF and 11th overall with a record of 73-50 (.593). The Bulls' offensive coordinator is Todd Fitch and the defensive coordinator is Mark Snyder. Holtz replaced Jim Leavitt in January after five seasons at East Carolina. The son of former Notre Dame and South Carolina coach Lou Holtz is only the second coach to guide a program that Leavitt built from scratch over the past 13 years. Holtz led East Carolina to each of the past two Conference USA championships.
When USF has the ball
B.J. Daniels threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night, helping the South Florida launch the Skip Holtz era with a 59-14 rout of Stony Brook in the season opener for both teams. Daniels teamed with Dontavia Bogan on a 59-yard score on the Bulls' first offensive play. The third-year sophomore later threw a 27-yard TD pass to Joel Miller. Miller did not have a career reception before Saturday night. Daniels completed 15 of 22 passes before leaving the game after leading a fiveplay, 80-yard TD drive to start the second half. The Bulls also run the spread. Senior Moise Plancher (581) is the Bulls top returning rusher. USF operates behind an experienced offensive line. Veteran receivers Bogan and Sterling Griffin return.
When UF has the ball
Defensive tackle Keith McCaskill recorded his first sack of the season, and his third-and-a-half sack of his career when he took down Stony Brook QB Michael Coulter early in the second half. Safety Mark Joyce recorded his first career interception with 5:09 left in the third quarter and returned it 33 yards for his first career touchdown. The USF defense tallied four interceptions in the opener last week. Seniors Sabbath Joseph, the Bull's top returning tackler, Donte Spires and Jacquian Williams return to lead the linebacking unit. In his first year as a starter in 2009, Joseph tallied 50 tackles with three forced fumbles, two of which came in USF's 17-7 upset of Florida State. Mark Snyder is the Bulls' third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. USF must rebuild a unit that sent five players to the NFL. No stars, yet, this year but plenty of talent, especially in the secondary.
Special teams
USF mistakes on special teams led to both of Stony Brook's touchdowns last week, with Faron Hornes fumbling on a punt return at his own 35 and Bulls punter Justin Brockhaus-Kann being ruled down at the USF 27 for a 15-yard loss after going down on one knee to field a bad snap. USF's blocked punt with 9:12 left in the second quarter marks the first time since Oct. 2, 2008, against Pittsburgh, that it blocked a punt and recovered it for a TD.
Notes
This marks the first meeting between the schools, but it is UF's 10th game against an in-state opponent during head coach Urban Meyer's tenure. ... The Gators hold a 9-0 mark in the previous contests against other Florida schools during that time. ... In its 2010 debut, UF extended its SEC-best opening-day winning streak to 21 games, the second-longest such active streak in the nation.
About the University of South Florida
Nickname: Bulls
Location: Tampa
Conference: Big East
Athletics website: GoUSFBulls
The coaches
Skip Holtz is in his first season at USF and 11th overall with a record of 73-50 (.593). The Bulls' offensive coordinator is Todd Fitch and the defensive coordinator is Mark Snyder. Holtz replaced Jim Leavitt in January after five seasons at East Carolina. The son of former Notre Dame and South Carolina coach Lou Holtz is only the second coach to guide a program that Leavitt built from scratch over the past 13 years. Holtz led East Carolina to each of the past two Conference USA championships.
When USF has the ball
B.J. Daniels threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night, helping the South Florida launch the Skip Holtz era with a 59-14 rout of Stony Brook in the season opener for both teams. Daniels teamed with Dontavia Bogan on a 59-yard score on the Bulls' first offensive play. The third-year sophomore later threw a 27-yard TD pass to Joel Miller. Miller did not have a career reception before Saturday night. Daniels completed 15 of 22 passes before leaving the game after leading a fiveplay, 80-yard TD drive to start the second half. The Bulls also run the spread. Senior Moise Plancher (581) is the Bulls top returning rusher. USF operates behind an experienced offensive line. Veteran receivers Bogan and Sterling Griffin return.
When UF has the ball
Defensive tackle Keith McCaskill recorded his first sack of the season, and his third-and-a-half sack of his career when he took down Stony Brook QB Michael Coulter early in the second half. Safety Mark Joyce recorded his first career interception with 5:09 left in the third quarter and returned it 33 yards for his first career touchdown. The USF defense tallied four interceptions in the opener last week. Seniors Sabbath Joseph, the Bull's top returning tackler, Donte Spires and Jacquian Williams return to lead the linebacking unit. In his first year as a starter in 2009, Joseph tallied 50 tackles with three forced fumbles, two of which came in USF's 17-7 upset of Florida State. Mark Snyder is the Bulls' third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. USF must rebuild a unit that sent five players to the NFL. No stars, yet, this year but plenty of talent, especially in the secondary.
Special teams
USF mistakes on special teams led to both of Stony Brook's touchdowns last week, with Faron Hornes fumbling on a punt return at his own 35 and Bulls punter Justin Brockhaus-Kann being ruled down at the USF 27 for a 15-yard loss after going down on one knee to field a bad snap. USF's blocked punt with 9:12 left in the second quarter marks the first time since Oct. 2, 2008, against Pittsburgh, that it blocked a punt and recovered it for a TD.
Notes
This marks the first meeting between the schools, but it is UF's 10th game against an in-state opponent during head coach Urban Meyer's tenure. ... The Gators hold a 9-0 mark in the previous contests against other Florida schools during that time. ... In its 2010 debut, UF extended its SEC-best opening-day winning streak to 21 games, the second-longest such active streak in the nation.
