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USF Head Coach Charlie Strong in 2019 Loss to UCF | SoFloBulls.com
2019 USF Football: #PlayFastScoreFaster USF Bulls Football

Bulls Lack Strength Under Strong

Matt Manuri
By Matt Manuri
Leave a Comment on Bulls Lack Strength Under Strong
Make USF Football great again.

Every offseason, we are told things are going to be different this season for USF.

Every offseason, we are told this is going to be the season the Bulls bounce back.

Every offseason, athletics pushes people to buy in.

Contribute more they say, things will be different, they say, the issue is lack of fan support, they say…

Why does all of this sound horrifyingly familiar? Because Charlie Strong is the second coming of Skip Holtz and both over three season spans only managed to infuriate and disappoint USF fans.

At the end you will find a collection of tweets from the putrid 34-7 performance against rival UCF to cap off a magical 4-8 (2-6) 2019 season…

Skip Holtz was fired in 2012 after finishing 3-9 (1-6). Here’s Holtz’s post-game press conference quote following the Bulls’ atrocious 37-28 meltdown loss to Temple in 2012:

“Iโ€™m going to use the analogy that Coach (Bobby) Bowden used to say,” Holtz said. “I want you to graduate your players; I want you to have good young men who are going to be great in the community, but the bottom line is you better win. Thatโ€™s what weโ€™ve got to do. Weโ€™ve got to turn this around after this open date. Thatโ€™s the ultimate grading sheet that weโ€™re graded on, is wins and losses.” ~ Skip Holtz

Sound familiar like you’ve heard this logic before? Holtz’s scoff worthy game management skills were never more effervescent than down the stretch against the Charlie Strong led No. 16 Louisville Cardinals in 2012. Holtz dumbfounded Bulls nation and his own players after burning the final timeout, even though BJ Daniels stopped the clock by picking up a first down. The blunder led to the Cardinals 27-25 victory.

Ringing a bell?

How about comparing Holtz’s baffling unawareness to Charlie Strong’s two timeout debacle this season against, guess who, the Temple Owls.

Horrible game and clock management by USF head coach Charlie Strong in the waning moments of the fourth quarter left all of Bulls nation baffled and pissed off. Down just 10 points in the final minutes Charlie Strong neglected to use either of USFโ€™s two final timeouts, like he was hoarding Thanksgiving leftovers, much to the dismay of everyone in attendance including his own players.

Strongโ€™s decision making, or lack there of, was so bewildering to ESPN in-game commentator Pat McAfee he blurted out, โ€œWhat the hell just happened?โ€, as he watched the time run off the clock with no timeouts being called. I agree Pat, what the hell was that?!?!?

I know we are in a tough rut but remember weโ€™re all Bulls for life through the good & not so good times. Letโ€™s support our players who give their all week in & week out.

Jordan McCloud certainly didn’t play well, but there is no questioning his effort, period. USF penalties under Charlie Strong have been god awful and it’s a sticking point.

The Bulls entered the 2019 War On I-4 clash ranked 123rd nationally in Penalty Yards Per Game. Mind you, after finishing the 2018 season 112th, and 2017 128th. Penalties corrode teams from within like rust, just add consistency and everything will unravel before your eyes.

The lack of discipline has never been more apparent than last night against UCF, 11 penalties for 80 yards, which is absolutely unacceptable. There’s no way to spin it. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Three consecutive seasons of inexcusable and deplorable leadership.

Time for a change to be made in Tampa, and it starts with the head coach.

Twitter Feed from USF vs. UCF 2019

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