USF Athletics

Louk's Closer Look: Birmingham Bowl

December 19, 2017

PURCHASE BIRMINGHAM BOWL TICKETS


By JIM LOUK
Voice of the Bulls
 
TAMPA, DEC. 19, 2017 – Again this year, there is more evidence that football seasons tend to go faster as you get older.  I spent the entire spring and summer getting ready for the 2017 season, I was there when we kicked off in San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 26, and now, 15 minutes later, it's time for the bowl game.
 
If you think it went fast for us, imagine the nearly two dozen USF seniors, who are facing the harsh reality that USF-Texas Tech is their final college game.  In interviewing many of them over the past weeks, every single one of them expressed surprise at the rapid passage of time, and amazement about their USF football days rapidly coming to a close.
 
Bowl games can be an emotional wildcard for teams.  A lot has happened to the guys since the regular season ended; final exams, a few more practices, holiday planning, and for some, graduation ceremonies and invitations to games like the Senior Bowl or the Shrine Game.  When they take the field in Birmingham, it will be one day short of a month since the last game.
 
As a result, bowl games can be wildly unpredictable. 
 
As always though, this group will be prepared.  The chance at 10 wins (and double-digit victories for two straight years) is one of many opportunities driving this team.
 
Seniors are determined to finish their time the right way.  Underclassmen are just as determined to send the seniors out with a win. 
 
It's a great matchup, with two of the more prolific offenses in college football, challenging defenses that have both made great strides this season, and they're anxious to show that in a bowl game.
 
So here we go with some bowl trivia for our trip to Birmingham:

• Since it is basketball season, too, we'll begin with a little trivia from that sport.  USF football will be staying next to the Birmingham Jefferson County Civic Center.  In that building in March 1990, USF men's basketball won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, earning the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
• Ok, back to football. You probably know this will be the third bowl game in Birmingham for the Bulls. This marks the first time the Bulls have participated in a bowl game three times.  (They've been to the Meineke Car Care Bowl, now known as the Belk Bowl, twice).
• This year's game falls on the 11^th anniversary of the first bowl game in Birmingham; a 24-7 win over Skip Holtz and the East Carolina Pirates on Dec. 23, 2006, when the game was called the Papajohns.com Bowl.
• The Bulls won that game with Matt Grothe missing the second half due to injury.  All 24 of USF's points came in the first half that day.
• This is the ninth bowl game in Bulls history. USF has a record of 5-3 in the postseason.  The five wins?  Clemson, South Carolina, East Carolina, Memphis, and Northern Illinois.
• This will be the first time the Bulls have played a Big 12 team in a bowl game.   
• Legion Field has been almost like a second home to USF football.  Aside from the three bowl game appearances, USF also played in Birmingham on Aug. 30, 2003, losing to Alabama, 40-17, and on Nov. 3, 2004, beating UAB, 45-20.
• This makes three bowl games in a row for the Bulls.  Their longest streak of postseason appearances is six, from 2005 to 2010.
• The longest Bulls bowl win streak is three; they won in St. Petersburg, Toronto and Charlotte from 2008 to 2010.

 
Television coverage will be on ESPN beginning at noon.  Our radio coverage starts at 10 a.m. Eastern time with the pre-game on AM-820 in Tampa, with affiliates FM-99.9 in Brooksville, AM-1070 in Port Charlotte/Ft. Myers, and 106.9-FM in Sarasota.  (Don't forget Birmingham is in the central time zone; if you're going to the game, kickoff is at 11 a.m. local time).
 
You can also listen on USF Bulls Unlimited through the iHeart app.  Follow @BullsUnlimited for the full program schedule, including live games. 
 
This is it.  One last time for Flowers, Sanchez, Johnson, and Valdes-Scantling.  For Hector, Senat, Nichols, Tice and so many more.  And, another look at a lot of the guys we're counting on for next year.
 
Think where we were a few years ago, and send these guys your thanks.
 
Have a wonderful holiday season and if you make it to Birmingham, whether it be at the pep rally, the game, or any of the events, make sure to say hello.
 
Fifteen minutes until spring ball, by the way.
 
GO BULLS!
 
About USF Football
USF has won nine or more games for the second straight season and will make its third straight bowl appearance and ninth in program history. The Bulls spent the entire 2017 season ranked in the top 25 and climbed as high as No. 13 in the polls. USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins (11-2) following a Birmingham Bowl victory over South Carolina. The Bulls have posted 13 winning seasons in 21 years of playing football and have five bowl victories. The Bulls have seen 28 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 28 earn first-team all-conference selection.
 
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.