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20 years of USF football: Five biggest program losses (w/video)

 
Published July 22, 2016

Five worst losses

1. Rutgers 30, USF 27 (Oct. 18, 2007)

Times files

USF cornerback Mike Jenkins juggles the ball following a blocked field goal attempt.

Times files

USF cornerback Mike Jenkins juggles the ball following a blocked field goal attempt.

The Bulls were unbeaten and standing at the cusp of the BCS summit when all of their national title hopes went up in a plume of Piscataway smoke. TB Ray Rice minced USF for 181 rushing yards, while the Scarlet Knights converted a fake field goal into a 15-yard TD pass. USF drew 10 penalty flags, including one that negated a TD (on a Tyrone McKenzie fumble return), and an offensive pass-interference whistle that nullified a fourth-and-22 conversion on the Bulls' final, futile comeback attempt.

2. McNeese State 53, USF 21 (Aug. 31, 2013)

OCTAVIO JONES | Times

USF quarterback Matt Floyd is sacked by Hunter Romero of McNeese State.

OCTAVIO JONES | Times

USF quarterback Matt Floyd is sacked by Hunter Romero of McNeese State.

Remember the Blues Brothers scene where Jake and Elwood's converted police car disintegrates at the end? That was the condition of Willie Taggart's promotional "bus" by halftime of his Bulls coaching debut. After spunky TB Marcus Shaw scored on an 80-yard run on the first offensive play of the Taggart era, I-AA McNeese scored 40 unanswered points. At some point in the debacle, QB Matt Floyd threw consecutive picks — and never was heard from again.

3. Miami 40, USF 9 (Nov. 17, 2012)

Associated Press

Miami tight end Clive Walford, center left, celebrates a touchdown with offensive linesman Jon Feliciano during the second half.

Associated Press

Miami tight end Clive Walford, center left, celebrates a touchdown with offensive linesman Jon Feliciano during the second half.

The Skip Holtz era bottomed out with this embarrassment, in which Bobby Eveld's redshirt was burned for less than 15 minutes' work. With B.J. Daniels (leg) out, Holtz skipped over backup Matt Floyd and went with Eveld, who hadn't played all year. By the end of the quarter, the Jesuit High alumnus was out with a separated left shoulder. Then, in what would become a grim harbinger of the future, Floyd entered and threw two picks in his first six attempts. Two weeks later, Holtz was gone.

4. UCF 16, USF 0 (Nov. 28, 2014)

EVE EDELHEIT | Times

USF tight end Sean Price is unable to pull in a second-half pass.

EVE EDELHEIT | Times

USF tight end Sean Price is unable to pull in a second-half pass.

Fittingly, this embarrassment was staged on Black Friday. The Bulls netted 5 rushing yards and couldn't avert the program's only home shutout loss despite first downs at the Knights' 1, 14, 27 and 31. About the only Bull who performed efficiently was athletic director Mark Harlan, who struck a postgame balance of diplomacy and candor in fielding questions about Taggart's future.

5. Rutgers 31, USF 0 (Nov. 12, 2009)

Associated Press

Devin McCourty of Rutgers dives for a USF fumble during the first quarter.

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Associated Press

Devin McCourty of Rutgers dives for a USF fumble during the first quarter.

In hindsight, this humiliation — before an ESPN Thursday night audience — marked the beginning of the end of the Jim Leavitt era. USF totaled 159 yards in its first regular season shutout loss ever, and its seven first downs matched the smallest single-game total in school history. Nine days later, at halftime of a game against Louisville, Leavitt had an infamous locker room run-in with walk-on Joel Miller.