USF Bulls stampede over the #16 Irish with two weather delays

[Tenshot13]

If anyone saw the game, the score wasn't indicative of the actual game.  USF basically destroyed ND with their defense.  Crazy stat....ND has never had a weather delay in their 120 something history until yesterday.

[shamrock]

First of all,congrats to USF,they came in played a good game and won,no question about it.Hats off to them.But to say that they destroyed the Irish with their defense???        Notre Dame had 508 yards of offense compared to 254 for USF.
I can certainly understand your joy of winning,but that is a RIDICULOUS statement.
Did you watch the game?

[Tenshot13]

Ya I did...all six hours of it.  Did you?  You failed to mention FIVE Irish turnovers.  I don't care how many yards a team has, if they turn the ball over that much, they got bitched up by the opposing defense.

[bsmooth]

Ya I did...all six hours of it.  Did you?  You failed to mention FIVE Irish turnovers.  I don't care how many yards a team has, if they turn the ball over that much, they got bitched up by the opposing defense.

With two weather delays it could be said the it played a part in the turnovers too. USF may have won, but to say your defense dominated when giving up almost twice as many yards as your offense did it crazy. Few teams win with such a disparity.

USF could not sustain drives for most of the game, where as the Irish went up and down the field. They cannot count on getting 5 turnovers a game to offset such a terrible defensive night. Even with all the ND turnovers and penalties that nullified at least one more Irish td, USF squeaked out a win.
If I were the coach, I would be worried about when USF faces a really good team that will not self destruct in the first half.

[shamrock]

This wasn't one of the worst performances by an Irish squad I can remember,it was just weird.They played ok,even with a couple of the turnovers.They just couldn't close the deal.I think the coaches just plain panicked in the second half.The running game was working but they got away from it and just started throwing the ball on every play.And Brian Kelly's meltdowns did little to instill any confidence in his qbs.Like I said,props to the Bulls,the only stat that counts is the one on the scoreboard.

[Tenshot13]

With two weather delays it could be said the it played a part in the turnovers too. USF may have won, but to say your defense dominated when giving up almost twice as many yards as your offense did it crazy. Few teams win with such a disparity.

USF could not sustain drives for most of the game, where as the Irish went up and down the field. They cannot count on getting 5 turnovers a game to offset such a terrible defensive night. Even with all the ND turnovers and penalties that nullified at least one more Irish td, USF squeaked out a win.
If I were the coach, I would be worried about when USF faces a really good team that will not self destruct in the first half.

I guess we disagree then because five turnovers is not a terrible defensive night IMO.  And to say they squeaked out a win when they were ahead the entire game is ludicrous.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The Irish are ranked this year?

[Landshark]

The Irish are ranked this year?

Regardless of whether they were ranked or not, Notre Dame is still a tough place to play.  I watched the beginning of the game and saw the Irish basically toy with the Bulls defense on the first drive.  Then on third and goal, the Irish tailback gets stood up at the one yard line, and a Bulls defender came up and ripped the ball out of his hand.  The ball bounced once and into the hands of another Bulls defender who took it 96 yards the other way. 

That pretty much took the wind out of Notre Dame's sails and set the tone for the rest of the game.  It was an eerie reminder of that 1991 game in KC when the Dolphins were down 7-0 but driving, and Sammie Smith fumbled on the 1 and a KC defender picked it up and took it all the way.  That was the turning point.  In what would've been 7-7 instead was 14-0 and led to a total blowout.

[Phishfan]

Congrats Tenshot. I was actually pulling for you guys this game, but if the Irsh were better in the red zone you guys would have been destroyed. How many of those turnovers were at the goaline or in your end zone? I think I saw three.

[Tenshot13]

Congrats Tenshot. I was actually pulling for you guys this game, but if the Irsh were better in the red zone you guys would have been destroyed. How many of those turnovers were at the goaline or in your end zone? I think I saw three.

Thanks!  I was going crazy Saturday.  With your guys beating Marshall yesterday, the Big East went undefeated. 

I understand about the "what if" factor in the redzone.  If Notre Dame scores, then maybe USF plays a little more aggressively.  They were being very conservative on offense.  The thing is, USFs defense showed up when they needed to, they won and all is good in the college football world.

[Spider-Dan]

Unless USF's gameplan was "let them drive down the field at will, then get a turnover on our end," I don't think you should categorize that as a "dominant" defensive performance.   Turnovers are great and all, but they aren't exactly reliable.

I'd say 23-20 is a pretty accurate representation of a game in which one team outgains the other 508-254 but loses the turnover battle 5-0.

[Landshark]

I'd say 23-20 is a pretty accurate representation of a game in which one team outgains the other 508-254 but loses the turnover battle 5-0.

That sounds eerily similar to the Miami-Penn State Fiesta Bowl.  Miami outgained Penn State in total yards 445 to 162, with 22 Hurricanes first downs to the Nittany Lions' 8. However, the Hurricanes turned the ball over 7 times including 5 interceptions thrown by Vinny Testaverde who had missed a month of bowl practice after a motor scooter accident.  The end result was a 14-10 upset by Penn State.