South Florida Dumps FSU With A Mighty Bullish Effort

"We heard that some of their (FSU) coaches were saying that they were gonna beat the living dog out of us -- it was gonna be a blowout."

USF Coach Jim Leavitt on 970 radio post-game interview 

It was simply one giant leap for the University of South Florida — one stunning belly- flop by Florida State University.

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, the Bulls scored perhaps their most historic and significant win in the young history of their football program.

With 12,000 USF faithful on site in Doak Campbell Stadium and 72,000 more screaming FSU fans in panic mode, the Bulls put together a near perfect game, a mighty offensive effort and mightier defensive stand that left the Bulls with a 17-7 victory and Florida State totally stunned.

USF, now unbeaten at 4-0, did it as a team but with new heroes.

Quarterback B.J. Daniels gave a performance for the ages, taking over for Matt Grothe and giving USF fans every reason to believe that this could be the year of the Bull.

All Daniels did was return to his hometown and direct an offensive display that made the Seminoles think, not about the player that got away, but the one they never recruited — Daniels.

All Daniels did was provide 343 yards of total offense, 215 passing and 126 rushing.

All he did was become the first quarterback to rush for that many yards against Florida State in 23 years.

All he did was run, pass and play with the poise of a more experienced player.

All he did was throw two touchdown passes in the second quarter. One pass was an 8-yarder to tight end Ben Busbee, the other a 73-yard masterpiece to freshman Sterling Griffin. That gave his team a 14-0 halftime lead, a lead the Bulls would not surrender.

The other new hero was defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who put other teams on notice that if they think George Selvie was dangerous, well, they'd better think again.

All Pierre-Paul did was provide one of many huge defensive moments that sunk the Seminoles. With 5:53 left, he knocked the football from Christian Ponder's grasp and allowed Selvie to make the recovery at the FSU 13.

That big play set up a 27-yard field goal by the unheralded Eric Schwartz that put the Bulls in a comfort zone, 17-7 with 3:47 left.

From there, the defense continued its dominance.

It was an afternoon of domination by defensive coordinator Joe Tresey's guys.

FSU managed only 19 yards with its running game.

Fifteen yards rushing!

"Joe Tresey and the defensive staff were exceptional," Leavitt said afterwards.

"Mike Canales (offensive coordinator) and the offensive staff did a great job preparing B.J. Daniels."

"Just an incredible effort," said the exhausted Leavitt. "They finished the game. It was under tough circumstances. It was extraordinary, unbelievable!"

Indeed it was.

Daniels looked like a mature player. For most of the afternoon, he was cool under fire. Only a couple of second half interceptions made him look like a young quarterback. Other than that, he was money with his arm and legs.

While Daniels and his offense baffled FSU's defenders, the USF defense pounded Ponder and his mates.

The Bulls hit harder than FSU.

The Bulls played faster than FSU.

The Bulls simply took the fight to the Seminoles and left Bobby Bowden's team beaten and embarrassed.

Beaten, embarrassed and for now, ejected from the "Big Three" of football in the state of Florida.

Out goes FSU, in steps USF.

And a star is born and his name is B.J. Daniels.

"It's not about me," Daniels said afterwards standing in the middle of FSU's field.

"It's about the USF Bulls."