South Florida Bulls Get a Win That Was Made for Prime-Time

If you missed this one, you missed a doozy.

South Florida Bulls 28, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 27.

Prime time Wednesday night on The Deuce, ESPN2.

This was a win that Skip Holtz wanted badly and needed worse.

It was a win that pulled his team even (2-2) in the Big East and just as important, got them a fifth victory and in the running for some sort of bowl game.

Oh yes, and there was that little milestone of a 100th win for the program—can't forget that.

It was a nervous victory. The moment of truth came with time running out, about 2:09 left and Rutgers moving the ball until the Knights faced a fourth and three at their own 49. A conversion would have meant an extended drive and a potential game-winning field goal.

USF defensive coordinator Mark Snyder did what he needed to do.  He brought the house full blitz and Jacquain Williams planted Chas Dodd back at his own 43 and it was ballgame—almost. The Bulls had to run some clock which they did and survived some shaky snaps and managed to milk the clock. A punt left Rutgers deep in its own territory with but 36 seconds left.

Ball game. Tough ball game. Hard hitting ball game. Big play ball game; a watch the lead change hands about a half dozen times ball game.

Made for prime-time, no doubt ESPN was happy with this one.

Holtz was overjoyed.

"I'm so proud of this team," he gushed afterwards.

He should be.

The Bulls finally ended four years of domination by Rutgers with the past two games especially embarrassing for the old Jim Leavitt regime.

This USF team still has a way to go but give credit to the elderly (23-year-old) Mo Plancher, who had the night of his life. He ran for 135 yards and survived two fumbles inside the 10-yard line. The second at the goal line at crunch time with tackle Jake Sims bailing him out, falling on the ball in the end zone for the winning USF touchdown.

Ball game.

B.J. Daniels continued his recovery. Only had one pass picked and his defense held Rutgers to a field goal off of that turnover.

This victory will also make everyone forget how foolish the punt coverage team looked early in the game when four players surrounded Mason Robinson and watched him catch the ball at his own 40 then take off while they thought he signaled a fair catch. We'll forget that he went 60 yards for a touchdown.

This victory will also make everyone forget how Rutgers bamboozled the defense with that Dodd to Mohamed Sanu to Mark Harrison trick play that caught the secondary with their pants around their ankles.

Yes, this will will ease the pain of those losses to Syracuse and West Virginia.

However, there is still a lot of work ahead for these Bulls if they want in to the postseason.

There is still Louisville, Pitt, Miami and UConn.

Yes, Skip, there's a lot of work to do.

But for right now, you and the guys should enjoy this one.

Now get back to work!