Following yet another sluggish start to the season that featured a blowout loss to Maryland, it seemed that Willie Taggart’s short stay in Tampa was sure to be coming to an end.
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History for Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty, for starters.
To the surprise of many, USF has won seven of its last eight games, outscoring opponents 303-157 during that stretch.
The Tops went undefeated in Conference USA this season, winning the school’s first league title at the FBS level.
This season Doughty has 5 pass-catchers with 37 or more receptions: Taywan Taylor (71), Jared Dangerfield (67), Nicholas Norris (53), Antwane Grant (42) and Tyler Higbee (37).
Western Kentucky and South Florida clash in a bowl game destined for some fireworks.
Taggart was 2-10 and 4-8 in his first two USF seasons, then began 1-3 this season.
Quarterback Quinton Flowers gave South Florida a great dual threat with over 2,000 passing yards and 883 yards on the ground.
“We had a vision of what we could create at USF and I would like to thank the players, coaches and staff who believed in that vision and who came together to make it a reality”, Taggart said. We’re going to have to do some things that are a little unorthodox….
Head Coach Jeff Brohm has no doubt that his guys are ready. They would share $75,000 for reaching a bowl game, $125,000 for a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl, $150,000 for reaching for the College Football Playoff semifinals and $200,000 for making the national title game. “Really in bowl games like this, when the two teams are pretty evenly matched, it’s about who wants it the most, who is willing to fight for it, who is going to compete for it, and that’s really going to be the plan to win”, Brohm said. The super-prolific senior enters his college finale with 12,394 yards, 991 completions and 108 touchdown passes. It’s a crusade for Western Kentucky. They have played a better schedule, are the better overall team and will showcase that in this game. Western Kentucky has four true Miami natives on the roster, and five others from relatively nearby areas.
Meanwhile, the Bulls’ new 4-2-5 defense ranks 15th in the nation in tackles for loss (7.5 tpg), 17th in interceptions (15), 22nd in scoring defense (21.1 ppg), 25th in sacks (2.67 spg) and 27th in turnovers gained (23) and did not allow any of eight conference opponents to exceed their scoring average.
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Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
