We are less than 2 weeks away

I'm hoping the coaching staff sees something in our defensive line that we do not see. Hopefully, their S&C is going well and have a great spring camp. Todd Orlando needs to examine the hell out of our defense and get the right guys from the portal. The spring game is on epsn+, 4/14/23 at 7 pm.

Kennesaw State assistant coach William Small is all but a done deal to join Abdur-Rahim.

As always, more info as I get it.

A source just checked in to say that Arkansas guard KK Robinson's visit went very well. The source said that now that the family is home they will discuss things and a decision should come before too long. However, he couldn't say exactly when Robinson will announce. The source said that he knows of no other visits scheduled for Robinson but that the family plays things very close to the vest.

Even though I was hoping uconn would lose

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By @jackward9

Tampa, Fla. – The University of South Florida football team held their tenth day of spring practice on Tuesday as the team continues to prepare for its spring game on Friday, April 14. Before the practice, head coach Alex Golesh spoke with local reporters. Here is a transcript of what he said and my take on what it means.

On how he envisions the spring game…

So as of last week, my thought was to go offense-defense, do some situational football, do some drives and then do something fun competition wise whether it’s one on ones or one on one pass rush or something fun that is uniquely different, and I think we’ll see next Monday into Tuesday where we are health wise and then come up with the best plan. I want to use it as a practice, I also understand it’s the first time anybody gets to see what we are, said I think a lot of it’ll have to do with health of where our guys are. Like anybody that’s like dinged up. I’m being really, really cautious of putting somebody out there knowing that now were four months out from the season, trying to protect our guys to a little bit.

And we don’t have to win a spring game. We gotta go win in September. So we’ll see.

We essentially played it out exactly like it would going into a game so guys had had breakfast, and then went into the locker room and worked a countdown clock like you normally would starting at 80 counting down, from how they stretch to then getting taped, to putting their equipment on to what the pregame routine looks like for skill guys, for returners for us as a team what a five minute individual period looks like on a game day to us throwing a little bit seven on seven team and then how we would bring it up and go into the locker room.

My take: As the Bulls are still thin at multiple positions due to injury, Golesh is going to be very particular about who is going to play next Friday. From the fans perspective, this will be the first time we get to see the 2023 version of the Bulls live. But for the coaches and players, the spring game will be more about testing and evaluating players on in-game football situations. The spring game also gives the team an opportunity to practice their gameday prep. Ultimately, the spring game doesn’t count for anything, so Golesh will look to take it easy on his guys.

On how he wants the defense to play…

Since I started calling offense you know, you know what, what gives you what gives you stress or what gives you problems offensively. Multiplicity is the first thing. A defense that can be multiple. And that doesn’t necessarily mean you blitz every play but can present different pictures.

Todd’s unique because I coached against Todd. And I remember those weeks, and this is specifically when he was at Texas and I was at Iowa State, I remember those weeks of this was three years of it of man, you have no idea what’s going to happen on any given play. Generally, you have an idea of how a defense is going to line up. And at the same time defenses that are so multiple that they, a lot of times they have no idea where they’re supposed to be either and you can create explosive that way like what was so unique about Todd’s defense is that they’re so multiple, but they’re so sound.

You inevitably force defenses to be either stagnant or out of alignment. And so defensively you want to force offense is to either be stagnant or leave people unblocked. So that’s the first thing. The second thing is, is A third down package where you can get, get the defense off the field. You got to create, create negatives and you got to create sacks and you got to create turnovers you got to get the ball back. So combination of multiplicity, a havoc defense as it would be called in terms of creating negatives, specifically on third down situation Football are the two things you’re looking for.

You know, I think really, really good defensive coordinators can put their best 11 out there and figure out how to use those best 11 To the best of their ability and so far I think they’re still in the process of figuring out who their best 11 are. But I think as it’s getting closer and closer to the end here, I think those guys, the players are starting to get comfortable in different packages, which again will allow us to play more than more than just 11 guys.

My take: Overall, Golesh wants his defense to be as flexible as possible. Having a defense that can be extremely flexible and multiple in what they can do creates chaos and confusion for opposing offenses, and this style can make up for different weaknesses that might exist on that side of the ball. If defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and him can involve as many players as possible in the defensive rotation, the Bulls could have a defense with depth and discipline that causes fits for offenses.

On defensive depth…

You know I don’t think any coach is ever gonna stand up here and say you’re as deep as you want to be. I think we’ve got to get much, much deeper on the D line.

You’d love to get deeper at linebacker we, we’ve got a bunch of DB bodies that have performed at a really, really high level. Um, I feel like we do we need to we need to get some young guys that will continue to grow up and continue to progress on the D line. I feel like linebacker we’re getting there where we can have a little bit of depth but no like, it’s all about having defense in third down defense, you’d love to be able to roll guys in there and get fresh bodies in. That’s going to be part of this finale of the evaluation of where we are. It’s going to be part of getting these freshmen here and that’s going to be obviously attacked in the portal for us to be able to get some more depth at those critical spots.

My take: The Bulls managed to bring in a few top transfers to fill holes on defense, with the likes of corner Kendall Dennis, Lloyd Summerall and Derrick Harris Jr. providing some interesting options for Golesh and Orlando. Every coach would love to have great depth at every position, and Golesh is confident that they can go out and get some guys to come in and join that rotation to create that flexible defense mentioned previously.

On continuing to build a culture…

I think so much of what happens in college football is people step into roles and then forget what got them there or forget what their identity is. I’m not a big like slogan. motto like wristbands I don’t have like pyramids of success like I think a lot of that stuff it works for some people it certainly worked for some great coaches I’ve been around for me it’s been really simple I what stuck with me at an early age is be who you say you are. And the way I was raised the way that I got coached and the coaches I was with as a young coach, I always, always thought man like all people want is to be told the truth and be held accountable. And at the end of the day if you tell people the truth, there’s a genuine respect, there’s a genuine love.

We’re going to demand a lot of them. We’re going to work extremely hard. We’re going to outwork everybody in college football, both as a team and as a staff. And we’re going to be who we say we are, which is treating guys the right way, loving them, respecting them, but demanding a lot of them and then holding them accountable. At the same time and these guys will tell you like as coaches they’re welcome to hold us accountable as they should.

My take: Coach Golesh has touched on the culture of the team and how he is building it many times throughout spring, and has been steadfast with his view of how to build that. He has simple, but honest expectations for his guys; just be yourself and who you say you are, and rise to the occasion when challenged or called upon.

In-stadium Fan Fest proceeds 7 p.m. kickoff at Corbett Stadium on the USF Campus



TAMPA, APRIL 5, 2023 – The USF Spring Game presented by USF Federal Credit Union returns to Corbett Stadium on the USF Campus on Friday, April 14 and the free 7 p.m. kickoff under the lights will feature food, fun and more for fans.



Beyond a first chance to get a look at first-year head coach Alex Golesh’s team, the Bulls returners and 19 early enrollees, Bulls fans can enjoy a wide-ranging Fan Fest starting at 5 p.m. (two hours before kickoff) at Corbett Field. Some things fans can look forward to include:

• A Kids Zone – featuring face painting, balloon artists, caricature artists, airbrush artists, inflatables & photo ops with Rocky

• Several food trucks, concessions stands and Kona Mini

• A Beer Garden

• Live DJ and on-field MC Greg Wolf

• Three locations to purchase gear/merchandise

• Meet and greet with the Fowler Avenue Collective

• Free sampling locations from Fanta and Powerade

• Sponsor activations and giveaways

• 2023 football schedule magnet giveaway

• HOT band roadshow (15-minute performance on the field)

• Kick to Win Promo (three USF students randomly selected for a chance to win $10K each)



For the first time since 2019, the Spring Game returns to Corbett Stadium where it previously drew capacity crowds filling the stands and grass berms around the USF soccer teams’ competition venue. Normal pregame tailgating activities will be allowed in campus lots on Sycamore Drive and Yuengling Center lots. Fans are encouraged to bring blankets and utilize seating areas on the grass berms surrounding the playing surface with a large crowd expected.



Golesh, who previously guided the nation’s No. 1 ranked offense as offensive coordinator at Tennessee, will give fans their first look at the Bulls running his offense. Alongside a new Bulls’ offensive scheme, fans will get a look at what first-year USF defensive coordinator Todd Orlando has dialed up for the Bulls heading into the 2023 season.



USF returns three primary starters from the 2022 season on offense, four including senior offensive tackle Donovan Jennings (Tampa) who started four games in 2023 before a season-ending injury and brings a team-high 35 career starts into his final campaign. The Bulls return nine primary starters from 2022 on defense, led by safety Matthew Hill (Lawrenceville, Ga.) who brings 17 career starts into his senior campaign. USF returns 27 players with starting experience, including quarterbacks Gerry Bohanon Jr. (Earle, Ark./7 starts in 2022 before a season-ending injury) and Byrum Brown (Raleigh, N.C./started the last two games of 2022).



Fans planning to attend the Spring Game are asked to register in advance to receive a free mobile ticketHERE.



The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and can be heard on 102.5-HD2 and Bulls Unlimited on TuneIn.



GAME DETAILS

PARKING: Is Free. Lots open at 5 p.m.

Fan parking is in Lot 18/Sycamore Drive and Yuengling Center Lots 6 and 22.



GATES: Stadium Gates will open at 5 p.m.

Entrance is by mobile ticket (free, please registerHERE)



FAN FEST: The Fan Fest will move inside the Corbett Stadium and will open at 5 p.m. and remain open throughout the game featuring:

• A Kids Zone
• USF Sun Dolls, Cheerleaders & Rocky
• Photo Opportunities
• Food/Beverage Stations & Beer Garden
• Cornhole
• Sponsor Activations & Giveaways
• HOT Band performance

KICKOFF: Set for 7 p.m.



WATCH: Live stream to ESPN+



LISTEN: The game can be heard on 102.5-HD2 and Bulls Unlimited on TuneIn.

This guy is the type of facilitator that the Bulls need to bring everything together. Why so mum?

Here is the Times article expanding on Golesh’s comments about expectations and holding players accountable. As for the article, again these days everytime the Times writes about USF athletics I read an underlining hint of condescension and insulting attitude. Now a coach that is expecting accountability is an overdone ‘micromanager’?!? Is this Joey Knight’s first day covering college athletics because almost every successful college has a high level of expectation for his team, has high accountability for everything they do and works hard to weed out complacency. They also build in team building and relationship building into the equation so it is not all about burning guys out. Sprinkle in an exceptional concentration on the fundamentals, which was also a weak spot of CJS, and you are over half way there.

Some of my biggest issues on the field the last few years was the inconsistent unemotional play with what appeared to be zero accountability and an abhorrent display of complacency. How you pull that out of a program is to get rid of all the weak, and you do that by raising the standards in everything you, raise the expectations, create accountability and demand excellence in everything. When you do that correctly as it appears Golesh is doing you will start to see the program turning within 1-2 years.

Reading that article you would think Golesh was doing some radical new coaching concept never before tried, and hey CJS brought a big book to USF with everything thing to do so what could Golesh really do that CJS hasn’t done!?! What he failed to mention is CJS’s book was written in crayon and filled with Pokeman stickers. Funny the last great ‘micromanager’ we had here who was worried about the smallest detail and expecting perfection from everyone was Leavitt. That seemed to work out better than Joey’s analogy of Bruce Arian who coached college during the black and white tv days when Temple’s annual football budget was probably smaller than USF’s monthly budget.🙄. The ignorance in writing aside it was good to read more expansion on Golesh’s vision running a program.

I get it that basketball is the top topic right now, but we are past the halfway point of spring camp and have had a scrimmage, but there seems to be a lack of media updates. Are the practices closed off?

What's more likely to happen next year.

...Kennesaw State associate head coach Ben Fletcher and assistant coach William Small are near locks to join CAAR in Tampa. Barring a sudden change, that leaves one more spot for an assistant coach who will be able to do off-campus recruiting.

So, as I see it, the options are:

• Retain a current USF assistant coach
• Bring a support staff member from Kennesaw State and make them an assistant coach
• Hire someone not currently on the USF or KSU staff.

My source believes, option No. 2 will happen. Time will tell but time is of the essence because the dead period ends on Thursday.

Caught up to Kasen Jennings this afternoon to learn more about his decision to transfer to USF and when he might visit campus.

I updated yesterday's article about his commitment.

Thursday BullsInsider.com reported that it appears Kennesaw State assistant coach William Small was all but a done deal to join Amir Abdur-Rahim’s staff at South Florida.

I've heard some chatter today that another KSU assistant coach, Pershin Williams will also head south on I-75 to join Abdur-Rahim. Williams joined the Owls staff in May 2019. He was a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech for two seasons when Paul Hewitt was the head coach of the Yellow Jackets.

As we previously reported, KSU Associate Head Coach Ben Fletcher is trying to get the head coaching job at KSU. If he is unsuccessful at earning that promotion, it is expected that Fletcher will also join the USF staff. Likely, in the same role he had at KSU.

Williams and Fletcher helped recruit the Owls 2020 class that was ranked No. 70 nationally by Rivals. That put the Kennesaw State class ahead of California, UCLA, Boston College, Final Four team San Diego State, Seton Hall, and UCF.

According to a source, none of the current members of the Bulls coaching staff are expected to remain at USF. None of the three assistants, the Director of Scouting, the Director of Player Development or the Video Coordinator.

Stay close for updates on all of the developing news at USF.

Chris Youngblood and Brandon Stroud.

They are marked "Do not contact" which means that they know where they are going

Florida and Georgia HS & AAU Coaches react to South Florida hiring Amir Abdur-Rahim.

STORY

Just earned a new fan

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T-to-the-Izzo doesn't have a lot of faith in the NCAA (justifiably so). When you read this think: Trey Moss

South Florida head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim offers Rivals150 guard Jaye Nash.

STORY


Something I left out of the story and why.

Nash has a pre-existing relationship with William Small. It was during our conversation that he mentioned that Small is joining CAAR's staff at USF. I couldn't put that in the story since Small hasn't been hired by KSU yet and is under contract to Kennesaw State.

On Coach Small...

"One of the assistant coaches, Coach Small, he was at Kennesaw State with Coach Amir there. So, him and my dad are, they're kind of, they've known each other for a little minute. And he's [Small] been recruiting me ever since I was, like, a freshman from for Kennesaw State. And then he, basically, put me on the phone with Coach Amir.

I couldn't really talk to him [Small] as much during my sophomore year because coaches weren't allowed to call. But once I hit my junior year, he just he stayed in touch, he came he came to my workouts. He came to one of our workouts in the morning, before school. So, I realized that not many coaches do that. Also, like, coach Amir got mid major coach of the year, so, if they got another job that'd definitely be something for me to look into. And Coach Small, he's just a great guy and he and my dad have been rocking with each other for a little minute. So I have that connection with him.

On being offered by Penny Hardaway...

It was a surreal moment. He took me in his office and he told me that he offered, that he wanted to offer me a scholarship. And just to just to grow up in Memphis, I've been watching the Tigers ever since I was young, and then knowing that I had an opportunity to play there. It's just surreal and knowing that Penny, Penny Hardaway one of the greatest point guards ever is the one to offer me, it just makes it, makes it even more crazy.