The Oracle M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 I V O L . 5 3 N O. 4 7
Inside this Issue
The Index
News.................................................................2 Crossword.........................................7 Opinion.......................................................6 classifieds..............................................7 sports............................................................8
w w w. u s fo r a c l e. co m
U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F LO R I DA
USF 44, No. 21 Temple 23
RETURN TO GLORY
NEWS
Silent march to remember victims across the globe. Page 2
Montage
S PORTS USF women’s soccer ousted in first round of NCAA Tournament. Page 4
Amid a swarm of students who charged the field after USF’s upset victory over Temple on Saturday, senior offensive lineman Thor Jozwiak raises his fist in celebration. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
n USF
is bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.
By Jacob Hoag A S S T .
S P O R T S
E D I T O R
When the clock struck triple zeros Saturday night, insanity ensued. Fans tumbled over railings, taking the long plunge onto the Raymond James Stadium turf that was quickly swallowed up by the masses of USF faithfuls, chants of “U-S-F, U-SF!” ringing through the cool, fall air. Years of struggling pulled players, coaches, students and alumni alike to center field, where they united in celebration, as USF put an authoritative stamp on its turnaround season with a 44-23 rout of
Patience pays off
Through difficult climb, coach Willie Taggart never stopped believing in his team. BACK
No. 21 Temple. For the first time in five years, USF is bowl bound. “It’s something you dream about,” receiver Rodney Adams said following USF’s first win over a ranked opponent at home since 2009. The frenzy continued with players taking pictures with fans, families embracing their brothers and sons, and the magnitude of what transpired just minutes before finally sinking in.
n See BOWL on PAGE 4
Sophomore quarterback Quinton Flowers high-fives fans around Raymond James Stadium after he threw for 230 yards and scored three total touchdowns. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
2
M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
●
T H E O R AC L E
International travesties spark silent march By Miki Shine C O - N E W S
E D I T O R
It was the night Paris stood still as the rest of the world looked on in stunned silence, a silence that will echo across USF’s Tampa campus Monday evening. Suicide bombers in Paris killed 129 people Friday and another set of ISIL bombers attacked Beirut on Thursday and killed 43, according to the New York Times. These tragedies inspired people across the globe to come together, and the impact was not lost on Jeremy
Lomax. “I was reading about Paris since 6 (p.m.), when it started, (and) until 11, when all of the information was out,” Lomax, a senior majoring in biology, said. “All the while, people were posting on their Instagrams about their nights, and I was just like, ‘This is ridiculous.’ “We are so secluded and so wrapped up in ourselves — and egotistical. There needs to be a way for us to let everyone know that we just need to stop, listen and feel the pain that other people are experiencing.”
Lomax decided to create an event in remembrance of the lives lost across the globe — not only in Paris and Beirut, but also in other recent events, such as the earthquake off the shore of Chile. The resulting tsunami’s waves killed 12 people, according to the Associated Press. Today at 5 p.m., Lomax will lead a silent march from Cooper Hall to the Student Memorial. Participants are encouraged to wear white and use the flashlight on their phones to symbolize candlelight. Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Danielle
McDonald worked with Lomax and other concerned student leaders from organizations around the campus. McDonald said the university has reached out to students currently studying abroad in Paris to ensure their safety. “Even though these tragedies may not seem to directly affect us, it is still our duty as global citizens to do what we can,” Lomax said in an email to leaders of various on-campus organizations. After the march ends at the Student Memorial, Lomax said he plans to give a short speech about why he believes students should
care about what’s happening on a global scale. He said he hopes for this to be a campus-wide event for people to participate and take a moment to remember the victims of international travesties. “Now is not the time for opinion or argument, be it foreign or domestic,” Lomax said. “Rather, (it is) a time to stand together as Bulls in respect and silence. As recently stated by our system’s president, USF is a flagship university that stands at the forefront of diversity and continually fosters a sense of community across numerous nationalities.”
Controversy over C.W. Young hall continues
By Chelsea Mulligan S T A F F
W R I T E R
Early in its short history, USF came under the influence of a fervently political committee not unlike Joseph McCarthy’s of the 1950s Red Scare. On Thursday, the 50th anniversary of the organization’s end, a documentary on the Johns Committee was shown by the university in the Oval Theater. The event was followed by a panel. The 1960s found then-Sen. Bill Young as a member of the Johns Committee, an organization dedicated to removing atheists, communists and especially homosexuals at universities across the nation – including at USF. Young is also the namesake of the ROTC building, which has caused student organization Students for a Democratic Society to advocate for changing the building’s name. “The thing to know is that what this committee did is try to destroy this institution at its very most vulnerable point,” said Jim Schnur, a USF alumnus, historian and USF St. Petersburg (USFSP) librarian whose master’s thesis focused on exposing the Johns Committee in detail. “We pushed back. We pushed back against (the committee) 50 years ago — we won.” A similar event was also held at USFSP on Nov. 4. “I hope the takeaway for most people in attendance was, ‘Okay, this was powerful, but it’s good
Members of Students for a Democratic Society protested outside of the C.W. Young building Nov. 12 as part of their efforts to change the building’s name. PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY that we’re talking about it,’” Tom Miller, vice president of Student Affairs, said. Miller said he was happy with the pace and nature of the discussion panel that followed the screening. “No one was rebuked or insulted … (and) I think that’s the way good discourse takes place,” he said. The panel consisted of two members: Schnur and USF history professor David Johnson. Miller was in attendance but was not a panelist. At the event, Schnur said Young’s involvement in the committee was limited and does not define the senator’s entire political career. According to Miller, the building is named after Young for his past help in directing funding to the university. “We can look at (this conversation) in two different ways. One (way) is we can say, ‘What Bill Young did in the past
was wrong,’ and focus specifically on that. The other thing we can say is, ‘Yes, that’s true. (But) he’s not a perfect individual,’” Schnur said. According to Miller, the viewing was inspired by a petition to change the name of C.W. Bill Young Hall started by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). However, interest from Provost Ralph Wilcox ultimately resulted in the event’s creation, he said. “The truth is, when the students from (Tampa Bay) SDS approached (Wilcox) with their issue about the name of the ROTC building, he … didn’t know anything about this. His perspective was, this generation of students and people who aren’t from Florida ought to know about this,” Miller said. “It’s what we learned about the Johns Committee upon review and consideration that motivated this program.”
After the event, Tampa Bay SDS members Danya Zituni and Jared Austin said they disagreed with this perspective. “We’re trying to change the name, and we’ve been denied. And they’re putting this together to whitewash, essentially, everything that Bill Young did in the Johns Committee,” Austin said. (The university thinks) that, if they change the name of this building, it’s just momentum. It fuels our struggle to end all forms of complicity with oppression on campus.” Members of Tampa Bay SDS were present in the event’s crowd. According to Zituni, the group is advocating for the university to rename C.W. Bill Young hall so that it no longer has clear relics of that homophobic period. “We would just change the name from one that has a legacy of homophobia to one that is simply like, ‘ROTC building,’” she said. “What they repeatedly
emphasized was that we need to overlook his role in the Johns Committee — in which he actively persecuted (LGBT) students and faculty across the state of Florida — and focus on the so-called good he did, as if this somehow outweighs and makes up for the concrete, material role he had in ruining the lives of faculty, students and activists.” Zituni said a related goal for Tampa Bay SDS is to have the university cut all contracts with the U.S. military. “This is something we’ve connected to changing the name of the building,” she said. Earlier the same day, Tampa Bay SDS members marched against USF’s contracts and military-backed research and for changing the name of C.W. Bill Young hall. Miller said the university is planning events in spring to continue educating the public on the dark legacy of the Johns Committee. “We’re thinking about, perhaps, staging a debate, or having a panel discussion or something like that,” he said. “It’s not one event.” Miller said he does not know of any movement within faculty, staff or administration to change the name of the building. He also said he encourages the activism of students on campus. “If there’s more controversy, that’s okay … I love the idea of students pursuing civic action and social justice,” Miller said. “It’s just not always as simple as it might appear.”
M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
TAGGART
Continued from PAGE 8
1-3 record, emptied onto the field in jubilation as the clock expired. Amidst the hundreds that turned the 50-yard line into a makeshift mosh pit — with his hands held high flashing the trademark “U” sign — stood the man who always believed. The man who never stopped insisting greatness could one day return to Fowler Avenue. The man who turned the program around. “Winning, going bowling and doing all those things — that’s something we wanted from the beginning,” Taggart said. “When I came here, my goal and my vision for this football program was to win championships in a first-class manner.” That attitude never wavered. Two weeks ago, as USF prepared for the first leg of its crucial end-of-season stretch at East Carolina, Taggart spoke of how he was able to remain patient for so long to see something like this through. It was a quality that had been passed down to him from legendary Western Kentucky coach Jack Harbaugh, for whom Taggart played and coached. When he arrived to USF in December 2012, Taggart saw a blank canvas with endless possibilities. The Bulls were in the Big East Conference. With an automatic bid to a BCS bowl game still in their hands, USF had the exposure and the pizzazz to compete with the likes Florida State, Florida and Miami on the field and in the homes of prospects. “I always said I wouldn’t leave WKU unless I had a chance to go and win a national championship, and I truly believe that can be done here,” Taggart said during his introductory press conference.
●
3
T H E O R AC L E
“When I came here, my goal and my vision for this football program was to win championships in a first-class manner.” Willie Taggart USF football coach
But soon, Taggart’s patience took its first shot as widespread conference realignment crippled that outlook. With the Big East blown up, the Bulls had been relegated to the American Athletic Conference and were no longer considered among the nation’s elite. “It was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” he said. But Taggart carried on. His first season was a disaster. Left with no experienced options at quarterback and a depleted roster from the dark days of Skip Holtz’s three-year tenure, the Bulls lost a program-worst 10 games and scored only 11 offensive touchdowns all season. The sophomore campaign wasn’t much better, as USF started rocky and stumbled down the stretch to finish 4-8. Going into this season, there were murmurs from within that his job was on the line. Fans grumbled. Boosters snarled. Those in and around the program rated the temperature of his seat as blistering. To make matters worse, a resounding opening triumph over Division I-AA bottom-feeder Florida A&M was overshadowed by the tragic murder of former
player Elkino Watson. Then, the Bulls slumped into a three-game losing streak with defeats against FSU, Maryland and Memphis due — at least in part — to a failure to finish games. But Taggart carried on. He forced his team to learn how to finish by making them run more during practice on Sundays after games. “It sounds kind of crazy, but after a Powerade break, we were running,” sophomore quarterback Quinton Flowers said. “You may be like, ‘Why are we running for? We’re running for no reason.’ But at the end of the day, we were just finishing. “We know we wanted to finish the fourth quarter and that’s what that running was for.” After a resounding Homecoming win over Syracuse — Taggart’s first signature win — the Bulls’ roll began. They dispatched Connecticut and Southern Methodist before hiccupping at Navy, then rebounding in comefrom-behind fashion at rainy East Carolina. Then came Saturday night, the game that many wrote off as a defeat long before the season began. After all, it was against a Temple team that came within four points of knocking off a playoff contender in Notre Dame just two weeks earlier. But Taggart carried on — right into bowl eligibility. St. Pete? Miami Beach? It doesn’t matter. Turnarounds like this are supposed to be made for Hollywood. This one was proudly directed by Willie Taggart. “I always say climbing is easier than hanging on,” he said. “And our guys are climbing in the right direction and this is what we want. This is what we thought it could be here. “It’s only the beginning.”
Men’s basketball
USF stumbles out of gate The USF men’s basketball team might want to take page from Troy’s handbook. The Trojans trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but coach Phil Cunningham labeled that the turning point in their 82-77 win over the Bulls on Friday at the Sun Dome. “We could have just caved in,” Cunningham said. “But we didn’t.” What the first half was for the
Tiana Aument CO M M EN TA R Y
Trojans is what the game represented for the Bulls: a low point that needs to be immediately
addressed. Sure, the loss to Troy is one game. But the Bulls can’t let it set the tone for their season if they want to finish better than the 9-23 record they compiled last season, especially with the competition they have ahead of them. Besides the in-conference competition (Southern Methodist and Connecticut), USF faces five non-
n See BASKETBALL on PAGE 7
4
M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Fans rush onto the field from the student section as the clock hits zero. It was USF’s first win at home over a ranked opponent since it beat West Virginia in 2009. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU “Storming the field, you to relinquish. Sophomore tailback Marlon only dream about that,” Continued from PAGE 1 Mack notched his second 200- Adams said. “You see other yard game of his career on a big schools do it on TV and a “I couldn’t even begin 48-yard dagger with just over chance for us to do it, it was to describe it,” said fifth- two minutes remaining in the really big.” The after-party rivaled that year senior center Brynjar game. Mack finished the night Gudmundsson, who redshirted with 272 yards of total offense of a Super Bowl postgame. Once behind the closed doors in 2010 when USF last went to and three touchdowns. Mack tied the USF record of their locker room, the party a bowl game. “Coming in here with all of for most 100-yard games in never stopped. “A lot of dancing,” Adams these fellow seniors, we had a a single season (six) held by said, with a laugh. “Everyone bowl game in mind from the Andre Hall. “I’m excited,” Mack said, was just happy for each other. moment we got here.” It was a scene sophomore smirking. “I may not look like It was a great scene.” Most players said this is quarterback Quinton Flowers it, but I’m excited. “There were holes up the what they envisioned when had witnessed before on television, but now he was in the middle because they were they signed letters of intent to blitzing on the outside. My come to USF. All of the negacenter of it. “It’s amazing,” Flowers O-line blocked it well and I just tivity and adversity they went through all culminated in what said. “One highlight I had seen followed the hole.” Junior receiver Rodney is arguably the biggest game of before and the students ran on the field and I just always Adams also had a big night their young careers. But they’re not done yet. envisioned doing it again, but with seven catches for 147 doing it with myself in it. We yards — both career highs — With a chance at an AAC chamdid it today and that’s just and a 68-yard touchdown to pionship game appearance tie the game at 7, with six sec- within its grasp, USF looks to fantastic.” Flowers outplayed Temple’s onds to go in the first quarter. close out the season with two With his seventh receiv- more wins. standout quarterback P.J. “Some people lost faith, but Walker, throwing for 230 and ing touchdown of the season, two scores in the rout com- Adams matched Elgin Hicks we stayed the course and the pared to 259, one score and and beat Andre Davis for most people that stuck with us, we brought them all with us, and in a single season. one interception for Walker. In the aftermath, Adams this is the outcome,” Adams USF scored four touchdowns on four consecutive drives to took a look around the field said. “We’re 6-4 and going end the first half, giving them never thinking he’d be a part of bowling. “That’s what we wanted.” a 31-10 lead that they refused such a monumental moment.
BOWL
●
T H E O R AC L E
FGCU 2, USF 1
USF defender Diana Saenz reacts as Florida Gulf Coast celebrates its first NCAA Tournament victory. ORACLE PHOTO/ROBERTO ROLDAN
Missed chances doom Bulls By Jacob Hoag A S S T .
S P O R T S
E D I T O R
The stage was set for the NCAA Tournament’s opening round on Saturday at Corbett Stadium. The USF women’s soccer team, which entered undefeated at home, was pitted against Florida Gulf Coast, whose road woes were apparent. All signs pointed toward the Bulls in front of a packed crowd laced with green, gold and a dash of blue for the biggest game of each teams’ season. But what began as joy and anticipation soon turned to heartbreak as the Bulls fell 2-1 — their second consecutive opening-round exit at home. “I’ll always remember the journey with these girls,” coach Denise Schilte-Brown said following the game. “Each year and team is unique, and it was an unforgettable season.” USF (15-4-3) broke the stalemate early, scoring off an FGCU (14-5-2) own goal in the second minute. In an attempt to clear the ball following a Cristina Ferral corner kick, an FGCU defender sent the ball into her own net. FGCU quickly responded with two goals — both off penalty kicks ¬— to take a 2-1 lead in the first half. The first, from FGCU’s Shea Rhoney, came after a tackle
See more online
To read how USF men’s soccer did in its AAC semifinal Friday, go to USFOracle.com.
from USF senior defender Alexis Rossi inside the box. The second came in the 36th minute off the foot of FGCU midfielder Paulina Speckmaier. “I don’t make excuses, but I do feel the refs ruined a good game today,” Schilte-Brown said. “(Rossi) has been having the same tackles the entire season … for (the ref) to give up two PKs like that was a travesty to the game of soccer.” USF certainly had its fair share of opportunities. Despite outshooting the Eagles 21-11 with a 7-1 corner kick advantage, the Bulls were unable to push across the equalizer. Most of USF’s offensive opportunities came off the foot of senior Olivia Chance who was consistently putting the ball in position to score. With fewer than 20 minutes remaining, Chance placed an accurate corner kick in the box, which gave USF two shots at the net, but the Eagle defenders were able to knock the ball out and maintain their lead. “(Chance) is a really special player,” Schilte-Brown said. “She was just giving it everything she could to win, and of course we’re proud of that.”
M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
●
T H E O R AC L E
5
Opinion
6
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966
Editor in Chief Grace Hoyte oracleeditor@gmail.com Sports Editor Jeff Odom oraclesportseditor@gmail.com Opinion Editor Breanne Williams oracleopinion@gmail.com Multimedia Editor Adam Mathieu Digital Editor Roberto Roldan Copy Editors Safeena Kassoo Paige Butterfield Assistant Editors Jacob Hoag Abby Rinaldi Miki Shine Graphic Artists Ashley Barzaga Luke Blankenship Advertising Sales Lauren Alford Rachel Carpenter Abby Pereira Destiny Moore The Oracle is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and twice weekly, Monday and Thursday, during the summer. The Oracle allocates one free issue to each student. Additional copies are $.50 each and available at the Oracle office (SVC 0002).
BY PHONE Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sports ................ Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Website: Facebook: Twitter:
974-6242 974-5190 974-1888 974-2842 974-2398 974-2620 974-6242
usforacle.com facebook.com/usforacle @USFOracle
CORRECTIONS The Oracle will correct or clarify factual errors. Contact Editor in Chief Grace Hoyte at 974-5190.
●
M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Starbucks cups brew up controversy Tea Piro COLU M N I ST
Evidence of the holiday season is clear in the increase in family gatherings, giving thanks, selflessness and, apparently, the need for festive Starbucks cups. On Nov. 3, Starbucks released its 2015 holiday cup design: a simple red gradient. Ostensibly, this is the most disrespectful gesture anyone could make during the holidays, based on the arguments from a handful of Christians who seem to believe Starbucks is attempting to remove “Christ from Christmas.” In the past, the Starbucks’ red holiday cups featured designs such as snowmen, ice skaters, reindeer and snowflakes, none of which favor Christmas over any other holiday. So why does a plain red cup automatically mean Starbucks’ has it out for Christmas, specifically? According to a Facebook post by public figure and evangelical Christian Joshua Feuerstein, “Starbucks removed Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus.” In an attached video, Feuerstein went on to dare “great Americans and Christians” to give the name “Merry Christmas” when ordering their coffee, thus “tricking” Starbucks employees into writing the holiday greeting on their bare cups. Not only is this demand childish, it’s also the antithesis of spreading holiday cheer. When did “tricking” others and arguing over cups come to replace a holiday full of mirth, helping others and expressing generosity? Granted, people find joy during the holidays in different ways, and for some, that may be Starbucks. Enjoying a tall Peppermint Mocha from a cup
garnished with designs of mistletoe and sleigh bells could mean everything to someone. For those who celebrate the holidays as inherently religious, any notion of increased holiday spirit may provide them with another reminder of why they rejoice and give thanks. However, if a cup without a snowman causes someone to feel the holidays are lost forever, his or her priorities should be reevaluated. As a Catholic who celebrates Christmas as a religious holiday, I am not personally offended by the lack of snowflakes on my Starbucks cup and have honestly never previously dwelled on the holiday cups other than to briefly notice some charming design or another. This year’s cup is classy and sophisticated, which is, of course, everything a cup should be. Starbucks understands it has customers who don’t associate religion with the holiday season and simply want a cup of coffee in the winter. The unadorned red cup remains neutral. “This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories,” Starbucks’ vice president of Design and Content, Jeffrey Fields said. “We’re embracing the simplicity and the quietness of it. It’s (a) more open way to usher in the holiday.” With all the social issues plaguing the world today, it really isn’t necessary to argue over a cup that will disappear in a few months. Instead of counting on Starbucks to make or break the holiday season, embracing the true meaning of the holidays by spreading cheer would be a huge, merry favor. Tea Piro is a majoring in communications.
freshman mass
●
T H E O R AC L E
What you said USF’s win against Temple on Saturday made the Bulls bowl eligible for the first time since 2010. Opinion Editor Breanne Williams asked students if this win impacted their school spirit.
“I have always had a lot of pride in the Bulls, so the win didn’t really change that.” - Rebecca Carney, a senior majoring in business management
“Yeah, it did. We can say we’ve won against a major team like Temple. It’s something to be proud of.” - Hanan Beck, a senior majoring in biomedical sciences
“It did. We’re probably getting a party bus for the next game.” - Mario Leon, a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering
“It made you feel proud to be part of USF and see students caring about the team.” - Celeste Romero, a junior majoring in health sciences
Classifieds UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
To place a classified ad go to
●
M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds
HELP WANTED Gymnastics & Swim Instructors & Gymnastics Boys Team Coach Must love kids and be enthusiastic! Contact: 813.264-5000 or tpalafleurs@aol.com
BASKETBALL
Continued from PAGE 3
conference opponents that played in postseason tournaments last season, including Albany, UAB and Kentucky — the winningest program in college basketball history. Ignore the fact that USF played with a depleted lineup, as center Ruben Guerrero, forward Luis Santos and shooting guard Troy Holston Jr. were sidelined with injuries. The bottom line is this team that was projected to finish dead last in the Sun Belt Conference beat USF — in front of 4,859 spectators at the Sun Dome. Early on, the Bulls looked primed to win, taking a 14-point advantage with about two minutes remaining. By the end of the first half, forward Angel Nunez, a Gonzaga transfer, was nearly perfect with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting,
Jahmal McMurray had already reached double digits in his freshman debut, and forward Chris Perry was closing in on his sixthcareer double-double. Perry got his double-double with 17 boards and 13 points, McMurray led the team in scoring with 27, and Nunez finished with 18 points, nine boards and a game-high four blocks. But somewhere along the way, Troy took advantage of USF’s scoring drought that lasted nearly six minutes between the two halves and built enough momentum to hand the Bulls their first loss in an opener since UCF beat them in 2012. Coach Orlando Antigua gave the Trojans credit. They capitalized on USF’s errors, scoring 21 second-chance points and 30 points off the Bulls’ 17 turnovers. “We didn’t look like a very well-coached team out there, and that falls on me and the staff,” Antigua said. “They were more physical than we were.
Crossword
“We got to get a lot tougher, and quickly.” Maybe things will be brighter when USF hosts NJIT tonight at 7.
Women: Bulls start strong Senior shooting guard Courtney Williams scored a game-high 26 points, teammate Alisia Jenkins added 16 and the No. 19 USF women’s basketball team rolled past Drexel 73-58 at the Sun Dome on Sunday. The Bulls (2-0) never trailed and never let the Dragons within three points of the lead after a 20-20 tie in the second quarter. USF took the season-opener, 74-52, against Jacksonville on Friday. Williams led the charge with 34 points and a career-best 18 rebounds. Freshman forward Kitija Laksa added 15 points in her USF debut. — Additional reporting by Chuck Muller
●
T H E O R AC L E
7
Sports
8
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
●
M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
●
T H E O R AC L E
USF coach Willie Taggart called Saturday’s win over 21st-ranked Temple the best the team has had in his three years at the helm. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
‘It’s only the beginning’ n Turnaround
W
illie Taggart slowly trudged into the media center at Raymond James Stadium with his head tilted toward the floor. The room fell to a hush as the man bedecked in a white polo shirt, khaki pants and sweatsoaked visor stepped to a podium in front of a cucumber-green backdrop. His eyes reddened, his voice at a baritone, USF’s first-year football
complete, coach Willie Taggart’s patience paid off.
coach apologized on this muggy August evening. The Bulls had just been handed a humbling 53-21 loss against Division I-AA McNeese State. It was Taggart’s “biggest nightmare” — a “piss-poor effort,” as he called it, in every facet of the game. Players quit on their coaches. Most fans threw up their hands and went home at halftime. But there, before the flash bulbs of cameras, the young coach who had been dubbed a home-run
Jeff Odom CO M M E NTA R Y
hire by many just months earlier, insisted he wasn’t dejected.
“I know exactly where this team is now,” Taggart said. “We’re nowhere near where we need to be. Our team is mentally fragile right now. We’ve got to get ourselves right. … We’ve got to get there, and we will get there. “We’ll get there with the right guys.” Two years and 75 days later, Taggart returned to the same spot in the same room in front of many of the same faces to whom he had pledged. Only this time, an
ear-to-ear grin enveloped his face. “Wow,” he said. “That’s big time.” On Saturday night, USF didn’t just beat No. 21 Temple 44-23. The Bulls stomped, smacked and hit the Owls some more to clinch bowl eligibility for the first time in five years. The same stands that showered boos and loudly voiced their displeasure just weeks earlier when USF sat at a seemingly-hopeless
n See TAGGART on PAGE 3