Barnett led a comeback against Georgia Tech./JEFFREY S. KING
Wednesday, 2 a.m.
5 Observations
1. All of USF's problems on defense Saturday weren't because of Georgia Tech's offense. There were plays that made it look like USF had never seen a simple pitch before. The Bulls are fast, and they can score. But will every game go to the final reel?
2. It's hard to blame FSU fans for being a little nervous after a lopsided loss to Virginia Tech and a close call against Samford. Some have suggested the love affair with Willie Taggart is over. But give the guy a chance. Remember, he lost his first game at USF to outmanned McNeese State, and was in a bowl game two seasons later. Still, it isn't easy to see the Noles struggle.
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3. A lot of good coaches, and a lot of bad ones, have come to the University of Florida. But all of them have beaten Kentucky. Dan Mullen didn't, which makes it kind of hard to blame the game on Jim McElwain. Gators will struggle until Mullen gets his quarterback on campus.
4. This isn't just to pick on Miami, because every school schedules layups. But what in the world do the Hurricanes get out of clobbering Savannah State? It doesn't make you better, and your starters don't play long. This time, Miami beat Savannah State 77-0. Five years ago, it was 77-7. So I guess the defense is a touchdown better.
5. UCF will have problems winning yet another national championship this weekend. Their game against North Carolina has been postponed. Last year, their game against Georgia Tech was canceled, which may or may not have contributed to their stellar season.Of course, the Tar Heels are 0-2, so it wouldn't have mattered much.
Mullen's team must try to bounce back./CARMEN MANDATO
Rating the State
1. UCF
2. USF
3. Miami
4. FIU
5. FAU
6. Florida
7. FSU
National Thoughts
1. Didn't USC used be, like, a big deal?
2. Didn't Chip Kelly used to be a fine coach?
3. Wasn't Scott Frost supposed to reinvent Nebraska?
4. If you think that USF could have a pretty good season, consider this: Temple, UConn and SMU are all 0-2.
5. Kansas finally won on the road after 46 straight losses. They hadn't had a nice ride home since 2009. So thank you, Central Michigan.
Deondre Francois has to be sharper./ANDREW J. KRAMER
Ranking the State's Quarterbacks
12. Chris Robinson, FAU 314.0
20. McKenzie Mack, UCF. 294.5
19. Deondre Francois, FSU. 276.5
41. Blake Barnett, USF 253.5
55. Feleipe Franks, Florida. 225.5
68. Malik Rosier, Miami 195.0
92. James Morgan, FIU 170.5
Strong could be facing a good season./CARMEN MANDATO
They Said It
"Everybody's not going to be happy when you just don't play the way everyone wants you to play, and that's just part of it. That's why this game is so great, you have so many critics."
-- Willie Taggart, FSU
"Change takes time. Change is uncomfortable for people. I think our attitude has been fantastic. I thought the attitude of the guys after the game was actually impressive. I think they didn't know what to think. In talking to them and explaining to them after the game, we'll see. I put it pretty clearly for them; what's necessary for us to progress as a program; the reality check that they have to go through. I thought after the game they kind of understood that. I think they're trying to still figure a lot of things out. We have a lot of young players, young players have to figure a lot of things out. A lot of them have never been in these situations."
-- Dan Mullen, Florida
“I told the defense, hold them to a field goal and get the ball back for our offense because we were gonna go score. I told the defensive coaches ‘I don’t care if these guys gain 1,000 yards, just win the game.’”
-- Charlie Strong, USF
“The bottom line is we’re going to play who we think gives us the best chance of winning, that’s what we’re doing, bottom line. As long as (Malik Rosier) is that, he’ll start. If we think someone else gives us a better chance to win we’ll start that guy.”
-- Mark Richt, Miami
"You're not going to have a perfect season. You play that position and you've got the ball in your hands all the time. The other side of the ball is going to make some plays and we don't want it to happen but at the end of the day, it's going to happen. How you respond to the next play, how you respond to the next game is what dictates what you are as a quarterback. (McKenzie Milton) is going to come out and let it rip."
-- Josh Heupel, UCF
State's Top 5 Rushers.
60. Cam Akers, FSU 79.0
100. Adrian Killens UCF 63.5
102. Devin Singletaryngletary, FAU 63.0
111. Blake Barnett, USF 61.0
146. Greg McCrae, UCF 52.3
McCants forced out of bounds./JEFFREY S. KING
State's 5 Leading Receivers
9. Jovon Durante, FAU 16
9. Tyre McCants, USF 16
13. Gabriel Davis, USF 15
48. Tavaris Harris, FAU 11
48. Nyqwan Murray, FSU 11
48. Dredrick Snelson, UCF. 11
State's 5 Top Defenses
4. Miami. 167.0
53. Florida 339.5
72. UCF 371.5
94. USF 418.0
95. FSU 422.0
State's Top 5 Offenses
5. UCF 609.0
40. USF 470.5
67. FAU 424.5
70. Miami 417.0
78. FIU 408.0
Ranking This Week's Games
1. FSU at Syracuse
2. USF at Illinois
3. Miami at Toledo
4. Colorado State at Florida
5. UMass at FIU
6. Bethune-Cookman at FAU
5 Top National Games
1. Ohio State at TCU
2. LSU at Auburn
3. Boise State at Oklahoma State
4. Alabama at Ole Miss
5. USC at Texas
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