The football team hosts Memphis for its 6th annual Homecoming football game Nov. 9 at Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls are 4-1 in Homecoming games, outscoring their opponents 195-83. In every victory, the Bulls scored at least 30 points, highlighted by its 69-3 of Cumberland in 1998.

Last year, the Bulls pummeled Houston 45-6 behind the play of quarterback Marquel Blackwell, and tailbacks Clenton Crossley and Vince Brewer. Blackwell established USF’s single-season passing mark in the game, ending with 2,476 yards through nine games, surpassing Chad Barnhardt’s record of 2,362 set in 1997. Blackwell passed for 284 yards with 24 completions out of 37 attempts, while Crossley and Brewer each scored two touchdowns. USF scored on five of its seven first-half possessions.

Memphis comes into the match with a 2-6 record (1-4 Conference USA). They are led by seniors Dante Brown, Travis Anglin, junior Antoine Harden and sophomore Danny Wimprine. Brown, a running back, has rushed for 378 and three touchdowns for the year. Anglin has caught 33 receptions for 413 yards and four touchdowns while his counterpart, Harden, has hauled in 25 receptions for 485 yards and five touchdowns. Wimprine has completed 145 passes out of 267 attempts with 16 touchdowns, averaging 233 yards. On the defensive side, junior Coot Terry and freshman O.C. Collins has paced the Tigers. Coot leads the team with 60 tackles, including 40 solo, while Collins is not too far behind, racking up 59 tackles, also with 40 solo. The Tigers have had a tough year, getting outscored 233 to 196, while losing to nationally-ranked Mississippi and Mississippi State.

The Bulls are prepping for their initiation into the 2003 Conference USA season by playing their third consecutive C-USA opponent. USF rolls in with a 5-2 record. Blackwell has passed for 1,621 yards and 11 touchdowns averaging 231.6 yards a game. Senior Hugh Smith leads the squad with 40 receptions for 392 yards. Smith also leads the team with a 56.0 average per game and has also hauled in one touchdown. Senior linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who was on the Butkus award watch list earlier this year, leads the team with 77 tackles, including 48 solo tackles and 16 tackles for a loss. Sophomore Santiago Gramatica leads the team with 51 points, converting 10 out of 13 field goals with a long of 41. Game time is at 7 p.m.

Contact Thomas Carrigan at oraclethomas@yahoo.com