clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

USF Football Tuesday Press Conference Tweetcap: War On I-4 Edition

This is the biggest game in program history. Don’t @ me.

By Nathan Bond
Central Florida v South Florida Photo by Jason Behnken / Getty Images

Ahead of the biggest game in program history, USF head coach Charlie Strong and senior center Cam Ruff addressed the media Tuesday afternoon at the Selmon Center.

For the first time in series history both teams are actually good, and not “C-USA championship but get blown out 64-12” good. This is the first USF game with both teams ranked since 2009, and just the fifth one overall.

For The People Not In Orlando:

Center Cam Ruff on the game:

Say, like complaining about one team getting an extra day of rest or the #DISRESPEKT of the Bulls scoring another touchdown late in the game last year? Is that what you mean Cam?

Strong on the keys to the game:

The Golden Knights rank second in offensive S&P+ and first in points per game at just over 48 per contest. C. is clearly the best team USF has faced, and vice versa. Remember C. got Memphis early in the season, when the Tigers defense was battling injuries and arrests, before finally clicking later in the year.

Sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton is completing nearly 70% of his pass attempts this year and has thrown 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Their defense is led by reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Year Shaquem Griffin, who has continued his stellar play in 2017 with 47 tackles, 7.5 TFL, three sacks and leads the team with six quarterback hits.

Speaking of Griffin...

D’OH

Did the first tweet make it seem like Strong called Griffin handicapped? Yes. Does the full quote make it a little better? Yes. Should you use the word handicapped about Griffin? Absolutely not.

This kid has gone through so much in his life and accomplished much more to be reduced to being “handicapped.” He responded to Ryan Bass’s tweet with “It’s not a handicap.” So let’s not make a fuss over it. Griffin has done more on the field with one hand than any of us could ever do with six hands.

Don’t use the word. Period.

Injury Update:

Nichols was hurt late in the Tulsa game, but was seen jogging around postgame and practiced today. He’s good to go.

These two are much more up in the air. Ferguson has missed the last two games while Sands missed Thursday night. They play such an important role on a much-maligned special teams unit that an extended absence will be felt at the worst possible time.