Bulls Brothers - Ep. 1

[Music] all right hey what's up everyone uh we're Bulls Brothers I'm AJ I'm Matthew yeah and we're uh we're here to talk to you about bulls Nation huh some Bulls Athletics oh Bulls um both of us are USF alumni uh we've been lifelong USF Bulls fans and uh you know we're here to uh spread a little bit of word about how things are going yeah um all right all right so how you doing Matt I am doing great how are you man I'm doing all right I'm excited right now uh you know we got big things on the horizon as far as uh as far as I can tell yes no I definitely agree with you I think this is a a huge upcoming year for the USF football program but just the Athletics program and and in total you know I think uh we've got a lot of big things coming down the pipe so absolutely you know and as a bulls fan I'm glad to see it uh we've had quite a few few years uh in the uh the pits and valleys of the NCAA but now uh you know we're starting to see some sunshine we're starting to climb the mountain here yeah and you want to say pits two or three more times because I mean I feel like we've been in the pits for a while that's right yeah but yeah man a lot of exciting stuff coming up for the Bulls um you know this upcoming year um speaking you know of some things that have happened over the past couple years that I think are really exciting as well just in terms of you know athletic facility upgrades um I think the athletic program has done an amazing job at you know putting the Athletics kind of at the Forefront of the school I think over the past couple years um just I agree yeah and that is in large part due to uh athletic director Mike Mike Kelly Mike Kelly oh Mike guy Kelly yeah uh but yeah no I mean true enough though I mean he's he has been a you know just detrimental part of of the growth and success of the Athletics programs over the past couple years uh you know putting together a lot of cool things like I said you know going back to I said earlier these facility upgrades we've got the you know the new Porter family uh indoor performance facility awesome you know 88 or 990,000 square foot indoor uh practice facility that I think is going to do a ton of stuff for us in terms of you know attracting recruits and just making them you know you know realize that we have this you know amazing space that's going to help them you know kind of grow um and recover you know if that's the unfortunate case as an athlete here at USF you know we've got everything here for them to be successful we do we do so we're just gonna roll right into talking about uh you know USL football the upcoming year um you know I think the team looks good this year um you know what are your thoughts Matthew what do you think about uh yeah no I think uh no I think there's a lot of good things about this team uh for this upcoming season I think think uh you know we're we're bringing back a lot of experience um from last season notably U obviously you can't hide from this at the quarterback position I think we're bringing back someone who who is going to be special um not only for the program but I think for college football as a whole um but not only that and you know the receiver positions we got you know number 38 Sean Atkins coming back who was um you know a record-breaking receiver for USF last year um so you know on top of that I think a lot of defensive developments yeah and let's talk about that last year was a good year it was a turnaround year for the program you know we've uh kind of been in the dumps uh in the years the Dark Ages and the years before that but uh you know it was nice to see uh See us turn some things around how do you feel about that yeah I think uh you know I can speak on behalf of you know thousands of bulls fans said well what a relief it was to you know get that you know wagon off and maybe win a few games you know especially that uh you know that bowl uh shut out against Syracuse I think was just an absolute confidence booster nice little feather in the cap there huh yeah um but yeah I mean I think just you know last season just kind of showing that hey you know we're still here and you know we can win some football games we've got this recruiting round uh that that we can we can play with a little bit here and U yeah we can hang with these guys we have a history of playing playing good football good nationally competitive football and uh you know I don't want to get too far ahead but it looks like we're heading in a good direction right now you know uh I'm I'm the last to uh you know put all my hopes and you know we're going to be uh you know Conference champions and you know we're going to make the the 12 team playoff this year because you know I've quite honestly been hurt before uh by my expectations and so you know I'm uh hesitantly excited uh about this upcoming season yeah and and you know go back what you said about expectations I think one of the you know biggest downfalls over the past four or five years is that you know USF uh they haven't really you know tempered expectations and so every time we have this glimmer of hope you know our fans take it and run with it and I think it just leads to more heartbreak uh so you know I I just think you know the biggest thing going into this year is hey you know we' we did a little bit last year we we won a few games we won a few good games we lost a few bad games um but you know can we take those wins and and build on them and push them into this season and build on that last season I think you know that's as an athletic department as a whole we've been in really great places before uh you know number two in the nation even at one point um but you know do we build on those small successes and I you I think that's where this year is going to be very Paramount for this this the school and this athletic department is can we build on that success that we had last year if you you know want to even call it success you know I think absolutely agree yeah and you know I think let's call it what it is positive momentum right it is much better than two years ago uh and it is success by us by our standards what we were looking for out of a first year coach in uh you know GES um and you know GES is doing and saying the right things right now uh you know he's building off that momentum uh he's keeping his boys focused and he quite honestly is learning from the mistakes last year you know we did have some positives last year uh but we still had a lot of holes in our game and he's he's learning from that you know and I think uh to that effect uh you know I'm excited to see how those issues uh have been I guess rectified yeah um you know we got uh obviously a soft spot for us last year was uh in the defensive secondary um but you know we we do have uh some help there this year and uh that group says they're feeling strong so uh you know we'll see they're they may not be so uh heavily tested the first week against bethon cookman but uh you know it won't be long until they're they're having cannons fired over their shoulder so we'll see we'll see how they uh react to that yeah no definitely I think uh I think Todd Orlando is gonna he's going to put together you know I think he's going to put together a pretty solid defense this year I know he uh they recruited heavy I know one of our biggest downfalls last year was that defensive line I think you know um from what I've seen U you know they've done the to the best of their ability at least to kind of fill that Gap a little bit and just kind of give us an opportunity to um it wasn't even run stop I don't think that we were so bad at last year it was just getting to the passer you know can we disrupt that passer I think that's the the biggest thing um that we can do as a def defense this year is you know get in that quarterback's face you know make him scramble around make him make decisions on the Fly you know if you give him five seconds in the pocket you know any any High School quarterback over here in Hillsboro County can sit in the pocket for 10 seconds and get a pass off so that's right yeah can we can we get in that in that passer face this year um you know that's still to be determined but I think you know from what I've seen uh Todd Orlando has done his you know to his best ability to kind of fill that Gap a little bit for us this year yeah absolutely and and you know quite honestly we we were very inconsistent because last year we had some glimmers of of that you know in the Alabama game we pressured them a lot I think we had three sacks in that game uh and so you know they always had that ability they just weren't putting it together um you know game in and game out uh yeah so uh we'll see how that goes um and so speaking of Alabama you know that's obviously a looming threat uh you know to what two weeks out from now um how do you feel about us going up there and uh and playing in the big house see the million-dollar question Bryant Denny Stadium if I'm if I'm not mistaken they're going to be naming the stadium after uh or the field right Nick sa field they are gonna be naming it Nick Sav field so wouldn't that be just just a sweet little bit of Glory right there just to kind of r that day um yeah but you know go goad I was going to say we've taken down Giants before and you know that would be the biggest giant of all so that would be you know quite nice yeah we've we've definitely had some some good road games at these you know these Giants quote unquote I mean we took down uh West Virginia Auburn Florida State and you know in do Campbell or yeah do Campbell um Notre Dame uh you know up in South Bend you know so we've we've you risen to the occasion in uh you know foreign lands quite a few times yeah so yeah I mean going into that game I I think it's going to be um you know it's going to be an awesome you know kind of measuring stick kind of um and I and I know that's honestly how we kind of viewed that game last year going into it as well it's just hey you know what kind of progress have we made you know this is the cream of the crop this is the top tier I mean Alabama went and played the national championship last year that's right what can we do uh against a team like that you know can we hang with those guys I know last year in Raymond James we had almost a mon soon um and that that might have affected them a little bit I know Jaylen milro wasn't wasn't playing in that game and and that definitely um you know that definitely kind of tampered their offense down a little bit but um yeah going into this year's game I think um you know let's let's go at them you know let's punch them in the mouth let's see what we can do again you know and and let's go into their their environment and kind of just disrupt that environment a little bit that's right yeah and quite honestly you know the the way GES is talking uh he and the boys are they have you know they're 100% going in there to win you know this is not a uh you know let's go try to save some face game they're gonna go punch him in the mouth and they're gon to go out there and try to win this game uh you know GES was you know not satisfied last year uh you know with uh you know our loss to them you know although maybe to be expected but uh you know he's got a winning attitude which is uh you know really spreading throughout the team and quite honestly uh you know the school uh as a whole um you know we've got a lot of good positive energy there and uh you know that that second game against Alabama will be a test you know um I do think you know whatever the outcome is uh you know we will still have that good energy uh you know moving forward from there oh yeah 100% I mean similar to we you know like the way we did last year I mean we had we had that good energy and momentum rolling after that game we kind of felt like hey we belong here a little bit and uh you know and I you know back to what you said about goes kind of saying the right things you know after that game last year um and you know and I'm going to absolutely botch this quote but you know to to you know uh you know say it in a few words is basically he said you know celebrating a close loss is for losers you know we aren't losers you know we should have won that game and we shouldn't you know dwell in the fact that oh we almost you know almost kind of gave them trouble there you know we lost that game and that's right yeah I love that mindset coming from goash hey you know awesome we played Alabama we played them tight doesn't matter we lost and if we want to sit there and if you know if I as a coach want to sit there and say hey but we almost beat him you know that's a sure way to get fired as a coach almost beating them isn't beating him and you know so going into this year it's going to be it's going to be an intense game it's going to be an intense environment I think for our players to play in that you know SEC environment I know we um since GES has been there we haven't really had to go on the road and play a team like that um you know we've played Florida a couple times and then you know way back in the day we played you know those West virginas and those Auburn and Florida States but um you know going into that this game I think um you know we obviously want to come out with the win uh but let's let's go into it and and just you know play play our game and and you know just get to the basics get to the fundamentals and and just play a good solid football game with those guys and I think you know that should be our goal going into this of course we want to crash the party but you know I would much rather go in there and really see what kind of our guys are about versus Alabama then go in there and you know with you know big heads and try to crash the party like you know I yeah that's right well yeah and so that's another thing GES was saying you know uh he doesn't want the ups and downs that's what our team was last year we had ups and downs you know so we go in doing our job doing what we practice doing you know exactly what we have in our game plan and uh you know come out the other side doing the same thing you know even kill we want to keep you know kind of an even head uh you know we're not trying to uh you know go rip the house down we're trying to go play USF Bull football and uh you know hopefully that football is is good enough to uh have us on top on the scoreboard you know at the end of the day um but so let's actually go back you know we we jumped ahead to Alabama already but let's talk about between cookman a little bit you know that's our our season opener at home um I believe we're 40o favorites um you know what do you think about that no I mean I think uh you know I think I think we've earned that right to be the 40-point favorite in this game uh you know I mean beating Syracuse 45 to nothing to end the season last year I think you know that's kind of shown the analyst that hey you know these guys you know they've had a rough couple of years but you know you can't just you know ride them off and and discount what they just did so um you know going into that game I think we've earned that right with this you know explosive offense we have I mean we're gonna I think we're gonna be able to throw the ball um and run the ball against bethon cookman um but that's not to take away from from bethon cookman at all they've done um from what I understand an amazing job recruiting coming into this game and I think they're going to be a step up from what they've even been over the last couple years um but you know just just kind of on paper um in in Raymond James you know I I don't doubt that we're going to go and we're going to we're going to we're going to move the ball um and I think you know more importantly than scoring touchdowns against Bon cookman you know can we can we seal it up can we Goose eggum yeah let you know let's see how our defense can hold up we show we showed everyone we could score touchdowns last year that's right yeah we also showed everyone that we could give up a lot of touchdowns last year and so I think going into that game I think you know that Locker Room's got to roll out saying you know we're not going to let them have anything not a field goal not a first down nothing you know we have to step on the gas pedal on defense at least that's right yeah and hold them you know four three and outs three and outs that's what we're looking for uh you know or interceptions you know fumbles uh you know sacks we want to look for good stats we want this defense to you know show out against what should be an inferior opponent um yeah absolutely and that'll kind of be a good uh little tuneup game you know at least we're hoping that' be a tuneup game for Alabama coming up and then you know we have uh what Southern Miss next you know hopefully that'll be another little tuneup game and then our next opponent at home is gonna be Miami Miami so that's another uh you know top dog ranked what 19 right now um so you know we've got a couple of ranked games in the first four and so we really should you know know what we're working with uh you know by game for um definely and you know I think Miami quite honestly is a really good opportunity for us uh you know they are a nationally ranked team they uh a lot of people are talking about them winning the ACC um but you know I uh I think we're gonna uh you know give them a little bit of trouble you know this they have to first come into Raymond James and you know Raymond James isn't always uh you know a powerhouse it's not always a uh you know scary place to go into but uh in Miami's case uh they've lost here before uh they're an instate rivalry and I think Bulls nation's going to show out I think we're going to have a packed house in there um you know at least we planning on being out there uh you know in tailgating before uh but yeah you know I think it's going to be a little bit of a uh you know um an enemy territory for them and uh I think the crowd can have a big influence on that game you know and that's another team we want to come out and you know punch them in the mouth you know we're not afraid to run with the big dogs here and uh you know I think that that could really uh be a season highlight you know if we can come out and uh you know handle Miami well yeah no I think yeah a season highlight to say the least I think um you know I you know I've watched a lot of information about this upcoming Miami game I've seen a lot of people on the Miami sign kind of side of things kind of just you know immediately casting us off oh you know that's a win on the schedule um you know I think you know almost love to be in this position where they're they're not really kind of paying attention to us you know and that's and that's fair exactly right element of surprise you know that's how we've won a lot of those big games before and you know this might be another yeah no and I think it's I think it's a fair uh you know from their side of things I think it's you know it's it's fair for them to look at it like that but you know for us it's almost like oh you know this is this is almost perfect you know they're going to come in you know they're going to be on the fourth game of the season you know um they're going to play Florida get tested early um you know and if they come out on top or if they come out a bottom you know you know will they have a chip on their shoulder are they going to roll into Raymond James thinking hey you know it's just another lay down team um I think we're in a great position to kind of Shock the World during that game um you know and I know the Alabama game is a similar situation but um you know I think you know this one at home in our environment you saw what we did last year when Alabama came into Ray and James you know I think we have that like that comfort in our home just like every other home team does and I think think this one specifically you know it seems almost realistic I mean it seems like this this could be a really good game Miami so and should be a really good game you know I'm I'm expecting nothing less you know again like you said you know we're GNA be able to score on them uh you know and we're going to have to see what kind of Defense we have by then uh you know and that's four games in so that our defense should be well defined by then you know we we will have you know three G experience and will have been battle tested that's right you know uh facing Alabama so uh you know we should be you know well seasoned uh you know uh by that time and so it should be a really really good game yeah yeah I'm really excited for it um but yeah I mean there's there's um you know this year it's it's almost like we can talk about every game like hey you know this could be that's right you know a tie turning game for the program I think you know every game we have to look at every game as as a must- win this year you know no matter who we're playing where we're playing at we have to win every game you know we have a chance at winning at least you know that's right that's right and I think we're we're going to be in every game you know uh and you know I I don't know what our record is going to be at the end I'd like to improve upon our last year's record you know at least get another Bowl but uh you know we have a shot in every game that we're in um you know and I would say the same for last year but last year you know some of those games ended up being uh you know pretty ugly you know pretty big blowouts um you know against teams that quite honestly we weren't we weren't really expecting you know UTSA uh you know we're we're talking about teams that we were going in there you know looking at them like Miami is looking at us like oh there shouldn't be too much of a problem there you know and so uh you we need to clean those kind of games up because that by any you know chance we were you know in the position to go into these games like that which is that's right yeah but uh yeah know I agree with you I mean it seemed like uh two games that jump out at me right away uh last year were UAB and FAU I mean those are two teams that you know a just came into the conference you know we in Conference USA um prior to that come into the AAC um and you know weren't you know notably great teams uh there shouldn't have uh shouldn't have been uh a struggle like they were and when I say struggle I shouldn't even say struggle I mean they beat us they beat the crap out of us both of those teams yeah that's right yeah so that kind of goes to where you know I I think and you know back to what I said earlier and what we talked about you know goes is you know preaching to these guys hey we're a process driven team you know do your process good things will come and if you talk if you look listen to any of the press conferences you know all the players almost regurgitate that same sentiment that's right yeah process driven you know we get that's because they're buying in you know that's what you want you know you want a bunch of parrots to be you know on the same uh you know mind mind thought you know as their coach and that's I think what we have this year which is a good sign and and so what I think and what I'm hoping for and what I need to see and I think what we all need to see and what the program and it has to happen is out of that you know we saw bits and pieces of that process driven you know kind of spurred out last year and we had some success and I think there was some guys that had I did buy in um next year or this coming year that process driven team needs to translate into consistency that's right you know because we can go and and and have a tight game with Alabama but none of that matters if we go get beat by 40 points by FAU next week that's right so um you know just leading into this next year is you know can we just show you know our fans can we show our program can we show our school that hey we're we can also consistently do this you know uh we can we can win you know four five six you know who knows 10 games you know in a row you know we can go out there and do the same thing game in and game out and that's going to translate into success you know that's right so that's that's what I'm really I mean that is my my biggest thing going into this next season is you know hey great you know we had a first great first game against spun and you know we had so you know and and and don't get me wrong these first few games especially with that Miami and Alabama it's going to be you know ups and downs and you know we could come out of this you know I I'm not going to say four and0 but you know who knows you get four and0 or 0 and four you know realistically based off of what we saw last season yeah and and so you know those games it's going to be ups and downs it's gonna be Rocky but you know after that Miami game we get into this conference schedule we have to be consistent in that conference schedule I mean we have to conference this year I mean that's that's our ticket is to win this this conference that is our ticket well and so where is that our ticket too you know the question is so it likely is if we win the conference uh and at least give a good game against both Alabama and Miami uh we might be that number 12 spot in the 12 team playoff but that leaves us open to uh basically being uh just the first stop on the coaching carousel you know that leads um GES here looking mighty good taking a team that was you know three and 27 over the last three years and uh you know taking them to the college football playoff in two years you know that's that's uh you know very desirable uh turnaround time and there's a lot of big programs who you know likely will have some openings next season you know so that's something that has to worry us as bull fans right you know uh we've seen it before uh you know with tager you know he had some some success here and you know he you know ran across the country and you know ended up coming back and beat us last year with FAU but uh you know so we kind of have to temper our expectations for that as well you know I I I am very excited for where we could go um but the reality is where we go might you know not turn out to be the way we want it um yeah no I totally agree with you on that one and I think that's that's honestly uh on a lot of bulls fans Minds right now I think that's a very scary topic especially in this kind of new age of college football you know you know not only our players kind of jumping around but this you know coaching Carell um is is going wild in college football these days and um you know we're we're at the uh the prime spot in that Carousel for for those big-time programs to kind of pull pull these coaches out of um yeah we're a great stepping stone uh you know which is what we're trying to not become you know we want to move past that and we want to be a great destination you know and you know going back to earlier we were talking about GES saying the right things he's also currently saying the right things about this uh you know that we are a team you know that there should be winning expectations here uh that this is a team that can uh compete in a national stage and that and he's building a solid program and uh you know a feeling um you know and I like to hear all that that's what what you want to hear but the reality is you know we can't pay him as much as a lot of other schools and if someone comes in and offers them you know twice as much you know you know he you can't say no um and that that's an unfortunate reality um but you know I I think that's that's a problem for year right uh you know let's try to get through this season you know let's try to see how well we do and see where where're we're at at the end of the season you know that's this is these are all hypotheticals that we're talking about now um you know where we're at right now is we got a solid team we got a good coach and we got momentum y um and that can be a a dangerous combination uh yeah yeah yeah no 100% I think uh you know I think we got him right now on a 11 11.5 million six-year deal um and you know just you know that sounds like a lot of money to the average guy but you know to a a prime time college football coach that's that's not cutting it um yeah so I think you know there's going to be a lot of interesting things that happen um especially during this season I think if we can um you know have that success that we're talking about uh I I do hope and I do truly think and I from what the athletic director has kind of you know put in front of us is that these contract negotiations are going to be uh you know vital this upcoming year I think and and I I really do hope that we do what we can to kind of to kind of step in front of those you know those powerhouses power for uh you know Conference teams that are going to try to come and and and grab them out of our conference um you know hopefully you know our program with all this investing you know in the stadium and and the facilities um they also uh you know do do that with coach as well um you know I know they did that with the basketball coach um you know this past season uh they they extended the contract gave them some more money um just to do anything they can to kind of to hold on you know to this success that we have and you know that's been our problem I know earlier you mentioned you know tagert um you know tagert leaving the program you know kind of kind of at you know one of its peaks in in in our history you know leaving the program so um you know now there there is a difference in in now and then you know we didn't have the support of the athletic program uh that we do now um you know when tager was here uh you know we we were doing well you know uh we had Quinton flowers you know we had a really good team uh but the athletic department wasn't as well supported as they are now you know we're investing a lot of money uh in our Athletics now um which is great and you know quite honestly hopefully that means you know we will uh prioritize keeping glush around and you know pay him uh you know and if if the success continues you know we have to do what we can to you know fight to keep keep him around um which will that'll be interesting to see yeah it will be and you know that's that's just you know all things that I think you know they're coming down the road um you know but I think you know most importantly um you know what we can do as fans and and and you know as alumni is just just you know let's live in the moment and kind of enjoy where we're at um and and you know think these things will come down the road and you know let's just let's just kind of enjoy the moment for just a second take a deep breath and just you know hey you know it's been a really rough past few years and the prospects are looking good let's just take a breath and just and just kind of be happy with where we're at yeah I agree I agree yeah but uh other than that I think going to conclude our episode today all right you know please do follow us like subscribe uh we're going to be posting these podcasts hopefully weekly um especially you know after game days uh YouTube uh Spotify and apple podcast um so please do feel free give us a like um do comment we want to talk to you guys we want to hear what your guys's thoughts are um but you know other than that um yeah you know and let us know what you want to talk about you know if if you guys have some some burning issues you want to talk about you know that's what we do we talk to each other Bulls football all the time that's why we wanted to bring it here and you know see if anyone else wanted to join the conversation with us you know um we got a lot to say and uh you know we we have opinions and we'd love to hear yours too yeah so we're trying to almost make these these hour two hour long conversations on the phone you know just make them public let's let's hear what everyone else has to say let's you know we we want to we want to get um you know Bull's nation and kind of involved in the media and um you know that's that's kind of our reason our why you know for being here um you know other than that you know appreciate you guys appreciate you guys if you made it this far in the video um and other than that man go bulls and yeah let's win some football games this year that's right go Bulls baby [Music]