South Florida Bulls Football

Former University of South Florida defensive back Hassan Childs will face aggravated assault and marijuana possession charges after an altercation led to him being shot three times Saturday night. 

Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times and Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reported the news. 

On Monday, coach Charlie Strong confirmed to Knight that Childs had been dismissed from the team.

Laine categorized the altercation as a "road rage incident." Childs has been booked on three charges of aggravated assault and one count of misdemeanor marijuana possession. Strong released a statement Sunday after news of Childs' incident broke. 

"We are deeply concerned that an incident occurred overnight in which one of our players, Hassan Childs, was injured in a shooting," Strong said in the statement. "Thankfully, Hassan is in stable condition and being well cared for, and no one else was injured. There is an ongoing investigation of the incident and we are in the process of gathering further information. Out of respect for the integrity of the investigation, we cannot comment further at this time."

A man identified as Jovanni Jimenez told police he shot Childs in self-defense, per Knight. Jimenez says Childs pulled out a gun and pointed it at him, his wife and his child before Jimenez fired his weapon.

Childs is in stable condition after suffering injuries to his arm and upper torso.

Charlie Strong's tenure as head football coach at the University of Texas was a letdown, leading to his firing after the 2016 season. 

Beyond his own disappointment with posting three straight losing seasons with the Longhorns, Strong told Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports another reason he was unhappy with his performance.

"When you’re the first minority coach at a major university like that, you feel like there’s so many people counting on you," he said. "I got upset at myself for not being successful, and I got upset at myself because you feel like you let a lot of people down. There are only so many African-American coaches, so when you get on a stage like that..."

Strong didn't wait long before getting a new head coaching gig, taking the job at South Florida on Dec. 15 after Willie Taggart took over at Oregon. But his comments about minority head coaches at major universities do highlight another issue. 

In December 2015, Marc Tracy of the New York Times noted there were only 13 minority head coaches (11 black head coaches) from the 128 FBS schools. 

"The percentage of black head coaches in college football (less than 9 percent) is even lower than the NFL’s rate of 16 percent (five of 32)," Tracy wrote. "Among the 65 programs in the so-called Big 5 conferences, seven employ black head coaches."

Strong's teams at Texas never lived up to the lofty expectations fans and the media always have for the program. He went 16-21 over three seasons, losing his only bowl appearance in 2014, and became the first Longhorns head coach since Edwin Price from 1954-56 to have three straight non-winning seasons.

He built up a successful program at Louisville, going 37-15 in four seasons with a Sugar Bowl win in 2012 and a 12-1 record in 2013 that led to him getting the Texas job. 

With a fresh start at South Florida, Strong again has the platform to take an overlooked program that's coming off an 11-win season and make it a national powerhouse.     

The Texas Longhorns fired Charlie Strong in November following three consecutive losing seasons, but the 56-year-old landed on his feet, as the South Florida Bulls hired him as their new head coach on Dec. 11.

Strong expressed his gratitude to the university and his excitement to join its football program, via the press release:

I would like to thank President [Judy] Genshaft and Mark Harlan for their confidence and belief in me. I am humbled that we have a shared commitment to take this university and this football program to even greater heights. Some of the best football talent in the country is right here in the Bay Area and throughout the state of Florida, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with the young men in the USF football program and build on the strong foundation already in place.

Jason Higdon of Scout.com first reported the news, and Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com reported the agreement was for five years.

Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times reported Strong will be paid $9.8 million over that five-year period. Knight added Strong will make $1 million annually over the first two years.

Strong was officially introduced at a press conference Thursday:

Charlie Strong is introduced as the head football coach at #USF. pic.twitter.com/7iSRtD4bi5

— Paul Ryan (@WFLAPaul) December 15, 2016

Strong became a full-time head coach when he was selected to lead the Louisville Cardinals in 2010, and the program's decision to hire him paid immediate dividends.

Louisville went 7-6 during each of its first two years under Strong's leadership, including a win in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl during his first year at the helm. The Cardinals proceeded to make a leap in 2012, when they went 11-2 and defeated Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2013, a 12-1 record sent Strong's stock soaring higher, and he landed in Austin, Texas, the following year.

The Longhorns, however, failed to improve and went 16-21 during his three seasons as head coach.

But despite shortcomings in the win column, Strong proved to be a beloved figure at Texas. That much was clear when players tweeted their support after he was let go:

Strong will be tasked with keeping alive the progress Willie Taggart made before he bolted for the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 7.

Though USF went 6-18 during Taggart's first two years at the helm, it ascended the American Athletic Conference ranks in 2015 and 2016. After South Florida went 8-5 last season, Taggart propelled the Bulls to a program-best 10-2 record and a berth in the Birmingham Bowl this year.

Maintaining that sort of excellence through a coaching transition won't be easy, but Strong's success at Louisville lends credence to the idea that he can consistently compete for conference championships.

So while it will likely take some time for Strong to get acclimated to fresh surroundings as he attempts to re-establish himself, he should be in position to parlay the new opportunity into success.

According to Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde, the University of South Florida announced Monday morning it agreed to a contract extension with head football coach Willie Taggart through 2020.   

The announcement comes hours before the Bulls take on Western Kentucky in the Miami Beach Bowl at 2:30 p.m. ET. Taggart led South Florida to its first winning season since 2010. 

Per ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy, Taggart's full deal, including the extension, comes out to five years and $9 million.

Per FoxSports.com's Bruce Feldman, it was an extension well deserved:

In his first two seasons with the Bulls, Taggart compiled a 6-18 record, and things didn't look much better after the team began this season with three losses in its first four games. Those losses did come to quality opponents like Florida State, who was ranked 11th at the time, and Memphis, a team led by NFL quarterback prospect Paxton Lynch. 

At 1-3, the team was trying to digest plenty of changes, as Feldman pointed out:

He overhauled his staff in the offseason. He also had made a big change on offense going from the pro-style attack that the Jim Harbaugh protégé had to a version of the spread he dubbed the Gulf Coast Offense, where it would go up-tempo and run zone read about 20 percent of the time and now with a dynamic young quarterback in sophomore Quinton Flowers. Taggart also took over as play-caller — something he did back when he was the coach at Western Kentucky.

But Taggart and the Bulls hung tough and reeled off seven wins in their final eight games. They scored 35 points or more in five of them, including a 44-23 win against No. 21 Temple on Nov. 14.

Young quarterback Quinton Flowers rushed for 883 yards to go with over 2,000 through the air as the Bulls developed a potent running attack that saw them average 242.9 yards per game.

Speaking with Feldman, Taggart knew it was just a matter of time before things began to click: "We stuck to what we believe in, and we could see it coming from what we were seeing daily in practice. Our guys are growing up and they see I have a great staff and how close we are, and they’re all in."

If the turnaround in record wasn't vindication enough, the vote of confidence from the school should be as the 39-year-old now has at least five more years to develop South Florida into even more of a threat in the American Athletic Conference. 

With new contract in hand, Taggart now has a chance to deliver South Florida its first bowl victory since the Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2010 and its first nine-win season since 2007 against his former team. 

Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com

Michigan State will look to get its offense rolling as the Spartans host the South Florida Bulls on Saturday in East Lansing. 

The Spartans picked up a win in their opener, but a 26-13 triumph over Western Michigan isn't exactly going to get fans reserving tickets for a BCS bowl game.

Michigan State has to get things rolling before heading into the Big Ten portion of their schedule against a Bulls team just hoping to find some positives. 

In Willie Taggart's first game as South Florida head coach, the Bulls hosted lower-division McNeese State and were humiliated, 53-21. As Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press passed along, Taggart called his debut a "nightmare." He even went as far as to say “there were guys that quit.”

This sets the stage for two teams desperate for improved performances. 

When: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 12 p.m. ET

Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich. 

TV Coverage: ESPNU

Spread: Michigan State -23 (according to Bovada)

Over/Under: 44 (according to Bovada)

South Florida Injuries (via USA Today)

Lawrence Martin, OL, Probable: (Suspension)

Tye Turner, TE, Questionable (Neck)

Julius Forte, DE, Questionable (Knee)

Thor Jozwiak, OL, Doubtful (Heart)

Jalen Spencer, DB, Out (Shoulder)

Michigan State Injuries

Jack Allen, OL, Doubtful (Foot)

James Kittredge, DL, Doubtful (Hernia)

Lawrence Thomas, DL,  Doubtful (Undisclosed)

Skyler Burkland, T, Out for Season (Undisclosed)

A.J. Troup, WR, Out for Season (Knee)

Key Storyline: Will the Spartans Find Offensive Rhythm? 

Michigan State mustered just 297 yards of offense against Western Michigan and scored only one offensive touchdown. 

The running game did alright by gaining 181 rushing yards at 4.3 yards per carry, but the passing game was terrible. 

Andrew Maxwell started under center. He threw 21 passes and tallied just 74 yards. This led to Connor Cook getting time at quarterback, and he wasn't any better. 

The Spartans are staring at a long season if this offense doesn't improve, and it better be vastly improved this game because South Florida's defense was historically terrible in its opener. 

The 53 points that McNeese State hung on the Bulls set a record for points scored by an FBS team against an FCS team.

Prediction

This is not going to be a good offensive season for the Spartans. The passing game is in too much disarray to say otherwise. 

However, that doesn't mean that offense still can't beat up on a sinking Bulls team. 

Michigan State still has a solid ground game, and that will be foundation enough to lead the Spartans to a 31-13 victory. 

Steven Bench has decided he will leave Happy Valley for the palm trees and bright sun of South Florida.

Joe Schad of ESPN reported the news:

Bench informed head coach Bill O'Brien that he no longer wanted to play for Penn State, which is in the middle of a quarterback controversy. O'Brien granted those wishes and allowed the young man to visit schools such as North Carolina State and Mississippi State before Bench decided that South Florida was the place for him. 

The new Bulls quarterback grew up in Georgia, about a half-hour away from Tallahassee. Both of his parents went to Florida State, which helps give him some familiarity with the Florida area.

According to the Schad report, Bench is ready to go and feels confident he can win the starting job.

"I want to get my face in the playbook and get ready to go," Bench said. "Coach [Willie] Taggart is a real confident guy. He will play anybody, anywhere, anytime."

Much like the school he just left, South Florida is searching for answers at quarterback as well, with veteran B.J. Daniels graduating. Bench will certainly provide some competition to the rest of the guys.

The former Penn State quarterback was considered a 2-star recruit by Scout.com. He didn't have many intriguing offers on the table, which played a role in how he ended up at Penn State. Bench didn't see much playing time last season, throwing the ball only seven times for 12 yards while running three times for 18 yards.

He is capable of making plays with his legs and has above-average arm strength. He should have no problem fitting into the system and becoming a reliable quarterback for a program that was searching for an answer at the position.

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Lamar Robbins, whom 247Sports' composite rankings list as a 3-star recruit, has the athleticism and versatility that football coaches love. Now, he has signed with South Florida and will bring his talents to the Bulls, according to Miami Herald's David Furones. 

The 6'3", 188-pound cornerback from Miami received numerous offers from big-time schools during the recruiting process, ranging from the SEC to the Big 12 to the Big Ten. He made official visits to Oklahoma, Louisville, West Virginia and Purdue.

Along with cornerback, Robbins can also contribute as a safety and wide receiver. Due to his versatility, 247Sports' composite rankings have him as the 22nd-best athlete in the 2013 class.

A tall, lengthy, athletic player, he should have no trouble competing for jump balls with taller receivers. He also has the range to eventually play safety, but he will need to bulk up and add strength if he is to make a considerable impact at the position.

Robbins is also a quick, fluid player with good burst, but one thing he does need to work on his technique mirroring opposing receivers. He can be a little rigid when transitioning laterally. He's been able to make up ground in high school given his length and athleticism, but that will be much tougher to accomplish in college.

Additionally, he will need to become a better tackler and a more physical player in run support in order to be a more complete cornerback or be able to legitimately perform at safety. His press coverage also needs work if he expects to hold his own against stronger receivers.

The 3-star recruit obviously has the leaping ability and range to become a playmaker, but he needs to be more well-rounded. With a little patience, he could develop into a fine prospect in college, but it will take some work for him to create a major impact on the field.

For now, South Florida has its newest addition in Robbins, and he should prove to be a valuable one in time.

Willie Taggart has reportedly decided to move on from Western Kentucky, taking his coaching talents to South Florida according to The Miami Herald's Fred Goodall on Saturday. 

South Florida will announce the hiring on Saturday afternoon according to ESPN college football reporter Brett McMurphy via Twitter:

USF will announce Willie Taggart as Bulls' new coach at 4 p.m. today

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) December 8, 2012

UPDATE: Saturday, December 8 at 4:45 p.m. by Matt Fitzgerald

Joey Johnston of Tampa Bay Online has the latest on Taggart's hire, including contract details and the reasoning as to why wanted to take the job with South Florida:

Willie Taggart, saying he was enticed by the program's potential and the opportunity for a homecoming, was introduced as the University of South Florida's new head football coach on Saturday afternoon during an on-campus news conference.

He agreed to a five-year, $5.75-million contract with annual compensation of $1.15-million. The assistant coach salary pool for next season is $1.9-million.

Taggart [is] a Palmetto native and former star quarterback at Bradenton Manatee High.

---End of Update---

Taggart led the Hilltoppers to a 7-5 record in 2012, finishing 4-4 in the Sun Belt Conference and earning a berth in the Little Caesars Bowl against Central Michigan on Dec. 26 (the program's fist bowl appearance as a member of FBS). Taggart, 36, leaves Western Kentucky after three seasons. He compiled a record of 16-20 dating back to 2010.

Taggart actually played quarterback at Western Kentucky during the late 1990s, and coached at the university from 1999 to 2006, before taking a job as Stanford's running backs coach for three seasons. He returned to Bowling Green in 2010 to take over as the head coach of the Hilltoppers.

But after turning things around at WKU, Taggart will once again have his work cut out for him after opting to take over a rebuilding project in Tampa.

South Florida had a disastrous season in 2012, finishing dead last in the Big East Conference and 3-9 overall. Head coach Skip Holtz was fired shortly after the Bulls' regular season finale loss to Pittsburgh. Holtz was 16-21 as head coach of South Florida from 2010 to 2012. The Bulls never finished better than fifth in the conference under Holtz.

Keep it right here for more on the latest hirings and firings across the college football landscape. 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

The South Florida Bulls have struggled out of the gate this season. Now sitting at 2-3 (0-1), the optimism that surrounded the team to start the year is gone. It's been replaced anger, frustration and pessimism.

A lot of the blame this season has been placed on the shoulders of senior quarterback B.J. Daniels. The athletic signal-caller has had his ups and downs over the years and has taken a lot of criticism over that time.

Coming off of his best statistical season in 2011, Daniels has completed just 90 passes out of 162 attempts this season for 1,285 yards. That is good for just around a 56 percent completion rate.

He has nine touchdowns, seven interceptions and has carried the ball 61 times for 271 yards and three touchdowns.

The critics have had reason to doubt his ability to lead the team to victories. Turnovers, bad decision-making and mental errors late in games have plagued him throughout his career, but this season, the 2-3 start is not all his fault.

To start, the coaching has been inconsistent.

From bad play-calling to the game-planning itself, Daniels has been put into an offensive system that does not work for him. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch and coach Skip Holtz want to run a traditional pro-style offense, something Daniels is not comfortable with.

Daniels has tried to operate in the system, but it just hasn't worked. Part of that goes to Fitch and his ability to adapt to Daniels, which hasn't happened.

The offensive line, with three new starters—including a first-year center—has been poor in pass protection. Daniels has been flushed out of the pocket early and often, making it even harder for a scrambling quarterback to set his feet and read his progressions down the field.

Additionally, the running game has not been there for the Bulls. 

Senior Demetris Murray has not been as productive as many thought he would. Senior Lindsey Lamar was almost redshirted, and sophomore Marcus Shaw, who was counted on to bring a new dimension with his speed, has been hobbled several games with a sore ankle.

Daniels has put up numbers, but the Bulls defense has been bad this season.

The unit has struggled with penalties and getting stops on third down. With a lackluster defense that continues to allow opponents to hold on to the ball, Daniels doesn’t have much time to get on the field and produce.

As the Bulls prepare for their game against Temple, it must be kept in mind that Daniels is laying it all out there. While he has struggled personally at times, the odds have been stacked against him just as much.