TAMPA, Fla. – As noted in this space last week, the Bulls have a vastly different look under first-year coach Brian Hartline. That is the reality of what a coaching change can do to a roster in the current landscape of college football, and the reality is USF will commence spring drills March 11 with 57 new players, 41 of whom arrived from the portal.
Hartline made it clear to each and every potential transfer, and uncomfortably so if necessary, that the 53 returning players are the ones whose respect must be earned. Not the other way around. Hence, make sure your words and actions are aligned with those who know their way around the Selmon Athletics Center.
“Keep your mouth shut and make sure we do a great job of earning their respect,” said Hartline. “The rest takes care of itself when we do that. I know that’s what I am doing.”
READ: ‘Selfless’ Play Fueling USF Bulls During Bryan Hodgson’s First Season
The tenures of fifth-year players Tavin Ward, Evan Dangler and Michael Williams predate the opening of the indoor practice facility from which Hartline spoke. Others such as Alvon Isaac, Nico Gramatica, Ryan Jenkins, Josh Porter and JeyQuan Smith have at least two seasons of experience wearing the green and gold.
“They have sweat, they have bled, they have invested in this building,” said Hartline, one of 11 new members on a coaching staff that retained Chad Cremer (special teams/OLBs) and James Rowe (corners). “We have not and we are not in a position of walking in here, whether new players, a new coaching staff or a new head coach, of thinking this is now my house. It’s their house. It’s my job to earn their respect. It’s my job to have the new players earn their respect.”
Hartline made it his job to weed out potential portal acquisitions who were far more interested in lining their pockets and/or thought a starting job might be theirs upon arrival. They needed to think twice before opening their mouths.
“We’re not doing that,” he said of those who felt they should be accommodated. “Any of the guys that wanted this or wanted that, that wasn’t the conversation.”
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