Report: USF suspended 11 players for bowl loss

South Florida coach Charlie Strong is planning sweeping changes to his program. Strong suspended 11 players for the Bulls' matchup on Thursday night against Marshall in the Gasparilla Bowl, the Tampa Bay Times reported Saturday morning. The Bulls were dominated in the 38-20 loss to Marshall, ending the season on a six-game slide to finish with a 7-6 record in Strong's second year with the program. South Florida, which went 10-2 in 2017 and opened this season with seven consecutive wins, became the first major college program to start 7-0 before dropping six games in a row. "Very disappointing," Strong told the newspaper after the game. "We don't like it. I'm telling you right now, we're going to clean up this whole program. A lot of guys will be leaving. We need a good washing." Three wide receivers and two running backs were among the 11 players suspended for the bowl matchup due to unspecified violations of team rules, the newspaper reported, citing a source. None of the 11 players are expected to return to the program. Additionally, the Times reported Saturday that as many as four assistant coaches were expected to be dismissed. Another player who is leaving the program is backup quarterback Brett Kean, who announced via social media that he planned to leave as a graduate transfer in May. Kean's departure is unrelated to the expected roster purge by Strong, according to the newspaper. "Although my situation did not turn out the way I had hoped, I will forever be a Bull," Kean wrote on his Twitter account. "I wish nothing but the best for USF nation." Kean, who was expected to battle for the starting quarterback job, appeared in just three games this season, completing 15 of 34 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. The top backup to Quinton Flowers the previous two seasons, Kean appeared in 14 games during that time, completing 25 of 37 passes for 193 yards.