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USF’s Alex Golesh snubs FAU’s Tom Herman with a frosty handshake after the Bulls’ 44-21 win over the Owls
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USF’s Alex Golesh snubs FAU’s Tom Herman with a frosty handshake after the Bulls’ 44-21 win over the Owls

The Sunshine State’s college football rivalries haven’t been must-see TV lately, but a frosty postgame handshake between USF coach Alex Golesh and Florida Atlantic coach Tom Herman is likely to turn heads on Saturday morning pregame shows.

The Bulls dominated the second half of Friday night’s game in Boca Raton, earning a 44-21 win. But instead of seeing a traditional handshake between coaches, Golesh grabbed Herman’s hand and didn’t stop talking.

Herman tried to pursue Golesh to chat and the two exchanged a few more words, but the USF coach didn’t stop and continued to shake hands with the Owls players as he left the field.

“Not much back and forth,” Golesh told reporters about what was said between the two coaches. “Actually nothing. I said a year ago that we would come back for it, and we came back for it. Whatever was said, I’m fine.”

Herman told FAU media that he “wishes” there had been a conversation between him and Golesh.

Last year, FAU defeated USF 56-14 in Tampa and went one better by attempting an onside kick in the fourth quarter to secure the blowout victory.

Herman has had other interesting handshakes with opposing coaches in the past. The 49-year-old former Texas Longhorns coach is 6-14 in his two seasons with the Owls. Golesh, 40, has 11-10 years as South Florida’s coach.

FAU joined USF’s American Athletic Conference two years ago. USF leads the all-time series 4-2.

“I think it was said that we were recruiting against each other,” Golesh said. “I think it’s been said that we don’t like each other. I have great respect for the staff. I think they do a really good job. I don’t specifically believe that we are recruiting against each other. I can’t think of a guy we had to beat.

“I have a lot of respect for a lot of these guys, but I said we would come back to get it. Last year we were embarrassed at the end of the game at home. We came and got it, and we will continue to do so.”

Required reading

(Photo of USF coach Alex Golesh: William McLelland / Imagn Images)

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