The history of USF Football can be charted in easily-definable periods of wax and wane more than most. Some of that lends to the small sample size of just 20 seasons, but the lines of demarcation are pretty distinct.
Wax:
1997: YAY WE GOT FOOTBALL!
1998-99: 1-AA Playoffs? Maybe? We beat #1 Troy!
2000: Nah, let’s take a transition year and start playing with the big boys instead.
2001: We’re gonna be juuuuuuust fine up here.
2002: HOW THE HELL ARE WE NOT IN A BOWL GAME?? 9-2 & #23 in BCS!