USFBulls727

Taggart won 10 in 2016. He left before the bowl game, which was the 11th win. Charlie won 10 in 2017. We went 10-2 that year including the bowl game. There was a game cancelled that year, and never rescheduled

I'm assuming you mean we were favored in somebody's preseason prediction? Remember, UCF was 6-6 the prior year, and I don't think anyone expected them to be as good as they were in 2017. I'm almost certain we were underdogs going into Black Friday that year. We just lost to a very good team in a very close game. Still a very good year.

Not a bad idea, but combining a bunch of teams that are currently G5 probably won't add a ton of value, though it may add some. I think we just have to ride our current situation out until the Big 12 falls apart, then see what can be put together to form a new conference. Somebody mentioned wanting Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers, WVU to come back and recreate some version of the Big East. As much as I'd love to see that, there's no chance they leave their current situations.

GT and Cincy should have been wins for sure. We didn't play well enough to beat Temple, and never led, so that one is more debatable. While you may be right, this sounds like Holtz after his 5-7 season saying that we were 5 plays away from being 10-2. Skip did just enough to lose close games, but always pointed out that they "competed their tails off". I do feel like there's potential for Charlie to turn this around. It felt like we were going down the drain with Skip.

I agree with this, although many of us on this board accused this staff/team of quitting just last week.

I think that if the OL & QB play improves, we may have something next year...with this same staff. I won't get too involved with the "Fire Charlie" debate, because I understand why people want that, but under the circumstances, I'm OK with another year and think we might be close. Even though it's year three for Charlie, this is something of a rebuilding year. I would expect Bell's offense to be quite a bit better next year, especially if we get an upgrade when Atterbury & Norman graduate.

...yet remains our starter. How bad can Rygol be, or is our staff just making the wrong decision on who to play?

Agreed. Just unfortunate tonight. I thought I was starting not to care much, but this was is sickening. Feel bad for Charlie and the team. Would have been the closest thing to a Signature Win for him. Sucks.

Was hoping for the best of course, but had a feeling we'd find a way to give this thing away. Wonder how Michael Kelly sees this.

We've looked like trash at times this year, but this wasn't one of those games. Really had a win within reach here against a ranked team. Offense looked competent, and the defense played well for long stretches. Still a loss, and that sucks, but by our standards this wasn't a bad performance.

We care enough to be here posting about it, but yes, the casual fans in Tampa can't possibly be that interested at this point.

I'm guessing there are many here that knew we'd find a way to lose, even when it was looking good early

Delbert Alvarado vs. Auburn flashbacks

GAUSFBull pointed out that Strong was 0-4 vs. ranked teams. You asked if Willie was any better. My answer: Yes. Willie won two, so as of now, Willie has done better no matter his overall record. Beating a ranked team is something Willie has accomplished. Charlie hasn't yet (here anyway). If Charlie manages to get that done during his tenure here, then there's a debate to be had. Right now there really isn't IMO, so I'll let you continue, which I'm sure you will...

He beat 2 ranked teams, Charlie has yet to accomplish that. Taggart's winning percentage against ranked teams, whatever it is, is above .000

Yes. He beat a ranked Temple team, and maybe Navy

Check the record against teams above .500. Haven't checked it lately, and not interested enough to research it, but I'll bet it's more embarrassing

Navy really rep'n the AAC today

If the OL plays like it did against Temple, 10 is asking a lot. It will be interesting to see how many sacks Cincy gets today. I honestly think that number will be around 10 or so.

If we play Rygol, we score at least 7

I believe Cincy will look a lot like our game with Temple. Our line was unbelievably porous with Jennings out, and I believe he will be out again this week. McCloud will have zero time to throw. we gave up something like 10 sacks to SMU, and another 8 or 9 to Temple. Teams can blitz at will against us with nothing to worry about and Cincy knows it. Our defense may keep us in it for awhile, but eventually will have too much on their shoulders and Cincy will pull away. If anybody wants to call this negative, so be it. This is what I believe will happen based on what I know about both teams.

...and I was one of those who thought there was potential, but the OL and the passing game are two things I'm not sure get corrected anytime soon, even into next year. If they do, then maybe we have something. The rest of this season will be hard to watch though.

I seriously doubt it, I just think it would make sense for many G5 schools whose football programs are bleeding money. Last figures I saw for our own school is that we bring in $9Mil annually, with $12Mil in expenses (in football only). That contract we gave Charlie is just outrageous for a school with our budget, and I wish we would change the way these contracts are written. I know I'm dreaming here, that it probably won't be happening, but the base pay shouldn't exceed maybe 500K a year or so. Only way anyone gets $2Mil a year here is if they hit all the incentives....Bowl, Conference Championship, NY6, etc, etc. Just don't want to see the school in this situation again.

Fizzling out before the end of the season is something that is obviously beginning to wear on our fan base. I was somewhat optimistic before the Temple game that we'd be able to put 2 wins together somewhere over the last 4 games. It feels like there's zero chance of that now. Our game vs. Temple removed whatever enthusiasm I had left for this year's team. They would have to show up running a completely new set of plays (or a new QB?) vs. Cincy that actually work for this offense for me to remain interested beyond the first quarter, and neither of which are likely to happen. As far as 2020, if it's still Charlie/Kerwin, If there's not quite a bit of improvement on the OL, it will be another long, frustrating season. Also, we lose Reaves & Livingstone on Defense, as well as Studstill & Macon (I think)…..and maybe more if anybody decides to bolt the program, or gets kicked off the team.

Nothing to lose at this point. Can't be worse than what we saw vs. Temple.