A3Wbull77

Bring back Taggert? WHAAAAAAAT??????????? Why, so he can skulk out on us again when he gets a better offer? No, no retreads. We need fresh ideas, fresh faces and a fresh direction. Sure, WIllie won some games, but look at the teams he had - remember Flowers and Mack? Charlie Strong's narrow approach to geographic recruiting has allowed UCF to move in and get a foothold here in the Bay Area (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee), so recruiting is going to be a tough slog. Like another post mentions, players are 'aware' of Taggert now and will avoid hi, like the plague. I'd rather see them just cancel the whole football program than bring back old Willie - THAT is how strong I feel about that.

Let's not forget the true culprit in this disaster: Doug Woolard. He's the guy that gave Skip Holtz the ridiculous contract extension (that I think we still owe three fairly hefty years on) and he's the one that is mainly responsible for hiring CWT. No love lost here for Judy, but please, never forget the disaster that was Dougie Boy. Don't even get me started on the disaster that's our membership in the AAC. I also agree with your thoughts on the fact that we can't afford to buy out CWT yet, but with absolutely no improvement this season, he deserves nothing. We're definitely stuck with him for year three. I am just sick over this entire situation, especially when I think back on how well things were going several years ago. There was so much hope and optimism. I attended the very first fund raiser that Lee Roy Selmon hosted years ago back in downtown Tampa in the old NCNB beer can - this current situation is definitely not what Selmon had in mind. Listen, I understand that losing happens, but this is a dire situation that we're in here and there's alot riding on decisions made at this time. As a true fan, to turn a blind eye to the fact that we are in trouble and to accept a losing tradition and be satisfied with the hope of six wins a season - that is truly unacceptable. If you're not in it to win it, why bother at all? If you think all of this low attendance and losing is OK, then please don't be upset when the administration closes the doors to the football program here at USF. That would truly be a tragedy. I still support this team and I love USF and that's why I can't accept this mess.

Bottom line here is that there seems to be a severe lack in discipline among many of our players. Specifically, the show-boating after (rare) positive plays. That shows not only a lack of discipline, but a lack of maturity, especially in a game where you're playing a supposedly inferior team (missing several key starters) that you're BARELY staying on the field with. This is a coaching issue, plain and simple. Save the show-boating when you've CONSISTENTLY done something to earn the right to show-boat, not when you're playing in an embarrassing game with small and rare flashes of brilliance. Were it not for Marlon Mack last night, we'd be looking at another McNeese State embarrassment. Yes, it was a win, but a damned ugly one. WCU never gave up last night, as tired and worn out as they must have been from the heat and humidity - THAT is discipline.

Gold chrome helmets? What is this, the circus? C'mon now, how much further down the road to being a joke are we going to allow this program to go? And then there's the issue of no names on the back of our uniforms. I guess I get the whole 'team' concept and can't argue with that at its core, but if you're going to eliminate names on the back of jerseys as a symbol of team unity, a unit of one, then let's go all the way, like in our military: crew cuts and shaves all around - NO EXCEPTIONS. I mean, by eliminating the names you are trying to eliminate the 'individual' and hone them into a working unit of one. So why do we allow the long hair and facial hair? Is that not an expression of individualism? No, the elimination of names on jerseys is just another half-assed, half-way attempt to fix something that is not being fixed. And for God's sake, please get rid of those hideous and laughable chrome helmets and bring back our old gold helmets.

No, that's not the logic at all - the bottom line is the ridiculous level to which this was celebrated - a stupid mascot contest. Is that what you want the University to be recognized for in the field of athletics? Check out Ned A Starr's post - it really does say it all. It's not about keeping up with the Jones's either. It's about standards of excellence that a major university (which we claim to be) should adhere to. That means instead of being all heads over heels about winning a mascot contest, we should be more focused on the fact that our football program is in a process of deep slide right now. That football program and its success, as confounding as it might seem to some, is actually how USF gets on and stays on the national stage. That success on the field turns into funding and recognition for many other aspects of our university. Do you not remember the buzz that surrounded the university when we were ranked in the top 10? Before that, ask people what USF was and they had no idea. Any major national recognition that the university now has is directly tied to the success of our athletics program. Wake up - it's all about the money and winning a mascot contest (despite how cute that is) is not going t cut it in today's collegiate arena.

Best mascot? Is this what it has finally come down to? Our once mighty football program is in the toilet for who knows how long and this, this Rocky thing is what we're excited about? Yup, I'll be real proud at work tomorrow bragging to all my friends: "Ooooooo, we won best mascot guys!" As UCF plays in the Fiesta Bowl and FSU plays for the national title in a couple of weeks we're wetting our pants over Rocky. Kinda makes me sick.