For me this problem goes way deeper than a simple bad season, or a bad coach. I am middle aged with a few degrees from USF. I desperately want some success and recognition for our football program, because (lets face it) that is how the majority of americans see universities. Through the football program.
We have been 'bad' at football now for a decade through THREE bad coaching hires. (The obvious exception being the QF couple of years) Yes the university is doing well, with research dollars and academics way up, and a new medical school being built. But few outside of tampa know or care about that... Football cannot be 'down' for a decade.
There are huge ramifications for having football be down for such a long period. The fanbase be built up in the BE is destroyed. Students are essentially apathetic about the program. Athletic donations are or will be down compared to other AAC schools. New stadium nowhere in sight. We became a joke by giving extensions to failed coaches, and then firing to pay dual coaches for YEARS.
Even the MOSI plan, which seemed exciting a couple of years ago, seems to have evaporated. I was just in Tampa. Seems MOSI already downsized a couple of years ago, the main building is empty, and I'm reading they want to put a movie studio there???? WTF? Every article I found about MOSI downsizing didn't even mention USF football.
Now I am supposed to wait it out while we 'rebuild' again?? Strong came in to an 11 win program. There is absolutely NO excuse for the back step we took under Strong. None. Sick of hearing how coaches need to recruit. Get their 'own guys' in... yada yada. UCF never seems to have problems switching coaches and keeping the winning going.
Yeah I'll always be a fan... but I'm really sick of watching a totally mismanaged program and team. It's time to get serious about football, or we'll be a bottom feeder in whatever conference we end up... for a very long time. UCF has humiliated us completely. Get some aggressive and energetic winning coordinator from a P5 program, or coach from a G4 program. Not some failed 'big name'. And no, I don't consider Holtz or Tag to have been a G4 winner.
My 2 cents.