ArmyBull

We haven't gotten better until we do ... Other than the dearth of Haitians on the team, nothing has changed ... I don't want to compare USF to Memphis, but last year Memphis did not play UCF or ECU. They destroyed Cincinnati early in the season, but other than that they beat conference foes Uconn, us, Tulsa, Temple, Tulane, and SMU. None of those teams had a winning record. Again, beyond Cincinnati they did not beat any good teams. They did beat a struggling BYU in Miami. That is why last year was a good "turn it around" year for us as we had a pretty soft schedule, but not as soft as Memphis. This year our schedule is much tougher.

This. I will be watching, praying, throwing stuff, but always watching.

Always a Bulls fan but we have been talking about getting better every year. Every year we list the reasons why THIS year will be better. In my opinion, last year, because of our schedule should have been our bowl year. This years schedule is MUCH more difficult and all of the teams we are playing have gotten better. I think the OP was pretty much on target. Teams are going to fill up the box against and defend against the run. From what I have seen, we have not shown the ability to complete passes down the field. Asking Flowers to do this is simply asking too much. Sure, we may get the occasional busted play long bomb but I just don't see the consistency coming this year. Defense is a toss up to me. Like other have said, we are not better until our record says we are better, bowling or bust. I look at the schedule and struggle to put together 6 wins. Like everyone else, the start of the season brings hope and excitement, I am just tired of being let down, but such is life as a fan. We talk about going bowling being our goal, and I know growth takes time, but just once I want to win the conference and be called champs! It has always felt so close but so far away at the same time.

I'm saving this post! Here me now, believe me later, CWT and Co. are taking this team to a bowl! A few years ago I made the statement that I wouldn't shave or cut my hair til we beat Buttgers on Thursday night. CJL told me that I should come to practice one day and we should let the players cut it... I'm guessing it would be near my waist by now. BUT! He is a great recruiter......(sarcasm).

Please elaborate.

This, 100% this.

Weren't the recruiting rankings rather high for USF? Highest non-P5? I think it depends on who's rankings you are looking at. ESPN, Rivals, 247... Further, is it strictly numbers based, meaning the more recruits the better or is it quality/star based? We have done a decent job recruiting when looking at numbers, but the gap is not so great, if there even is one, when you look at average talent/star ratings of our conference peers. On a side note, I am still not sold that Willie's recruits are any better than Skips. Numbers wise, they are almost the same, time will tell if the 3 and 4 year results prove to be better. But as of right now, Willie has not recruited better than Skip and his results are not either. Willie still has work to do, in my book, to prove he is the recruiter people make him out to be. Matter of perspective The class average grade are about the same between the two (going by 247 average class grade) Taggart has an edge: However you have to consider Skip was recruiting while in a "BCS" conference and coming off winning records. His 247 class Rankings: 54, 69, 53, for an average of 58.67 Taggart, in a more difficult circumstance: recruiting from a "G5" conference after a few years of abysmal records (including Skip's years) is somehow still pulling in a better average: 247 Rankings: 53, 40, 68, for an average of 53.67 Basing it on this... i would say Taggart is a much better recruiter. Your right, it is perspective, but look at the conference, are you saying that if Skip was still here we would be recruiting nothing but two stars? I don't buy the whole Skip had more to work with bit. The upper half of our conference recruits to about the same level as we do. Still, even if I take on your perspective, is a good recruiter one who gets the stars and numbers or the one who recruits players that can win? Either way, Willie has shown me nothing but recruiting hype. Hell, have you looked at Houston's recruiting class recently? They are killing it! Taggart is the better recruiter hands down. Taggart gets kids to take visits and consider us even where our program has sunk to that wouldn't even answer a text message from Skip Holtz coming off an 8-5 year in a BCS conference. With that being said, you don't need a great recruiter to win in the AAC. Look at O'leary in Orlando.. They went 12-1 and won a BCS game and their recruiting class was way worse than ours and we went 2-10. We've gotta get someone on staff (hoping we have them now with the new hires) that can develop talent. We used to develop the players we got. Now we change coaches every year, change schemes, it's a mess.. Yes, his amazing recruiting skills have helped us big time! Bottom line is that we will always blame someone for our woes. When Skippy beat Notre Dame he was amazing, when things fell apart, BJ was our problem, he just was not good enough. Now, they are both gone and what do wee need most? Some big wins and a QB, both things Ole Skippy had. So keep riding that Willie recruiting wave of glory. Wonder how these great recruits will measure up after four years of only winning 16 games, maybe. Time to stop blaming Skip and realize that maybe all these 3 star athletes are just that, average! Never said his recruiting ability has done anything for us. I said he's a better recruiter. Unfortunately, Taggart hasn't developed anyone (although, to be fair he hasn't had time to prove if he can do that or not - we will find out this year though the beginnings of that), but most importantly from our 2 years with him he seems to be lacking in a lot of coaching areas from game planning to play calling. I don't blame Skip at all. I don't think Skip Holtz should even be mentioned anymore when talking about our situation. We play in the pitiful AAC now, you don't need a stacked team to be decent and win some games. I'm one of Taggart's biggest critics on this board. Blame him for a lot of what's going on, bash him for almost anything and I'm probably right behind you agreeing, but recruiting isn't one of them. Recruiting isn't everything, just like the point you're trying to make I believe? I agree, but he is hands down a better recruiter than Holtz. If you choose not to see that, then you're turning your head for whatever reason. This seems to be the only thing we disagree on. By what measurable is he a better recruiter? As you mention, Ship recruited in the BE, I am not sure that made a ton of difference. Lets say we hired someone else other than Willie. Do you really think that our recruiting, ranking and star wise (pick your recruiting site), would be drastically different? Saying he is a GREAT recruiter means that he is better than a good recruiter. I simply believe that if you plugged in any coach, except for maybe top level P5 coaches, that our recruiting results would be the same? Another way to look at my point. When most people look at recruiting rankings they are looking at a point system that awards points for number of athletes and their "star level." This is how most services rate classes, quantity, for some reason is weighted greater than quality. Easy math example, UAB signs 40, 2 star athletes, they will be ranked higher than ECU who signs 20 athletes with a mix of 3 stars, and a couple 4 stars. Simply because of numbers. Now, lets look at Skips class numbers according to 247. 2010 = 20, 2011 = 21, 2012 = 18. Skips average class size = 19.6. Willies numbers, 2013 = 24, 2014 = 28. Willies average class size = 26 Even when compared to our conference, the only thing that pushes us so high in rankings is that fact we are signing so many dang kids. Willie is not a bad recruiter, I think he is an average recruiter. If he was really that great, we would be blowing away the competition (our current conference) in quality of recruit. I could care less about numbers. Maybe my point is lost trying to say that WIllie is no better than Skip at recruiting, fine, uncle, I give, Willie is better, but it sure ain't by a lot. If Skip was a bad recruiter, Willie is average. On last view. USF has lead the AAC in recruiting per 247 (talent Wise) the last two years under WIllie. 2013 #1 USF = 83.02, #2 = 82.59, #3 82.22... 2014 #1 USF = 84.22, 83.71, 81.08... Simply put, we are not exactly out performing the conference by a GREAT number. So, are all of the other coaches in the AAC GREAT recruiters? Further, different recruiting services did not place USF classes in the #1 position in these years, so there is that. I think USF, the stadium, location, academics, etc.. really sells itself. I am sure Willie road the "new coach, come make a difference, turn things around" hype machine and maybe he sold it good. But, I think any other average coach would have done the same.

Weren't the recruiting rankings rather high for USF? Highest non-P5? I think it depends on who's rankings you are looking at. ESPN, Rivals, 247... Further, is it strictly numbers based, meaning the more recruits the better or is it quality/star based? We have done a decent job recruiting when looking at numbers, but the gap is not so great, if there even is one, when you look at average talent/star ratings of our conference peers. On a side note, I am still not sold that Willie's recruits are any better than Skips. Numbers wise, they are almost the same, time will tell if the 3 and 4 year results prove to be better. But as of right now, Willie has not recruited better than Skip and his results are not either. Willie still has work to do, in my book, to prove he is the recruiter people make him out to be. Matter of perspective The class average grade are about the same between the two (going by 247 average class grade) Taggart has an edge: However you have to consider Skip was recruiting while in a "BCS" conference and coming off winning records. His 247 class Rankings: 54, 69, 53, for an average of 58.67 Taggart, in a more difficult circumstance: recruiting from a "G5" conference after a few years of abysmal records (including Skip's years) is somehow still pulling in a better average: 247 Rankings: 53, 40, 68, for an average of 53.67 Basing it on this... i would say Taggart is a much better recruiter. Your right, it is perspective, but look at the conference, are you saying that if Skip was still here we would be recruiting nothing but two stars? I don't buy the whole Skip had more to work with bit. The upper half of our conference recruits to about the same level as we do. Still, even if I take on your perspective, is a good recruiter one who gets the stars and numbers or the one who recruits players that can win? Either way, Willie has shown me nothing but recruiting hype. Hell, have you looked at Houston's recruiting class recently? They are killing it! Taggart is the better recruiter hands down. Taggart gets kids to take visits and consider us even where our program has sunk to that wouldn't even answer a text message from Skip Holtz coming off an 8-5 year in a BCS conference. With that being said, you don't need a great recruiter to win in the AAC. Look at O'leary in Orlando.. They went 12-1 and won a BCS game and their recruiting class was way worse than ours and we went 2-10. We've gotta get someone on staff (hoping we have them now with the new hires) that can develop talent. We used to develop the players we got. Now we change coaches every year, change schemes, it's a mess.. Yes, his amazing recruiting skills have helped us big time! Bottom line is that we will always blame someone for our woes. When Skippy beat Notre Dame he was amazing, when things fell apart, BJ was our problem, he just was not good enough. Now, they are both gone and what do wee need most? Some big wins and a QB, both things Ole Skippy had. So keep riding that Willie recruiting wave of glory. Wonder how these great recruits will measure up after four years of only winning 16 games, maybe. Time to stop blaming Skip and realize that maybe all these 3 star athletes are just that, average!

Wait, what, we redshirt athletes? I thought we had a policy to redshirt them for half the season and then burn them for a play or two. Do we have any athletes that actually redshirted the whole year? If I sound angry and bitter, it is only because I am... and hurt people hurt people.

George O’Leary has done an immaculate job taking UCF from Conference USA obscurity to a 2014 Fiesta Bowl upset over Baylor. NCAA sanctions and killing a player aren't what I consider falling under the umbrella of "immaculate" ... Just another know nothing hack's opinion. Thug life. Maybe that is what we are missing. Seems to work for FSU, Florida, and now UCF. We needs to do some bad things.

The same exact thing could be said for Tampa, no?

But they keep smelling until removed. FIRE WILLIE!!!!!

We are better than this! I do not know why everyone keeps giving Willie the "great recruiter" pass. Maybe it is all we have left to hang on to but it is not real. Nothing of substance, yet, has come from his great recruiting.

Weren't the recruiting rankings rather high for USF? Highest non-P5? I think it depends on who's rankings you are looking at. ESPN, Rivals, 247... Further, is it strictly numbers based, meaning the more recruits the better or is it quality/star based? We have done a decent job recruiting when looking at numbers, but the gap is not so great, if there even is one, when you look at average talent/star ratings of our conference peers. On a side note, I am still not sold that Willie's recruits are any better than Skips. Numbers wise, they are almost the same, time will tell if the 3 and 4 year results prove to be better. But as of right now, Willie has not recruited better than Skip and his results are not either. Willie still has work to do, in my book, to prove he is the recruiter people make him out to be. Matter of perspective The class average grade are about the same between the two (going by 247 average class grade) Taggart has an edge: However you have to consider Skip was recruiting while in a "BCS" conference and coming off winning records. His 247 class Rankings: 54, 69, 53, for an average of 58.67 Taggart, in a more difficult circumstance: recruiting from a "G5" conference after a few years of abysmal records (including Skip's years) is somehow still pulling in a better average: 247 Rankings: 53, 40, 68, for an average of 53.67 Basing it on this... i would say Taggart is a much better recruiter. Your right, it is perspective, but look at the conference, are you saying that if Skip was still here we would be recruiting nothing but two stars? I don't buy the whole Skip had more to work with bit. The upper half of our conference recruits to about the same level as we do. Still, even if I take on your perspective, is a good recruiter one who gets the stars and numbers or the one who recruits players that can win? Either way, Willie has shown me nothing but recruiting hype. Hell, have you looked at Houston's recruiting class recently? They are killing it!

As it has been stated several times. The best thing for us is for expansion to take another 3 years or so. Likwise, during this time, it would help if we could win a **** conference championship.... and for all the other AAC mentionables to have a 3 year bowl drought. Please baby Jesus, make that happen.

This is not even debatable. Winning causes people to show up. Now, the OCS, sigghhhhhhhh. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. Our fan base will have to decide between a 40k steel building or the red seats and pirate ship of Rayjay. Because the 50k+ stadium with seat backs and club lounges is simply not going to happen.

Weren't the recruiting rankings rather high for USF? Highest non-P5? I think it depends on who's rankings you are looking at. ESPN, Rivals, 247... Further, is it strictly numbers based, meaning the more recruits the better or is it quality/star based? We have done a decent job recruiting when looking at numbers, but the gap is not so great, if there even is one, when you look at average talent/star ratings of our conference peers. On a side note, I am still not sold that Willie's recruits are any better than Skips. Numbers wise, they are almost the same, time will tell if the 3 and 4 year results prove to be better. But as of right now, Willie has not recruited better than Skip and his results are not either. Willie still has work to do, in my book, to prove he is the recruiter people make him out to be.

Dang you must be a ucf fan. No bulls fan would ever say ucf game would be our bowl game! So you don't think beating UCF the last game of the year would be a big win? Sorry, but like most, I don't see us going to a bowl game. Like it or not, beating UCF would be a great way to end the season, regardless of record. You are probably right. Finishing the year with a 5-7 record over 4-8 ucf would be absolutely thrilling... I would take it. If we aren't going to a bowl, beating UCF is the next best thing.

Just to be clear, both those came from the source ... Sorry, meaning what, I am not following you.

Thanks! I needed this, a true lol. However, If we lose to FAMU I might break something. This is really the only game on the schedule that we can not lose. If we lost every other game it would be disappointing but not overly shocking.

I think it says a lot about the coaching staffs confidence in QF. Your comment gives me no hope for this season. Competition at every position. Needed everywhere but especially QB. I get what you are saying, but I would rather have a succession plan at QB, not two juniors battling it out. By the time our QBs are juniors, they should know where the stand, barring injuries.

Dang you must be a ucf fan. No bulls fan would ever say ucf game would be our bowl game! So you don't think beating UCF the last game of the year would be a big win? Sorry, but like most, I don't see us going to a bowl game. Like it or not, beating UCF would be a great way to end the season, regardless of record.

I'm going to start my own webpage and list a bunch of articles listing USF as the leading target for expansion. Just think if we all did it we could flood the market with these stories and drive UCF fans crazy - kind of like fans on here are going. Well, in this case, we would need to get Cincy or BYU fans to start writing articles about us being #1 and them being #2. This is what concerns me about these articles, these are not UCF fans writing.

And nobody's saying that USF IS being mentioned .... and the ones mentioning UCF on national sports websites and Midwest regional newspapers don't have any more insight, if any, into what the next expansion criteria will be than those fan blogs do. How do you know how much insight, or inside sources, anyone has? Because if they have sources, they will mention them in their writing, even if unnamed. If you've got any of those national sports websites or Midwest regional newspapers that cite sources within the B12 that say if/when they expand, UCF is one of the frontrunners for a slot, by all means link them. I know I am new around here, and don't want to make enemies, but I must have read about 10+ articles, national and regional, about Big 12 expansion and I noticed a few things. Yes, UCF is favored, by the media over USF and not by a little. 75% of the articles have UCF as one of the two expansion teams. I would say that only 5-10% even mention USF and when they do, it is the Big 12 expanding with USF and UCF, not USF over UCF. I could not find a single credible article that favored USF over UCF. This is sad, but it is what it us. I still think our market is the key, regardless of program results. I am not sure how a logical person could read these articles any other way. A sure way to make enemies is to misrepresent what was said when presenting an opposing side of an argument. I did not say those articles weren't pimpin UCF as one of the leaders for B12 expansion. My point is that those articles were just the opinions of the writers, with nothing credible ever presented that it represents the thought process of the B12 itself, which is what matters. They are the MEDIA darlings ... at least to some of the media anyway ... because of the pub their recent success on the football field generated. I've seen the media clowns be wrong enough times that I'd like to see some REAL evidence involving any new conference expansion before running in circles crying "The sky is falling!" I was not responding to anyone in particular, just throwing out exactly what I read. To your point about "credible" news. I do not think that happens until after the invite comes. For example, if USF gets an invite it will not be in the news, maybe it leaks hours, maybe a day before it happens. I just wish USF was the one being talked about but like so many have said, winning fixes most things.

Thanks to this thread I started poking around, I wish I had not, this is depressing. http://cardiaccoogs.com/2015/07/09/espn-ready-to-support-houston-to-big-12-if-coog-fans-pack-tdecu-in-the-fall/