Brad

Here, I'll help... CLARK-LeCLAIR STADIUM The newest gem on the ECU campus is Clark-LeClair Stadium, which arguably rates as one of the top collegiate baseball facilities in the nation. With an estimated price tag of $11 million, Clark-LeClair Stadium nearly doubles Harrington Field's capacity of approximately 1,750 (excluding outfield areas). Stadium Notes: •First game: ECU vs. Michigan, March 4, 11 a.m. •Stadium bleacher capacity: 3,000 •State-of-the-art press box that features a stadium operations and writer's booth, a TV broadcast location, two radio booths, Pirate Club (fundraising/hospitality) suite and a viewing suite for Keith LeClair and his family. •Projected final cost: approximately $11 million •Features indoor and outdoor batting cages, a VIP booth, coach's offices, player clubhouses (locker room) •New playing surface that consists of Celebration Bermuda turf while the infield will be a clay base and the warning track will be composed of crushed brick. New lights were also included in the construction of the stadium, which will meet all television specifications. •Dimensions (L to R): 320-390-320 •New "Jungle" with elevated berm for additional viewing space from behind outfield fence. •Other amenities include chairback seating, modern concession stands and ample rest room facilities. •New scoreboard featuring a video/graphics display screen installed prior to the 2004 season. •Stadium was named after Pirate alumnus and key contributor Bill Clark and former Pirate skipper Keith LeClair. Story Link ;D

Yeah, and the irony is the new Pitt logo cuts out the panther...it's just PITT...funny.  So ferocious it must have been scaring little kids or something.

This is what is available on the official site..

FWIW, the press box was redone since then as well as some field renovations and bleachers.

I do not believe that is not accurate. I believe GS funded renovations just before Legends opened, which if memory serves was not more than 8-10 years ago...There is no doubt that there have been renovations since 1982.

See this thread on the Big East board. http://www.thebullspen.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=BigEast;action=display;num=1115443768

I don't think anyone ever gave football a free pass because the coaches were in trailers - even in football's early infancy. We still had expectations. We have higher expectations for football in 9 years of existence than we have for baseball (30+ years?). Had Leavitt barely gone .500 in his first 8 years at the helm, I doubt we'd be looking at his mug as we enter the Big East. Hell, he has more pressure on him daily than EC has had over his entire career here. No one says facilities are not part of the puzzle, even Master Po. But in the talking points for Bulls baseball, it should not be bullet point number one.

Thanks for the positive spin Sheriff. You're a true Bull. ::sick::

The problem with the facilities crutch is there will always be someone with better facilities.  There have been successful programs born from moderate facilities. Even with stellar facilities you need to be sure you have someone that can recruit and coach.  Don't recruit guys that you know are going to be drafted by the MLB out of high school, brag on your eye for talent ("they're in the pros, they were drafted") and then fail because you have little to no talent.  That "game" is not facilities related. A coach is hired to win, regardless of facilities or budget.  At any time a school hires (retains) a coach to lose, it's time to fold the program.  Yep, in days gone by, I think many USF coaches have been able to get by without meeting already low expectations.  I believe that tide is turning.  The administration should expect wins in every program and turn over coaches as necessary.  I think we are getting there.  There have been so many things to fix in our small-time program, that firing a mediocre coach was not a priority - especially if he or she was a nice guy. I believe those days will cease to exist as we move on to the Big East.

More so than squeezing students, I was referring to the demand. Their stadium holds what 110,000, and students have to apply to get a seat. Our students should be flocking to RJS (free) and when the demand begins to overwhelm supply, there would need to be a priority system of some sort. I am not suggesting we stop the athletic fee and start trying to sell tickets to students. I'm saying it will be nice to be in a position where students seats are limited and in great demand.

Mike, I think GS put the lights on USF's field if I remember correctly. Also, the Yankees played some FSL games at the Red before Legends was built. He paid for renovations then as well. He has contributed to USF and specifically to baseball before. To what extent? I do not have the numbers..

Marquette President Fr. Wild spoke on Milwaukee radio today about Marquette's new nickname. Read some of Fr. Wild's conversation with radio personality Charlie Sykes. You can also find our Nickname Poll and voice your opinion on our Free Marquette Message Board here at the site. Go to the Fan interaction section at the top right and click on "Message Board"...our free board is the second one on the list.  Charlie Sykes Interview with Father Robert Wild on 5/5/05 CS: Joining me now is the President of Marquette University Father Robert Wild. Good morning, Father. FW: Good morning, Charlie, nice to be with you. CS: Well, I appreciate that. So, I get to ask the question that is on a lot of people’s minds. FW: Absolutely. CS: What were you thinking? FW: Well, there were three decisions and one of which people are very familiar with were we going to return to the Warriors’ name or not? And I think we started out as a Board and certainly this was my point of view when we got into this. I wanted to have that discussion and I thought maybe it would be positive to do that, but as we wrestled with it as we talked to various people, as we struggled with this decision in relationship to who we are as a university, a Catholic university, a Jesuit university, this got to be, as I told a lot of people, more and more difficult to contemplate and the Board wrestled with this. We spent the best part of the year going back and forth on this and finally concluded, and did so unanimously, that, no, we could not go back to that name. And that decision was an easy one, it was, our we going to remain the Golden Eagles? And when a majority of your people tell you that the whole Golden Eagles thing is boring, weak, and common, it makes a pretty easy decision, so the Board said, no, we’re not going to do that and so the third decision was really to follow on something that I think is very important in all our history, we’ve always been the blue and gold, but we emphasized the color gold. We fill the Bradley Center with people in gold. Gold is a symbol of excellence and we have been the Marquette champions in athletics and people said, well, alright, we don’t have a full program, we don’t have it all worked out, but we can now talk about it. We can now deal with this as a community. We can be creative and this is a name that we think can really work for Marquette. CS: Are you surprised by the overwhelmingly negative reaction that you are getting to this? FW: Well, I think most of the negative reaction comes from people who feel disappointed about the Warriors’ decision. It probably depends on who you talk to, CS: Everybody. FW: but the Warriors’ decision is a challenge for people. It was a challenge for the Board, but you know Charlie it really comes down to who are we? People will say, this is a matter of political correctness, and I say, I’m no fan of political correctness. This is about something much more older, much more big. The gospel of Jesus Christ, love your neighbor as yourself, particularly the neighbor who is more marginalized and struggling. That’s the Christian gospel and you know when we’re talking about all this in our classrooms and we don’t walk the talk, in these kinds of decisions, we get ourselves into a lot of problems. Nobody believes that we’re serious about who we say we are. We’re a Catholic university. This is very important for us that we really live up to these kinds of fundamental values. CS: You mentioned before that one of the reasons you dropped the Golden Eagles was that a majority of your alumni and students hadn’t bought in on it, didn’t think it was inspiring, I’m looking at an online poll at JS online right now, that says about 94% of the more than 22,000 people who voted don’t like the Gold, so if you dump the Golden Eagles because the majority didn’t like it, how are you going to sit with the Gold if you’re running it basically 94 to 6 against? FW: Well, you know, I think this is fair, you know I hear different information. I think people need to wrestle with this a bit. It was a hard decision, the one that the Board wrestled with the most was can we go back to the Warriors’ name or can’t we? And I think with some reluctance that we said we cannot go back to this. This is not the right thing to do. CS: Are you absolutely committed now to the Gold? Is there any chance that you would reconsider in light of the rather overwhelming response that I’m sure you’re going to be getting to go back to the Golden Eagles? FW: Well, I think it’s very very early. We frankly here on campus see a lot of possibilities, but clearly picking up the newspaper this morning our students are from like I guess some don’t that would be what I would expect, so I think we let this thing play out. Some people say, well, you just have a bad name. And that’s true. But it is a name that we can fill with ____________. Let’s face it, if Syracuse can do that as Orange, if Stanford can do that as the Cardinal, if Nebraska can be excited about being the Big Red, if Michigan can be the Blue, this can work for us. I think it is a matter of people getting used to it and we started with, you know, the fact that people have been excited. The fans had voted in many ways in terms of their liking of gold, everybody wears gold, but of course this is new. The students given a choice for a nickname for their student section last year actually voted for the Gold Rush. This was a surprise to people. It’s natural to question it. The first reaction would be negative. I feel optimistic about going forward but I think people rightly want to see some structured content, know what we’re about, and can be participants in that. CS: How do you go about then picking a mascot for this? FW: Well, I think there are a lot of possibilities. I mean it’s a matter of really putting creative energies to work in the university community and in all the folks who surround the university. There is a lot of creativity that we can tap with respect to a mascot. CS: Did I hear you right, I don’t want to mischaracterize your answer that you’re not totally closing the door to the possibility of rethinking this decision? Are you really digging your heals on this or is it the Gold for the next 20, 30 years? FW: I don’t think at universities we ever dig our heals in that deeply. That’s not what ________________________________________ that anything can be, obviously we make a decision in the best light that we can make them and march forward. I think there is a lot that points from the Board’s side when we wrestled with this because of course the Board had to wrestle with this too and most of them are alumns. We think there is energy here. CS: Are any of the Board surprised by how controversial this turned out to be? FW: I think we all expected it initially there would be disappointment with regard to the Warriors’ decision. CS: You’ve got a little bit more than disappointment going on here. FW: Well, I don’t know. I think that there is always in athletics a tremendous amount of emotion swirling around and that can be good, that can be a challenge. I think overall it’s a wonderful thing. People engaging but at the end of the day, people care about Marquette. Marquette is Marquette. That’s the real core here. And the university hasn’t changed. And the commitment to excellence and athletics hasn’t changed. And our willingness to step up and to have a very strong athletic program hasn’t changed. So I really honestly do not see this as something that the university cannot march forward with and _____________ but of course people are going to have some struggles about anything, but I think ________________ particularly in light of the emotion that has surrounded this for many many years of the Warriors’ name. CS: Father Wild, I appreciate you making yourself available and coming on this morning. FW: You bet. CS: Good luck. FW: Happy to talk to you. CS: I appreciate it. Story Link

Right, CFN has not been considered an expert source by Bulls fans.. They are often wrong and omit key points... Previews on other teams sound good to me because I do not follow them closely enough to know if CFN is full of ___. I am waiting for the USF preview to see if they know anything at all, as I am sure other Bulls fans are...we aren't looking for a rah-rah piece, but something that shows this guy has an idea. How do you rate his UCF preview?

Yeah, they have fallen, eh? They came out just after midnight EDT...so there was about six minutes of seperation. At least you're a good sport.

A good read...really.. Miami products keep raising 'Cane By Dan Daly THE WASHINGTON TIMES Kellen Winslow the Younger took a motorcycle out for a spin the other day. And like the dangerous receiver he is, he got "good separation" from it, according to reports. When his front wheel hit a curb at about 35 mph, he went soaring over the handlebars, landing hard enough to uproot a small tree. As an added bonus, his helmet, which wasn't strapped on, flew off his head. I say "added bonus" because it increased the likelihood he might have had some sense knocked into him.   There are stories like this every day involving football players, stories of recklessness and silliness and even, on occasion, reckless silliness. It would be a lot easier to excuse Winslow's youthful indiscretion, though, if he weren't a product of the University of Miami, the program that, in the late '80s, carried on as if it were filming a "Gridders Gone Wild" video. Yes, ladies, gentlemen and probation officers, the Hurricanes are at it again, popping up in all sorts of places you wouldn't want a football player to pop up in. Here in Washington, the Redskins have had kind of a 'Canes Trifecta going; Sean Taylor and Santana Moss have been skipping offseason workouts in hopes of getting better contracts (Moss just Got His), and Clinton Portis has been embroiled in a lawsuit with former Redskin Ifeanyi Ohalete over -- of all things -- the purchase of the latter's No. 26 jersey.   Have any other Redskins been skipping offseason workouts in hopes of getting better contracts? Have any other Redskins been embroiled in lawsuits over the purchase of a jersey number? No, only Redskins who used to cavort in Coral Gables.   The Winslow incident is hardly the first of its kind for the Hurricanes. Why, the year he won the Heisman Trophy (1986), Vinny Testaverde got banged up riding a motor scooter and missed the last game of Miami's undefeated regular season. But Winslow's figures to be the more expensive transgression because the standard NFL contract prohibits players from engaging in dangerous activities -- except, of course, for football. There's even speculation he might have to give back some or all of his signing bonus.   And to think for a while there, Miami players seemed to be following the straight and narrow. Jerome Brown's death behind the wheel of a speeding Corvette, Brian Blades' conviction (later overturned) in the shooting death of his cousin, Michael Irvin's drug bust and assorted other legal adventures -- such horrific headlines became, in the mid-'90s, fewer and farther between.   But then Ray Lewis went to a club in Atlanta a few days before Super Bowl XXXIV, a fatal street fight broke out ... and a whole new cycle of PR disasters began for UM alums. Soon enough, Packers running back Najeh Davenport was defecating in a co-ed's closet at a Miami-area university -- "Najeh wants to put this behind him," his lawyer said, memorably, when the matter was resolved -- and Warren Sapp was getting fined $50,000 for intentionally bumping an official as he jogged onto the field for pregame warm-ups.   Over time, Sapp's behavior -- especially the incessant yap-yap-yapping -- grew increasingly aberrant. If he could no longer dominate, he'd simply abominate. Whatever it took to keep his name in the news, to maintain, as it were, his "SportsCenter" presence.   Trying to keep pace with him is another Hurricane-turned-blowhard, Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, who's always putting his cleat in his mouth. (His comments about gays on the "Howard Stern Show" were straight from the Book of John Rocker.) And now we have Sean Taylor's continuing antics -- the agent firings and hirings, the drunk driving charge (ultimately dismissed), the inability to recite the alphabet for the arresting officer, the almost immediate unhappiness with his contract, the refusal to return Joe Gibbs' calls.   We also have Portis and Moss marching, as so many Miami players do, to their own personal drummers. If I were an NFL club, I'd be exceedingly careful before I spent a high draft pick on a Hurricane; never mind the Wonderlic test, I'd have the guy take a Rorschach test, too.   So it was funny last year to hear Gibbs talk about how thorough the Redskins had been in checking out Taylor, how they'd left no stone unturned, no cupboard unopened, no question unasked. What, are you kiddin' me, Joe? You obviously forgot to ask one of the most important questions of all:   You don't play for the University of Miami, do you?   Story Link

Having relatives in the coaching business (and knowing of UCF's - and others - ascension over the years) I wholeheartedly agree with you - but don't tell anyone. ÂÂ

Boca’s financial future grim Expenses will exceed income in 2005-2006 budget, says city manager  Published Saturday, May 7, 2005 1:00 am by By Dale M. King and Sean Salai The revenue “bubble” that’s kept Boca Raton taxpayers safe from property tax hikes for many years is about to burst. City Manager Leif Ahnell warned the City Council and department heads this week that expenses will begin to outstrip incoming cash during the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. And each year after that, the gap will grow wider and wider, unless taxes are raised or financial “alternatives” are found. Council members on Friday wrapped up their annual two-day goal setting session by telling Ahnell to come up with a “fiscal plan.” During the sessions – and after – there was plenty of talk of “creative” funding sources, but no council member would say that a tax rate hike was definitely in the offing. Asked if Boca’s taxes would be increased from the current $3.15 per $1,000 valuation, Mayor Steven Abrams said, “We’ll find out in September.” That’s when the council must approve Ahnell’s spending plan for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. He normally submits it in July. During a presentation on Thursday, the city manager offered a forbidding fiscal forecast, one that shows spending outpacing income by $3.3 million in the coming fiscal year, $7.3 million in fiscal 2007 and $9.5 million in fiscal 2008. “Property taxes make up about a third of our revenue,” Ahnell said. “The other two-thirds,” which comes from a variety of sources the city has little control over, is projected to grow at a rate of only 2.5 percent. Expenses are rising at a much faster rate. “We cannot sustain an increase in expenses,” said Ahnell. “The property tax will have to shoulder more of the burden.” Boca Raton does have the lowest tax rate of all cities in Palm Beach County and most in nearby Broward. A 10 percent increase in the tax rate, he said, would generate $4 million additional dollars. That would cost the average taxpayer about $71 a year. Worsening Boca’s financial picture is the fact that a new library and an additional fire station will be brought on line in 2006 – at a total cost of $2.6 million. The following year, another new fire station comes on at $1.3 million. And another library will be added in 2008. “We have some tough decisions ahead,” said Councilwoman Susan Whelchel. “We have choices. Do you cut services? Privatize? Raise taxes?” Even if the tax rate is increased, she said, the amount will still be low. “We’ll look at all our options to enhance revenues,” said Councilman Peter Baronoff. He said he’d received a number of e-mails from people who don’t want services reduced. “Taxes have generally outpaced increased spending,” he said. “That’s not the case this year.” Baronoff said the city is preparing to send an informational flier to all taxpayers explaining the city’s financial situation. Council members also decided Friday to push such other “action items” as a downtown “vision” program, completion of a study of North Federal Highway and promotion of a light industrial research park (LIRP). Other goals for the year are old ones, including the pursuit of alternative revenue sources and better cooperation between the city and Florida Atlantic University on pending construction projects. Those projects include a domed FAU football stadium, I-95 interchange at Spanish River Road and the planned transformation of Boca Raton Community Hospital into a teaching hospital on the FAU campus. The council’s new priorities for the year include reviewing the city charter, which hasn’t been touched in a decade, and hiring an education advocate to lobby the Palm Beach County School District. The latter was recommended last week by the city’s K-12 task force after a yearlong education study. A final priority for the year is protecting the city’s recent deal to turn the former Cartoon Museum at Mizner Park into a multi-use cultural center and cornerstone of downtown development. Although the city inked the deal with General Growth Partners (GGP) in March, City Manager Ahnell said the corporation had invested no money in the cultural space and was already lobbying to turn the second floor into condominium space. “They are struggling mightily with the cultural component,” Ahnell said. Using the second floor for condos would violate the deal and prevent the city from meeting its bond requirement to reserve part of Mizner Park for non-profit uses, said Councilwoman Whelchel. “We can either sit here and wait for GGP to flip the property or we can pressure them to live up to the agreement,” Whelchel said. Council members pledged to summon GGP officials before the Community Redevelopment Agency sometime this year, to help them find cultural resources and entities for the space. The city is legally required to pay off the outstanding $66.8 million on the Mizner Park bond by 2019. The authors can be reached at dking@bocanews.com and at ssalai@bocanews.com. Story Link

I don't think I would call them horrible...Baseball is played on a field...with an average attendance under 1K, what do you think there should be?

Yes Grasshopper...but like a jigsaw, if you can't find the right piece you display weakness to claim it is missing.

Students Can Purchase Football and Basketball Tickets Online Now For 2005-06 Home Events  STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 3, 2005 -- Penn State students are reminded that season tickets for football and basketball home games in 2005-06 can now be purchased on-line. All returning students who were registered for at least 12 credits in the 2005 Spring semester, are registered for at least 12 credits for the 2005 Fall semester, and have an email address listed with the University, should have received an email last month advising them that they may pay for student football and basketball tickets on-line with a credit card. Orders are being processed on a first-come, first-served basis and students are encouraged to respond as early as possible. Student season football tickets sell out each year. Students will need to log onto the web address provided and use their account number and the PIN number that was included in the email. A link to a printable application will be provided for students not wishing to utilize the on-line method. Students will no longer receive a paper application at their postal address. Students that did not receive an application, but will be registered for a minimum of 12 credits in the Fall, can print an application by visiting www.GoPSUsports.com and clicking on the 'Tickets' link. All incoming freshmen will receive their account number and password in a letter mailed to their home in mid-May, provided that they were a paid accept by May 1, 2005. The Nittany Lion football team, which returns 18 starters, will play seven home games this fall, with visits by five teams that played in bowl games last season, including Big Ten rivals Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Entering his 40th season as head coach, Joe Paterno's squad returns 34 letterwinners, including nine starters on defense, eight on offense and one specialist. The Nittany Lions open the season with home games against South Florida (Sept. 3), Cincinnati (Sept. 10) and Central Michigan (Sept. 17) to close the non-conference slate. Penn State plays its Big Ten home opener versus Minnesota (Oct. 1) and then welcomes border rival Ohio State for a nationally televised primetime clash on Oct. 8. The Lions will host Purdue for Homecoming on Oct. 29 and entertain Wisconsin on Nov. 5 on Senior Day. Student football tickets will be $159 for seven home games. Men's and women's basketball student season tickets also are available when purchasing season football tickets. The efforts of Nittany Lion basketball coach Ed DeChellis and his staff have resulted in Penn State's first two Big Ten All-Freshman Team selections in Marlon Smith and, this past season, Geary Claxton. Penn State will field a more experienced team during the 2005-06 season, returning four starters and seven lettermen, in addition to a promising class of five newcomers. Lady Lion basketball coach Rene Portland returns starter Amanda Brown and will welcome transfer Kamela Gissendanner and a highly-acclaimed freshman class, several of whom will have an opportunity to contribute immediately. This past season, the Lady Lions made their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance in Portland's 25 years at Penn State. For more information on student season football or basketball tickets, please visit the FAQ at www.psu.edu/sports/tickets/Football_files/FAQ.htm, email StudentTickets@psu.edu or call the athletic ticket office at 814-863-1000 or 800-833-5533. Story Link So I guess there is no student athletic fee to force the dollars into the system... Wow..pay or get left out.  USF Students do pay indirectly but the money would go somewhere else if not football. They should be ecstatic and get to the **** games.

Meyer's Deal Incentive-Laden By ANDY STAPLES astaples@tampatrib.com GAINESVILLE - Urban Meyer has spent the past month telling University of Florida football fans he plans to coach the Gators for a long time. Meyer has plenty of financial incentive to keep his word, according to the seven- year, $14 million contract signed by Meyer on April 20 and by UF president Bernie Machen on April 25. The first- year coach's contract, released Friday, calls for a total of $2.1 million in longevity bonuses if Meyer stays for the length of the contract. Before bonuses, Meyer is scheduled to make about $1.5 million his first year. He also received a $500,000 signing bonus - former coach Ron Zook received a $375,000 signing bonus - and is due perks such as $100,000 for his children's educational expenses, a $60,000 expense account and free use of a vehicle ``in the medium price range'' for Meyer and his wife. Meyer's vehicle is a Dodge Durango. Meyer is scheduled to receive a $250,000 lump sum payment following the 2006 regular season, $500,000 in 2007, $250,000 in 2008, $500,000 in 2009 and $600,000 in 2011. There was no mention of 2010. In most cases, coach's contracts are revised long before they expire. If Meyer wins, he stands to make even more. Bonuses begin at $37,500 for making - and losing - the SEC Championship Game and escalate quickly. Meyer would receive $75,000 for winning the SEC title, $100,000 for reaching a Bowl Championship Series game and $250,000 for winning the BCS national title game. Meyer's contract has no buyout if he chooses to leave. Every year, he has from Dec. 1 until the day after Florida's bowl game to decide whether he wants to take another job. Should Meyer be fired, Florida would owe him $1 million for each year remaining on his contract. And if Florida fans didn't have enough reasons to cozy up to their coach, here's a new one. Meyer's contract calls for 12 complimentary tickets - probably not nosebleed seats, either - to each home game. He also has the option to buy 40 more tickets to each game at face value. UF received a commitment Friday from Stephenville, Texas, quarterback Jevan Snead. Snead, a 6-foot-4, 205- pounder, threw for 3,025 yards and 29 touchdowns and ran for 618 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. He chose Florida over Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma, and he intends to graduate in December and enroll at Florida in January. Snead is Florida's second commitment for the class of 2006. Fort Myers Riverdale running back Chevon Walker committed last month. Story Link Pressure on now...it's all over the media...even the Gators in Trailers Club is likely to see this as they toss the neighborhood fishwrap at other mobiles...  Wow, I give Urbie two years now.. ;D

You think?

Gators to pay Meyer average of $2 million BY DAVID JONES FLORIDA TODAY  GAINESVILLE - It's nice to be wanted. Just ask Urban Meyer. The new Florida football figures to become very wealthy with his new seven-year contract worth about $2 million annually and signed April 20. The longer he stays, the more he will be rewarded -- capped off by a package worth $2.35 million in 2011, including a $600,000 longevity incentive. Meyer left Utah with five years left in a deal worth $500,000 per season. Meyer, who also received a $500,000 signing bonus, will make $1.985 million this year. The final season is his highest payout, but a clause could allow renegotiation after the 2007 season. His Florida contract became available Friday through the state's open-records laws and was obtained by FLORIDA TODAY. It includes: Base salaries ranging from $225,000 this year to $268,660 in 2011 -- the only state money in the deal. Payments of $500,000 a year through the school's apparel contract with Nike. Appearance fees totaling $200,000 a year through 2007, then $250,000 a year. TV and radio deals of $300,000 a year, increasing to $425,000 a year in 2008. Longevity incentives alternating between $250,000 and $500,000 from 2006-09, then $600,000 in 2011. Two "medium-priced" cars, one for Meyer and his wife, with auto insurance paid, and an expense account of $60,000 a year ($5,000 a month). Payments of $100,000 a year for the Meyer family's educational expenses. Meyer's three children range in age from 6 to 14. Meyer's contract also includes bonues such as $250,000 for winning a national title, $75,000 for winning an SEC title and $50,000 for being named the Associated Press national coach of the year (which he was in 2004 at Utah before leaving for the Gators' program). Most of the contract, also including $100,000 a year for investments, will be paid by the University Athletic Association. While UF officials did not comment, Meyer has said that even though he will be one of the nation's highest-paid college coaches, taking the job wasn't about the money. "It's the best conference in college football," Meyer said during a recent booster stop in Brevard County. "I thought that before I was involved in the SEC, and now that I'm here, there is no question. It's the best players, it's in my opinion the best coaching. It's the passion." Florida State's Bobby Bowden, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, Texas' Mack Brown and Phil Fulmer of Tennessee also have deals averaging more than $2 million a year. Fulmer will make $2.05 million through 2011 after a recent extension. Fulmer receives $800,000 from radio-TV, $625,000 from the Vols' apparel deal and $300,000 from an appearances and endorsement agreement. Meyer's deal dwarfs the contract of predecessor Ron Zook, who made just more than $1 million per season in his three years at Florida before being fired late in the 2004 season. The new coach's appeal and expectations are obvious in his new contract. He is required to attend 20 Gator gatherings, although that number can be negotiated downward and is expected to decrease in the near future. Zook received $400,000 in his first year for the apparel part of his contract, $200,000 for TV and radio and $100,000 for appearances -- all three portions considerably less than Meyer. Similar to a clause in most of Steve Spurrier's years at Florida, Meyer's deal allows him to consider other jobs only after the regular season until Jan. 2 each year. Meyer does not have a buyout clause in his Florida deal. He had a $250,000 buyout at Utah. Longevity could provide more incentive than any buyout demands. The $100,000 investment will be deposited in a fund of Meyer's choice. If he remains at Florida until Jan. 31, 2012, he collects the entire amount plus all interest accumulated. Coupled with the $600,000 bonus in 2011, Meyer would collect a total of $2.1 million dollars in longevity bonuses if he stays the full seven years. Story Link **** Right he BETTER win NOW - which I hope he doesn't.... [smiley=FIREdevil.gif]

Bulls Charging into third place: Pitt- ROC the Panther 62% WVU- Mountaineer 10% South Florida- Bull 10% Cincinnati- Bearcat 6% Syracuse- Orange 5% Rutgers- Scarlet Knight 3% Louisville- Cardinal Bird 2% UConn- Huskie 2% TOTAL VOTES: 463 VOTE HERE What, no one ever seen a ferocious orange?

Pitt Football Earns Accolades from Athlon Sports 5/4/2005 The Panthers rank 23rd in Athlon's preseason poll, while Greg Lee is named an All-American. Coming off its first-ever Bowl Championship Series berth, the Pitt football team received both team and individual accolades in Athlon Sports’ 2005 college football annual, due out next month. The Panthers are ranked 23rd nationally and picked to finish second in the Big East by Athlon. Pitt returns 18 starters from last year’s 8-4 Fiesta Bowl squad, including nine on offense, seven on defense and two specialists. Individually, junior receiver Greg Lee (Tampa, Fla./Chamberlain) was named to Athlon’s All-America Team. A second-team selection, Lee led the Big East and ranked fifth nationally with 1,297 receiving yards last year. He had 68 total receptions (19.1 avg.) and 10 TD catches. Lee also was one of seven Pitt players named first team All-Big East by the magazine. He is joined by junior quarterback Tyler Palko (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny), senior offensive lineman Charles Spencer (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Trinity-Pawling School), junior linebacker H.B. Blades (Plantation, Fla./Plantation), senior cornerback Josh Lay (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa), senior placekicker Josh Cummings (Newhall, Calif./College of the Canyons) and junior punter Adam Graessle (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman). Additionally, the Panthers’ quarterbacks and receivers are rated No. 1 in the Big East. Palko is one of the featured players on Athlon’s Eastern edition cover. The magazine includes an article on new Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt and will hit newsstands June 7. The Panthers open their 2005 season Sept. 3 at Heinz Field against Notre Dame. Pitt will play an 11-game regular-season slate this year, including six home games. Story Link