Knight_Light

6 hours ago, E.T. said:

When UH moves to Big 12, will football fans come?

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From a high of 38,953 in 2016, Cougars have seen football attendance drop to 25,073 in...

 

Houston will probably benefit the most in regards to visiting fan base attendance as most Big 12 schools have huge alumni bases in Houston...plus 3 other teams are from TX and another from nearby OK.

With just a 40,000 seat stadium, this new demand will finally cause some UH casual fans to buy season tix as they will finally have several hard sellouts so might as well get the lower priced season tix vs high demand single game tix on secondary market.

Looks like the AAC will expand by these 6 teams:

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1450305278486978564?s=20

First show was pretty entertaining...as it will definitely help attract attention amongst recruits who get an inside look at the day-to-day dealings with Coach Gus in particular and/or what their future teammates are up to in practice and in campus life.

On 9/11/2021 at 10:44 AM, Brad said:

Kansas looked like they were going to play.  

Coastal just played with so much more enthusiasm and energy.  Sort of embarrassing for Kansas to show up in a 17K stadium for a 10K enrollment school with players wearing mullets and get their ass kicked.  I think their new coach is trying, but the rebuild is a few years off.

DYK:

Kansas paid Coastal Carolina some good change for a 2-for-1 series...and now Coastal has won all 3 games.

KU should just have "Fall Basketball" instead of Fall Football.

On 9/3/2021 at 11:38 PM, cmhatter said:

USF admin needs to accept that the UCF model worked. They went with a “build it and they will come” model and combined that with loud ADs / coaches. They kept UCF in the news (good or bad) and built their brand. Proclaiming that they won a national championship was a marketing masterclass. It was comical but everyone in the entire country recognized UCF after that. Everyone. 

USF blew it in a major way and now they have to take UCFs playbook and execute. 

Build the facilities needed to compete. Create a real college football experience on campus. Invest in marketing. Engage the media. 

Its certainly a template that others should follow...and similarly, 3 out of the other 4 new Big 12 members did so since 2007:

2007: UCF's 45,300 seat On-Campus Football Stadium and New 10,000 Seat Arena open up that Sept.

2014: Houston opens up their new 40,000 seat on-campus stadium (built for $138 Million). Without that on-campus stadium, I don't think UH would have been considered a strong candidate for expansion if they were playing at the Texans NFL Dome down the road.

2016: Cincinnati spent $86 Million to expand and renovate Nippert Stadium to 40,000 seats.

Cinci also spent $87 Million during a 20 month renovation of their Firth Third Bank Arena that reopened in 2018.

Houston also spent $60 Million (after a HUGE $20 Million gift from Fertitta) to totally renovate their basketball area that reopened in 2018 as well.

While winning certainly helps anyone, investing in ON-CAMPUS facilities is big to most conferences and I think thats what held Memphis back. 

Building a new indoor practice facility is a good first step but one could ask, why wasn't that done earlier, especially when you were receiving BCS $$$? (UCF's indoor facility was planned in 2004 during their last season in the MAC and opened up just over a year later during year 1 of CUSA Football in 2005

).

5th straight year UCF won the War on I-4 Trophy. (This is the 5th year that both schools decide to award this trophy).

This year it wasn't even close as UCF added 6 more pts this past weekend via Track & Field Championships: 

https://twitter.com/UCFKnights/status/1394091012243566592?s=20

On 1/28/2021 at 4:22 PM, Jonesy Bull said:

None of these Coaches scare me really, except for maybe Gus.  I don't remember the circumstances of his departure from Auburn.  I thought he did pretty well there.  But why would he take that big of a step back from being a National Champion at one point in the SEC?

1 hour ago, pacificd said:

Granted, my memory might be failing me, but wasn't CCS touted by a lot of people as some epic recruiter. Weren't people saying that all of these Florida parents were going to want their kids to come play for him? Maybe I am misremembering.

 

He drove away more talent than he brought in. Maybe a few years worth of recruiting is the path.

 

Strong's recruiting classes for his 3 years in the AAC:

2017: #4 in AAC (Frost's UCF Class was #1)

2018: #2 in AAC (Heupel's UCF Class was #5)

2019: #3 in AAC (Heupel's UCF Class was #1)

There is a lot more to winning football vs targeting just individuals...its how you mold them as a team and how they can fit your schemes.

12 hours ago, CousinRicky said:

The IPF was close and then the economy shut down.  Think it will be announced within the next 10 months. Just a guess though.

DYK that UCF built the first Indoor Practice Facility (College or NFL) in the State of FL back when UCF was leaving the MAC and about to join CUSA?

UCF's Nicholson Fieldhouse opened in June 2005. (This became a focus due to all the lost practice time in August/Sept when afternoon lightning storms were the norm).

Here's a shot of Alabama practicing at UCF's Nicholson Fieldhouse prior to a recent Citrus Bowl Game

16 hours ago, puc86 said:

I hate that I have to watch 8 AAC games a year, the thought of watching an AAC game that we are not playing in is unfathomable to me. 

Why?

AAC has been a much better football conf this year vs Pac-12 or even the ACC.

Quality of football in the AAC is pretty darn good and easily the deepest in regards to number of good programs.

On 11/25/2019 at 12:24 PM, Nick Carroll said:

Exactly. 

Thanks. I will do just that. 

Yeah...Burger U will have a huge set up (between the Arena and Stadium in the Athletic Village) as they will have indoor and outdoor serving areas. They have about 25 beers on draft and about another 40 or so bottle. (Plus have hard liquor and obviously wine too).

Gringos Tacos (on the other side of the Arena) and Chili's in the Student Union will also serve beer. 

Near Burger U will be the free concerts and the Monster Engergy Motorcycle Jumping Show.

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKT8jxNXUAEpNHZ.jpg

9 hours ago, Bull Daly said:

Do they sell alcohol at their stadium? 

In the Cabana Club, Stadium Club, Tower Club (including Loge Seats) and obviously Suites.

Taggart hired Leavitt as an "Analyst" (can't coach on the field at practice or obviously at games) but this FSU Player admitted that Leavitt is coaching them AT practice.

1 hour ago, puc86 said:

I would love to go to a NY6 game and value that highly. I question if simply winning the AAC and losing all the marquee games will get us any closer to a NY6 game than winning marquee games and losing the AAC games will. How many marquee losses has UCF had in the seasons where they won the AAC and made it to a NY6 game? My preference is to win every game (which is pretty much where the bar is set for any G5 success) but if we do not get to do that I value games I and the general public hold in higher esteem than I do AAC championships for there own sake (not only as a means to something I value, namely the NY6 game I feel that will not come with a host of marquee losses). You only pretend to care about ****** conference championships and not marquee wins because you have more conference champioships than you do wins against programs anyone cares about at all. Hell we are probably in the top 5 programs you have ever beaten and you are not even in out top 20. Lets go small to start. State schools where we are hands down your best victory and you are behind FSU and Miami on our list. 

You can't go to a NYD6 unless you are a Conf Champion of a G5 Conf....and THEN you have to be the highest ranked G5 Conf Champ (like UCF has been lately) so yes, all games are important...but you first have to win your division and then your conf, before you are even eligible to be considered for a NYD6 Bowl spot.

On 7/12/2019 at 12:20 PM, NewEnglandBull said:

Totally disagree. If we win we are called CHAMPIONS...how many times have you heard that about USF football? Quick answer...NEVER. It’s all about winning brother. From an economic view your position is like 1970s USSR...don’t worry about winning...it does not matter...just enjoy breathing and be happy you can do that. This is a repugnant position to take about a college program that you graduated from and follow. I mean, why the hell even bother? 

I think puc never wants to worry about EVERY having to attend a Conf Championship Game on Championship Saturday nor having a full stadium for said game and have ABC broadcast it to the world.

And since he doesn't want to make plans for that Championship Saturday, he obviously never ever wants to worry about traveling to a NYD6 Bowl Game and interrupting his exciting NYE plans.

Pretend you don't care....and when you don't win...you can't be disappointed. (Thats for puc as obviously many of your fans do want to win and they do want to win conf championships which would mean they would have a shot at a NYD6 Game).

On 6/27/2019 at 10:13 AM, NewEnglandBull said:

By now I assume you just cut and paste this...

If he bashes the conf that his team has never even won a divisional, let along a conf title...then yes, it was a cut and paste job.

50 minutes ago, puc86 said:

They probably actually believe that it’s better and we even have some deranged fans on here that think conference championships are the have all be all that would agree with them. Some people just don’t understand qualitative vs quantitative arguments, they are the reason buffets exist.

Conf Titles for the AAC is extremely important as one must be a Conf Champion to be considered for NYD6 slot for highest ranked G5 CHAMPION.

On 5/17/2019 at 10:32 PM, chapelbull said:

They had 0 conference championships in their first 28 years ... we've got a few more years of suffering before we hit our stride ......

Both teams were Independent and didn't join conferences till 2002 (UCF) and 2003 (USF).

UCF has  12 Divisional or Conf Titles during that time while the Bulls are still looking for their first ever in each.

On 5/17/2019 at 10:26 PM, NewEnglandBull said:

Do keep in mind that one of those championships was the season we rolled 64 points on them. One championship was a three way tie. So the two they have are legit in my book. As far as suffering through winless seasons to get a NYD win? I would have to think about that. I mean last year was a killer and it was only half way. 

Incorrect.

BJones was talking about the 4 Conf Titles UCF has won just since 2013 when both teams were finally in the same conf.

UCF won titles in '13, '14, '17 and '18 since AAC was formed. (UCF win other conf titles during CUSA play).

On 12/3/2018 at 8:49 AM, usf97 said:

 When I think about the typical UCF fan, I think of you.

 

Gee...thanks!!!

It's been an amazing journey for me...as I've watched sooo many games (many wins and yes, plenty of heartbreat), but that's what makes my journey soooo enjoyable.

When I was in school...I had a blast cheering for "Division II" UCF. It was a thrill...still remember my first game when UCF beat BCC for the very first time on a LONG 53 yd FG on the final play of the game.

Flash forward to seeing Div II Attendance records...to making Div I-AA Playoffs...and then finally getting to Div I-A with Daunte Culpepper to beating Defending SEC Champion Alabama on their Homecoming Day...to joining a conf and finally having yearly rivals (like Marshall in the MAC and then in CUSA), to hearing about UCF building their own on-campus stadium...at the SAME TIME, UCF was building their beautiful new 10,000 seat arena that was the centerpiece of their cool new Athletic Village on Campus...to seeing UCF host the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns on Opening Day of Brighthouse Network Stadium...to seeing in-person at our on-campus stadium...winning Conf Championships after Conf Championships...to seeing UCF IN-PERSON their first ever bowl game victory...to seeing IN-PERSON UCF's first ever BCS Bowl Game AND Victory...to seeing in-person, UCF go undefeated in back-to-game seasons...plus seeing UCF win their 2nd NYD6/BCS Bowl Game in 5 years...and now UCF is set to play in their 3rd NYD6/BCS Bowl game in the last 6 seasons.

Thanks for "thinking" about me and my journey....its been one hell of a ride...and I hope it doesn't end anytime soon.

32 minutes ago, jj1987 said:

This is an interesting analogy.  USF must be the kid who bashes the Civics and talks about how amazing Ford GT500 or ZR1 vettes are, while not owning a car.

That's basically it in a nutshell.

10 hours ago, Ghostbuster said:

That's pretty much the worst model to follow.  I don't care how many gimmicks they add to that stadium (fake sand, endzone tents, future pools), it will always be a cheap bouncy piece of junk.

USF should absolutely do better.  

 

You know who would say the above? One who's school doesn't HAVE a stadium.

All I know is ABC and ESPN certainly "love" what UCF has built...and that means a bit more to us than something a fan could utter who's team has got ZILCH in regards to a stadium, heck, even after YEARS in a BCS Conf, they still don't even have an INDOOR Practice Facility (you remember, UCF was first in the state to build one of those...and that was without any BCS $$).

11 hours ago, BulledOver said:

Very true. When I see excited coaches connecting with their players and fans it sends a visible message about the atmosphere surrounding the program. Great atmosphere to play in and watch a game. 

Heupel is REALLY big on "family"...as he has his and the other coaches families in/around the program all the time...even on the field after every home game (and in Tampa), plus in the locker rooms too. 

While successful coaches come in all styles...saying you are a family and BEING a family can be two different things...but right now for UCF, its certainly working for Coach Heupel...as he crossed that threshold for almost all UCF Fans on Saturday night and that goodwill will go on into the future too (even if there is a loss or two along the way).

My ears are still ringing from ANOTHER crazed home crowd at our on-campus stadium!!!!

https://twitter.com/UCF_Football/status/1069230706801418241

On 11/20/2018 at 3:05 PM, usf97 said:

The one fun thing about these old threads is to compare reality versus expectations. 

It's been 12 years. Still on the outside looking in. 

UCF will be playing in their 3rd BCS/NYD6 Bowl in the last 6 years...while usf is still waiting for their first EVER conf title, let alone their first ever DIVISIONAL title.

One program is knocking on the door...while another one doesn't even know where the door is located or what it even looks like.