Knight_Light

Great point. Logistics > Location Right now at Raymond James, I can find a parking space within 5 minutes, cross 1 road and be at the gates in 5 minutes. From the time I see the stadium, to the time I'm at the front gates, is less than 10 minutes. If they move to an OCS, and I have to walk 2 miles because of the parking situation, no thanks, I'll give up my tickets and stay home. But you are in the minority...as only a tiny fraction of USF's 250,000 plus alumni and 45,000 students bother to show up. There will probably be 50 students and 10 alumni that would probably take your place at an on-campus stadium that you say you would not show up for.

Correct...On-campus stadium will have a 50-100 plus year impact...and that it will change the CULTURE of not only your football program but that also for your Univ...as on-campus football games are the #1 event to bring alumni BACK to their Univ...and without them...you miss out...as studies show, its the alumni that are ENGAGED and more importantly, VISIT their Universities that are much more likely to donate $$$ to the general fund (they can see growth/improvement of their school on every visit), and if you don't have that opportunity for the #1 event that bring alumni back...it will cost you $$$ in the long-run.

Doak is UCF with a facade So true...(actually, UCF's concourse is much wider/open than that of Doak). WHOOPS! I just lost the ability to post images on this board. Wonder if a particular mod did that? Anyway, here are some photos of FSU's concourse area, which their facade helped cover up: http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff141/noleknight/FSU%20Campus/doak_erector4.jpg http://www.soonerfans.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2375&d=1316657168 Doak Campbell has much more in common with the old Citrus Bowl...which use to look like that. Here's what BHNS's concourse looks like: https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1275/1391920332_4b6563d48a_z.jpg

Your assumption that we would build a rinky dink stadium is silly. USF has said repeatedly that they're going to do it right and right is what the University of Minnesota has. Btw, the Swamp and Doak were originally just that-rinky dink stadiums. The Swamp started as a 22k seat stadium in 1921 and didn't get to a size that befits the Gator's history of winning until 40 years after it was built (it finally cleared 62000 in 1961). Doak Campbell started as a 15k seat stadium in 1950 and didn't clear the 60k mark until 35 years later, when it hit 60519. Stadiums ARE NOT built over night, they grow with demand for the program. And if population growth and Florida talent is any indication, USF will grow it's fan base without real trouble. All we have to do is win. Great point...as most on-campus stadiums stadium are really versions 5, 6, 7, etc...that have been expanded/renovated over the past 70-90 plus years...but they key is to BUILD ONE FIRST...and then always improve it. Doak Campbell in 1950 Florida Field 1930's

Thanks but many USF fans (though they have been shouted down in the past) have been strong proponents of an on-campus stadium and the LIFETIME Plus benefits that it brings not only to the football program, but maybe even more important, to the Univ as a whole.

This is a university were you will be shamed for not attending games or participating in traditions. They actually call people that have no spirit or dont participate in traditions 2%'rs Shame on us that another university can out do our attendance with their students alone. Texas A&M has had a team since 1894. We have had a team for less than 20 years. If you're trying to compare the two that's just ridiculous. True...but its as easy as one having PRIDE in their Univ...and while its harder for schools like USF and UCF to have that since most students don't have family legacies of generations attending their current school, one actually doesn't need all of that to have PRIDE in what they do, WHERE they go and to help GIVE BACK (heck, just by showing up/cheering) to their school. It all starts with Freshmen...get them hooked...get them hooked for LIFE. NOTE: The above is also UCF's biggest problem...especially since UCF actually enrolls more Community College Grads as Jr than they do Freshmen in a full calendar year...as new "Juniors" are much less likely to ever live on-campus, less likely to join Frats/Sororities/Clubs, etc...and are much less likely to have "school spirit", i.e. many still live at home...don't have as much interaction with others/on-campus as what underclassmen have when they start out as Freshmen.

Sports Illustrated had a study/articles years ago that showed if college students don't attend games (football and basketball) while they are enrolled at school, chances decrease dramatically that they would become alumni season tix holders/boosters. That same study showed that winning wasn't the major factor because those.students that didn't attend many if any games at very successful programs (like Georgia), odds we're.still much less that they would support their.school after graduation. Thats why an on-campus stadium can have 50 plus year $$ figure for every student that gets hook on their schools team. More students that attend creates more future boosters/season tix holders that will pay oof for 50 plus years. NOTE: Many on campus.stadiums today are 80 plus years old (just renovated and expanded over the years)

2006 vs McNeese State 2007 vs Elon 2008 vs Tennessee Martin 2009 vs Wofford 2011 vs FAMU 2012 vs Chattanooga 2013 vs McNeese State

Ding! /thread

Stan had just 1 winning conf season (out of 5) at Arkansas. Stan has just 1 winning conf season (out of 7) at USF and is just 6-25 over last 2 years in conf play. He's probably very fortunate that there was at least one AD out there that like to give out guaranteed multi-year contracts.

easy ways around it. give every scholarship player a number of free tickets to each of their events. that's equal benefits. let them sell them something tells me alabama football players will get more for their tickets than alabama field hockey players. then let the players sell their own rights for marketing purposes. manziel will get more than a womans soccer player to endorse something. And something tells me Alabama field hockey players will get more for their tickets than USF (insert 60-70 other program) Football players...and that's probably true even if bama doesn't even have a varsity field hockey team. There is no way the Federal Courts will allow higher payments for football players vs say women volleyball or softball players...as Title IX is basically unbreakable.

A big reason they don't want to pay anything is they don't want a workman comp claim if injured. It's the whole idea behind "amateur" athlete, but going back to the Greeks, the amateur athlete was getting paid. And if programs didn't pay coaching staff millions there would be plenty of money to pay students. There are a lot of angles behind this issue but bottom line is if students decided to boycott athletics for a year they could get whatever they want. Without programs paying coaching staffs millions of $$$$, odds are Alabama wouldn't have won 3 national titles under Saban because Saban and any top coach with his weight would be on NFL Coaching Staffs...where they could make top $$$$. Without those titles...without those championships, etc...schools wouldn't have tens of millions of $$$$ in donations, which actually helps build those beautiful facilities that current student-athletes use today.

This is NOT a secret story...as even Bull fans back then knew why UCF was looking at and eventually building an on-campus stadium. Renovation talk about the Citrus Bowl dates back to 1995, when the city started to work with the architect firm HNTB...which I think finally got the contract in 2008 but work was delayed and not started till this past week. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-12-28/news/9512280221_1_citrus-bowl-stadium-florida-citrus-sports-existing-stadium Found this post I made from May 2006...which again referenced the 2004 timeline when Dyer told Hitt & Orsini to get lost and start looking for a temporary home: Current estimates are $51 Million...with the 20,000 seat addition to come later. Bowl seating...relatively small uppper/lower levels (only 22-23 rows each) so each seat isn't far from the field... Most concessions/bathrooms/merchandise will be on the ground floor. No middle concourse at this time. Remember, this stadium was developed because the Mayor of Orlando told UCF 24 months ago that UCF would have to "play elsewhere" for 2005 anbd 2006 seasons as the City wanted to "upgrade" the Citrus Bowl. UCF started to look into a temporary stadium on campus of around 25,000 seats...and most costs estimates for "temporary" stadium for just 2-3 years was around $15-$20 Million. With these costs estimates, the AD started to look into a possible "permanent" stadium...and with new steel construction techniques (same as UK's recent expansion), and less concrete...next thing you know...UCF started to develop a plan for an on-campus Stadium...which 99% of the Alumni/Fan base wanted (even vs an "improved" Citrus Bowl in Downtown Orlando). With our new football stadium ON campus...right next to our new 10,000 Convocation Center...and our new Athletic Village and Entertainment Complex inbetween the 2...excitement FINALLY will be coming to UCF's campus...something many have waited for a long, long, time. KL

Anyone involved at UCF during that time is very well aware of those events listed early. In April 2004, even the Sentinel had articles about Dyer and Florida Citrus Sports in regards to their first initial plans to renovate the 70 plus year old Citrus Bowl. Stadium Upgrades Key To Orlando's Bcs Bid With A Fifth Bcs Game Likely, Leaders Search For Ways To Pay For Citrus Bowl Improvements. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2004-04-28/sports/0404280195_1_fifth-bcs-citrus-bowl-fifth-game Again, UCF never would have bothered to look for a "temporary home" unless Dyer told them to look for options for 2005 and 2006..(those plans for a quick renovation died...but it was when UCF looked at options available that lead to the eventually building of BHNS). Nothing in this article states your version of events, and the previous article I posted directly contradicts what you are saying. I'm beginning to suspect this is UCF lore that evolved out of what people assumed happened rather than what actually happened. LOL!! Here's Steve Orsini's phone number...give him a call so you won't go thru life not knowing the truth: (972) 263-0774

Anyone involved at UCF during that time is very well aware of those events listed early. In April 2004, even the Sentinel had articles about Dyer and Florida Citrus Sports in regards to their first initial plans to renovate the 70 plus year old Citrus Bowl. Stadium Upgrades Key To Orlando's Bcs Bid With A Fifth Bcs Game Likely, Leaders Search For Ways To Pay For Citrus Bowl Improvements. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2004-04-28/sports/0404280195_1_fifth-bcs-citrus-bowl-fifth-game Again, UCF never would have bothered to look for a "temporary home" unless Dyer told them to look for options for 2005 and 2006..(those plans for a quick renovation died...but it was when UCF looked at options available that lead to the eventually building of BHNS).

You are totally wrong in bold. 1) No one is forced to go to college to play in the NBA or NFL. 2) There are scores of options for basketball players, from playing International Basketball where some leagues sign players that are STILL in HS to play in the states in the NBA D-League, where the minimum age to play is 18. 3) NFL only requires that all players are 3 years removed from HS...doesn't say they must go to college...as some NFL players have made it by playing in IM leagues in the military to playing professional soccer, ruby, Austrialian rules football, etc... and then making the transition to the NFL Now can players BENEFIT from the exposure they get from playing college basketball and college football? Of course...which is why most take that route...but the NBA nor the NFL "force anyone to play college ball".

Doh! Nevertheless, this is not why UCF built an OCS. Really, it doesn't make any sense to link the two. http://www.ucfknights.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010405aaa.html In the Fall of 2004, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told Dr Hitt & AD Steve Orsini that UCF wouldn't be able to play any home games in the Citrus Bowl for the 2005 or 2006 season because they were going to shut-down and renovate the Citrus Bowl over 2 years. (Even though it wasn't fully approved at that time) Hitt and Orsini tried to persuade Dyer to do the renovation in phases so UCF could continue to play in the stadium (i.e. use one side of the grandstands) for those years but Dyer said no. So during the Fall of 2004, Dr Hitt and Orsini started to look for places UCF could play in 2005 (i.e. from Wide World of Sports to Memorial Stadium in Daytona to building a small 15,000-20,000 seat temporary stadium on-campus). That is also why UCF had just 4 regular season home games in 2005 (all conf games)...as they scheduled all 3 non-conf games away from home It was when UCF started to look at building a small on-campus stadium that they realized, even for a program that was just leaving the MAC and entering CUSA in 2005, that they might be able to build their own on-campus stadium. Because of Dyer's initial plans to renovate the Citrus Bowl stadium in 2005 and 2006, UCF had initially planned to open BHNS in 2006, but when Dyer's plans were delayed, that gave UCF an extra year to raise $$ and not rush construction so that BHNS did not have to open till 2007 (against Univ of Texas). Interesting side note: It has taken TEN YEARS from Dyer's initial plan to renovate the Citrus Bowl back in 2004...as just this past week, they started to bulldoze the lower 2 levels of the old Citrus Bowl and reconstruction of the new lower levels, clubs, suites, etc...should start later this Spring/Summer. The greatest gift UCF has ever received when UF Grad Buddy Dyer told Hitt & Orsini to "get lost"...because without that push...UCF probably would have never had their own on-campus stadium. Some UCF fans still send the Gator Mayor a Christmas Card each and every year..."thanking him" for that gift...which keeps on giving every single football season.

An invite to a P5 conference Is much more important than an on campus stadium. The new hire could have insight or pull to get USF into a P5 conference. I would take P5 over on campus stadium all day long. Por que no los dos? I agree 100%. It's a false dichotomy. We can have both - or at least fight for both. Plus, an AD has greater control over fundraising for an OCS than wiggling us into a P5 conference, which is ultimately up to a vote by other schools with their own financial interests at heart. Smart administrators can have more than one goal/objective...and the above is true...as USF can control their own program, their own facilities, etc...and is obviously NOT in control of being invited to a P5 conference (who knows if any of the P5 will ever invite new members?). Control what you can control...and for those AGAINST a right size on-campus stadium, just look at the number of EMPTY SEATS that USF played at home, even though they hired a so-called "dynamic and local Head Coach" and ask yourself: "Is that a good thing to do?" (i.e. play in front of that many empty seats) Empty Seats per home game at RJS for 2013: McNeese State: 43,238 FAU: 45,108 Miami: 32,860 Cincinnati: 49,938 Louisville: 44,492 Memphis: 51,064 Total number of empty seats at USF Home games for 2013: 266,708 or an average of 44,451 empty seats per game.

first off tuition at most universities is way overstated. they want people to feel like they are getting something of greater value. Most students receive a considerable break on the published tuition amounts. secondly ND tuition and fees is said to be $44k per year. that amounts to $75k less than the amount you stated. not many kids can earn that much and not many kids can bring in $100M per year to a university either. BTW UF states in their own student guide that it costs roughly $16k per year which includes a car, insurance, gas, etc. everyday living expenses. not just tuition and room / board. Give the revenue athletes an incentive to graduate. Give them $100k when they receive their degree. a drop in the bucket. say 25 football players graduate a year (it's not even close to that). it would cost the university $2.5M which is a drop in the bucket. adjust ADs and coaches salaries down. let the players earn a few bucks The above would be true for those that would be accepted for admission WITHOUT being offered an athletic scholarship...but since most football (and men's basketball players too), would NOT gain admission as a regular student, the $$$ those scholarships, tuition, room & board, private tutoring, etc...(especially for out-of-state students) can be worth up to $200,000 or more over a 4-5 year period rings true.

Really, you think if Congress just taxed pot (signed by the President)...that those in charge would simply just cut our other taxes in return? You don't think congress would spend those new tax $$$ in a blink of an eye vs giving tax breaks? If you believe what you wrote...I got some wonderful easily developed swampland to sell ya in FLA.

He wont be the only one . Speaking of Colorado what if the school follows State law and says its OK for their students and players to smoke, will the NCAA step in and supersede? Will it turn them into a juggernaut or will we see Alabama and the other SEC SCHOOLS start pushing hard to legalizing weed as well to keep the talent? Places where it's legal, employers still can restrict employees. You won't see firemen and cops smoking pot in Colo.. I expect the same with those on athletic scholarships. Banned substance like legal ones that effect performance. Correct. Some players that understand the value of a $200,000 athletic scholarship will easily understand what team rules they must follow to keep said scholarship just like most employers are doing in Colorado. From quote from Seth Davis's SI hoop article the other day...when he noted; So let me get this straight: Chane Behanan, who was dismissed from Louisville for repeatedly failing to abide by university policy (wink, wink) and has enlisted John Lucas as his substance abuse counselor, is about to sign with Colorado State, which just happens to be located in a state where marijuana just became legal for recreational purposes. On what planet is that a good idea? Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20140120/hoop-thoughts-bruce-pearl-richard-pitino-wichita-state/#ixzz2r34HiuBJ

Thats what Colorado did a few years ago...but all of their supportersgoals (just like in FLA) was for eventually legalized use. "Medicinal" marijuana was always a ruse....and much of the public bought it.

Think the biggest flaw made in hiring Woolard was that Woolard had just 1 full-time AD position prior to USF...and that was from a school (St Louis U) that didn't have a Div I-A Football program, let alone a BCS Football Program. Woolard was hired 7 months AFTER USF accepted their BCS invite....and still surprised he was hired from SLU.

He is only charged with a felony (yes, that means you can't participate in team activities till the case and/or penalty are resolved). However, if he has a previous clean record, if this is his first offense, any good lawyer will get this charged dropped to a misdemeanor, which would make him eligible to participate in program activities/workouts/practices/games. Now Tag might have his own penalties to add...but odds are, if chargers are lowered or even dropped all together, he will not be kicked out of the program for good.

Most Universities would obviously dispute that statement. Just wondering where you got that fact from.