USFreak

Merely my opinion. If we see a change out there this Sunday I suppose we'll know. I have nothing against either of these guys -- as I mentioned both were right on board with Leavitt from Day 1 of their recruitment. Loyalty is very important and both have committed to this program before, during and after they left. Kevin came back as a GA and they are great ambassadors to this program. 110% effort as well. That can't be underestimated. It isn't a rip on them, but I imagine it is more important at game time to put your best player out there. Julmiste is a great guy too and very loyal, but do we want him out there over Grothe? I'm just saying you go with your best option and, at this point, we may have better options at SS.

Not to pile on because both of these guys have been real committed to the program, but I've never been a huge Verpaele(s) fan. Kevin never seemed to be in the right spot and Danny sort of continues that. His poor tackling only compounds the problem. I'd agree with Cyber. We're probably looking at a change at RB and SS. DT possibly as well.

I hate to be the heavy handed moderator, but maybe this will keep you guys more focused on Jenn Sterger and the Bulls, and less on Shoopwell, smazza and glitter boys: More Jenn Sterger at JennSterger.com You need to put up the "good" picture. Although that will quickly ruin the G rating of this thread....OK, PG-13 rating of this thread

Amen. This schedule sets up perfectly for a young team that really needed a schedule like this. All the younger components are gelling with the long-timers. Kansas is the type of team that we could lose to...but lose pretty. Either way, each week the team will get better as they grow into this schedule. That doesn't mean they will win them all, but on paper (and with the way their home schedule sets up) they should have the chance to win 7 or 8 and make a case for a bowl. This Saturday should be interesting. I think we'll learn a lot. Last Saturday was packed with a lot of emotion and motivation. This will be a game against not too sexy of opponent, but very winnable if they put it all together.

Best to just keep it simple. Tamplona on the front. Image of a few Bulls running left to right on the back chasing a person wearing a Big-East shirt or a shirt with all the other Big East school logos??

I agree with Brett's logic there EXCEPT if USF gets 2 for 1 deals with the opponents. Then it is certainly a better financial deal (7 home games), but obviously a bummer that fans need to actually sit through three of those dogs a year. Say what you want about the UCF game -- love it or leave it -- but to me (IMHO) it has more interest for me and at least a subset (not all) fans as better than a game with Buffalo or Kent State or Grambling.

Yeah, McMurphy is starting to make a career out of speculation and inciteful articles. Somebody made a good point to me tonight. If this was an article about USF scheduling a 1 for 1 with Florida everybody would have a collective b*ner. Since it is WKU, Ball State and Buffalo we're ****ting on the messenger. There is some truth to that me thinks. Maybe, but if that is the case why not speculate on the other BCS teams we're in negotiations with? There are other big names many of us have heard USF is working on, no mention of them just the ones he thought would stir the hen house. They weren't glossed over. They were mentioned (the existing BCS arrangements that is), but I think at this point we've sort of filled our BCS docket for the next few years with some great matchups. Now we need to backfill it with some easier to win games. Certainly the article was geared towards Non-BCS and I-AA teams. Our BCS accomplishments have been pretty well chronicled. Also, this is UCF week so....well, you'd obviously have to expect a UCF-related article somewhat in this vein. I think UCF was a vehicle to talk about Non-BCS future scheduling. I doubt the same article would be raised Kansas week for instance.

Yeah, McMurphy is starting to make a career out of speculation and inciteful articles. Somebody made a good point to me tonight. If this was an article about USF scheduling a 1 for 1 with Florida everybody would have a collective b*ner. Since it is WKU, Ball State and Buffalo we're ****ting on the messenger. There is some truth to that me thinks.

Cool, thx. That makes sense. In that regard it certainly pays to schedule a I-AA.

My guess is it just establishes some form of audit trail up to the events that eventually occur. Phone calls, meeting minutes, etc. I mean in reality there was nothing official about the overtures with Alabama and Leavitt and the coaching position there. There wasn't anything printed, but there was certainly some accuracy to the story. This story seems like it has more of an actual audit trail (in terms of physical documents that Floridians have access to) than the Alabama story. That was just good old-fashioned investigative reporting and a few decent sources.

Would McNeese count this year towards bowl eligibility? My guess is No because haven't we already used a I-AA win this four years? Anybody know? Brett? Greg?

Austin Peay would be AWESOME!!! I'm down with that. Blow off this UCF thing for some Peay action. I think Peay players play both offense and defense.

Okay, what are the ramifications if we win? We get all excited? Nope, just another day at the office.

I think everybody agrees there. At the same time this game also has some easy-to-spot benefits: a) It is 75 miles away making it an easy away game for fans It is 75 miles away making it a cheap travel game for the team c) It did fairly well attendence-wise the last time it was played putting some dollars in the coffers d) The students seem to like it -- if only for some small-time bragging rights Obviously picking up a 2 for 1 is more financially savvy even if the typical 27k show up (FIU, Buffalo, etc.) There are benefits on both sides for certain, but in the end it will probably end up in the hands of the Florida Legislature or USF will nix future contests. At the end of the series USF will have played UCF more than any other OOC opponent in the I-A era. Charleston Southern doesn't count. ;D

Ramifications? -- I have a picture that sums it up.

Yours truly, Jemele Hill Orlando Sentinel Knights-Bulls rivalry is not a no-brainer Very good article. All true, but now that the games are scheduled they all need to be played. USF certainly has a TON to lose, but the key is they can't lose. After all, if they do this Saturday there are still two more to play. I agreed from the outset of all the reasons this was a horrible scheduling blunder - basically Jamele Hill's logic -- but what is done is done. I think she states it perfectly here:

I fear this goes all the way to the top!!!! :-)

Hmmmmm, does anybody smell a conspiracy here? USF doesn't want this to be a 'rivalry' and administrators are seemingly dragging their feet? The students are clearly going to be the biggest part of the USF travel base for this game. Just kidding, but maybe.... Signed, Oliver Stone :-)

Sounds reasonable. Will the USF/UCF game have a gameday story? :-)

Is that the version where Charlie Jackson runs sideline to sideline, but makes no forward progress? If so, I have plenty of tapes of kickoff returns just like that.:-) j/k

Bootleg Bull that is unbelievable. Thanks!!!!! Is that the full version? It seemed like the one at stadium was longer (at least the later games in the season), but that version has really made a boy from Mississippi feel right at home!

It will have nothing to do with advertising. It will have to do with the ink this gets in both daily papers. "Rivalry" will be a word that pops up early and often that week. Does that inspire USF fans to show up? Who knows. More accurately probably turn on the TV. Turns out that takes a lot less effort. O'Leary will likely say something to start the bidding. Bianchi will follow suit shortly after and I can't see the local Tampa papers ignoring this game. Even they know this is USF's most meaningful early season game and can create their own hype/storyline.

The reason I ask is because my brother (who went to Georgia Tech) sent me this intro from their game (they'll use all season). He was all proud like it was the coolest thing ever. I tried to explain to him that the one USF uses just blows it away. At this time I have no visual proof to submit so I guess GT wins. :-) See below: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6463160878315702962&hl=en

Bueller? Bueller? C'mon...somebody savvy has to have this or know a guy that has it. I'd hate to think that thing will never be seen again? To be honest too this seems like a perfect thing to get USF some free internet buzz. How many college football geeks out there would love to see that? I still find it to be the coolest thing I've ever seen on any jumbotron ever. I wasn't at last week's game. Is there a new version on the Jumbotrons? How do they introduce the team?

I doubt any 'source' will know the full count. They may know the official USF count, but in terms of attending this game there are very few barriers to seeing it. There is no need to plan flights, etc. This is the type of game where the decision can be made a day or two before the game. I imagine the media attention we see next week could really jack the numbers up sufficiently. Even 1800 in sales this week could easily translate to 3800 next week. USF likely has to return the tix so it will be all Ticketmaster or secondhand market. I think 3500 is probably a reasonable number for how many USF folks attend the game. USF doesn't travel especially well to anything, but with the proximity of the game and history of attendance I imagine 3500 is about spot on.