EXBULL21

There was a birthday party being held at the baseball field (yes anyone can rent the space) and that was the biggest game on TV at the time. I was there...we are all USF fans it was just what was on at the time. This was not a USF sanctioned event for those of you blaming USF athletics.

Wow...most of you must have never watched any USF baseball games:

1) Marquel Blakwell

2) Ross Gload

3) Chucky Atkins

4) Kawika Mitchell

5) Anthony Henry

I can totally understand why Matt may need to work in the off season.  Plenty of student athletes need to make some additional $$ to help suppliment the scholorship money that they receive.  Just because he is on a full scholly doesn't mean he can pay for everything (i.e. living expenses).  Many student athletes have to take out loans, get off season jobs, etc. just like any other student.

What I can't understand is why would he work in that kind of envirnonment?  It couldn't have been for long as I'm sure there are people from the athletic dept., professors, etc. that go there and would have heard that he was working there.  Why would management of the Bull Ring even let him work there.  Just dumb ass thinking on all sides if you ask me.

There has to be some policy in place that requires an athlete to disclose where he/she is working.  It's almost a given for compliance purposes as an athlete is only allowed to make so much $$ in proportion to their scholly.  

Matt must have been doing this on his own and I really just can't believe he would made the decision to work at a bar.  Hell Matt, I could use you help at my office to do some financial work...sure would be less risky than working at a bar.

FYI...just booked a room at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn/Opelika for $239/night.  This is for a double queen suite room so has plenty of room for 4 to 6 people.  Not sure if they have any double's left but they do have king suites left.  

Sounds like the hotel is close to a mall that has free shuttle service to the stadium as well.

Congrats Sarge!  

I was fortunate to play ball with Chris at USF and can honestly say that he was the best leader on the field that I evey played with.  He was absolutely Mr. Clutch and he is what is the epitome of what a baseball player is all about.

I hope that those that follow USF baseball take time to vote Chris for Hall of Fame status at USF.  You can do so through gousfbulls.com

I agree that I never expected the Times to write an article like that about USF...even though some of the comments are funny.  I think both papers are really hurting USF's chances of hiring a decent coach.  Granted, most of these coaches are getting direct information from DW but you in todays world of instant info, I'm sure people are feeding these types of articles to candidates as a "hey did you read this article?".

Maybe it's their way of getting back at DW for not discussing the hiring process with media?  Is it usual for a school or AD to not discuss this process?

Who in the right mind wouldn't want to be in a BCS conference.

Well, so far, Ford, Pelphrey, Marshall and Grant have indicated they're not in their right mind ..... Did I miss anybody?

Than that just shows they weren't right for the job or the challenge.  Everyone should have seen the painting on the wall that football was going to take this athletic program to new hights and probably end up in a BCS conference.  I'm not saying anything about McCullum's coaching abilities...I'm just saying that he had to of had some idea that in the short term we would be in a BCS conference.  I think we all talked about hopefully one day joining the BCS ranks...you telling me that our athletic department didn't think that are discuss that with potential coaches.  Do you think CJL was taking this job to stay in CUSA??

Can't believe he would say that...just proves that he wasn't the right man for the job.  What a cop out!  Blaming our lack of success on the fact that he didn't plan on going to the Big East.  Your telling me that at no time did he think or even have conversations with faculty before he was hired or even after he was hired that we had a goal of hopefully getting into a BCS conference?  Who in the right mind wouldn't want to be in a BCS conference.  

If you can't play with the big boys get out of the f'ing kitchen.

Dude..

NO GOOD CURRENT HEAD COACH IS GOING TO RISK THIER JOB FOR A CHANCE TO COACH USF.

Woolard has to see this.

Who on gods earth is going to leave their job to come to a school that has had 4 or 5 coaches either fired or run out of town -- in addition has won 10 conference games in 4 years and hasn't made the NCAA tourny in 16 years?

nobody worth a grain of salt.

I'm starting to think that as well.  We will probably have to get someone who is looking to get back into coaching and make a name for himself.  I think Marshall and Pelphry are waiting on bigger opportunities and you can't blame them for that.  It's all about building a resume and right now USF could be a killer for a young up and coming coach who has had early success.  That's just the truth.

He is going to have to hire someone who doesn't hae a job and has nothing to lose.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/

Nice article...let's hope Matt stays hungry to improve on his success last year :-)

Out at 3 a.m. during spring football isn't a first for any of these kids and you can't fault them for that.  We all were in college and did the same things.  You can however fault both of them for not being smart and just leaving before things got out of hand...and I think that is what really pissed CJL off.  He knows that people are human but I'm sure had higher hopes for these two having better character.  

Not to sound old fashioned...but can't the guys at least wear a suit or sportscoat to the banquet??  

I believe on the Pewter Report this morning on 620 am, they said the Bucs could be interested especially since Quarels is out.

Once he gets his chance, there will be no stopping him.

Seriously, the guy shattered USF's records in two years of playing, one of those in a BCS conference.

I can't wait, because then my autographs of him will be worth even more and they will make me feel even more proud to say "Nope, not for sale".

hall has no chance in nfl

shattering usf rushing records dont mean much

Way to be positive...

Andre has just as good a shot as anyone else...at least he is getting one...did you ever?

I've been there for a few games and can say that the diamond dolls are easy on the eyes  .  Very good looking girls.  Should be another "perk" for recruiting!!

One last thing about what turned out to be the biggest part of the game, the decision to bring in Otero.  First off, let me say that I was against this when it happened.  I was somewhat shocked to see him enter the game in the 8th, although he did a good job in that inning throwing only a limited number of pitches.  People saying they should have taken him out to start the 9th simply don't understand baseball.  You don't bring him in for one inning and then take him out.  It really makes no sense, so you're stuck with him pitching the ninth as well.  It could have worked out, but it didn't.  Its one of those if it works, you're a genius, if it doesn't work, you're an idiot.  I think Lelo just made the wrong call at the wrong time, and he stuck with him too long since he's the ace of the staff.  Bit him on the backside.

I was more concerned with the long term affect this will have on the team.  Hopefully it won't have any, but there was only a slight upside in bringing Otero in the game.  So he closes the game out and gets the save against the Gators.  Great, this is the only good that can come out of this maneuver.  Here are the downsides.

A)  Otero blows the game, in what is the biggest game of the year for USF.  Maybe it gets in his head and affect him later.  Strike #1.

 What does this tell you about Lelo not trusting his bullpen?  This was not the last game of a regional or a game 7 scenario.  There is a tomorrow and now our bullpen has to feel slighted.  This would never happen in another midweek matchup versus Stetson or UCF, and the game essentially means the same thing.  Strike #2.

C)  It throws our whole rotation off for this weekend.  We've had a steady Friday and Saturday starter all season.  Even Sunday, but now we bump everyone up.  This one might not be that big of a deal, but if it ain't broke, why fix it?  Strike #3.

So that is three negatives versus one positive.  I just don't like the odds in this scenario.  We could very well have lost with our bullpen.  Thats fine.  We'd left that stadium feeling uneasy about that bunch, but I'm pretty sure no one would have said, "We should have brought in Otero to close it out".  Why not?  Because he's not our closer and we're only 10 games into the season and this game essentially means the same as the one this upcoming Friday against the Chippewas of Central Michigan.

That being said, I'm over this loss already and look forward to cheering our Bulls on the rest of the year.  I suggest everyone else should do the same and keep supporting this team.  I see postseason being a real shot for this team.

Go Bulls!  

I've never been a big fan of using weekend starters in relief during weedweek games.  Starting pitchers have a totally different makeup than relievers and it's hard to ask a guy to chance his game time preparations from one game to the next.  That being said, Otero did a good job in the 8th.  There isn't any reason why he had to pitch the 9th.  He isn't the closer and he shouldn't be treated as one.  If our closer game in the 8th, than yes you pitch him the 9th...no questions.  This team hasn't yet found a closer but in my book it has to be someone like Higgins.  He has good stuff and needs games like that to build confidence.  If anyone could see him warm up last night, he wasn't at all happy about not getting the chance to close things out in the 9th.

Either way this team is much improved from last year and really should have won this game.  UF is a better team than their record shows and we might not be as good as our record shows (at this point in the season).  

Nice   Let's get those good looking USF girls out there to help the team and get this community (at least the male side) a good reason to get out to some games  

Seth left because his act was getting old. Seth had plenty of time to build a winner in which he almost did. He had USF on the cusp of getting to the NCAA a few times, but he blew it during the month of Feb.

I think the argument can be made that not everyone was on the same page as Seth and that he probably got tired of trying to get the program to the next level with little or no support.  

Baseball needs a new stadium, my highschool ball diamond is bigger.

That's the same thing people have been saying for years and it's about time we put an end to that negative talk.  Like Coach Prado says, in time it will happen but you can't tell me that Miami has a better ball park than USF.  He's right, UM has a nice field, as in playing surfact, but the stands, etc. are a dump.  USF has just as good a playing surface as another other florida school but the surroundings have been something to be desired.

I think it's great that Lelo had those kids out there working on the field to build some pride.

Thate was a great event...by far one of the best I've been to for USF.  I thought the Tampa chapter football and basketball functions were good...this was 10 times better.

The Q&A with the athletes was great.  Knowing Chris Heintz and playing ball with him at USF, I have to say that he is a class act and a great guy.  If anyone deserves to be in the USF hall of fame it's Chris.

I think Lelo will have this program on the right path soon.  He has a strong desire to win here in his home town and figures "why not?".  All of the intangibles are right here in Tampa to have a championship type program year end and year out.

We were originally estimating around 200 but because of the huge response, we took over the entire banquet area and can now handle around 450 people, which is sold out.  Keep in mind from those profits we have to pay for the teams meals as well so it isn't all profit.  Should be a good event that we will have to find a larger facility for next year.

Eric

Eric...I was going to talk with Coach Prado about this but is there a way in the future we can use this event as also some sort of silent auction?  I know we have an annual event for all sports but would we even be allowed to make this event baseball/softball specific?  

Great job by the Bulls Club!  Where were you guys 10 years ago :-)

Looking forward to the banquet and to the upcoming baseball season.  I'm going to try to make as many games as I can.  In fact, the St. Tim's Mens Club already have the Gerogia Tech and St. John's weekends already circled for a tailgate.  I'm going to try to influence them on another series earlier in the year (maybe MSU or Central Michigan) in early March.

JoeB...from what I have heard they may be able to sell beer this year so that should help bring out some of the casual fans.  The GT and St. Johns weekends should be great...don't forget about WVU or Rutgers weekends :-).

Don't think anyone is hyping this team.  This is not Lelo's team yet but should be improved from last year.  They have signed some great talent from the local area and next year should be a big improvement.  It's just great to hear a buzz again about USF baseball.  It hasn't been like that since late 90's.