Bullpride08

No doubt, it's tough to see him leave for a conference rival but remember that one of his best friends is on staff there- Calvin Magee (ex-Bulls coach). No coincidence, and this was probably inevitable at some point that Magee was going to get him up there. Tough to see him go, we'll survive, he kept us on good footing and recruiting has gone well at that position, but given the contacts on the WVU staff this move had to be expected somewhat.

I have to much class then to release certain names....but none have felony's or else they would not be allowed on the team, but i find it hilarious how first it was 'criminals' now you tighten up with 'felony's' well clearly you know, or probably dont' because you've proven to be fairly ignorant about all that is USF and it's surrounding community, that USF does not allow felons to play athletics, and thus there are no felons on the squad- 1 or 2 that had charges reduced, but no punished felons, and neither will Stirrups if he successfully completes the pre-trial intervention program. You really have no clue about the community you live in if you don't get my assertion about Pinellas.  Did you know that Pinellas County has the most mobile homes/trailers per capita then any other county in the state. Did you know that much of Pinellas's waterfront and many very valuable land masses are owned or bordered by mobile home parks, check out Dunedin's waterfront, across of the Countryside Mall, Clearwater Mall, along US 19...did you know that Pinellas County's area median income severely lags that of Tampa/Hillsborough (which isn't stellar itself).  Did you know that when the Bucs were awarded a franchise in Tampa the tallest building was the Tampa Hotel?  Get a clue and realize how much the Tampa Bay Area has grown up in the 33 years since the franchise was awarded.  Pinellas has always been recognized, until fairly recently, as an inexpensive place for senior retirees to move, mostly in mobile home style communities.

7 first team all-state players....that's the real magic. Rivals doesn't know, and I can tell you a few things but there is no reason to be concerned.

He did have a good year but add in the intangibles to explain why-- Grothe, Gregory helped as coordinator. He did a good job, a very good is a bit of a stretch, partially because much of our success this year had as much to do with unknown ability and improv ability of Grothe and crew. To summarize Smith got a bit lucky, I suppose he was due for the years' he had to work with Banks, and PJ, but remember he never was able to help Leavitt close the deal on another QB during that five year span, he never was able to design an offense that worked around either one, mainly forced them to use his offense, and at times his play calling was shaky and questionable....I look at Pitt and Cuse...we were manhandling both teams this year, should have hung 40 on both, and we were lucky to score 21 and 27. He had a good year not great, and one out of five is pretty bad and definitely indicates that a change in this scenario is not a bad thing. Smith was not good at developing QB's or recruiting.

He returned one kick for a TD in the first four games playing receiver at JC before he moved to QB. Also had a 100 yard game receiving. Hatten said the same thing everyone said when Hill arrived at USF that he's a freak of an athlete, he could be a good QB, but a GREAT WR that plays on Sunday's, or maybe a DB. Now that Hill has his head straight and is not wanting QB then he's the type of athlete any team would want. A guy that you can bring in and put that natural athleticism on the field and let him do his thing. No one that has ever seen him play or workout or stood next to Hill would say anything other than the fact the guy is a four star athlete.

your an idiot that nothing is obvious to 3000 feet away much less 3000 miles away.  USF doesn't want or need your support. Let's see this is the coach that has had two consecutive raises, and is actually in the middle of the pack as BCS salaries go.  His recruiting budget has gone up exponentially.  They've committed to making a few of his games doubleheaders with the men (maybe not so good :-[), and they've got a game of theirs played at the Ice Palace.  All the Sundome upgrades benefit him as much as the men's team, and they going all out for a promo when #5 Uconn comes to town.... yeah no support.  Is that like the 'no support' Ken Erickson gets too?  New softball field, got jumped ahead of the pack, money to go on numerous tournaments, more then the men, two raises and a higher program profile.  Really sucks to be women around here.  Jose is a USF man, he goes to all the events is one of the most accessible guys you'll meet.  Flew to the bowl game.  He's just trying to shake the trees to see if he can motivate more fans to attend. yeah, it's all USF....go away! S Bien - What are you doing ?  Why do you continue to respond to Smazza's uninformed,add-nothing,critical baseless posts.  Come on man, your posts add so much to this board especially when it come to recruits.  Please stop wasting your time and mine(cause I read almost all your posts) by responding to - well you know - S stupid,M meaninglessA add-nothingZ  zero credabilityZ zilch,Sweet Fanny Adams A arrogant  posts. both of you need to read jose's comments again it appears neither sbien or dabull  understood them if usf keeps giving jose raises he will stay but usf will say they cant afford anymore and than jose will leave i say pay the man.he delivers the goods. sbien-i thinks usf needs and wants my support with all the crying coming out of athletic dept about there being no money and the monthly mailers i get from usf.please stop lying. I love how a guy that claims to be an attorney is using supposition, and assumptions as a basis for an argument....did Jose also say, 'between the lines of course' where he was going?

You want to know what rankings mean? Here's a fine definition. USF was hot and heavy after a great MLB named Aaron Gresham, he was a 2-star recruit in scout.com. Aaron just accepted a scholarship offer to FSU...so i guess this begs the question to smazza is Gresham a good recruit now? Or does the fact FSU wants him matter? Put aside the stars because he was good enough for FSU, UL, and many other big schools. When does a star ranking not matter?

Haul, Since you are above reproach, and have put stipulations on USF that they do not give scholarships to 'criminals' then I request one thing from you and that is to be a man of your word for once, since you've proven time and again on more than a few boards to be a double talking BS'er....please do not support USF, and please refrain from attending USF events since there are quote on quote 'criminals' on the team. I suppose the only question is what you define as a 'criminal' but presuming you mean any one that violates the law more so then a moving violation then I suggest you hit the road and find a program more to your liking. If we used that basic definition i'd say there is more than a dozen that have had minor scrapes from DUI to other infractions.

Don't forget they're losing 7 starters from one of the nation's stingiest defenses. They rotated a lot of players like USF so they won't be so bad, but again Auburn usually starts the year with a few patsy OOC before heading into conference play. They might not be expecting what we'll bring skill wise and experience, with the youth and new starters they'll be lining up if USF is to get ahead early it would be all downhill for us from there.

Hester, and Johnson are the immediate answers...Hester's game is much like Ean's but needs to get durable. Erskin, Alcin, and Plancher are all back-up options. Carlton Hill, Butler and Bellamy as the new guys all have the dynamic that could make them good returners

thanks dabull...I am a sucker. I like the spell out. ;D

Rueb, to an extent the squeaky wheel theory works. Rant to long and then people tend to want the opposite inspite of you. It's clear change maybe necessary but we didn't get 'our a** kicked' against WVU and to suggest such is ridiculous and again weakens any cogent arguments you provide for the removal of CRM. We lost partly due to a lack of quality players available to play, and partly because WVU is better. Sometime you've got to admit that whether you had 5 or 15 players the other team is better and conceding a loss, eventhough you might have hoped for the opposite, shows more class then trying to dig and grind on a team that's generally playing it's tails off and getting better each game. Respond after Rutgers, a game we should win. If we lose then there's tons of ammunition with that type of loss, then trying to take a game on the road in the Big East against a top 25 win as your battle cry. This isn't about 'moral victories' but rather intelligent conversation and sound reasoning. If you don't get it then maybe you never will, but remember losing to WVU on the road isn't going to say much to Woolard about change, but losing to Rutgers at home, or making it an extreme nailbiter will. That should be all I need to say about this matter.

exbull, I like that crew. I was able to see Alcin and Mitchell play. Alcin played on a Chamberlain team that had a poor throwing QB and was still able to get good stats. He's a smaller receiver that uses his hands well, is still learning how to run routes, block, and get out of the blocks in college. His speed is a huge plus, and he's a good learner, anyone that plays for the legendary Billy Turner is a good student and coachable or else they don't play for Billy. He teaches his players how to be good students of the game. Alcin has lots of good qualities, look at the last few Chamberlain receivers that went elsewhere- Greg Lee, and Clark- both tore up USF when they played us. Alcin will be good he'll just take time. Carlton Mitchell, now this kid is just a plain freak. He was in the state finals for the high jump and long jump, regional champ in the 400m, and ran the 100m and 200m, he has great speed but because of his ability the track coaches spread him around to much to use him for points and he never could concentrate on the 100m but could have been great there too. I never thought much of Carlton's hands, but I hear he's made a big impression on the staff during the fall so it was probably just the games I witnessed. Carlton is a 6-3 195lbs kid that will probably be around 215lbs by the time he's done at USF. A real great steal because he has all the tools to be great, a great attitude, and very hard worker instilled by a very strong family. Sherman, didn't see any of him play just clips. What I saw was an enormous receiver type that seemed to use his hands well when catching the ball, and has a long striding gait. Reminds me of SJ Green a bit but with maybe a bigger window. You've got to love the 6-4 210lb size, and he's supposedly very strong. My assessment this was a great haul for USF, probably the best receiving class top to bottom we've landed, at least as good as the yea we got Taurus Johnson, Hester, and Amari- in fact a similar style trio. My personal opinion is Carlton has the ability to be the star of the group he just has all the tools period, but something draws me to Alcin, he has big play ability and is real shifty with his feet and very good quick acceleration from a standing position, has good hands, and I've always liked how quick he is turning upfield and getting positive yards with his feet even when he was forced to catch some weak throws as defenders converged your consumate slot. Mitchell has great top end speed but a longer gait and takes time to get to top speed, Sherman you're looking more like a possession SJ Green type that can be a great downfield blocker like Green. I believe all three will be solid contributors by 2008 and then we'll see where they take their games from there a real solid recruiting class for receivers that will only help this group in 2008. The wild card is if Roger Frazier can get himself eligible next season and graduate from Pearl River and be on the field for the Bulls by 2008. This kid is a freak, 4 or 5 kick returns for a TD, ultra quick with amazing lateral movement and acceleration. His speed is completely legit, and has excellent hands and that extra gear to separate himself from defenders. Remember Roger was Grothe's top target for two seasons in LGHS, and in his first year at JC in 2005 he made it as a JC All-American in Kansas i believe. If he gets eligible he will be a Bull, and those three with Frazier, Johnson, and Hester and crew could be something to watch in 2008 with Grothe just spreading the ball all over the field and watching his guys go.

AB, maybe you could move the posts about the attendance to General Sports. I need to show HB the error of his ways ....  I never said the stadium was a sellout during the early years only that the area around my seats (west side) was full and that was pretty much the case between the 10s/20s  on that side. IMO the Bucs had a very good following for an expansion team.  Tampa had nothing going for it entertainment way back in those days outside of places like the Tanga Lounge and wrestling at Homer Hesterly ;D Who really cares about the Bucs anyway...this is a Bulls site. At the time Seattle was selling out in the 70's the Bucs were playing to half-full stadiums. We really had little to compare to in the 70's, but by today's standards, and even those standards the Bucs did about average.

I also find this kind of funny because it's all about the profile of the school. Just four years ago WVU was grabbing a bunch of 2-3 star guys, few four or five. Then they go 31-7 over the past three years with two BE Championships, and 3 New Year's Day Bowls and ALL OF A SUDDEN...Bing, bang, boom they're important. So in some cases it's not just the school improving itself and recruiting but rather their recruits are getting noticed and when a kid says he's considering WVU, or USF at a camp those reps from scout.com or rivals.com don't walk away they actually take notice. WVU isn't recruiting better then they were four years ago, the kids from 3-4 years ago is what won them the championship last year and the ability go 31-7, it' just some people take more notice to the talent some teams are getting in then others. When you think about it this is kind of a game, the first 250 players in the nation are in an elite status, the rest can, guessing the first 250 or so is a crap shoot, the top 50 are obvious. The great schools grab those top 50 and the rest of us have to make juice with the lemons we get. The same situation will come to play if USF follows up this season with many a 10-2 year next. Suddenly Quinton Washington, who has maintained steadfast to USF despite some pressure to take other visits, is watched more carefully by members of these websites and scouts. Suddenly other schools take notice and try to cherry pick more, suddenly the player's profile rises because he committed to USF, and that two star goes to a three or four (hey I still scratch my head how a kid has 12 INT's, 485+ receiving yards on 27 catches, and another 250 rushing and scored 11 TD's in the season playing in 5A FL and NFM HS playing along side Noel Devine and is only a 2 star...he's a legit 5-11 so it isn't height and any fool that's seen him play knows he runs in the 4.4's). Wellyou get my point, there are some very good corner prospects in FL that don't have half the stats Washington has, and didn't play at the level he did and they're walking around with 3 and 4 stars... smazza would have you believe that washington isn't good and we're recruiting bad because we don't have that other four star. I say hogwash, USF is recruiting great and there is only 1-2 corners in FL I would trade for Washington, maybe in the SE, as USF's profile raises these 'guru's' will take notice and our verbals/recruits/signees will get a better rank and star. But those ranks and stars do not diminish the talent of a player. Quenton Washington runs on the 4X100M with Noel Devine, he plays hoops and can two hand jam as a 5-11/5-10 kid... I'll take my chances with Washington this kid is going to be a star (p.s. we had a kid like this two years ago in RJ Anderson but he opted for baseball).

I agree smazza. Our recruiting sucks. It's all Leavitt's fault too, once USF gets a real coach we'll be tearing it up. More like once smazza gets 3000 subscriptions to rivals.com will their network start taking a harder look at many of our recruits and rank accordingly. Quite a few guys are so under-rated but that's the way the cookie crumbles, UF and UT have like over 14k members each....USF is lucky to have over 400 on rivals. Who do you think gets the most play? Who's recruits are the more heavily regarded. Not that they don't deserve it, or not that some of our guys are better but there are a few guys on USF's team that deserve strong billing. But that's what allows us to get good, we can't beat UF, Texas, and USC for the five star kids--- smazza is a dumb a** to even suggest such a thing, but we can get some really good players and supplement with some diamonds in the rough. Leavitt's system is proven and it works...now it's like a plug and play.

a.  We weren't  talking about 92, so why bring it up. b.  As I stated before I was a Charter Season Ticket Holder.  I believe I commited to them in 1975.  When did you purchase season tickets? c.  During the time frame we were discussing my section was full as was everything else in the west stands that was visable from my seat.  The most common complaint (aside from playing calling) I heard was the overcrowed aluminum benches.  Carrying your own orange and white Bucco Bruce stadium  seat to the games was the only way to fly. When I attempted to purchase additional season tickets in early 1978 I was told that there weren't any available - at least not on the west (home) side.  The best that were available were $12 seats near the 10 yd line. BTW, Stock brokers did very well in Pinellas county... a. Tampa wasn't  exactlly a hotbed for hockey...few natives knew the difference between a hockey puck and a plug of tabacco..Oh! and the product was rather weak and poorly managed. b. The Devil Ray!  Namoli...need I say more.  People traveled from Orlando, Sarasota, and even farther for Bucs games..as I recall the couple in the seats next to mine were from either Naples or Marco Island. Did you ever travel the H Frankenstein on game day back in the early days?  I did. How many Bucs games did you attend during the 76, 77, and 78 seasons? The attendance (butts in seats) at the Bulls games has been rather stagnant....the donor dollars may be way up but ticket sales haven't Haul stop while you're ahead because you've been punked! Either your memory is fading or your spin is coming undone. It appears my memory of the late 70's Buc's attendance is far more accurate then yours chief. First, I brought up 1992 because ticket sale escalation on Buc's tickets has only recently started. In the late 70's $12-20 tickets at the Ole Sombrero were common place. We didn't actually start our season tickets until 82', a good Buc year, relatively speaking, but I probably attended over two dozen between 76-79', Buc tickets were easy to comeby at that time. In fact, if you're telling the truth then you know that ticket sales were very flat, and up until 1979 and the Miracle Season many people were concerned about whether pro sports could legitimately survive in Tampa. The season ticket sales had been flat, prices flat, attendance not the greatest...Come on Haul if you're so knowledgeable then you must have remember because this was splashed about the sports pages for years during that time. There was some resentment that the Bucs had meant the disolving of the UT football program too. Don't blame Namoli, or packaging for the Lightning and Devil Ray issues. They experienced the same issues the Bucs did when they entered this marketplace. Tampa Bay is mainly a blue collar, hard-nosed work force area with low media incomes and a spread out population. You've got to carve your nitch out in this market, and find a market of people that are willing to set-aside their limited disposable income to use it toward your entertainment. Not easily done in a city with a very low median income- stats don't lie. Sure people travel for Bucs games, but don't kid yourself pro sports is all about the personal ties. Few travel from say Atlanta for a pro game, but many alumni due it for college. Allegance change, I was once a Bear fan, but we all get on with life and sometimes switch. Ticket sales, donations, and collective involvement in the Bulls Club is on an all-time high. Attendance is not dipping, but rather 2005 was a high water mark for attendance due to great opponents, we took a slight dip in attendance in 2006, but yet had a better season. Next year we'll be riding the crest of some fantastic football, AND a great schedule. It is a fantastic combination and one that should blow the doors off most of the attendance records USF has had at RayJay. The world of USF is turning the corner, now if Men's Hoops would just get with the program.

I may be wrong but to be more "popular" means that more people are aware of it and follow it. Not sure what your definition of "popular" is... Was the support for an expansion franchise better in the 90's than it was in 70's or 80's.  How about the support for established teams...individual fans vs corporate. yes to all of the above...the support now is better back then. It's almost to blatant to argue.

Then you should remember...bucs tixs were going for that price when comparable cities were selling them for $5 to $15 more for a comparable city but many feared that Tampa was to small and working class to support the higher tickets which was why the extra games, and exhibition stuff Culverhouse pulled.  Additionally once the team started losing those fans folded into the woodwork, and by 1978 you could pick your seat when you attended a game.  By the middle of 79' when they pulled themselves out of the muck fans hopped back on the bandwagon. No, I honestly believe it wasn't until around when Dungy arrived, or rather Hugh passed away and new ownership took over and actually put money and time into the team and marketing, did Tampa Bay finally really embrace the Bucs.  Look at this season 4-12 and nearly every seat was still occupied on the final home game- well more like 5/6.  Go back to 1981 when the team starting skidding again and you were lucky to see 25k in attendance.  No one cared, it was an afterthought. My recollections are a bit different than yours...there were never empty seat (to speak of) in my section...By the time 76 rolled around there weren't any $15 seats left at least not in the west stands...$12 season tickets weren't plentiful either...I don't remember a game in 1978 that my section or the sections near me weren't full...my row was tightly pack for every game...one to many oversized people in a row made it rather cozy on a hot day those old aluminum benches.  A friend of mine moved to Tampa in 78 and couldn't get decent season tickets. As far as disposable income...there was plenty of it across the pond in Pinellas....in fact traffic was very heavy heading east on the Howard Frankenstein on game days...if attendance was as poor as you say, then why was Dale Mabry backed up and the parking lots full of tailgaters?  TSA, and HCC lots were always backed up. Hauling Bull you do realize Dale Mabry was four lanes there at the time? I can assure you during those 78 seasons they were not sold out often....but i often enjoy individuals such as yourself that use the scientific theory that your section was full. The games were not, the announced attendances never equaled capacity, I went to a few in 77 and 78 and 2/3'rds was about right. People might have held season tickets but they treated it like many season tix holders of USF hoops tickets do, they only go when the big games are played. Pinellas having a disposable income? Since when? I really question your knowledge of the bay area, in 1974 Pinellas was known more for it's trailer parks then high income wealth. It's grown up, and a larger middle income population has sprouted up, but that county has yet to support it's baseball team. As for the Central Division it was partly because they had only four teams and the east wasn't taking the Bucs. As for the flipping of colors, I've seen it alot but I think that things changed moreso in the 80's when tickets were far more prevelant and fans from the Central would travel in hords to Tampa, and area people would organize enjoyable tailgates for that purpose "Packer Backers" is the big one for the Pack. Again, I will contend that it wasn't until the new ownership and the Dungy area did Tampa full embrace the Bucs. Stastics and pricing speak for themselves. As for ticket pricing, jesus man you could pick up $25 tickets in 92', and now you're telling me in 1978 there was almost no tickets in the $12-15 range? What Buc tickets were you buying? It takes time in the Bay Area as anyone will tell you especially the Bucs, Lightning, and Devil Rays. Partially because we just aren't that big of a metro area- sure if you count the 5-6 county MSA we're considered big, but really that 2 county area is not the size of these other bigger cities that have the depth in income, and citizens to support 4-5 pro teams and 2-3 good college programs like Dallas/Ft. Worth, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Atlanta, Philly, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Houston.... I'd say the only cities that control pro football franchises that are smaller from a metro standpoint and density standpoint, and area median income standpoint are New Orleans, Jacksonville, Nashville from a size and density standpoint but their median income is way higher than Tampa's. Also notice those cities aren't required to support 3 pro teams and a BCS program...only Nashville has close with 2 and a BCS. Facts are facts. USF will grow because it will not rely exclusively on Tampa for support whereas the Bucs do not...I know over a dozen fans that regularly attend Bulls games that travel from Orlando or greater. It will take time for the alumni support to grow and galvanize but it's starting to happen. People inside the program realize this, the best gauge is donor dollars and those continue to skyrocket upward for USF, attendance is improving from a core fan standpoint and with the right fuel it will take off.

no you personally need a spin doctor for your own life. If you had a clue you'd know USF has already got it's best class on record. With Mckenzie, Kevin Williams, Ford, Fonua, McCaskill, and Warren already enrolled-- let's see that three- three stars, and a five star enrolled, and one that decommitted from WVU to attend USF... steve you fool.

your an idiot that nothing is obvious to 3000 feet away much less 3000 miles away. USF doesn't want or need your support. Let's see this is the coach that has had two consecutive raises, and is actually in the middle of the pack as BCS salaries go. His recruiting budget has gone up exponentially. They've committed to making a few of his games doubleheaders with the men (maybe not so good :-[), and they've got a game of theirs played at the Ice Palace. All the Sundome upgrades benefit him as much as the men's team, and they going all out for a promo when #5 Uconn comes to town.... yeah no support. Is that like the 'no support' Ken Erickson gets too? New softball field, got jumped ahead of the pack, money to go on numerous tournaments, more then the men, two raises and a higher program profile. Really sucks to be women around here. Jose is a USF man, he goes to all the events is one of the most accessible guys you'll meet. Flew to the bowl game. He's just trying to shake the trees to see if he can motivate more fans to attend. yeah, it's all USF....go away!

Then you should remember...bucs tixs were going for that price when comparable cities were selling them for $5 to $15 more for a comparable city but many feared that Tampa was to small and working class to support the higher tickets which was why the extra games, and exhibition stuff Culverhouse pulled. Additionally once the team started losing those fans folded into the woodwork, and by 1978 you could pick your seat when you attended a game. By the middle of 79' when they pulled themselves out of the muck fans hopped back on the bandwagon. No, I honestly believe it wasn't until around when Dungy arrived, or rather Hugh passed away and new ownership took over and actually put money and time into the team and marketing, did Tampa Bay finally really embrace the Bucs. Look at this season 4-12 and nearly every seat was still occupied on the final home game- well more like 5/6. Go back to 1981 when the team starting skidding again and you were lucky to see 25k in attendance. No one cared, it was an afterthought.

Pitt constantly has a top recruiting class...it hasn't translated on the field yet.  Some coaches are great recruiters but mediocre coaches (i.e. Zook @UI).  We'll be fine. good point and usf will be fine if you mean middle of the pack dont compete for big east title fine But think of it this way steve, you are a middle of the pack attorney, that's had some questionable issues in your past, and never really impressed anyone on presentation, or achievement. Yet even you have been somewhat successful. Seems you fit your own label more then Leavitt. I think this is a Freudian issue and you are really talking about yourself.

I think there were some people that were predicting a USF win Well then that was equally silly from the opposite side....there you have it both sides can be silly. I just think if people want to be constructive in their criticism and look as if they have a lick of knowledge and understanding about the situation then they'd pick their time to rip and criticize wisely. Doing it everyday will jade everyone reading, trust me the tally on CRM is long. I have since decided a change would probably be good, although it wouldn't kill me if CRM was around another year, but I don't need to sound like a redundant idiot to get that point across, and continually playing games with only 6 scholarship players available is a pretty clear point without having to rip on the team, or play- which was actually quite good against WVU ESPECIALLY given the extreme adversity those 6 players were faced with.

That has been there for three days now, and it was highly coincidental but this has been planned for months. I think Jose is just trying to stir the pot to get more interest and draw attention to his program. He's not stupid, and he loves the area and the attendance isn't half bad for women's hoops, but get another 200 in and that will improve it that much more.