BigShoop

I think it's a good move.

Howie leaving was stupid. This whole thing is stupid.

For the record, if Howie comes back, I'd welcome him back.

In the end, I wouldve supported whatever Woolard's decision was. I think there were pros and cons on both sides of the "fire Mac argument".

Good luck to ya, Coach. One thing is for sure, the program is better off than what it was when you got here.

those adidas lines on the shoulders are just stupid.

;D Nice to make friends with you Shoop.

And if you haven't found it already, Raysbaseball.com is a great forum for Rays fans.  Stop by the forums sometime and say hi.

Some of the most knowledgeable people I have talked to about baseball post there.  Discussions go all the way down to every level of the minor leagues.

I am a huge Rays fan and I learn a lot there.  

Dude. Ive been looking for a Rays forum since......well, forever. Thanks!

You could look at it like that or you could say he came to his senses and learned a lesson in civic pride.  Put yourself in the player's shoes for a minute.  How would you like to play baseball in a town that your neighbors show up to root against you in mass.  The players don't like seeing it in visiting stadiums either. At least not in mass.  A few fans scattered here and there and a few family members is one thing.

But, when you are playing baseball for the Rays and hear "Lets go Red Sox" in the Trop that has got to eat at you.  I have even seen interviews with Red Sox and Yankees players saying while they appreciate the support they shouldn't be playing home games in a visiting stadium and actually feel akward about it.

Put in reverse for just a second.  Imagine if the roles were reversed and everyone from Florida was flocking to the northeast. When we got there we told them the way they live is stupid, their teams are stupid, and their economy wouldn't be the same without us so they should be glad we are there.  Then when the Devil Rays, Lightning, or Bucs came to town we all ran out to buy up the tickets and just acted like obnoxious jerks in their stadium. Told them how bad their team sucked and started chants for the Tampa area teams in their stadiums.  Just imagine if the roles were reversed for a minute.  Doesn't seem quite as cool now does it?

The players want their respective leagues to be strong and in order to do that each market needs to be strong. Hence the reason the NFL is so great.  If people rejected their home teams when they were granted expansion teams or teams relocated there would be no pro sports.  At least not to the extent that we have them now  We would have like 10 teams in each league and they would only play in the traditional markets in this country.

Do you think living in Florida would be as great as it is if we didn't have pro sports?  If everyone followed this logic the Bucs, Bolts, Rays, and every other expansion team would have failed.

Are Houston Texans, Tennesse Titans, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, etc fans less of a fan compared to a Yankees fan, because they have followed that team their whole life?  I don't think so.  People need to learn to stop living in the past and live in the present and the future.

jd77, between your signature pic and the quoted statement, you're my new best friend.  8-)

The white one was one worn last year, while the green (2) were new ones this season. I wasn't on the squad last year, but that's what I have been told.

Yeah, thats retarded. I think the uniform makers took the whole "opposite" thing very literally. Not only should we have reversed colors for home and away, but reversed logos/numbers as well! Awesome...

I just read the post about the Syracuse chant at the bball game. I think this is a major issue that runs deeper than just a basketball game or two.

My wife and I went to Barnacles to catch an away USF game this past season, and you could barely find a TV with it on. They place was loaded with fans of other teams though. (Ohio State is the one i REALLY remember...they were everywhere).

The only thing I can really say about it is RIDICULOUS.  Im sorry, but if are THAT many of you that love your "home" team THAT much, then move the #$%$# back.  No kidding, the market is flooded, primarily with fans of NORTHERN teams.. It makes me so angry think to think of the weak souls that are all like "waaah, im cooold" so they move down here with their freakin Ohio State/Yankees/Red Sox shirts. ARGGH!

Im from Georgia, but I live in Tampa because its one of about 3 places in the entire US where I can do my job. Dont tell me these people moved down because they "had" to.  If you move down here because you like it, then support the local economy.

Not sure why this urks me so much...but I was fighting mad at the USF-ND game.  

Freaking northerners. Go back from whence you came.

Preach on brother!!!

Saturday's was a returner from last year, so will have the same flaws.

why is it a returner? they only made new green ones?! that dont make any sense...

Is this the new one?

I heard they were considering a switch to Helvetica as a cost-cutting move. And Zaph Dingbats had put in a bid as well.

Oh, that geek humor!!  ;D

they totally stopped throwing down to the paint for gransberry.......and throwing it off each others legs, knees, elbows, and ..................hands?

Careless turnovers are KILLING us....  :

Exactly.

Stay away....stay far away!

Im so [expletive] tired of the Julmiste name, it's not even funny.

Josh Julmiste, you sir, are an [expletive] moron. In 2-3 years, you wouldve been a MILLIONAIRE who could afford as much weed as you wanted, and as Michael Vick proved, you wouldnt get in trouble for it.

But no, instead you'll be playing football at Div II Po-Dunk University, and be an undrafted free agent....at BEST. Good luck with that. Hope it was [expletive] worth it.

: : : : : : :  >

Do we only judge papers by whether they root, root, root for the home team? Get serious. This just in: That's not their job. It's not either paper's job to promote, cheer, or otherwise fawn. That's what web sites are for.

No one is saying they have to "root for the home team", but how bout "covering" the home team and treat it as if it IS the home team...

Think what you want, but no one is more wired in to USF than Brett, and the Trib provides much more coverage than the Times. Always has.  Greg does OK, but where are the other stories and columns?

100% false.

Have you EVER read Greg's blog?! It's full of in depth and personal stories that require personal relationships with people in the know, while Brett's is filled with stats that I can find in the media guide and stories I can find on the AP wire.

Hardly spoiled.

The people who run the programs keep drilling us with talk of being a big time program. Therefore, that's their expectations. Why shouldnt the fans share the same expectations?

Hell, as hard as it is to FIND good USF coverage(tv, print, radio), I dont even know how you could start a thread like this.

If those are this year's, they're still wrong.  >

The logo goes on the LEFT. Number goes on the RIGHT. Go look at any uniform in MLB, that uses that style, for reference.

What happened to these sweet looking bp jerseys?!?:

It will be interesting to see how this works out. We are unique compared to all other BCS schools... we're the only true commuter school among them.

TRUE commuter school? Per CJL, we have more on-campus housing than FSU. A better term would be the only perceived commuter school.

Yeah, that's true. In the past 5 years or so, they've basically built an entire new "northeast corner" of campus with nothing but housing and the like.

basically the white version of that

PLEASE explain to some of the people on here that players DO care about the uniforms they wear. Some more than others, but damnit, players like to look sharp. do they not?

I think some of you are missing the time frame I'm speaking of here. I'm talking about in the next 2-3 years. A decade from now, I'm SURE the fanbase will be just fine. What I'm talking about is USF developing a reputation as a great team with no fans.

You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression, is I guess what I'm trying to say.

I realize I'm gonna get a lot of "just win baby" replies here, and that's fine, but I think it's a legitimate concern.

The fan base is growing a large amount slower than the program is. With the bowl games, and the potential of the young players we have, and the potential of the recruiting classes that are improving each and every year, this team has a legitimate chance to do some pretty special things. Problem is, no one cares.

What happens when USF wins the Big East in the next year or 2?

Yeah, it'll be monumental for the program in so many ways, but there's one problem: it'll ALL be overshadowed by the local and national media saying: "What a young and exciting program they have there in Tampa, but look out in the stands, they barely sell out HALF of Raymond James and they only brought 10,000 to the Sugar Bowl. What an embarrasment."

You can almost see it happening, and it's scary. To me anyways...

Welcome to special teams, Ben.

Lakeland is quickly becoming a USF hotbed.  While the Gators are clearly the most popular option in town, it wouldn't be a stretch to say USF is now #2.  You can't go anywhere in town without seeing USF plates or people wearing USF gear.  I teach at a local high school and many of the kids wear USF t-shirts.

Now if we can just get them to make a 30 min drive............