MikeG

FAU and FIU are transitional !-A-- which from what I understand includes provisions where certain attendance figures must be reached to qualify for full 1-A participation. They are not going to make it so they will have to wait another year. Put some spin on that one Howard. The one game taht caught my eye was DUKE beating freaking Clemson. Was it raining frogs in NC this weekend?

Jim did not even finish in second place. There were several entries that were lower than his point differential. ET won this contest-- 3 point difference in actual scores -- IMO.

IMO we manhandled TTU despite the score. At no point was I concerned that we could lose that game. Bear in mind also that Julmiste was taken out early in that game with an injury. That said, Pitt is going to be a very tough game for us as they have got their team playing very well. They can be beat as long as we continue to have our guys improve each week. But as I have said-- we need to focus on the next opponent, our game plan, and our fundamentals. It is entirely possible that we could win at Cinci and aginast Memphis and head into the Pitt game with a nice head of steam, confidence, and see young players who have settled into their roles. It is very strange to see how this situation has flip-flopped on us from first game to last game of the regular season. If we lose either one of the next two-- Pitt IS our bowl game, for lack of a better chance.

Just bear in mind that the Gator game was being played at the same time. That might have had an effect on attendance. As for the rest of the points-- hard to argue with them other than to say that TTU was the home opener (revised version). Students weren't at full strength but they didn't "suck" IMO. You can't blame the ones who showed up-- only those who didn't make it. Having nice attendance is great and all but the most important thing for me is winning the game. If we lose against ECU-- we're in big trouble. Now we need to take care of Cinci. We need our team to stay focused.

Not sure if it has to be rock bottom. But bad enough to lose the exclusive NBC deal would probably be enough for them to need to conference affiliation of some kind. If that is the case-- the Big East is second banana to the Big Ten for ND most likely IMO. I've been surprised by how well the Irish have done this year. If anyone says Willingham is not a good coach and good for ND football, they are watching another team. While it is true that Tennessee was playing with the 3rd string-- it was ND that put them in that position with their defense. You can't take that away from them since they caused it (well you can but it seems a bit unfair). ND in the Big East would be a great addition but it seems a longshot. They only need to finish in the top 6 or 8 to get BCS consideration and playing the teams currently in the BE would lower their SOS to a point where they might have trouble keeping the ranking (kind of depends who stays on the OOC schedule though).

That's a nice crowd for a crater. ECU cratered last season. They are moving forward with the new coach-- they are not an opponent we should ever take lightly.

If he had made the missed kick, they would have kicked the extra point later to tie anyway. The score would have been the same. It just forced the Dolphins to go for two. I'm sure they were happy that he hit everything else or the game would not have been close.

Maybe we get a rental discount if we play X number of events there per year. Shouldn't this contract be in public records somewhere considering the nature of the CITS (Community Investment Tax Stadium)?

Hey Omni-- you went to this game too, right?

Interesting read-- glad you got to go to a road game. One thing good about this is that the team may respond and start beating other teams up. I'm not sure that is a good thing for us if it comes down to UAB versus USF for a bowl slot somehow (I can dream...)-- but any more wins by them makes our victory that much sweeter.

The way things are going this game is going to end up 65-64 or something. It's a freaking track meet. It would be easy to predict that when we play Memphis this year-- "no way we can hang with this team" or "it will be a miracle if we win"-- since they are hanging tough with a team that beat the snot out of USF. Then again-- this same team LOST to UAB? So I guess it depends on what Memphis team travels to RJS that day. CUSA-- still confusing prognosticators every day.

Not sure-- by the time that happens, Jill may be kind of OLD.

Jim-- I realize this post is somewhat dated BUT I have to disagree that any of the teams remaining on our schedule (and including UAB) were going to be easy. Then again, nothing doing in life is ever very easy or simple. If we happen to run the table-- I will be AMAZED to say the least. Any of those teams-- even ECU-- can bring it when you least want to have it brought. But we can do it-- one game at a time guys (to the team). FOCUS!

Ya see-- MIRACLES really do HAPPEN! Let's win the rest of 'em and make everyone do a double take as we head into the BE.

One other error-- it was Southwest TEXAS State in the rain game he is referring to here. That game will be etched in my brain forever-- and makes you understand why 9000 some odd people chose to watch from under cover during a monsoon. Sure didn't help them look any better as far as a crowd. Must have been a miserable game to watch if you were a UAB fan. EDIT: Good points below about the number of rain games we've actually played. FAU, Bowling Green (still have some of their ponchos), USM, and for some reason I recall one of the early away games was pretty wet as well (The Citadel or was it Elon?-- Brad would remember). There were some others that had drizzle at points-- nothing like that monsoon last night-- maybe he meant our records in monsoons where we kept playing on the field. Brett gets a pass on this type of stuff though-- not just because he's a good writer-- but also because the media guide ONLY lists the Southwest Texas State game as "USF IN RAIN (1-0)". There is also the possibility that he didn't write that portion-- it is the "odds and ends" section.

So far this game is a real shootout. 17-14 Memphis as the first quarter is about to end. Makes you wonder what team lost to UAB, what team beat UAB, and what team got throttled by UL. CUSA football-- it's a crapshoot.

Last nights game will be rebroadcast Tuesday at 9pm on Brighthouse Channel 47 for the Time Warner cable folks.

I plan to try-- sometimes you just can't get down there. My seats are pretty close to the opposing teams entrance-- with any luck he'll recognize me somehow. Got to remember to wear a Bulls cap this game.

Having a 1-AA home game per year is not exactly unheard of, even for the biggest of programs. So I expect that we will continue to see that happen for quite some time. That doesn't make it right for the fans-- but it seems to be the hand we are dealt. So assuming we get at least one 1-AA team for a home agame next year-- that makes the real decision whether we take a pay day game, try to get a home and home going, give a payday game, or grab yet another 1-AA. At this point, I don't know which is the best idea. The away games-- even when we get a healthy check for 1/2 a miilion or so-- still end up costing us some cash to travel to. The ooponent might be worth seeing but at some point we are going to need to get some sort of home and home thing going with someone. Who that might be is debatable. I know that we are not even a consideration for these teams listed like Michigan -- all thsoe schools have immense home stadiums and giant crowds that generate almost our entire season gate in a single game. So the payout would be insane and we couldn't possibly make money on those deals-- even with RJS busting at the seams. More likely, we might be able to persuade some of our old CUSA buddies to keep some of these ties together. Of the ones not heading to the BE, the best of the group might be Army in terms of travelers (and now, unfortunately, revenge factor). Or perhaps Southern Miss. One team we never got to play -- Tulane-- might be a GREAT home and home situation to be in for both sets of fans. One thing is certain-- I woudln't want to have to face this as an AD. We really need to whip that schedule into shape pronto but it seems to me that our conference shakeup situation is leaving some unanswered thoughts. Who do we play etc as far as CUSA is concerned-- is the UCF game the only one we get or is it possible that we can drag Tulane in as a home opponent next year with return trip to them in 2007. The whole situation seems very muddled and I don't necessarily blame it completely on the AD office-- these conference changes along with moves to 1-A and our insistence on the 6 home games is limiting our options. Perhaps in 2005 we need to bite the bullet-- pay FAMU to come here for one of those home games and enter a home and home with someone else where we are on the road initially (make sure the buyout is HUGE! this time). That will help our 2006 situation as well. As for the Bowling Green situation-- that is one thing I find regretable. That wouold have been a nice home and home to keep on our radar. But I think we took the payday route and cancelled it to go get our butts beat by South Carolina instead. I don't think that was a particularly wise manuever.

and beastie-- that was being written while you were posting your response-- it was not directed at you (god I wish I didn't have to bother writing this crap).

I would like to believe that we don't know the whole story on this one. I want to believe that CJL handled the situation correctly. It sure looked bad and I was not sure what the hell was going on. When Royal was allowed to play again after cooling off, I was thinking either he and Leavitt got it figured out (if it was between him and coach) OR he just needed to cool his jets after blowing up on the PF call. What I did notice is that when TR came back in, he was helping out quite a bit on defense. Maybe the situation got him fired up when he came back in that he played better-- not sure. I'll trust that CJL knew what he was doing and knows far better than we do what was being said. I don't think Terrence was yelling at coach after reading these posts-- after looking at the tape, it seemed like Royals was yelling at the refs (still not a great idea or even how we want to act) and CJL happened to be in the line of fire. ESPN probably didn't bother to find out what was really going on since their sideline reporter was more concerned about how bad the rain was messing up her hair and makeup.

Generic or not-- spence is the one who accused me of giving him a hard time. You told him not to let it get under his skin and seeing as he thought I was the one he claimed had got his proverbial goat-- yes-- I RESPONDED to you. I didn't JUMP on you. I am trying to understand how anything I write is immediately taken as some giantly annoying statement. As for ridiculing him-- if that is how you see it then you are doing the same thing he did-- assuming facts not in evidence. I have no intention of ridiculing anyone but if they want to take it that way-- I really have no recourse now do I? It seems anytime I try to explain or respond someone takes it the wrong way. Perhaps it would be best if I kept my thoughts to myself since no one really seems all that interested in reading anything I have to say or those that do, misconstrue the content of my posts.

Beastie-- This post has nothing to do with Bulls football-- just spence. I just want something to be very clear. If you read my comments above-- AT NO TIME-- (that is until THEY accused me of saying this about them) did I ever mention him. They ASSUMED the post was some sort of personal matter and that is entirely in their head. I think if you actually read what I post, you will see that it has very little to do with anyone in particular. In fact-- I would like to see how anyone can derive that I am talking to a specific person in my original post of this thread. All I said was simply this-- CRITICS (and I am using this term in general-- it includes media, disgruntled fans, opponents fans, UCF fans, trolls-- whoever) have a tough time spouting off about the problems of your team as long as you can WIN games. At no point did I infer that NO ONE should be critical. I even admitted that the game was very sloppy but that in the end, the Bulls took advantage of opportune turnovers. WHAT is so WRONG about saying this? If this guy has a beef with what I write, they can ignore it like I do with 95% of the ones that I find contrary to my thinking. The entire matter is in their head-- a fabrication that I am somehow directing some sort of negative opinion directly at them personally. Half the time, I agree with many of the points about what is going wrong with this team. But I have no need to reply to someone who conveniently takes excerpts from my posts and does some sort of mental projection that the comments are to them. Believe me-- if I want to talk to someone directly or speak about someones post directly- I will quote it. So if you want to join spence on the "we hate MikeG" committee-- be my guest. As I recall, you are a charter member of that group along with wildrover (holier than thou) and some others who frankly read into whatever I say as if I am talking down to them. My OPINION is just as valid as anyone elses on this board. If you want to chastise me like several others because you think my writing style is elitist-- that is your option. All I know is that USF won (and won big) again after a series of bad games. They have every chance in the world to run the table like they have in the past-- as crazy as that thought may be. All I know is that I will be there cheering for them to do so and that is all I expect from Bull fans. You can complain about the problems all you want for all I care-- and believe me--- I will be complaining about the problems as well when I feel the need. Bottom line-- I just want the team to win, whatever that takes and if they happen to lose-- well-- they still have my full support. That is MY opinion-- my stance. However you choose to handle it is up to you.

And you are f'ing paranoid. Anytime I post you assume it is immediately directed at you personally. Don't bother to actually read the comments-- just jump to your own ASSumptions. I believe you owe me an apology for telling me to "screw" myself and also calling me an "@sshole". I never said I know everything about football. That doesn't excuse you from acting like a jackass whenever I post anything. Yes-- it came after you posted something. What on this board doesn't lately with your blanket coverage of every GD topic. As for your --- umm-- this is the first time I've posted on this thread while you have posted on it something at least 4 times. But apparently you must be the only person in this whole world I am talking to. Do you actually believe I care what you think? I don't at all. I wrote what I wrote simply to add my thoughts on a subject after perusing the thoughts of others (inlcuding yours-- sure). Are you trying to tell me that you DISAGREE that the easiest way to silence critics is to WIN? Maybe I am a football whatever it is you called me afterall. I doubt it-- I'm just a fan who doesn't pretend to know everything about a team or think that I have all the answers. Oh no-- I probably pissed you off yet again. Tell ya what-- like I have said REPEATEDLY-- ignore my posts if you don't like them. This is the LAST time I will ever respond to ANYTHING you have to say. Have a nice life, Beavis.

All it takes to shut most of the critics up is winning. Yeah-- some will still point out anything they had a problem with but the bottom line is winning by 25 feels good-- and that alone makes it easier to stomach the bellyaching about the penalty yards. Both team hada buttload of penalties-- it was a sloppy game. I'll take 12 penalties anda win any day versus 6 penalties and a loss. The difference tonight for me was simple-- we got the opportune turnovers and we went after the receivers trying to cath passes over the middle. We had a different kind of pressure on defense that I haven't seen before. I think we got to Hackney at some point-- he appeared to be favoring one leg. Now we just need to keep working towards that goal. Pat really aired it out tonight. The first one to Johnny may have made him catch the next two simply to avoid embarassment. He seemed to have much better concentration after letting the 3rd down pass drop right through his hands. Pet Peeve-- ESPN should at least ACT like these games are watching instead of starting their little BS back and forth about how to rate a team while the half is being played out. Or the announcers talking about anything the mood strikes them as they are too bored to watch the play on the field. They must have had to scramble to find the positive stuff out of the media notes about the Bulls as the game went on and we took the lead. They changed their tune from the "the explosive UAB offense and horrible/young USF defense" to "the tragedy of Bruce Gipson" et al. Anyway-- it sures feels good getting another win. Let's win out and see if we can get some excitement back into this program that the three losses eroded.