Blackice12

Since joining the Big East this is the first loss against a Non-BCS team. (Nevada was almost the first but this was actually the first) Yes that really happened.

He will touch on these points: We were one play away Ball State is a great team they played hard The WR made a great play in the corner of the endzone Too many penalties BJ played a great game Someone needs to go McMurphy on him and ask the tough questions: Why has the defense failed to stop teams in the closing minutes of games? (Its fair to assume that Nevada would have scored if time did not run out)

I was looking to update my graphic to a Holtz new era and found this link. Who put this together although it will never happen. http://www.digitalsportscene.net/forum/ncaa-dynasties/23077-herd-thunder-%7C-usf-bulls-2.html

This post like this season is becoming irrelevant.

You all can not be serious. It is only one loss. There are 8 more games to be played.

This is the HOLTZ new era!. Caution: Product may not work as anticipated.

Can not fire Holtz. We have no money in the coffers. Remember USF had to pay out for legal fees for Leavitt. get ready for 5 more years

Oh boy 5 more years of this. Key metrics to monitor in the mean time. How many coaches on his staff get fired before the HC gets let go Home game attendance Season ticket sales Wins and Loses

I will be in Philadelphia taking classes on Saturday hopefully I will not have to skip a class to attend the game

As a fan you should be concerned....... Since joining the Big East in the regular season against FBS Opponents September and November are the most favorable months for USF to win games. September = 77% Winning Percentage October = 39% November = 60% December = 0% In September USF has already lost it share of games. Which could mean a win against Ball State and FSU. (4 -1) In October @Temple, @ Louisville and home against Syracuse means they only win 1 of the 3 games. (1 - 2) In November USF probably win 2 of 3 games. They play UConn at home andCincinnati and Miami on the road. (2 -1) In December home against Pitt, a win would be unprecedented. (0 -1) Total 7 - 5 (This is assuming a win against FSU)

I've seen alot of people make this excuse, but realistically it just doesn't hold water. We didn't play a late game out west, we played a game that was 3:30 Eastern Time. The game got done around 7PM our time, and even if they didn't take off till around 10PM our time, they still should have gotten in sometime around 1AM. Is this any different than if we were playing a night game on Saturday at basically any other Big East team? Uhhhhh, the team got home at 4:00am eastern time. Holtz said that was not the reason they lost. Its only that they played sloppy and the ball did not bounce their way. In addition to not being able to run the ball.

Coaching changes have worked for Pitt they beat USF 3 years in a row.

If the pace on this board keeps up the football team will be playing on an OCS................ the soccer field.

If it will save USF money by closing the upper deck then they should consider it for the remaining home games other than FSU.

USF was much better running the ball in the 3rd quarter when they mixed up the pass and the run. Unfortunately the best drive they had ended with an interception in the endzone, it was basically a bang bang play and the ball ended up in the hands of a Rutgers player. http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=322570058&period=3 In the 4th quarter USF attempted 1 rush with a running back. For some reason they went pass happy and they were only down by 7. http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=322570058&period=4 Murray Stats: 1st Quarter: 3 rush / 4 yards 2nd Quarter: 1 rush / 3 yards 3rd Quarter: 4 rushes / 19 yards (3 rushes on the 70 yard drive) 4th Quarter: 1 rush / 1 yards

Dan C. please see the following: As Greg Auman pointed out at the 3:30 mark Holtz gets intense and hits the podium three times. There is intensity.

And your evidence of bullet #1 is.... ????? I really find it hard to believe that if we had any success running the ball that Skip and Co wouldn't run the crap out of it. Tenn Chatt aside, our O line hasn't opened a lot, if any, holes. Just wait and see how this board lights up after 3 consecutive 3 and outs with us not trying a pass. To your point CousinRicky there is no hard evidence to prove they will be successful running the ball there is more proof that USF is not committed to the run. Was Nevada's OL was glaringly better than USFs from a talent perspective? Is there really a huge talent gap between the offensive lines in the Big East? I don't think so. The only glaring difference is commitment to the run. When Andre Hall was all USF had, USF ran the ball successfully. USF has more talent today at all positions, mind you there is no RB quite like Andre Hall. now to Flip's point whether it is Daniels or some other QB playing under center will help USF to disguise the run better. Right now everything is rather obvious.

Not to look pass Ball State but FSU appears to be really good. FSU will see it's first test this weekend against Clemson. FSU did a good job of exercising past deamons by beating wake forest who had their number in previous years.

There is evidence the depth is better. When Holtz arrived, Joel Miller was the #4 or #5 receiver. Compare him to the current receivers in that spot. Miller is to be commended for his work ethic which allowed him to contribute when many thought he wouldn't be able to. But it is a world of difference from then to now. Depth without wins does not mean much. You can study all day but if you fail the test you still get an 'F' in class. I didn't say you don't need wins. But it is a process. The impatience of this fanbase is incredible. You guys would have never survived as Bucs fans back in the day. Faithful Buc fans were rewarded. Don't be a bandwagon fan, support your team and wait for the good times that will come soon. Been around since 1997 not planning on going any where. Concerned about the lack of improvement mainly from a mental standpoint.

Running game consistency (sets up the passing game) screen passes to WRs. (Gives WRs an opportunity to make a play in space) passes to the TEs (maintains LB and S integrity) improved attacking defense (offense can help by getting 1st downs)

There is evidence the depth is better. When Holtz arrived, Joel Miller was the #4 or #5 receiver. Compare him to the current receivers in that spot. Miller is to be commended for his work ethic which allowed him to contribute when many thought he wouldn't be able to. But it is a world of difference from then to now. Depth without wins does not mean much. You can study all day but if you fail the test you still get an 'F' in class.

I disagree. I don't see any area where the program is getting stronger. Perhaps APR. Other than that I see it nosediving just like basketball did under McCullum. On the field it is a boring product to watch combined with a team that hasn't won a home game against an FBS opponent in almost a year, hasn't beaten a BCS level opponent at home in almost 2 years. Season ticket sales because of the FSU game are the only reason the reported attendance figures look remotely decent. Actual butts in the seats are sickening. The exciting games against big time programs that were scheduled under Leavitt (FSU, UF, Miami series, ND, next year MSU, Auburn, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas) are almost all done. After the series that were scheduled when we were a rising program are completed next year, the best OOC home and home series scheduled is Indiana. Going forward into the new NCAA format it will be necessary for the top teams to schedule tougher schedules because to reach top of the polls there will be more of an emphasis on strength of schedule. If we don't start becoming a winning team our schedule will be crap. What are you pointing to that leads you to believe this program is getting stronger? I just see a declining program that is continuing to be disrespected on national tv by announcers and analysts. How about the fact that we have real depth and competition at ever position, instead of constantly having to have walk ons in big roles because so many players washed out? Leavitt was big on the quick fix. Holtz is building for the long haul. We had some big wins under Leavitt, and plenty of blowout losses. Funny how everyone now forgets those. The progress is clearly there if you look at the program as a whole, instead of melting down after a close loss. The great coaches build for the long term. Fair point the depth is there based on what Holtz says. How the story plays out on the field is a different story. The wins are still elusive. Since Holtz arrived most of the games are decided in the last 15 minutes or less.

I find it hard to believe that this has not been situated after 3 years. The RBs and the offensive line at USF are good enough to get the job done. The problem is the commitment to the running game. USF is not going to be successful throwing 50 passes a game especially if every pass is a 5 or 7 yard out with no screens or passes over the middle. Every running play will not yield 5+ yard gains, but running the ball will run the clock, it will wear out a defensive line and it will pull safeties into the box. I really thought Holtz and Fitch said this was one of the things USF was planning to do this year. After the first quarter of the season I have not really seen this style of play.

It would be cool if the predictions on this forum were in poll called "The Fan Confidence Poll" to show how the confidence swings one game/week to the next. Mod's can this be done?

8-4 @Ball State -- W FSU -- L @Temple -- W @Louisville -- L Cuse -- W UCONN -- W @Miami -- W @Cinci -- W Pitt -- L It is hard to imagine that USF not have less than 3 losses in conference. Unless there is a strong mental shift I see this team as no more than 4-3 in conference. Last year going 1 -5 was an anomaly but to see USF going 6-1 or even 5-2 I think would be a stretch. Based on the last three game the offense is still inconsistent and the defense is okay. I think Cuse is tougher than people think so that game may not be an easy win. If UConn and Pitt really get to running the ball and USF continues to attempt this pass heavy offense with lots of incomplete passes then they will be on trouble and over expose the defense as they have done in the past.