thatBULL

Aside from today's monster scandal, I think people under estimate how big Adidas has grown.  Specifically with the younger kids. I prefer who pays us the most.  If all things were equal I prefer Nike, then Adidas, the UA.

15 minutes ago, 79 Bull said:

Whatever.  I'm so disappointed in the marketing. It's been 3 days since we buried a conference opponent and will be ranked in the top 20 and I've seen or heard ZERO advertising for the next home game (though I haven't seen today's paper).  I've only seen and heard advertising for the Illinois and Temple games over the last 3 days which is awesome to promote buying tickets for games in the past. 

Bourbon, I hope you'll consider your continued support of USF athletics, but I totally get your frustration.  If we start to lose supporters like you, it's pretty much over.

 

I'm not in Florida, but it seems they rely on social media more than anything, but don't have a tremendous following.  Makes you wonder if the people that work there understand our base, or lack of a large base, and are ignoring other ways of building buzz.  Possibly someone from another university building their resume. 

Either that or we don't have the budget or trade resources to leverage paid media.   There are ways to market that can work and ways to gain earned media locally.  They seem to be failing at that.  

Someone should camp on a billboard on 275 until USF sells 50k tickets for Cincinnati  

Make this a regional cause and get a lot of public support?

I honestly didn't read the entire thread, but something is broken and it starts with the admin of the university/athletic department.  

- We never capitalized on the early success of the program, that was the time to build an OCS. 

- We lack consistency from a comm, marketing, and outreach standpoint.  Do we get any earned media locally?  Everyone I talk to says it's practically non-existent

- Seems like we lost all connection with the city, local leaders, etc.

- this can be fixed, but it takes a plan, patience, and support.

I feel like this is not rocket science and it perplexed me we can't grow. I hate to say it, but Oviedo tech leveraged buzz and success.  They built a better foundation, better tradition and outreach.  If we don't figure it out, just quit. 

Sorry the  rant, but this is embarrassing.  Since I live out of state and was watching on tv I literally had someone tell me that watts should run stadiums the rest of the game, since no one is there.  

I just completed this quiz.

I just completed this quiz.

1 hour ago, Mama_Bull said:

I agree.

Perhaps, he isn't even aware that USF is seriously considering building an on campus stadium, since he makes no mention of that.

If he did know, then THAT should have been the focal point for his article and explain how that could become a reality.

In recent years, USF has spent more than $70 million in athletic facility upgrades. He doesn't even acknowledge that fact. Anybody walking around the campus should be able to see all the major improvements. 

IMO, Aside from an OCS and an indoor practice facility, the rest of our on campus football facilities are not sub par compared to the average P5 school.

 

 

 

I think our Olympic facilities are close (from what I can tell) maybe just smaller.  However, overall we have some ways to go, primarily because football drives so much of the overall footprint at many of these schools. Look at locker rooms and weight rooms,  some are getting insane.

For example looking at what Minnesota is building is ridiculous.  The layout, everything is surprising.  

We need to find some revenue streams until we get called up to the majors.

No argument from me on that, however it's good to know your audience and ride any wave you can. 

If he wants to draw more attention he'd be better off.  USF isn't big enough that a less thank positive message draws readers (negative sells with big programs). However, in my opinion, a positive message from a local writer would have brought more shares and support.  With that his visibility and readership would grow.  

Not saying that is the case every time and he has to wear green and gold glasses (he shouldn't at all).  What I am saying is he could have capitalized off the success of last year and the hype of this year with a different tone/message.  Not to mention it would have been good for us.

Wish the tone was better, but as much as I hate to say it - he has a point.  Most specifically for football. College football is an arms race that we and the rest of the G5 are behind.  However, our football facilities are a bit behind the top G5 as well.  

What he should have done is made the article a call to action that the USF Community could rally around.  Something about coming off its best season and on the brink of what could be a historic one, USF needs the support of the Bay Area. 

I think we would have all been behind the message, even if the die-hards on TBP wouldn't be the primary audience. 

35 minutes ago, El_Toro_86 said:

CCS acknowledges that we're second fiddle in the recruiting wars where as Taggart never backed down when it came to going against the so called Big 3.

I must say I liked that about Taggart

I liked that Taggart was fearless.  CCS needs to remind people that a kid can be a star anywhere and build a legacy that they may not be able to at the Big 3.  It's obvious we don't fish in the same pond (for the most part), but he should spin it "we respect what this schools have accomplished and we hope to get there, but today we are on a level playing field, just look at the polls.  Any star in FL that wants to make USF their home can do anything, be the first to do it, and get a top tier duration.  Also the beaches aren't too far either. . ."  It's obvious he doesn't love press, but he's got to really be the top salesman of our university this time of year.

I don't think people will ever agree on here regarding an OCS. I think it helps that's all.

I honestly believe it will drive spirit and student attendance (you don't have to plan to go on campus you just walk or Uber from nearby apt in just a few min).

I believe it will bring alumni back to campus. I don't see reasons to go back and be nastalgic during a football game, but others do.  We just have different opinions.  I think fraternities/sororities will leverage housing for reunions, as will colleges, etc. 

We always bring up programs with off campus stadiums, but forget the fact that they have several more generations of fans than we do.  

Many will disagree, which is great as they are green and gold glasses - I wish everyone did.  However, an OCS will build spirit/traditions, and if done right a better revenue stream than what we have (stadium, parking, apparel and donations).  

13 minutes ago, NAS Gone to Paradise said:

 

Season ticket sales more than tripled, and has grown since, despite further increases. WBB has had extremely high renewal rates,  Harlan's first year it was 94%.

Tripled what?  I think that's great, but what was the net increase?  Just a big difference between tripling attendance of 500 or 25k.  How season tix do?  To triple 14k season tix in football is a different animal.

2 minutes ago, NAS Gone to Paradise said:

 

How many a few hundred?

Likely because bball isn't the atmosphere that football is - less crowd, easier to carry stuff, and the location is central.  

Definitely commend you for this.  I just know that those I know don't, maybe we are in the minority.  I just think an OCS drives more people to the campus.

6 minutes ago, Cubanbull said:

Same here and I'm a die hard USF grad. Graduated in 82 have season tickets from the start. Can count in one hand number of times I have been on campus since 82

Same boat, graduated in 06 and 08, left the state in 2010.  The airport and hotels are near ray jay, so don't go back often.  I know I should, but we always have after game plans that center around being near the water. 

I guarantee a stadium would generate more revenue, whether the revenue is enough to make the debt payment is based on fundraising, scheduling, performance, and marketing.  I just know they would sell more merch, get more students to games, and build pride.  

Early games at every university are a problem, watch the student sections - they fill up late, but with us that can't happen as you have to drive/park/etc.

I'll continue to beat this drumb, but the athletic department needs to expand its ask for donations.  I know they focus on whales, but they need to work to expand the base so donations grow with the program.

I've always said that this is a big deal, but many have strongly disagreed with me. Football could bring so many back to the campus, relive/reflect on their youth, see the changes, feel pride, buy more stuff, and hopefully donate.  

I'll be honest I've never bought USF merch at ray jay. I fly in, go to the game, go out that night, and fly home. If I need something I'll go to a mall or order online. Nearly every basketball game I've been to as an alumn (out of state) Ialways buy gear/merch. 

The problem with prices too low is that it creates a problem charging regular prices as we grow.  I do think it is something we should do in some manner to create an atmosphere people want to come to. 

It'd be better to have a new purchaser or "winback" intro rate, with gradual raises and possibly a multi-year agreement.  

I don't live in state, but a quick online search found this.  It has a 3 day min, but at 120 per night and 125 cleaning fee not bad.  You'd likely avoid having to rent tables and could have fridge, tv, and bathrooms.  I'm sure plenty available too

http://abnb.me/EVmg/ZiB23HEixF

Are any of the houses around ray j available for rent?  Given parking prices and set-up, you may be better off.

2 hours ago, Triple B said:

Join the Bulls Club even if you're somewhere that can't take advantage of season tickets. The minimum level amount is $100 and there is absolutely no legitimate reason every USF fan who posts on this board isn't a member. If you can't afford $8/month for something you're obviously passionate about you must be severely financially strapped and shouldn't be wasting time posting here ...

This times thousands would make a difference. I would bet most on this board do donate, but if we could instill this in bulls friends and family it would change the culture.

34 minutes ago, Bourbon Bull said:

Not clear on what you are saying.  Just send out a mass email (or regular mail) and ask people for more money?  

Not more money, but there is more we can do to increase the size donor base that overtime grows with us.  Look at the number (not just total donation) of the school in Oviedo and its actually larger than ours. 

Should be a surround sound approach to solicit, not just an email or mail. All I'm saying is we don't do a lot (from my view) to reach those that haven't committed or donated before (or in a long time).  

I do think those that worked with thebulls club did a good job building relationships, I'm just saying I think we need to build the base, so they can work the relationships

18 minutes ago, Bourbon Bull said:

I can only speak for myself.  But the reason we became larger donors was exactly because of the people at the Bulls Club and the relationship we built with people like Eric, Joe, Vicki, and too many to mention since then.  We were in that smaller donor base that you talk about. Enjoyed getting to know the people in the Bulls Club and bumped up our donation because of that.  I've offered to be a rep for the Bulls Club numerous times to call smaller donors and to meet them for lunch just to thank them and give them some contact and appreciation from USF Athletics.  This goes back to the former AD and there seems to be no interest on their part.  

I agree 100%, but we can fundraise with in a larger scale then assign them to relationship managers.  I still think we likely leave hundreds of thousands if not a million plus on the table by simply not asking enough people.  Just my take

I have and it takes those relationships for larger donors, but not for smaller volume donors that you nurture to larger ones.  If you fish for whales the entire time you miss a lot.  However, we need to build a base and haven't done that well based on # of donors.  The goal being that some mature into mid to large over time.

It's harder to get someone 500 than it is to convince someone who donates 500 to give 1000.

I understand that there's been a lot of turnover, but if that's the only problem it's an excuse for not building a good process and Harlan has been there long enough to build it.  You can have a standard outreach program for past donors or from an alumni database without the relationship people.

i  took over a few teams at my company last year that had just been "reorganized," and were cut in half until I could  rebuild them.  Still had goals to reach and did, by building processes that were repeatable (most places, not al) regardless of interchangeable parts.