BigEastBeasts

In those cases thats the choice that they have, and with most conferences that's how they will end up getting picked because they can count on those teams bringing in fans and ratings. That's about right. After the BCS Bowls, its basically the equivellant to picking captains and choosing sides for a pick-up game on Thanksgiving morning.

Unfortuantely its all based off of what the bowl wants. After the Conference Champion and whatever BCS bowl they are selected to, no bowl is obligated to select a particular team based on where they finished in the conference. Its all up to them and they're going to select what they view as the best match-up for their bowl. The Gator Bowl has first BE option after the BCS berth, and they also have the option of Notre Dame if they do not qualify for the BCS, which is very fortunate for us that they are, because if not we probably wouldn't even be getting into one of the 4 BE  bowls.

FAMU would still count if they were 1-AA, the NCAA changed the rules this year that one victory over a 1-AA would count towards bowl eligibility.

And that is a very good point, which I believe is also a reflection on the coaching staff and decision makers. Having a mobile QB who can make plays in the spread offensive set is different from having a QB who is more sutied to an option/wing set and it seems they haven't made that differentiation yet. The same thing happened with Ron Pawlus at Notre Dame in the mid 90's. He was a can't miss prospect, but was a passer who was thrown into an option offense.

One reason I feel this falls on Rod Smith more than lacking of a good QB is because he was the QB Coach before being the OC and the lack of progress made by both Ronnie Banks and PJ under his direction seems to be a pretty telling tale. I agree that we have essentially become the late 90's, early 2000's Bucs, relying on our defense to keep us in games and create our opportunities, but at times if the defense isn't putting the ball in the endzone we are still not taking advantage of those opportunities. Also, I believe a good OC is able to hide the deficiencies of his offense without being as predictible as we are and resorting to trick plays. From what we've seen on these boards it appears that we have two young, capable QB's in Grothe and Hill, and I would hate to see them lack in success because of being put in poor positions through coaching. Hopefully the exposure from being in the Big East will open up the recruiting pipeline and we'll be able to land one of those Western Pennsylvania, "prototypical" QB's if we are unable to make due with what we have.

We have to look at this game under the assumption that UConn is going to beat L'Ville. If UConn defeats L'Ville to become bowl eligible and we lose to WVU, I feel that puts us on the outside looking in at a bowl game once again. Now, if the game gets out of hand and it appears that we have no chance at winning, I'm all for seeing CHill get the ball and see what he can do besides run with it. Remember, he is a freshman and 9 of our 11 receivers are either frosh or sophs, lets give these kids a chance to grow together and see what they can do.

When people care they have increased expectations. Have we been spoiled by the success and strides we've made in 9 years of football? I say sure, but that is only natural. People may not expect us to perform like programs with greater resources or history or recruiting classes, but they do expect to win the games you are supposed to win. Look at the losses and see what the offense did to help put us in a position to win the game. Dropped passes, turnovers on our side of the 50 and poor play calling is what it did. Of course there are going to be days like Saturday, but its not just Saturday that has people feeling this way. There were people who wanted Smith gone when he was named OC. The lack of progress at the QB position since Marquel graduated and the extreme inconsistancies of our offfense under his direction is the proof. Just imagine what kind of record we would be talking about if we didn't have Andre toting the rock? I know there will be people that disagree with me and others who share these thoughts and feelings, but the moves have to be made to keep this program moving in the right direction and if you can't see that those changes are needed on the offensive side of the ball then you haven't been watching the 2005 USF Bulls.

My point exactly. We may not be exactly in the same situation as UT, but what is it going to take? The offensive coordinator resigned and two assistants were fired after the first losing season in almost 20 years. Am I happy we're bowl eligible? Yes. Is it nice that we have won a whopping 2 more games than predicted to win? Sure. Am I willing to just sit back in future seasons and accept mediocrity and be pleased with 6-5? Not a chance. We may not be on the same "level" as a Tennessee at this point in time, but thats where I want to see us continue to move towards and the moves have to be made for that to happen. Sooner or later we're gonna have to stop using the excuses that we're USF and its different here than it is at those schools and in those programs. Keeping that mentality is exactly what will keep us where we're at now and stunt our growth as a program and that is the last thing I want to see.

Two Tennessee assistants fired after going 5-6 Associated Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer fired offensive assistants Jimmy Ray Stephens and Pat Washington on Sunday, following the Volunteers' first losing season since 1988. Stephens, 51, was the offensive line coach and had been at Tennessee for three years. Washington, 42, was wide receivers coach and had been with the program for 10 years. "I appreciate everything Jimmy Ray and Pat have done for Tennessee over the years," Fulmer said in a statement. "This was a difficult decision to make, but I feel it is in the best interest for the future of our football program." The moves come about a month after offensive coordinator Randy Sanders resigned during a season in which the Vols' offense struggled. Tennessee finished the season with a 27-8 win over Kentucky on Saturday to go 5-6. Fulmer said the next offensive coordinator will select Stephens' and Washingtons' replacements. Former Vols offensive coordinator and Mississippi head coach David Cutcliffe is believed to be the front-runner to take over the team's offense next season. Just a little food for thought for those of you who are getting so upset about people wanting to see Rod Smith gone.

Then it would be up to the bowls on who they want to invite because there would be 5 bowl eligible teams and 4 bowls obligated to the BE.

It may be in the Tribune sports section tomorrow. If not you can probably e-mail WFTS or another media outlet and get the numbers

we shouldn't be.......its not the last day of the tournament so no way it would go to a playoff that would extend it

The weather conditions seem to be fitting nicely into our style of play. As I posted in another thread, UConn has given up over 220 yds rushing in 3 of their last 4 games. And lets not forget about the greatness that is Brandon Baker punting with the wind at his back (that's for you Shoop)

Agree 100%. The Big East is such a terrible conference and is a black-eye for the BCS and its a complete embarrassment to College Football that the winner gets an automatic bid, yet the ACC could have a 4 loss team playing in its title game :

We have the same number of losses as FSU and all of theirs are to unranked opponents ;D

Now that was great. I'll never forget the sight of the VISITING TEAM's fans carrying the goalpost up the steps and out of the stadium

Trust us, everyone here is fully aware of this. Most threads referencing the WVU match-up have been preceeded with "given we beat UConn" or "assuming we win Saturday" etc.. Everyone knows we have to handle our business in East Hartford, but it feels mighty nice to even be able to discuss the potential for the WVU game and start seeing the fringe fans talking about it. Almost makes you think that there was a reason that this game got postponed and rescheduled for when it did. To be Big Time you have to think Big Time, and thats what us fans are doing

Guarrantee I will be one of those 5.........Sec. 149 Row 1 represent!!!!!!!!!

I don't think that AD Wollard and the Athletic Department would let this happen, especially if we get the nice big BCS payout, but this definately shows that the nation is starting to recognize the Bulls and the tremendous potential that lies at that little "commuter school" on Fowler Ave

The thoughts and prayers of all Bulls Nation are with you!!!! In the words of Whitney Johnson, we will definately be sending the healing vibe your way.

I can understand the other side of the argument and to a degree see why people view it as a bad thing, it just gets somewhat bothersome that no one wants to see the potential for this conference. Granted, if teams are just consistantly one year wonders and don't consistantly become bowl eligible or compete for the conference title, then the arguments become warranted. Sure I'm probably being somewhat partial because it is our conference, but I just feel like the NCAA would be taking away from a great thing if they stripped the BE of its BCS berth.

Trust us, everyone here is fully aware of this. Most threads referencing the WVU match-up have been preceeded with "given we beat UConn" or "assuming we win Saturday" etc.. Everyone knows we have to handle our business in East Hartford, but it feels mighty nice to even be able to discuss the potential for the WVU game and start seeing the fringe fans talking about it. Almost makes you think that there was a reason that this game got postponed and rescheduled for when it did. To be Big Time you have to think Big Time, and thats what us fans are doing  ;D

Actual quote from the WVU message board, in response to if they would rather we beat UConn so the game would be nationally televised or lose to UConn and they wrap up the BCS bid: I'll take the automatic BCS bid, but I could really care less what happens between USF and UConn, we're going to beat them no matter what the record is come Dec. 3rd. It's actually a lot better for the Big East if USF loses. It's an embarassment to the Big East if a team like USF is actually still in the race for the BCS bid. And the attention that this possibly national broadcast would get us is marginal to meaningless. It's against a mid-major football program on a day of great football games. Maybe this year it would cause a black-eye and make the voices of the BCS detractors louder, but seriously, where is the harm in having a conference that has 3-4 strong teams every year, with one of those teams only being around for less than a decade? You never hear anyone complain that the SEC has a strong conference where at least 4-5 teams are competing for the BCS bid every year. No one batted an eye when Miami, Va Tech and BC went to the ACC to make it stronger. Heck, before those teams went over there no one complained that the ACC shouldn't have an automatic bid when the conference was viewed as FSU then everyone else. People actually thought it was a good thing for the conference if someone other than FSU won the conference. Why should the Big East be so different? Even last night on the Pitt/WVU game, Turico and Douchebag (errrr Herbstreit) they were commenting on how strong the Big East could be in a few years if Pitt and Syracuse can grow into their potential for recruiting. Even Rutgers, frigging Rutgers, became bowl eligible this year. Sorry to rant on about this, but reading this really tweaked me the wrong way this morning. GO BULLS, GO BIG EAST and everyone else can kiss our big Bull Asses

It will be very interesting to see or hear about # of tickets sold come Monday night/Tuesday morning if we beat UConn. I know Ron & Ian (or just Ian if Ron is still out) will be talking the game up big time and there would be no way Big Dog could avoid it with all that would be at stake.

From today's Tribune: TV COVERAGE: Saturday's regionally televised USF-UConn game will reach 10 percent of the nation's households, but will only be shown in Florida in Tampa(WFTS, Ch. 10) and Sarasota. The rest of the state will get Virginia at Miami, which is going to 69 percent of the country. The remainder of the nation (21 percent) will get Oklahoma State at Oklahoma. Nice to see that out local paper knows what channel the game will be carried on :