FazaUSF

Absolutely. Charlie's first year is what turned me against him. That team had everything needed to go undefeated. The coaching staff, style, decisions, and game management held that team back. Wins were far closer than they should have been. Houston loss was inexcusable. UCF loss could have gone either way, but I believe if CWT was still here, USF would have won that game and gone to a NY6 undefeated. Absolutely, CCS and that idiot Gilbert held that team back. CCS is still doing so, ostensibly.

I overlooked this until now. I park in lot 5, which you have to be at least a Bronze Bull to park in. I donate more than enough to the university each year to be an Iron Bull except I spread it around, and to be honest, more goes to several academic and scholarship funds than to Athletics. I have donated every year since graduation and have increased it every year as a personal goal. I also give money off the records to groups like the Beef Studs to keep 'em goin. I posted on this very board 5 or 6 years ago when I was excited to have finally gotten my Green Jacket which had been a goal for a long time. The amount of money one donates isn't what's important, but I promise, friend, I make a lot of effort to support USF with what I can, and would hope that's what any of us do to the extent that we are able.

Hate to say it, but all the wishful thinking didn't change reality. The players acted like they were headed to their funerals before the game, then played like they were already dead. My assessment of CCS's complete lack of effective leadership particularly with respect to motivation unfortunately has little to counter it in hindsight. That said, while slapping hands in the front row with the players at GT after the loss, I was a bit pleasantly surprised at something. Several (only some, and not a majority, mind you) players actually looked and behaved upset. They actually seemed to reflect some emotional skin in the game, which I would posit comes from somewhere else amongst them and definitely NOT exemplified by "I didn't have my players ready again x 8" Charlie. Many players still went about the loss as if it was business as usual / no need to get caught up in anything (who have you seen that attitude from since he was hired at USF....), and I think less than half bothered to come slap hands with the fans though those who did were immensely appreciated. Among a few of them.... there may be leadership brewing. It will still be a forgettable season and my 4-7 prediction stands thus far, but maybe, just maybe there will be leaders born from the struggle. It will, of course, be in spite of the uninspiring management from above. It will also hopefully benefit the next HC...

The utterly inexplicable game management of CCS is vexing. You'd think he'd have some experience and it wouldn't take too many IQ points to do well, particularly with some experience. One of those seems to be lacking somewhere... I'd like to take another opportunity to mention my support for FIRING CCS. Thank you.

I agree. Our D did look good today, and at one point, I even turned to a neighbor and remarked "whoa, when was the last time USF defense helped us win a game?!" BUT, GT's offense also made our D look good. I think the punter is excellent, and even special teams is looking a tad better. But I need to see the D shut down an offense in the top 100 before I'm impressed. That said, my original prediction for this season before it started was 4-7, with wins over only SC St, SMU, UConn, and ECU. I do believe we win the next 3 because they are even more lowly of pillow fights than GT was today. But the wheels will fall off for good after that. McCloud is a bright spot that made me wonder whether he could have the moxie to help will us to another victory or two over my prediction - but that would require buy-in from the staff and for CCS to magically learn how to manage a game like an intelligent, experienced FBS head coach, which I do not believe is worth hoping for at this point. He will laugh all the way to the bank at both USF and Texas.

Why do they call that a "tailgate" anyway...?

Did you pay attention to points given up per game by the USF defense while CWT was here? Go ahead and average 'em out. Go ahead and review his quotes when asked about the "bend, break, jailbreak" defensive stats. CWT did not place any emphasis on defense whatsoever, and more or less looked at it as the players on the field giving the offense a break... Or were we watching the same team? It worked for him, but the point is that defense hasn't been a strong point for USF football in 3 straight coaching tenures.

Those unis are basic nonsense. Cheap-appearing, no-effort, cookie cutter. Far have we fallen from our former UA contract.

Oh boy it would be nice if anyone planned these ahead of time

It has been a long downward spiral from when Leavitt had USF being talked about as "the new DB U". Holtz's staff was lax on the basics. Taggart abandoned and ignored defense altogether with the strategy to outscore opponents no matter what the defense gives up. The current staff plays checkers at chess tournaments. Defense wins championships, which is why we have none...

Ok, that's fair. Confused your comment as throwing in with the (few but vocal) CJL-haters on the board. Schools don't need one coach, but, there are advantages to sustained tenures beyond 3-4 years (if at least moderately successful). They don't need to be decades, but tenures have gotten to be a tad rushed these days.

Your CJL haterade does not change the fact that his firing marked a complete loss of program identity thereafter.

And so does the failure to go undefeated in the first year which I still believe foreshadowed CCS's downfalls which were clearly featured the year following (last year) and now undeniable.

We had an identity. Everything that USF was under Leavitt. Holtz politely didn't buy into it. Taggart completely ignored and if anything deliberately trashed it. Strong does not have the leadership capabilities to have a vision and implement it, nor does he seem to have the ability to sense, assimilate, or augment a previously existing culture, which is why the idea of identity at USF is floundering. Dad was axed and these nannies we keep bringing in aren't with the program.

I posted before the Wisconsin game that the players were hanging their heads like they were going to a funeral. I hear locker room chatter. The players don't like playing for Strong. There is no emotion. There is no fun. The overall culture is toxic even if there are a few bright spots. We may somehow muster up a win over a rebuilding team with a first year coach (I highly doubt it) but even if we did, sitting up front in the short bus while it drives off a cliff isn't where I want to see USF football. I called for Skip Holtz to be fired before he did, but I feel even more strongly about it with respect to CCS. The man would fit in well as a volunteer guidance counselor through a church or a drug rehab facility, not an NCAA FBS head football coach. His strengths don't align with those necessary for leadership in this industry, and he's not going to change magically overnight.

I will be there but I am not enamored (for the first time in all the USF away games I have attended) to bring tailgate equipment to an insignificant pillow fight, aka race to the bottom of FBS. I will attend the game and cheer for the Bulls, but apologies to all who may have been looking for a tailgate, I just can't bring myself to go through the gargantuan effort this time. Not while this non-credible staff spins its wheels going nowhere faster than one can point out how little effort they put into their jobs compared with winning-culture leadership in lesser industries.

Truly, I am faced with the same dilemma. Never have I considered not giving the Bulls my all. But how many times can they do that to me before I consider not putting all my efforts forth when not reciprocated?

I have done too much of that, as perusal of the BullsPen would demonstrate.

For the record, I have been listening to Wisconsin fans in the USF donor section all night talking about how USF "got no game." I have nothing to counter them with, considering the showing CCS has engineered.

It is more than than 40%.

Yeah I feel it. Front row tickets since I graduated in 2005 in the USF donor section. I ride or die and I have always ridden, but I am in the donor section and have nothing but Wisconsin's fans around me. I ask off from working as an ER doc (which is ******* rare) for USF games. I work hurt and sick so I can go to USF football games. I miss family events to go to USF football games. I put my work bonus towards... You guessed it..... USF games. What is my reward? Miserable, pathetic coaching hires leading to miserable, pathetic losses. Why do I bother????????

I swear right now, here and now, if USF does not fire CCS within or after this season, I do not care if we go 11-1 after this, I WILL NOT DONATE TO USF if CCS is not fired. So let it be written, so let it be done.

FIRE STRONG

I said it when they passed on the way in. The players don't care bc they play for Strong. FIRE STRONG.

**** CCS, **** BJM, I will not donate again until they are both fired. This is a joke. Except not.