FazaUSF

Oh hell no....... Wearing a suit and being clean shaven to run for President doesn't equate to victories either. Just look at John Kerry. Nobody on here said sports players should look good in order to win. We've simply contended that it would be preferable that they should look to enhance our university's image with the public by serving as nicely dressed ambassadors of the university. I've got news for you - the average American has the intellectual ability of a seventh grader. But your generalization about "rich little white kids" is just as discriminatory as you would accuse others on this board of being towards those of a lower socioeconomic status. You have therefore engaged in blatant hypocrisy, and your statement is completely null and void. This makes me wonder about your own intellectual ability.... but I think we just disagree and that your opinion is inane, not that you're intellectually inept. This I have a problem with, because I encounter it EVERY DAY. I am a clean-cut 6'2'' white male with a Dodge Ram truck who wears polos tucked in every day. Does that make me a rich snot whose parents pay all the bills? HELL NO. Shoot, I've helped my parents with some bills. I'm in a better financial situation than my parents even WITH massive medical school loans. I busted my ass in three jobs at a time in college, busted my ass in high school to get scholarships, and I've paid my way to a nice look and a decent automobile (which sure as hell ain't nothing like what I see down here in Miami). I'm no rich white boy, but I'll tell you what, coming from a background with little money, it sure **** well gave me an appreciation for it, and you can be sure I'll ensure my kids don't have to go through it as much. Your personal attacks on Brittany were out of line. Brittany wrote that she has 12 people in the party that she is going with to the Bowl Game, not that she personally bought 12 tickets. I'm one of those twelve, the Beef Studs are several others, and there's a few close friends in the mix. All of them paid for their own tickets. But she has shown great spirit in organizing the trip for us. Brittany's mother and father do not pay any of her bills, she works her little tail off at her job in marketing to pay her bills, and your needless rant was completely inaccurate and insulting. That fact that you went to college on a GI bill does not mean Brittany's party of 12 had anything to do with her being rich. Outside of putting herself in mortal danger, she works just as hard as you did. The fact that you are 30 and do not own a suit is actually a bit disturbing - I think that's more a matter of priorities. If your priorities are not to look nice and presentable, then that's your business, as long as you are not representing a professional organization like the university whose reputation other people depend upon (i.e. the worth of our diplomas). They also didn't have to show up without a lick of USF gear to identify themselves or a desire to look nicer in an official representative capacity. This is a matter of opinion, and personal attacks were not necessary to convey yours. Your assertion that dressing nicely is any bit associated with a particular race is absolutely ludicrous. Black professional dress every bit as nicely as white professionals, as do Japanese professionals, as do Indian professionals.... etc etc etc. Nobody ever suggested collared shirts and ties, that was completely fabricated in your mind as you were responding, apparently, but collared shirts and ties would be considered a universal manner in which one might look nice, regardless of race. If you were sorry, you wouldn't have written them. Now sir, we can be friends, as long as you don't provoke any further verbal bitchslapping from me.

Okay, understood, your opinion is noted and adheres to the purpose of this thread.

Next time a USF administrator, Athletics employee, or even RA walks by, ask them if they would be so nicely dressed if it wasn't for the fact that they must represent the university. Bet you many of them would say no. The same goes for any job - I bet you the majority of people would LOVE to go into work in flip flops.... but that's not very professional, which is why most workplaces don't allow it. This concept is analogous to football players representing our university. Don't like it, don't go to official events in an official manner as a football player.

How about how the American public defines it? Be reasonable. If you want to disagree with the American public, then fine, make a political bandstand in the Mad Cow Lounge.

You're missing the point. It doesn't matter if they weren't wearing anything offensive of illegal. That would be ABSOLUTELY terrible. Nobody is saying the players' garb was terrible; some folks just felt they could have gone a little farther to represent USF in a nicer manner, that's all. Criminal activity has nothing to do with this - why do you have such a chip on your shoulder?

That would be amazing for a program in its first year. I'll still be very pleasantly surprised if we eclipse 4,000.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I would think it as inappropriate. cee, arguing may be your favorite late-night entertainment, but you're digging a bit too deep for your giggles. Brittany's comments have had absolutely nothing to do with racism or stereotyping.

No, but we can fault coaching staff for not placing higher expectations on team members who choose to represent our university and our Athletics program at an official event, in an official capacity, and in the presence of a nationally televised audience, as well as several NBA recruiters. "What was in their wardrobe" was not the only thing in their wardrobe, I'm sure. While I understand the comment someone made about some folks coming from underpriveleged backgrounds, most college students have somewhat "nicer" clothing for times when it is needed. Slacks and a tie? Not necessary. Maybe nice jeans and a USF football polo, I don't know; I don't want to start placing limits by making suggestions. But the fact of the matter is, football players are minor celebrities, and they represent out institution and our Athletics department at all times in public. It's not too much to ask that the coaching staff request a good representation at official events. Coach RMC even requires a clean-shaven and well-groomed appearance; it's not too much to ask that football players wear something a bit more than "normal garb" - whatever it may be - to official events.

Didn't see your edit till after I posted.... will do.

You're independent of SG's help because SG was giving you $75,000 last year, $150,000 the year before. Your net profits are on the order of seven figures a year - it was completely pointless for SG to be giving student money to the Oracle when the Oracle STILL charged SG out the rear for advertising, and didn't need the money one bit anyways. You have absolutely NO trouble covering your costs. And what's funny is, if you ever did, you could go to SG for money. See, there's that business attitude again. I think it's reasonable to allow an exception for something so major as USF's milestone first football bowl game - and what's even better is NOBODY HAS TO KNOW ABOUT IT. Students don't find out what ads were paid for or not - not even "in the loop" students have a clue. In fact, the majority of SG didn't even know SG pays so much for advertising in the Oracle. Only Oracle employees and Athletics employees would have to know, and god forbid the Oracle tries to improve relations with a university department.

White collar propaganda? You walk anywhere in the rest of the real world, and you WILL get judged by how you look and how you act. Americans are a judgemental society. The way somebody looks can influence first impressions and permanent impressions, and perhaps some rich nice old couple sitting in the stands at a basketball game isn't going to want to buy season tickets for football if they perceive the players as people they don't want to cheer for. Just an example. They may just be college football players, but perhaps they could seek to rise above expectations and look classy; there's nothing wrong with expecting that of people who enjoy plenty of benefits on USF's behalf.

I should hope the Oracle's rates are a "LOT" cheaper than the Bay Area newpapers. The Oracle reaches a few million less constituents. The "on-campus" rate is still outrageous. The only thing affordable for most organizations is a 1/8 page in black and white. The difference is not that on-campus orgs "get a break," the difference is that the Oracle charges outside buyers through the teeth to advertise to USF students, because they can and will. Yes, the Oracle is a business. This attitude is a huge problem and until someone up high takes the stick out of their rear, there will be top-down communication of this bad attitude in continued propagation. The Oracle shouldn't be "in business" to make lots of money - and I've seen the yearly operating budget - they make LOTS of money. The Oracle should be "in business" to accomplish more intangible goals, like empowering students to learn journalism before moving on to the "real world," and like using its massive resources to help our university and our student body be more successful in everything they do. Sometimes, ideal-minded reporters come along like whomever started the "Student Org Spotlight," and good-natured help is given to organizations who could really use it. The Oracle's $$$$$ are not going to suffer by allowing some free helpful advertising now and then. The Athletics Dept. isn't marketing through the Oracle, and until the Oracle changes its money-driven attitude, it won't. Perhaps the Oracle employees might ask themselves what they could have done better to improve student attendence at the Bowl Game on the 31st. But of course, that would only happen if Oracle employees were looking to SERVE the university. Sure, in our little 32,000 person world. But with what the Oracle charges, it makes more sense to put an ad (for free) in the Times which is going to reach a LOT more alumni and casual Bay Area fans than hundreds of dollars to advertise to a few thousand students..... ...you're kidding right? Heaven forbid the Oracle CARES enough about the school to drop its money-driven attitude..... Remember, this is a college campus. Students don't have to be so hard-lined dollar figure-driven as "real world" newspapers. They can actually take time to do what's right and what is going to serve the university and its student body best. But, sadly, our little Oracle chooses not to.

Yeah actually the more I think about it, the Oracle is absolutely full of crap. To think, that someone should have to PAY THEM to get the word out that our Bulls are in their first ever bowl game???? That should be in color on the front page every day, a notice reminding people to do their best to make it to the Car Care Bowl and make sure our school is represented well. PAY for advertisement. It's a travesty that the Oracle isn't rushing to do it on its own. As a matter of fact, I'm going to write some E-mails to a few folks about this.....

Amber, I hate to tell you this, but the Oracle charges way too much money for its advertisements. It will print nice, full page color for articles like Montage (sp?) which only draw the casual reader, yet it will charge hundreds of dollars for a USF-based organization to do the same for a single day. I understand the Oracle has costs - but when it makes the kind of yearly money (around a million dollars, if I remember correctly, though I probably don't and you can correct me) that it does (which is part of the reason the SG stopped funding it), I think the Oracle could afford to cut a break to Athletics in the name of school spirit and donation in order to get the word out about sport events and Bowl Games. Since the Oracle doesn't do this, Athletics looks for more cost-effective ways to get the word out. Besides, if the Oracle really cared, they could print up whatever advertisements they want on their own.

Ummmmm...... Amarri Jackson had one good game and one good run outside of that one good game. The WVU frosh led their team to 10 wins and a BCS bid. I'd have to agree with CoolBull1.

Yeah..... we lost staff on the WRONG side of the ball!

Jeez I already can't wait for the 2006 FootBULL season......

Hey that's my post they're talking about ;D

Maybe he was tired of busting his rear for a defense that carried the entire team.....

Yeah, it's the FastSigns on Fowler

Hey pink is "in." I wouldn't wear it. But I guess I'm not "in." ;-)

I still say Louisville is quickly becoming our biggest rival. UCF fans are trying to start a rivarly, but in terms of the outcomes and consequences of games played in recent years, USF and Louisville are far more likely to piss the hell out of each other. P.S. Cubanbull is the MAN, don't mess with him!!

usfbullgirl - you're a recent grad.... do I know you?

So are you saying it would be less of an accomplishment if we go BCS bowling in under 42 years from the start of our program?

No offense, but that's what they get for having a bowl game on an island whose plane fares are so expensive.