atl86bull

He was #8 pro style QB coming out of high school: http://247sports.com/Season/2012-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&Position=PRO Not sure if he would be the perfect fit for Willie's new system but if we are banking on QF to turn around USF's football program next year we might be in trouble. I hope I'm wrong about QF and he surprises everyone but we should be looking for more options at the QB position (JUCO or graduate transfers). I can see it play out that QF struggles the first couple of games, Bench comes in and plays like Bench and then we are looking at a 3 to 4 win season again. Willie - "Do Something" about our QB situation!!

This team could be in contention for a national championship this year. The team is very good 1-5 and seems to have some swagger.

It would fit nice.

There is plenty of room on campus south of the Sundome for a stadium. A decent amount of tailgating and parking in this area too. Players could walk from the Athletic Facility to the stadium and fans could line up to see them which would be a cool tradition.

Jim Leavitt will be Colorado’s defensive coordinator http://footballscoop.com/news/jim-leavitt-will-colorados-defensive-coordinator/

He was UConn's 2nd highest recruit so a good get for the Bulls.

I hope its 4.68 because 5.01 is lineman speed not a DB. He looked pretty good on film.

High School Two-year starter at Tampa school after transferring from nearby Freedom HS... As senior QB, hit on 182 of 256 passes for 2,109 yards, 24 TDs and just five INTs, helping 14-1 Armwood to 4A state finals... Also rushed for 865 yards and 14 TDs... Named St. Pete Times' co-Suncoast Player of the Year... Stellar student, ranking among top 10 of class... As a junior, threw for more than 3,000 yards and 25 TDs... As sophomore, passed for 1,815 yards and nine TDs as QB at Freedom... Three-time All-Hillsborough County pick.

The truth hurts. Both UCF and USF need another 10 years of successful football history before we get a Power 5 invite: http://www.sportstalkflorida.com/four-reasons-ucf-will-not-join-the-big-12/

I think we want BYU / UC to get the next 2 spots. If UCF / UC were added in this round I'm not sure USF would ever recover and we might not ever get an invite. UCF would prosper and USF will falter more under this scenario and it would get really ugly at USF. Unfortunately USF has put itself in this position through poor athletic leadership and we blew our opportunity to be the next one in and UCF has passed us if they pick on FL school. UC is a lock and BYU is very likely http://www.ksl.com/?nid=272&sid=32660243. It would be a risky move by the Big 12 to take UCF / USF as the next two because BYU / UC are much more proven entities. If there are some really forward thinking AD's in the Big 12 then maybe its UCF / USF as the next two. USF needs some time to build its program back up so the UCF / USF combo is a easy decision to make. Right now if I'm a Big 12 AD and I take USF I would have some selling / explaining to do base upon the current state of our football program.

I see Cincinnati and BYU getting Big 12 invites in the next 12-24 months and then USF/UCF come along closer to the Big 12 GOR expiration date (2025). These two schools have some brand name recognition and have won national championships (UC in basketball, BYU in football) which is needed if the Big 12 expands with its current TV contract. USF/UCF are better adds as a pair to open up the Florida market but this does not make sense until the Big 12 TV contract expires and they can negotiate different terms based upon markets. The Longhorn network puts a wrench into things as this hold back the Big 12 from having its own Network which means the Florida market might be on hold until the Big 12 figure outs how to get out of this mess. The Big 10 and SEC got it right regarding their own networks and its paying big dividends for them. The only reason Maryland and Rutgers were added to the Big 10 was that it increased the Big 10 network value with these markets (cable subscribers). If the Big 12 adds a new market with its existing network situation it adds nothing so this needs to change before USF has a chance of being added to the Big 12. USF does not move the needle when it comes to brand but it does move the needle when it comes to market and potential. Hopefully USF will have some time to build up it brand (winning!!) and invest into an OCS so when the Big 12 is looking to go to 14 teams they select USF/UCF. USF needs some time to grow and build its athletic and academic brand as we are still a very young university. If USF does not turn around its football program soon then this discussion is mute and please turn off this message board as the past 3 years have been brutal!!

http://thebullspen.com/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=new_post&f=28 It will be interesting to see the redevelopment plans. USF needs a college "downtown" and this could be the perfect opportunity to create one - open air mixed use area that would include housing, bars, restaurants and retail space next to the university. This would be a home run for the developer and USF. Add in a new on campus football stadium (next to Sundome) with the new residential village that is planned and it would be a game changer for USF and the student environment. Time will tell... New York developer buys University Mall near USF, plans redevelopment Dec 4, 2014, 4:30pm EST UPDATED: Dec 4, 2014, 7:33pm EST Ashley Gurbal Kritzer Reporter-Tampa Bay Business Journal Email | Twitter A New York developer has acquired the beleaguered, bank-owned University Mall on Fowler Avenue. Richard Birdoff, principal of RD Management LLC, confirmed Thursday that he acquired the entire enclosed mall, with the exception of the anchor boxes. He declined to disclose the price. A deed for the transaction has not yet been filed. He said he is planning to redevelop the site, though it's too soon to disclose many details. He envisions a mix of uses on the site. "I think it's a great location and it needs some tender loving care," Birdoff said. "And I think we can make it a vibrant place again." The mall was owned by a lender that foreclosed in 2012, according to Hillsborough County property records. A partnership of Somera Capital Management and Rockwood Capital paid $144 million for the mall in 2007, property records show. The partners had planned a $10 million renovation of the property in 2008. Former Hillsborough County CommissionerMark Sharpe, an outspoken advocate for the area surrounding the mall and theUniversity of South Florida, called the deal an "enormous boon." "[birdoff] has been talking with a number of individuals about a completely differently concept that would help pivot the entire university area," Sharpe said.

http://www.usforacle.com/news/view.php/857660/It-takes-a-village

It takes a village Renovated Andros village to be completed via public-private partnership. By Alex Rosenthal, EDITOR IN CHIEF On December 4, 2014 Hannah Hurley, a freshman who lives in Mu Hall in the Andros residential area, said her room feels “confining†inside an “antiquated†building with no elevator and outdated bathrooms. Her friend Ashley Clerrobrun, a freshman majoring in nursing who lives nearby in Kappa Hall, said her residence hall is “claustrophobic†with “depressing colors and lighting.†Describing the dull, beige, 50-year-old residence halls with cinder block walls, Clerrobrun said she dislikes spending any time in Andros and is envious of other, more modern dorms. “The whole thing needs to be reconstructed,†she said. Within the next five years, students on campus may see just that, as the university is in the early stages of a public-private partnership that will completely renovate the Andros area with a new dining hall, residence halls, a fitness center and more in a village-style community. The project, labeled the P3 project by administration, is a unique concept in which the university will partner with private contractors to build and finance the construction of a residential area for approximately 2,125 students while also demolishing the existing Andros buildings. According to the schedule outlined in the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN), which began seeking out private vendors in September, university officials will select finalists for the project this week. Student Affairs and Housing officials declined to comment while in the negotiation process. Though USF President Judy Genshaft and several members of the USF Board of Trustees (BOT) expressed their support for the project at last month’s finance and audit workgroup meeting, the project must still get final approval from the BOT and the Florida Board of Governors. As early as May 2016, demolition of the Andros I area, which includes Delta, Epsilon, Eta and Zeta halls and nearby support buildings, will begin the first phase of the project. This phase will then include the construction of residential space for approximately 1,550 beds in semi-suite and traditional-style living, a health and wellness facility of about 25,000 square feet, an outdoor pool and deck, a dining facility, and small retail spaces with outside gathering areas. While the ITN only outlines a proposed retail space of about 6,000 square feet, there have been rumblings that an on-campus Publix could be included in the space. With Phase I is expected to be complete the summer of 2017, Phase II could begin in 2018, demolishing the remaining Andros area and creating approximately 575 more combined semi-suite and traditional style beds. The completion date is set for June 2019. Andros currently has room for 1,039 beds within nine buildings, accounting for about a fifth of the 5,589 residents on campus this year. With historically high demands for on-campus housing stemming from the university’s policy requiring most freshmen to live on campus and housing currently over capacity, with a 105 percent occupancy rate, there will be an estimated 1,800 extra beds in demand in 2017 and 2,100 beds in demand in 2019. In response to news of the P3 project and the possibility of a new Andros in future years, Hurley said only one word: “Hallelujah.â€

#17 was a tough hole with pin tucked behind the berm. I hit a 5 iron withing 20 feet and 3 putted for a bogey!! We played Whistling Straits Thursday afternoon and Black Wolf Run Friday morning which was another great course. Its great that you got to experience that course with your son - lifetime memory I'm sure.

This might have been the best game day experience that I have ever witnessed. The Wisconsin fans were a blast to hang out with, State Street Friday night was jamming, Regent Street after the game was a big party and the Jump Around is the coolest student tradition I have seen. 78 degrees with fall colors around and the Bulls hanging tough made for a great weekend. Top it off with 2 rounds of golf at Whistling Straights and its hard to top. Notre Dame, Auburn, FSU were up there since we won but Wisconsin's game day is my vote for #1. I have been to many of the SEC and ACC venues and I still think Wisconsin is the best. Do you agree? Here are my top 5 so lets here yours... Wisconsin Notre Dame UGA Clemson Auburn

Trickett will graduate in May with a degree in social science from Florida State. He is slated to be a redshirt junior in 2013. " I had a good time here at Florida State and want to thank everyone for being so good to me," Trickett said. "I’ll always be part of the FSU alumni." Two schools, however, are in play: USF and West Virginia. In fact, some close to the USF program expect Trickett to transfer there. He was originally recruited out of high school by USF coach Willie Taggart, who at the time was coaching at Stanford. Trickett and the Trickett family have major ties to West Virginia, and Trickett is fond of the area. His skills fit the system well, as he played in a spread in high school. West Virginia has a major hole at quarterback after Geno Smith left for the NFL draft. He is expected to be the top pick this April.

Could have been USF - swing and a miss. Dennis Dodd â€@dennisdoddcbs 1m Correction: Clint Trickett -- statistically -- is the nation's best Power 5 qb

Phil Steele â€@philsteele042 3m The last 15 times North Carolina St has been favored on the road they have been upset 12 of 15 times and 0-15 winning by more than expected.

UF can't sellout their home opener: http://florida.247sports.com/Article/Foley-Florida-striving-to-create-better-gameday-atmosphere-30587179 UF should schedule the USF game and they would see a sellout. When FSU originally scheduled the Bulls they were having a hard time selling out their games and we packed the place (main reason they scheduled USF). Maybe UF will feel some pressure to get the outstanding USF game on their schedule so we could sellout their stadium as we would bring 10K+ to Gainesville.

Plans are coming together and it will be nice to see those crappy Andros buildings gone. I hope they create some type of main street for the retail section.... http://system.usf.edu/board-of-trustees/academic-and-campus-environment/2014-ACE/August-28-2014/ACE%208%2028%2014%20Agenda%20supplemental%20form.pdf Executive Summary: The University of South Florida has been developing an Invitation to Negotiate (“ITNâ€) to solicit responses from interested parties to enter into a unique public private partnership agreement with the University to develop a new vibrant residential village on the north side of the Tampa Campus. The Village will be comprised of approximately 2,125 beds, health and wellness components, and dining and small retail elements. The University is seeking a Private Entity to design-build-finance the new facilities consistent with the University’s objectives. The Project is expected to be completed in two phases. The target delivery for the first phase is Summer, 2017 and Summer, 2019 for the second phase.

Bulls might have some competition. If the Cal job opens up Musselman will be on their radar since he is a PAC 12 guy and coached at Golden State. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10698711/california-golden-bears-coach-mike-montgomery-meet-ad-sandy-barbour-monday

He is affordable too: According to school records, Eric Musselman, a former NBA head coach, and Larry Greer, a former NBA scout and assistant, each will have base salaries of $190,000 this season. The assistants they replaced -- Scott Pera and Lamont Smith -- each made the same amount. The records were recently released to azcentral sports under a public-records request.

Read this article by Gary Parrish and I think most people would agree that the timing is right and it would be a good hire for USF: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/22224650/eric-musselman-former-nba-head-coach-now-focused-on-college

The resume story is on the front page of ESPN and most major papers today. The story has also reached non sports media outlets as I'm listening to a music channel on satellite radio and the topic is discussed. I do not remember a time when USF has been in the news to this degree. Most people agree that USF did the right thing but is all this press good or bad for USF? I wish the story would end with Steve Masiello finding out that UK messed up his records and we end up hiring him but doubt its going to end this way. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach as I have never been more excited to get a new coach but in some ways the press might be good. What do you think?