MaltLiquorBull

On 4/25/2024 at 9:11 AM, USF_Bullsharks said:

This is still a risk/reward game - the economics must work for both sides. Orlando FC is averaging ~19k fans per game in a 25k seat stadium. They have the ability to offer rev share splits to c for whatever payout - to the collective, to the school, etc, to boost attendance. 

The Lightning do not have empty seats (although I would expect Vinik to 100% be on board with something like this). The Bucs haven't either, but that could be slowly changing as the Brady/Super Bowl fever wears off. The Rays could do this today, and I expect as USF continues to increase support/momentum/media coverage, the Rays could very well be interested. Stu poses other difficulties - his heart isn't in Tampa Bay at all. 

To my knowledge, the Rays are the only pro team that actually does an official thing with USF.   That game in August where you get those USF themed TB rays caps (very cool by the way).  I don't know what the logistics of it are.  It may just be an alumni group thing, but it is something.  Maybe that can grow into something more.

35 minutes ago, Cubanbull said:

I think the Miami game will be huge on where the season goes. A win and we are in playoff conversation. A loss and that becomes less likely even if we win AAC.

1. It will be at home and it could be close to a sell out

2. Very likely that it is televised as part of AAC TV contract

3. ACC will be watching

In recent past years, these 3 ingredients would be a guarantee for us to come out and lay a very ugly egg.  But I feel much better about this team and this coaching staff.

27 minutes ago, ahoyboy said:

It would be quite a shock if arrangements were made to build the stadium without complete confidence in a “move up.” 

I want to believe that.  Probably no such thing as a guarantee.  My guess is the big 12 cited that as a reason for not calling us up last time.  Still a gamble, but it worked for the city of st. Pete way back when they built a baseball stadium without a team. USF is too great of a university to not have an on campus stadium, though.  The stadium + AAU is huge game changer for our university.

26 minutes ago, hm101 said:

C. Sucks

Nominating this for a HOF post.

13 minutes ago, Bull94 said:

there has never been 4 year athletic scholarships to my knowledge. Just another way for the schools to take advantage of the athletes.

they are 1 year contracts. Looks like that has come back to bite them.

yes.  I guess they were really 4 year "promises."

31 minutes ago, Bull94 said:

we had 3 returning players this year. seems to have worked out ok.

this is how college sports works now. every year is a rebuild until they come up with multi year contracts.

I'm so old, I can remember when multi-year contracts meant that you put in the work 4 years in exchange for tuition, books, room and board, meals, nutrition specialist, training program, personal trainer, occasional per diem money, pride in your chosen school, and eventually a degree.   Not intended to place blame on anyone for what college sports has turned into...its all about the $$$.  Just doesn't seem the same now when players chase the money like pros (and coaches do, too).  I root for the name on the front of the jersey.  Sad to hear CY doesn't want to play for USF anymore.

24 minutes ago, 79 Bull said:

Just thought of something.  Not sure if in the plans, but it would be nice to have a smallish building with permanent restrooms outside of the stadium on the route from the largest tailgating areas.  I hope we don't end up with a row of port-a-lets (plastic outhouses) littering the beautiful new landscape.

THIS...

 

NOT THIS...

Yeah, this is a big deal for tailgating, and I hope its not overlooked.  People are gonna have to pee.  I've been at other campuses where some of the buildings are left open for restroom use, but the restrooms were completely abused and trashed.  We don't want that.  But having ample porta pottys available is probably the best thing about tailgating at ray jay.

40 minutes ago, Rage said:

Green & Gold EDGE Dry-fit hat

WWW.FORTHEBAYCLOTHINGCO.COM

---

What a Magical run it has been this Season on the hardcourt! Rep the Green & Gold with our New South Florida EDGE 3D Puff embroidered Dry-fit hat.  **Limited Edition...

i saw CAAR wearing thee same hat and googled "4TB".... its a local clothing line 

Thanks.  Nice stuff they have out there.  Lots of Tampa Bay stuff.  Also noted that sales of this hat (and all the other USF themed stuff) have a portion of the $ going to the Fowler Avenue Collective.  I may pick one of these up.

Cool hat.  EDGE with SOUTH FLORIDA .  What's the story behind that?  Is that this year's FB "slogan?"  I haven't seen that one yet.

14 minutes ago, Rocky Style said:

CFB needs a salary cap pretty bad.  

CFB needs an enema!

Gotta start somewhere!  Bring it!

What a joke.  Call their bluff and let the sec and big 10 break away to their own league.  In 2 years, we can ask “ how’s that workin out for ya?”

5 minutes ago, USF_Bullsharks said:

Really good tweet there. 

Yes.  We really needed the professional looking "office memo" with AAC letterhead to provide just a date with no other details.   Classy.

This NET system sucks.   As far as I can tell, its just a bunch of circular references.  Just like the football rankings, it all depends on where you are (and your opponents are) rated before the season even begins.  

Good thing we got out of there with a win.  A loss there would’ve tanked us in these net ratings.  Close one.

A whopping 2 teams from the AAC in the bracket prediction.

7 minutes ago, Nebolsky said:

I agree.

Where I get concerned is sustained success.  In the past, if you had great recruits/players, you could envision the next 3+years with them on the team.  So, you would expect if the team did great one year, the next year would be great or good.

Now, players can come and go at a blink of an eye with dollars being dangled at their nose.  This new college football system is different (I won't say worse or better), but what I can say is that school pride/tradition/loyalty are being diminished from the athletes perspective.

So, lets say after we have the best season in program history.  Coming out of our run in the CFP, do we lose a ton of talent and our coach to bigger programs?  

How do you maintain a successful program these days with a G5 school (I understand P5 schools are susceptible, but I would argue they are less affected)?  Is the selling point that you attract diamonds in the rough to give them publicity so they can leave for greener pastures?

It's turning into a pro league, but it's more like major league baseball than the NFL.  At least the NFL has things in place like salary caps to keep parity in the league.  College football is turning more into the major league baseball model where the more money you have, the better team you can buy...and any new player that has great success at a lower level team is sure to be gone (off to one of the rich teams) the following year.

Just win the conference.  Everything will fall into place.  Preseason polls are dogshit.

15 minutes ago, CousinRicky said:

So getting to an OCB Off Campus Bar is okay but they can't get to an Off Campus Stadium.  Hmmmmmm.  

Hmmmmm.  Maybe it was NOT having an "on campus stadium" that caused the night life to move so far off campus.  

20 minutes ago, Mike Stuben said:

Nightlife around campus has been in decline for years. 

Younger fans won't know these names:

Empty keg 

Greenery

The Claw restaurant (really)

CDB's

Copper Top

Montana's 

Kasey's Cove

Bennigans

Fridays

The Brickyard (I think that was the name, current Acropolis)

All those places at one point in time were around campus and drew in students, all gone. 

The only improvement, Mr Dunderbaks moving from the mall to their current location. 

This was all back in my day, too.

I think the rising popularity of Ybor city at the time ruined it.  We used to hang out at these places around campus, and then everybody started going to ybor. 

Ranking teams before the season begins is a big part of the college football problem.  Basketball, too.

If this P2 breakaway thing happens and they "professionalize," then it won't be the end of college football, it will be the beginning of a junior pro league, and the only resemblance of college football that remains will be the teams who are left out.  If this happens, the players on these p2 teams will have as much connection with the universities they represent as a pro-sports player has connections with the city he plays in.  Just another pro league.  Probably just the thing needed to cause the whole thing to implode and we can get back to the good old-fashioned regional conferences and fun rivalries.

14 hours ago, Outlaw said:

Philly is the worst sports town. Change my mind. I used to go to Haverford every summer when my mom worked with the college. I loved visiting Philly and Haverford, but the fans were so rude. I remember getting all kinds of crazy stuff said to me at like 13-16 for wearing a Braves hat or a Lightning hat.

 

Nice mugshot.  I think that should be the pic they use in the dictionary for "Philly Fan".  But seriously, I clicked it and listened to the entire story.  Sounds to me like this was at a Phillies game, and the family he puked on was also Phillies fans.  ???   Also, at the end when the on-location reporter suggests that the Phillies provide complimentary tickets to the victims and a limo ride??  That's a really nice idea, but your job as a reporter is to report the news, all the news, and nothing but the news--not to inject your opinion about how this should be handled.

And based on my experience, Philly fans are the worst by far.

A home and home GT series would be great...but a home and home with any ACC team would be fun.

I would love to have ND here.  

Purdue (my dad went there).

Mich St. or Michigan would be fun, too.