Great post .... only fault I find with your scenario is, and by reading this board you should already know this, that the move to the Big East appeared to have created a good amount of snooty, spoiled fans who actually think that schools like Tulane, Memphis, ECU are far far beneath us now and am not sure they'll buy in.
Sports isn't the reason the university opened its door. Obviously. But, its the reason this message board exists! There is no Bullspen without an athletic program. Its what has people either griping or praising or school! As a matter of fact, this is the South Florida Bulls Athletics Board! And winning makes our athletics more profitable, our school more desirable and better competition in a better conference helps create that!
Did us jumping up to the Big East create "Snoody" Fans?! Give me a break. Athletically, Tulane, ECU and Memphis were in a weaker football conference. Could they have beaten us this year? I have no doubt! One bad year does not define our football program as a whole!
But I would love to still see USF move up to a better conference. Why? Better competition creates a better team. A better conference and this better competition draws better players, recruits and coaches! Winning does solve almost everything, as a matter of fact, it will create a lot less bandwagon fans, even in Tampa! Just playing was great in the late 90s, but we have a program I still believe can end up being one of the top 50 in the country.
Fans desiring a more competitive team, a team that plays better and competes against better teams year in and out creates a successful program.Settling gets us nowhere
We don't have to be a mid-level or worse team forever. If fans come across snoody or spoiled. too bad. Some are immature, entitled young people who are still growing up. But there is a difference between that and the drive for success, which is what I believe all fans really want here.