Orlando Bull

Plays have been there, Fortin is missing bad. Bad luck on that tipped ball, defense looks ok so far, they got us with the td throw. And now a penalty gives then another chance.

Man, I was counting on Puc to make this joke, but I have been left hanging so... Coach was probably giving them a taste of the crowd noise they will face for conference games. Actually, I think this is great. Beyond support the other teams, it also gives the team a little time together that is not focused on football. Most of our guys aren't going to be getting paid for their football abilities, but building bonds with their teammates and other student athletes can last forever.

Fun to watch this team over the last few weeks, don't get to follow them much, but was able to tune in for the post season. Congrats guys on a great run. Last night was pretty brutal, can't win if you can't find the strike zone. The umpire wasn't super helpful either, a lot of close pitches that could have been strikes, but at some point, you have to throw strikes and let the defense play the game. Defense looks shaky though which probably puts a lot more pressure on our pitchers to get strikeouts. Saturday was a hard one to swallow. Give Texas credit for finding ways to score, but their first 2 runs were luck more than anything. Some situational things that left a bad taste in my mouth. The error in the 9th was tough, playing on the turf the ball didn't react like the SS thought. There is no excuse though for letting that ball get over your head in CF and the runner to score from first. I kind of wish they had left Jasiak in a little longer too. He was wearing down, but I don't feel like Texas was really getting good "wood" on his pitches. Maybe 2-3 that were struck well, but he was keeping them off balance. I know college baseball is not usually an "every run" counts thing, but that first run shouldn't have happened. Ground ball to 3rd and the runner going in front of you, throw to the plate. Didn't get the out at second either because that was the harder play. Anyway... game 1 was winnable, but the young team made some fatal errors. Last night was not winnable, and I doubt that we could have won today with our pitching wearing out, but it sure was a fun ride. I also feel bad for Lane, the kid was hitting the ball well pretty much every at bat, but always right to someone.

OK... I was an extended family member to the USF softball program for a while. Even my actual family is divided on the state of the program. This was many years ago, but I got to know Ken well during that time. Ken is one of the best minds the game has to offer in my opinion. The dude would run trick plays that had good coaches (Lisa Fernandez if I recall) yelling at their players when they didn't fall for it. He wanted them to throw the ball to third for instance, they didn't, coach got mad. From what I know, there are players that went through the system that love him, there are also those that hate him. There are some in between. On of his haters bothers me. Girl gave her heart and soul to the program and when she walked off the field for her last game, she cut ties completely. I can't explain that. I would also say that from the era that I was involved in, probably more left with a sense that he was a good coach, but not their cup of tea than those that left super happy. Heintz leaving was a big blow to the program in my mind, she was the balance. Whether or not he's a player's coach now, I think he got the job somewhat through a coup because the players wanted him. Nothing he did, I think he had another offer and was leaving and the players did whatever they could do to get the old coach to retire and him the job. 22 year old me felt like I knew a little bit, he treats different players differently. Some say favoritism, but to me it looked more like psychology. Strong mental players got tough treatment or silent treatment. Weaker players got coddled. Seemed like he was treating everyone by what they needed to be their best, the problem is that it looks like favoritism and breeds resentment. I personally think that he is a huge competitor and USF can't compete with the big dogs, so he uses the National Team scratch that itch. He loves USF, but it wouldn't shock me if he has pulled back a little. Softball unfortunately is now a rich-kid sport. These girls are playing travel ball 52 weeks a year, all over the country. These SEC schools (that he's recruiting against) have all of the money and the "prestige". UF fields a team somewhere around 1996ish and immediately is successful. It's all about $$. Meanwhile Ken is running a top-25 program on an intramural field for decades. Unfortunately, I think it's like all USF sports, when we get a special player (Nevins, Triner, Ellis), we can be pretty good. Those players aren't lining up to come to USF for whatever reason. I am not sure if he can recruit better than he currently is. If he had his current facilities in 2000-ish, when really the whole SEC was just getting going in softball and he already had a proven winner, there is a chance he could have sustained that success back then and stayed at the top of the sport, but just like football being relegated to the AAC, it's hard when kids want to be a part of something that USF can't provide. The irony is that he could probably win multiple WCWS championships in the right program, but that same program probably wouldn't put up with some of his antics. He's probably the best USF is going to get and USF is likely the best place for him as he faces very little scrutiny here.

To me the score matters. First quarter, I take Grothe. Game on the line, I take Q. Kid was as clutch as I have ever seen. He made bad throws early in games, but when the chips we're down at the end of the game, he elevated to a crazy level. If Wilcox hadn't fumbled that ball, I have very little doubt that Q would have won that game.

My dad has been through some probably more mild stuff, but valve issue was causing him to go into AFib. They just did an ablation, seems to be working so far. Anyway, what is the procedure for replacement? Is it catheter, or do they have to open you up? If catheter, my opinion (which is worthless) would be to make the trip to the best place possible. Obviously, if it's a more intense surgery and thus recovery, it makes the decision harder. I don't know anything about it, but I know Advent Health over here in Orlando is well known for Cardiology. I also know that hospitals are big business and it's cut-throat as all get out, so it may be hard for your local doctor to refer you to a competing local hospital. Driving a couple hours for a second opinion seems good if you find a doctor you feel like can do it. Good luck, I can definitely tell from your post that you are taking it in stride and have a good attitude and will have a good outcome. Heart stuff has advanced so much, when my dad's stuff cropped up, I feel like we were close to losing him, but it's been 20 months or so since he was in the hospital and he's in the best shape of his life.

Good luck McCloud. I am actually excited about Williams... wife is a big canes fan, so we watch all of their games. He actually did some good things with them. He will need a solid OL. Starting so young, he was getting blown up due to bad OL play, it messed with his confidence, probably his health, and he couldn't overcome it. King then transfers in and he wasn't going to get another shot. We'll see what happens, but I think he has some talent.

Hate to tell y'all, but, McCloud is our best QB.

On a block down field on a pass play... OPI, but look, he trucked our LB who was watching the QB for A PASS. Used to respect Dungy.

I miss having good defenses.

I would like to see a series where we pretend like we can pass. A 3 and out is the same either way.

They're paying us back with a home sellout. We're not trending toward doing that with an AAC game

If they can't overcome a letdown, after last year, then it's going to be a long season anyway.

Ok Coach... Someone has to challenge that incomplete pass. Can't blame strong for that one.

As depressing as this is for us, imagine coach scott going from Clemson to this. Bless his heart.

In fairness, I think McCloud run was supposed to be a pitch, but, ND was on it. Bad call on the fake.

Going to need 5+ turnovers.

Is it too late to say we all have covid and can't play today?

I bet Q was bottom 10% in stats before CWT let him actually play in an offense that he could succeed in. Just saying. Mccloud isn't Q by any means, but, I don't think he's as bad as some make him out to be either.

One thing I think everyone forgets about McCloud is that he wasn't a QB until very late in HS if I recall. He's still learning the position. I saw some flashes of leadership last year and talent. We'll see how it shakes out. I feel like his arm is weaker than some, but, it's better than chad pennington for instance. Especially in college, it's better to understand the position and learn to make the reads and be accurate than it is to have a laser arm. Hopefully he has grown and we'll see that translate on the field. If not, hopefully one of the other guys steps in and shows promise.

I'd say Grothe's injury is where the USF world fractured. If MG had been healthy, that team would have been better, CJL would have been less stressed, players would have been less likely to stab him in the back. I really think that was our year before MG's knee.

Man, this just made me feel old. We have Gators here in orlando, so, I thought all were closing... then... clicked on an article that it was the Tampa location on fowler and closing after 17 years... I was racking my brain to try and remember where it was when I was in school only to realize that I have been out of there for a little longer than that. When I first saw it, I was like "no way, I don't remember them being there!" I would have remembered, the local Gators Dockside was a hangout when I was in HS, so, it would have stuck out to me if opened while I was in school... Anyway, on topic... For people saying the other sports aren't being played... there are still coaches getting paid, scholarships getting paid out, possibly more schollys coming if NCAA allows a 1-year change since they are adding eligibility for seniors. There's still going to be incoming freshmen that have been promised scholarships. There's quite a bit of money going out on all sports even when they aren't actively playing games. Will be interesting to see how things rebound. How sweet it would be though if this took down ESPN and the P5 as a result of their cash cow being gone. One can dream right?

This... as much as I want to forget, I keep going back to the Q magic that we were seeing that day and thinking Q would have gotten us the win if Mitch held on to that ball. I wish him well, but, its all I think of when I hear his name.

If I was Baltimore, I would have him. If something happens to Jackson, they would have Q and RG3. I don't know if Q's arm is an issue, definitely needs to work on touch, but, IMHO, he's light years ahead of Tebow's passing when he was drafted. Delivery may be a concern. He has a long throwing motion that takes a little more time than most. I hope he gets to start for the XFL and dominates that league, then gets a shot to at least hold a clip board in the NFL and make some money.

I wonder how hard the switch to safety would be for Q now... Maybe throw a good season on tape as safety and return specialist, then catch on with an NFL team. I am so proud of what Q did here and overcoming so many hurdles. It's bitter sweet though, would he have been a first round safety if he had gone to play that position for Saban? Hope the kid has success wherever he ends up.