UofMemphis

the same thing FAU does with theirs...see if the Rowdies want to play a couple games there...host intramurals...see if the local HS bands want to hold competitions there...hold your annual scrimmage there...all sorts of stuff.

I know we just played in one at FAUs...if FAU can have a new stadium and Bowl game...why not USF?

ESPN can't get enough of bowl games in Florida...no reason USF can't host the 'Busch Gardens Bowl' or something similar.

when you see Tulane's stadium, remember this...they had to make it 'low profile' on one side as there are really high dollar homes that back up the stadium and practice field...one of those home owners was a lawyer, got the neighbors together, and threatened to sue over 'noise/light pollution' along with increased car traffic lowering their home values. notice the massive homes that back up to the small side of the stadium pictured below. So while Tulane claims it holds 30,000...it's more like 26,000 with some SRO areas. (which is perfect for Tulane)

I didn't say it has anything to do with the drive...it's simply a fact...Raymond James is too big for USF just like the Liberty Bowl is too big for Memphis. I mean, that's like UAB fans pretending Legion Field only holds 45,000 because they tarp off 20,000+ seats...like that commercial says 'that's not how any of this works'

it isn't realistic to ask any G5 program to consistently fill a 66,000 seat stadium...

All those folks who aren't filling up Raymond James for USF games. I'm not saying Raymond James won't work, but you have the land on campus, and your team has had back-to-back bowls. Plus the Big XII isn't expanding, so the AAC is stable for the moment. This simply seems like a good time for USF to strike. I'd love for Memphis to have an OCS but there are many reasons why we don't 1) Memphis is the primary tenant at the Liberty Bowl, and we are treated as such. 2) Memphis gets a sweetheart deal on the lease (only 99k per game to rent) 3) The Liberty Bowl is only 2.1 miles, or a 5 minute car ride from Campus. 4) The City pays for maintenance and upkeep and they've done a good job here lately (32 million invested in the last 5 years) 5) we don't have the land on-campus to build a stadium

as I said, it's a decorum kind of thing...and it would not apply to your situation as Anthony Grant has no AD to ask permission from, and normally NBA asst coaches can come and go. example was when LSUs Johnny Jones was our 'interim HC' and we had no issues talking to Calipari while he was an asst coach with the 76ers and Jones was still acting as our interim. those sort of rules don't apply when you're talking to NBA asst coaches and you have an interim HC...

20 minutes is a long drive and a 66,000 seat stadium is not perfect for USF. as an outsider who has family in Tampa I've ended up on your campus twice to watch Memphis vs USF hoops games. Both times I noticed there is plenty of space on campus for a stadium. UCF built an OCS for 55 million...Akron built an OCS for 62 million...FAU built an OCS for 70 million...UNT built an OCS for 78 million...USF could build an OCS on land they already own for under 100 million. it would be a transformative event for USF, and with the success of the last two seasons, now is the time to strike IMHO. I mean, why not here?

plus a lot of the decorum rules won't apply...no need to ask an AD for permission to contact...no need to wait til the end of the season to officially fire your sitting coach...it actually puts USF in the catbird seat this coaching carousel. you guys can talk to Grant, while letting Bartow have a 60 day 'interview'

not really...the assumption from everywhere that I've read is USF became aware of something linking Antigua to the NCAA investigation into academic fraud...that explains the immediate firing, and will probably mean USF was able to fire for cause saving them some $$$. http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/College-Basketball/2017/01/04/South-Florida-fires-Orlando-Antigua-amid-academic-fraud-investigation/2421483510031/ your AD didn't just wake up and decide Antigua didn't win enough.

but the remaining season is what...60 days? 60 days goes quick, and I would be already reaching out to candidates now (of course, that may already be happening) after thinking about it, Grant may be the perfect pick. Candidates like Matt McCall will want you to wait until their team is done playing in whatever tourney they end up in...you can reach out to Grant right now to gauge interest.

NBA regular season ends like mid-April. Playoffs normally go til the end of May. If he's just an Asst, there's no reason to not just start the hiring process now.

the problem with both McCall and Forbes for Memphis was that they were both in their 1st season at their schools...had Pastner left THIS season, Tubby would have already signed that extension at TTU, and McCall/Forbes would both have good shots at being our HC.

he was making 1.8 million at Texas Tech but after taking them to the NCAA tourney, Tech wanted to extend his contract at 2 million per year. Memphis had to come in high because the list got kinda rough after Tubby...Jeff Capel? Penny Hardaway?...No Thanks! I'll take the coach who's taken 5 programs to the NCAA tourney, 3 programs to the Sweet 16, and has an NCAA title to his credit. if I remember right it just goes up 100k every year at Memphis: 2.8 million year one, 2.9 million year two, 3 million in year three, and so on from there. Tubby says he wants to retire before 70, so I believe he will retire in mid April 2021 after 5 seasons with Memphis (that also happens to be the length of his contract)...he turns 70 one month later at the end of June. I just don't think Tubby wants to be like Larry Brown, coaching at 75...so IMHO, Tubby knows this is his last/best chance at another deep NCAA run.

If USF has 2.8-2.9* million per year sitting around, then your options open up a little bit :-) (*Tubby makes 2.8 this season, and 2.9 next season)

Gary Parrish is a national CBS writer who started in Memphis covering Memphis basketball (Calipari teams) and he noticed all of Cal's asst coaches were nothing but 'yes men' who could recruit...he was shocked when he started covering other teams for CBS to find some coaches actually let assts do things like run practice, and even call set plays out of timeouts...Cal would have none of that...he wants recruiters only.

Cal's just mad he's going to have to find space on his staff for Antigua and Strickland this season instead of next...Cal loves yes men who can recruit.

as I said in my first post, I would go with Matt McCall...but Grant would at least be a major upgrade over Antigua.

again, I'd much rather have a successful up-and-comer over yet another fired SEC coach... what's the problem with McCall? he's 39-9 at UT-Chatt, including an NCAA tourney, with experience under Mike Jarvis and Billy D...plus, he's never been fired. but as I said, if a retread is really what you want Anthony Grant > Orlando Antigua...but I'd give Bartow a shot since he's already Interim Head Coach. note: I'm biased towards Bartow since I remember my Tigers playing his UAB squads in the late 90s and early 2000s...his teams we're fundamentally solid, and best described as 'scrappy'...he seemed to carry that on at ETSU.

if that's the thought process, just stick with Bartow...he'll build a nice little program there. (like he did at ETSU)

that said...Anthony Grant > Orlando Antigua I'm just saying that if you want to go re-read, give Murry Bartow a chance.

because I can tell you all about Anthony Grant. I mean, Stan Heath has an NCAA title as an asst under Izzo...took Kent State to an Elite Eight, and Arkansas to back-to-back NCAAs. if you want another fired SEC coach, go for it...but it'll end the same.

Stan Heath part 2? sitting successful head coaches are available like McCall, Dooley, and Forbes...get an up and comer, not a re-tread.

Murry Bartow has 4 NCAAs, 3 NITs, 2 CITs, along with over 300 career Ws at UAB and ETSU. he's FAR more qualified to coach USF than Orlando Antigua. Fitts, Da Silva, Holston, Martin, Manderson, Thorpe...there is talent there for the next coach.