hm101

I am praying that this does not turn into a thread about the coaching staff. Not sure how long that can last but here we go...

Coach says depth chart changes may be coming. I'm looking at the roster and can't put my finger on who exactly, but I've got to think some of those changes will come in the defensive backfield. But who? Baker, Joyce, Jenkins, Lejiste, Webster?

The problem isn't only the mid throw but also rushing yards; we're giving up I think 170 per game? Is that on the LB squad?

Our front 7 has shown we can get TFL and we seem to have improved there the last 2 games.

What do we need to do to win this Louisville football game?

I'm tired of ******** about the coaching staff. I think we are all preaching to the choir at this point. Can we refocus on the UL game and what we need to do to win?

I'm glad my university president isn't glued to her screen ready to personally address our football concerns. I know she cares deeply, but I hope her priorities are a little different.

If anything I presume an assistant aggregates these emails and summarizes them for her, maybe?

Not to mention the SEC has a reputation of below-average academics

They do? Aren't they all AAU institutions?

You are thinking of the Big Ten (all except Neb)

In the SEC, some are. Vandy is there, Florida is AAU. I'm not saying we need to compete with them on their academics anyway, I'm saying I don't want to have an SEC-type mentality (or reputation) that says to hell with graduation and APR scores.

EDIT:

Do you want this representing your school? I dont

Who cares about the academics of our players, last time I checked the SEC was not focused on getting their players to get better grades...

Me.

Life is more important than football. Not to mention the SEC has a reputation of below-average academics as well as off-the-field arrests. And if that's not enough, look at Stanford, Notre Dame, USC, etc; you can have very high academic standards and still win at a high level.

I'm not saying we need to be NC contenders and have Ivy standards. But, 100% of the time I will trade a few wins for players who graduate and represent the university well.

I never indicated I was ok with the regression. I also conceded that there were some tactical errors made (Cosh?).

What I did say was that I still have some faith in what he is trying to build. I am still in. Yes, this blows, but I am willing to accept some temporary pain and forgive some tactical errors if it means we have a clean program that is being built the right way for long-term success.

So, Skip, just how good are you as a coach?

Holtz pauses, choosing his words carefully.

"If you judge by wins and losses, then I'm not very **** good," he said. "I'm not going to sit and try to argue these numbers. I'm not going to try to sell them and make them look pretty. You can dress up a pig but it's still a pig.

"If you judge by the health of the program, the academics, the character of the kids … give me time and I think I can give you a lot better answer. The guys we brought in are freshmen and redshirt freshmen. I'd at least like to be here long enough to see them shave."

So, Skip, are you the guy to make this program essential?

"I believe I am," he said. "We've won everywhere we've been, and we've built it the right way."

The ****** play sucks, but I believe Skip is 100% correct. We are 2.5 years into the second-coach-ever's era of a 15-year-old football program. I don't think a rah-rah coach who can pull off an upset or two is ideal. I want a coach who wants to patiently construct a well-rounded program for long-term success.

I think he hears our voice. I'm giving him a chance to right the ship. He has made a few tactical errors, sure, but I'm still in.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/usf-bulls-bringing-up-rear-in-big-east-football/1255678

You mean with the coaches right? I don't think our players want to lose or aren't trying.

Our players are getting called out by media and announcers for looking flat. Playing to the opponent or to the crowd has been a common problem at USF for a while now. I totally disagree that some aren't giving 100%.

I'm not saying benching all seniors is the right move, but I admire Leach for holding players accountable and expecting maximum effort, regardless of class.

You have to agree that some are not giving 100%

Thats what I meant to say. Sorry about the double negative

Someone who runs a clean program. Who has a track record of building teams up to conference-winning competitiveness.Someone who wants and chooses to be at USF.

You mean with the coaches right? I don't think our players want to lose or aren't trying.

Our players are getting called out by media and announcers for looking flat. Playing to the opponent or to the crowd has been a common problem at USF for a while now. I totally disagree that some aren't giving 100%.

I'm not saying benching all seniors is the right move, but I admire Leach for holding players accountable and expecting maximum effort, regardless of class.

Hoping we escape from ESPN, especially if it means more money, a network that supports us rather than fights us, and a BCS landscape that still gives us a shot.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/10/09/mike-leach-empty-corpse-washington-state/1622799/

"I think it's mixed," said Leach of his team's senior leadership. "I think with some it's stellar... some of them have been great and some of them have been very poor. Some of them have had this zombie-like, go-through-the-motions, that's how it's always been and that's how it'll always be."

"Some of them, quite honestly, have an empty-corpse quality," he said.

As a result, Leach and his staff have been forced to turn to underclassmen. This week's projected starting lineup for a game against California includes only three seniors, all on the defensive side of the ball.

Three true freshmen will start on offense, based on Washington State's depth chart for Saturday. A fourth rookie, redshirt freshman Gunnar Eklund, will start at left tackle.

"It's not pleasant to say or pleasant to think about, but it's a fact, which is why it's been necessary to have the youth movement we've had," said Leach. "We play a bunch of (redshirt) freshmen and true freshmen because we get a higher effort level out of them."

Not saying this is what we need right now no questions asked, but just an example of what some coaches are doing to resolve similar issues regarding effort and execution.

Seems like Skip and Woolard have addressed all the right things at this point. They hear us. Now can we move on and talk about football baby!?

I'd say so far the results are surprisingly grounded...70% of simply want to see / think we are capable of competing on a Cincy-type level, and that is competing year in and out for a Big East championship. Doesn't seem too lofty to me.

We're definitely not contributing.

This has more to do with the other conferences underachieving than anything the Big East has done. The Big East has 0 marquee victories.

Here are the OOC opponents the Big East has beaten:

...

Agree there are no marquee wins, but I think the point is not that we are a top 2 or 3 conference, but that we are nowhere near as bad as the media and other teams make us out to be. We are holding our own.

They just lost to Ball State and Temple.

In Holtz's defense, he has had only two full cracks at recruiting. And there have always been unrealistic expectations for USF. I've never thought this program was as close to greatness as alums and fans thought.

But they were a lot closer than: They just lost to Ball State and Temple.

This quote struck me odd in the Fennelly column today. And maybe it's true we tasted success too early. But I wanted to bring this question up: what do you think USF is capable of competing for consistently?

(Here are some examples for comparison. I'd put Bama/LSU/USC in #1. Wisconsin/Michigan/VaTech in #2. Cincy/Iowa in #3. Kentucky/Minnesota in #4. Indiana in #5)

EDIT: I'm not talking about an absolute PEAK. Just the highest reasonable level we can sustain.

either avoiding fielding questions about fb (unlikely, as a grown man and athletic admin professional should be able to face these things... right?) or attending to significant pressing matters like personnel, finances, etc

meanwhile... faculty pay, scholarships, capital improvements, etc

Seriously? Pay 2.5 million to fire someone?

I would be appalled. He is saying the right things. I think it has hit him.

bullspen: "he doesnt take responsibility"

holtz: "i am responsible"

bullspen: "well... still... fire him!"

the man is taking responsibility and communicating the things we wanted to hear. the holtz era is not over.

if you don't like him at this point its your problem not his.

there are some tweets to holtz im seeing that are downright idiotic and disrespectful. i hate the losses too but please keep it civil. howabout "these losses are tough, hope you can figure something out coach, go bulls"?

respresent the school well. he is our coach indefinitely. there is a way to be pissed and still have pride, respect, and support.

skipholtzmustgo.com

sent to Judy, Mcgillis, woolard, football@usf.edu, cosh, fitch

im in. mostly because ill be so hammered that i wont be able to make it in there (on time) anyway. its a party itsapartyitsapartay

Support academics and other athletic teams. Get involved in alumni associations, attend university events, sponsor a scholarship, attend other teams' games

Sent

Sent. And no, this Cosh defense belongs at Plant or some other high school. No any field my bulls are playing on