At the time we had those loses, we were 2nd and 8th, and in the discussion for the Natl Championship game. If you recall, once we lost WV who only had the one loss to us was in 2nd and in the Natl championship game until they lost to Pitt in their last game.
That year we averaged over 50,000 at Ray Jay, and I don't know about anyone else but there wasn't a day that went by over a couple of months. (after the night win at Auburn) that most of my customers wanted to talk about USF football.
I cooked for the tailgate parties for the Baptist Collegiate Ministry and was cooking for 120 to 135 kids every game. Our tailgate party was on ESPN sports 3 times that year plus the ESPN special they did on the amazing upstart USF football.
We had to quit trying to have tailgate parties for them in 2018 because of lack of interest. We dropped from 120 minimum to when Leavitt left to 35 to 40 on Holtz's last year.
We started with 50 people Taggart's first year to 35 his second year, to 20 his third year. His fourth year we had 25 to 35 and by the end of Strong's second year, we had less than 6. We finally didn't bother last year.
I'm sorry, I miss those years. Yes, we moved up so fast that we were playing against opponents that were way over our heads, and somehow we were winning a lot of them. By the end of the year, our competition caught us and our top 50 recruits.
I don't mind telly you that when we had a top 26 recruiting class, his last year of recruiting, and when we were rated top 18 when he was fired, I had high hopes for what we could do with those types of recruits.
That's what I mean about having something to play for.