TheHorn

For me, it is a more an adjustment that is balanced between realistic short, medium and long term expectations. On Saturday, the team's progress was measured against my short term expectations. We beat the spread, didn't loose a conference game, and got Wisconsin's attention for a better portion of the game than I expected. Oh and I had fun. At the end of this season I'll compare the team's progress against more medial expectations. How is player development progressing, overall wins versus loses and did I have fun? At the end of next year, the team's progress will be weighed against my long term expectations. Do we have a well managed program that is recruiting properly, do the other teams in our conference truly worry about playing us, are we playing in bowl games and am I still having fun?

If we are going by that analogy Skipper wasnt even driving "GHOST RIDE THE WHIP BABY!! TWO MIL A YEAR TROLOLOLOLOLOL" I don't think we can lay this all on Skip. However he isn't here, Woolard isn't here and Judy seems to have gotten the message that phoning it in isn't acceptable any more. For my own sanity, I am focusing on the guys with the wrenches in their hands at the moment while trying to understand that this bus needs more that a simple oil change. Hopefully I didn't carry that metaphor/simile too far.

Our bus has had little to no maintenance for years and what little was done was completed, at times, by unqualified mechanics. Kinda like when an older cousin passed me her car. With a limited budget I had to decide if I got a tune up, adjusted the alignment, fixed the oil leak or bought four new tires. Sold my buddies (without cars) on the idea that we could all work together to make it work for us. It took time and help but we finally got it running just fine. So I am on the bus and chipping in for repairs.

Our flight to Madison was cancelled as well. Rebooked to Minneapolis and got in about 3. Took about 6 hrs to drive to Madison with road construction delays. We may only have the clothes on our backs but stinky or not, we are going to that **** game tomorrow.

Got*

Yep. Just git here.

Four of us heading up. We are really excited as this is our first away game. We decided to stay at the Hyatt Place in Madison. Looked like it was within a reasonable stumbling/cab distance of the stadium.

We were there up until the weather delay. Had a great time.

Four of us drove over from Tampa and attended for the first time. My girlfriend is an avid supporter of the home teams (Rays, Lightning and Bucs). So she has now added the Bulls in as well. Thought this event would be a great way to jump start her first season as a new Bull. I increased the number of seats from last year so she could have her friends and family attend with us as there was a lot of interest. Anyway we got a chance to talk with Mark Harlan and Coach Taggart and both were very approachable. Even got my ticket stubs from Taggart's first win signed! Admittedly a little fan geekiness but oh well. I have a few photos if anyone is interested. Some are not the best quality as I am still trying to work out the S5's camera features. I'll be glad to upload them if someone could tell me where/how to do it.

I have not been a fan of basketball. I can count on one hand how many complete basketball games I have watch in my 40-something years of life. So thinking that this would be the year to get off my butt and give men's BB a chance, I got tickets to the FGCU game. I asked my buddy, that played basketball in high school and is a USF grad, to come along and give me some insights. Once again not knowing much about basketball, it struck me that even though FCGU lost, they played at an energy level that was a measure above what USF displayed. I honestly wanted to be excited about the game and potentially another source of support for USF athletics. I asked my buddy if USF's display was normal and the very short, edited answer was "...not for successful teams..." So while I would love to support USF in something other than football, it will be baseball and softball for now.

That would be novel.

Survey done. A couple quick questions: 1) Doesn't the stadium have fairliy reliable WiFi now? 2) So this would be a more focused version of what http://mobile.thescore.com/ provides? Thanks...

Reserving assessment until they hit the field. Not only looking to see if we truly have better talent but if the coaching staff gets better at utilizing them.

Pretty pleased to see lots of Bulls gear at the parade and in our neighborhood today. Especially on younger people. No problem getting the horns or a "Go Bulls" either. Oddly enough I did see several groups trying to get the Seminoles chant thing going but it never took off. Looked kinda half-hearted at best. Oh well, they plenty to be happy about though.

Better quality version I believe... http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/most_recent/125989443819/0/lemming-report-willie-taggart

Yes, it does .... die-hard /ˈdaɪˌhɑrd/ Show Spelled [dahy-hahrd] Show IPA noun 1. a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like. Cool story, bro. But, that doesn't say you must renew season tickets. I have faith we will turn it around. I love my program. I have a ******* tattoo of the iconic U. That said, I also am a believer that money, or lack thereof, talks. Seeing a drop in season tickets or donations should trigger to the powers that be that we are not content with current results. If we sold out Ray Jay every week there'd be less motivation. No, THAT'S a cool story ... Apparently money DOESN'T talk for you. If you really did have faith we will turn it around, you wouldn't withhold it from the program. As much as some of you think the Athletic Department is made up of dolts, I can guarantee no one there thinks anyone out here is content with current results so your little boycott is a waste. Being aware of a problem isn't the same as having a plan to fix it or the ability to come up with a plan for that matter. I think with as bad as fan unrest is a couple things would help. 1) Public acknowledgement from the top that things have been handled badly. Let us hear it from them they are aware things could have been handled better. A great way to earn respect is to take ownership for one's mistakes. 2) Assuming they have one, detailed communication on their plans to fix the issues. Hiring a new coach is obviously a good start but that isn't the only area that needs to be addressed I'd imagine. Nevertheless I am renewing for this year as I have hope, not necessarily faith, things will get better. Go Bulls!

Bingo. Sure a little good natured bashing of the "enemy" is fun when you actually might be competition otherwise it just seems sad. They succeeded and we didn't even have a chance of succeeding. My opinion is the managment of this program has been an amatuer effort at best riding on the coattails of other people's effort. The department's managment had been lucky up until the dismissal of Leavitt (and the passing of LRS?). I believe they really didn't have to do too much except give Leavitt what he needed and stay out of what they didn't understand. The few times they did act on their own have been utter embarrassments like the "Billboard" and Holtz extension. (are we still paying that guy?) One could argue that our meteoric advancement and the expansion of facilities was in management's credit. I am begining to think that all of that was more other's belief in the sheer potential of our program and not any great effort from managment. A potential, by the way, that has been squandered by incompetance. So at this point I am too worried that this incompetence is going to undermine the program and sink us further that I really don't have the energy to worry about anyone else. My focus is on trying to support football and do my part to help the program succeed. Even if that means making the University aware of my lack of confidence in the atheletic department's mangement. Go Bulls!

Here...

Realizing that not all of the money could/would go towards an OCS, woul they spend enough that we don't end up with a upgraded high school stadium?

While we have not been surrounded in section 112 (~ 35 yard line), I was surprised to see the numbers of visiting fans. I wonder if the players notice? While I imagine it would be preferable to have green and gold in the seats, maybe it is better that at least someone is there versus red plastic.

Maybe he hasn't put White in until now because he had no faith the o-line could protect an inexperienced QB? His exploration of putting defensive players might make sense in that context. Trying to keep White from getting destroyed while trying to make something happen on offense? Who knows but at least I'll give him credit for thinking outside the box instead of throwing his hands up and floating through until next year.

Awesome to see. Yeah the players were all grins going into the locker room as well. Snapped a bunch of pictures as they came around the field. It was really good to see.

One happy head coach.