aroth

It looks like many conferences average more than the $15-million per year that ND makes (based on 2 seconds worth of google research). I'm assuming the NBC/ND deal has a liquidated damages clause in it (enforceable/punitive?). So ND is fully aware of what they need for an efficient breach. Any conference that takes them on would likely be able to renegotiate prior to taking on ND, and everybody would know where they stand beforehand. Financially it could make sense for ND to join a conference and breach. All of that said, I doubt ND would leave their deal, as they seem to love being a special unique snowflake.

Thanks. That seems pretty competitive with others and should help land a top-notch candidate. I can't wait to see who we hire and hope they can accomplish half of what LRS did.

Any predictions on how the new AD's salary will compare to DW's $700k annually?

Based on those limited facts, do you have a coin?

Apologies if I put that out as though it came from an authoritative source. I will say, I think it would be common knowledge that a CCG winner would at least have to get a "plus" if all other factors were equal between teams. Generally, it should also improve strength of schedule as it is an additional game against a winning team.

I agree there is no proof that anything will be required of the B12. At this point there are plenty of teams outside the P5 that would be willing to take on greatly reduced revenue sharing to get into the P5. If there is a chance that the other conferences will ultimately force the B12 into adding a couple it might be cheaper to do it now rather than later. If there is a need to expand it will give a little, probably not much, bargaining power to the incoming teams. That could still cost the rest of the B12 money in the long run. My opinion (which counts for very little) is that it is inevitable the rest of the P5 will force the B12 into playing a CCG/expanding. The alternative is that they could cannibalize them and become the P4. As a biased USF fan, I see adding Tampa and Orlando markets as being beneficial as it can slightly undermine the SEC, open up new recruiting grounds, and is a large TV market. I'm sure fans of every other team have a good argument for their team too though.

Among the factors that the committee will weigh are strength of schedule, conference championships, team records, and head-to-head results, plus other considerations such as injuries and weather. Obviously it isn't the only factor, but I'm guessing it will be weighed heavily.

I'm not a financial analyst, but most of us on here have seen the basic financial statements of athletic programs. At most schools there isn't a lot of meat left on the bone to go around. The "haves" will be able to support their student athletes with sports generated revenue. Everybody else that wishes to compete will have to use a mixture of tuition money and other sources to support their student athletes. This will inevitably be a losing proposition at most schools, and many will cease to participate as they can't afford it. This issue isn't limited to football. Title IX will ensure women's athletics are treated equally, and top basketball schools will be paying players there too, as it is profitable for them to keep winning. A school like USF can't go dollar-for-dollar against the SEC in football and the ACC in basketball. Once in place, caps will be raised for "inflation" and cost of living until it slowly prices schools out of the equation. If you truly are taking Clowney at his word my opinion is that you are naive. The meager pay he would get from USC would pale in comparison to what the NFL offers, and my opinion is that he would leave for the NFL either way. In his shoes I would do the same thing. Finally Can't be true, as more Euros are drafted and eventually end up on NBA rosters than this annually. Do you mean US-born players?

Swofford may say there is stability, but the great conference realignment oracle know as Tuxedo Yoda dropped this bomb yesterday @TuxedoYoda Feb 13 Congratulations (in advance) to UCF!!! Who do you trust, a guy that is in charge of 1/5th of the powers-that-be or an anonymous man posting on the internet that represents himself as Yoda wearing a sweet tuxedo? Exactly! Your move Swofford.

Sorry charsbib. Not trying to step on toes, and you obviously have thought about the implications. Carry on.

I think you are overlooking the Title IX issue that will inevitably arise. If that door is opened it can't be shut and it will not be the last. It will be hard to not consider players as employees if they are collecting a "paycheck." The snowball will keep rolling until it is full-blown professional sports with college names attached. ...or maybe not. I'm not a labor law expert.

If USF found themselves in the P5 due to realignment/breaking away would we all feel the same way? Personally, if USF lands on their feet in all of this I would be happy with the change. Moving to a P5 would increase the budget and allow us to compete more evenly. Of course, if we end up with the rest of the untouchables as outcasts I will think it was a terrible move and will **** the P5 for ruining college football.

Based on my laymen's analysis of the tape, I thought Flowers did a great job throwing the ball under pressure. When things fell apart he didn't always take off. Obviously, this is a highlight tape though, so I have no idea what happened on the non-highlights. My only thought is that he is the best of the three at extending plays, and if the line play doesn't improve we may need that.

Got bored this morning and watched HS highlights of the three of them. I don't see anything in the tape that would indicate White or Bench were better equipped to learn the offense in a short period than Flowers is. Of course, White and Bench both have an extra year in the system for whatever that's worth. What stands out the most is that Flowers thrives with his legs and arm when things fall apart. Shoddy O-line play may mean Flowers would give us the best chance to win even if he hasn't mastered the system, but we'd probably be in for a long season.

Flowers has the most upside, but should take a redshirt. White should be able to get the job done this year with Bench as the backup. Hopefully, we can save Flowers vs White for an epic '15 camp battle.

charsbib - makes sense. I can't argue with that logic. My only point is that Cincy will need to make their voice heard, because unlike our program, people don't see Cincy as a situation where there is unlimited potential based on geographic location.

If we had the success of Cincy's program, but in our market, we would have moved on in the realignment carousel. Our strength is potential, but they must rest on their accolades. Their position reminds me of WVU's, but without the same history. I am guessing this approach would not work for us, where as it may work for them. Good luck to Cincy, as I think they deserve better.

I agree completely, and we really haven't seen him tap into Manatee either. They signed Galati, as expected, but there were 12 signings from MHS, and we only landed one. I am guessing he and his recruiters are going to get to these kids a little earlier and we are going to see a pipeline open up. Also some wins will help. That said, amazing job and it looks like just the start to some great years recruiting.

I was thinking it might be confusing for the announcer to call us "USF" when dealing with a team and fans from San Francisco - that might easily associate the acronym with the University of San Francisco. "Southern Florida" isn't too bad, beats being called "UCF."

I disliked BJ as much as anybody, but this preseason has made it more apparent Skip simply didn't know how to use him. I'm glad BJ is slowly forcing me to eat every negative word I ever said about him.

Language of the statute states "reasonable notice." Obviously they failed to provide a definition for "reasonable," because that would make thing too easy. The notice required is completely situational, but I'd guess a vote in switching football conferences wouldn't be something a court would look favorably upon if little notice was given. I am guessing by the time they have a "meeting" they will have already decided what to do.

Giddins has matured more than any player I have seen before. I remember reading articles that showed he wasn't a real high character or work ethic type of guy, but that has completely changed. It sounds like he has been working on rehab and training this year - 20lbs of good weight will make a huge difference. I haven't seen him cry about how things have gone the past couple of years, and he looks absolutely primed for a big year. He has transitioned into a team first player that will leave with a degree. i was never a fan, but he has absolutely converted me and I hope he has a great season.

It's hard to blame an 18 year old for not understanding "commitment" when the schools making the offers oversign and give non-committable offers out. Without knowing any specifics, I don't think it would be unfair to say that schools have pulled offers from athletes before when a better prospect has landed in their lap. If the school can't give any reciprocity and only looks out for themselves why shouldn't the athlete do the same? Until NSD everything is fair game and USF will probably flip a few, just like we will lose a few.

That's one way of looking at it. An alternative is that he thinks USF is second place out of the teams that appear to be stuck in the AAC, which isn't too shabby.

Having gone to Manatee and USF, in my complete unbiased opinion this was a great article. Most kids are probably better off going to school near where they live to keep that support base, but that isn't always true.