aroth

edited as I was wrong. Amazed to see our defense played that well, my memory is slipping.

Since they made a point of pointing out so many personal bests, I just assumed that this hasn't been happening in the past few years. Maybe the prior program allowed guys to become complacent and didn't hold them to getting stronger each year. 

....or maybe this is just a feel-good piece that wasn't meant to face the severe criticism of TBP.

Glad to see that Bench is getting stronger. Following him on Twitter it also looks like he has built up some camaraderie with the team. He's a coach's son, so it's a safe bet he has done the mental work to improve too. White should be in fear for his job.

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?

How would you rate an 11-2 SEC team that lost in the CCG to a 10-2 Big12 "Conference Champion"?

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.

Why would they expand and lose $ per school. Networks are not going to pay more just because teams (none who are attractive enough to increase payouts). In terms of the championship game, it makes more sense to wait and see if it is an issue first. Unless it is mandated that a championship game is needed, the Big XII would be foolish to add teams. They will wait and see if it is an issue first.

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

 

If you actually watched the documentary Schooled, you'd see that yes, they are forced to go through the NCAA to get to the NFL and NBA. Only 2 or 3 players in the past 6 or 7 years made it to the NFL and NBA combined that didn't go to an NCAA school.
 

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.

...This whole controversy is about less than 100 schools with 85 football players and 15 (men's) basketball players. Total 10,000 max

Any way you cut it, we're talking about a TINY minority of students...

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.

 

The problem lies with, if he hasn't mastered the system, he may take off and run too quickly, setting himself up for injury and maybe not gaining as much yardage as might be available passing.

 

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'd like to see CWT start to make better in-roads at Armwood, but I really like what he did in SWFL.

 

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.

yes BJ is from Tallahassee so the announcer meant USF when he said Southern Florida.  Oh well...no one really cares but USF fans.

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.

Actually per Sunshine laws they have to give 2 or 3 days notice (not sure which). Keep an eye on things later in the week. Hope we have reason for such an impromptu meeting too...

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.