Excited!

[NewEnglandBull]

Trying to look from the outside in...remembering how myself and others thought of past upcoming season, I haven't felt excitement for a team like this for a long while. Could that be an indicator of the future?

How bout some of you older BULLS? Is it starting to feel like we have the pieces in place to do something special?

Feels like it has the past four years...little difference. Not going to get sucked in again. That being said, I will not be missing a game regardless of the record and will be chearing the team in each week (this includes road trips to Navy and UCONN). Got to beat Matyland and Cuse for me to get excited about making a bowl.

[Calibull]

 

Trying to look from the outside in...remembering how myself and others thought of past upcoming season, I haven't felt excitement for a team like this for a long while. Could that be an indicator of the future?

How bout some of you older BULLS? Is it starting to feel like we have the pieces in place to do something special?

Feels like it has the past four years...little difference. Not going to get sucked in again. That being said, I will not be missing a game regardless of the record and will be chearing the team in each week (this includes road trips to Navy and UCONN). Got to beat Matyland and Cuse for me to get excited about making a bowl.

 

I respect that... ride or die... If it happens, you will be there to see it first hand.  Nothing to lose, everything to gain.  Go Bulls 

[Bull-Hornz]

Trying to look from the outside in...remembering how myself and others thought of past upcoming season, I haven't felt excitement for a team like this for a long while. Could that be an indicator of the future?

How bout some of you older BULLS? Is it starting to feel like we have the pieces in place to do something special?

Feels like it has the past four years...little difference. Not going to get sucked in again. That being said, I will not be missing a game regardless of the record and will be chearing the team in each week (this includes road trips to Navy and UCONN). Got to beat Matyland and Cuse for me to get excited about making a bowl.

Wish I could.do the same. Miss watching the games in person and tailgating but still follow fervently. I haven't seen players saying things we want to hit them in the mouth and not want to play us again (Auggie) or this is this best OL I've seen and this is the best Ive been since being a bull and the locker room feels different (Thor), this system suites us better we dont have to think about it we just go (Byrd)... guess we will see. Hope I'm right and you are not NEB ;-)

Btw I know from years of being on here that your not overly negative all the time...you sound more like some one who's been hurt...have you been hurt NEB...did the bulls get ya bud?

Edited August 8, 2015 by Bull-Hornz

[Skingraft]

I'm ready. This is the first year that I really have zero expectations. I'm just going to enjoy the game. I have no control over the game, not going to let it control my emotions this year. Cant wait. ...

Edited August 8, 2015 by Skingraft

[NewEnglandBull]

Trying to look from the outside in...remembering how myself and others thought of past upcoming season, I haven't felt excitement for a team like this for a long while. Could that be an indicator of the future?

How bout some of you older BULLS? Is it starting to feel like we have the pieces in place to do something special?

Feels like it has the past four years...little difference. Not going to get sucked in again. That being said, I will not be missing a game regardless of the record and will be chearing the team in each week (this includes road trips to Navy and UCONN). Got to beat Matyland and Cuse for me to get excited about making a bowl.

Wish I could.do the same. Miss watching the games in person and tailgating but still follow fervently. I haven't seen players saying things we want to hit them in the mouth and not want to play us again (Auggie) or this is this best OL I've seen and this is the best Ive been since being a bull and the locker room feels different (Thor), this system suites us better we dont have to think about it we just go (Byrd)... guess we will see. Hope I'm right and you are not NEB ;-)

Btw I know from years of being on here that your not overly negative all the time...you sound more like some one who's been hurt...have you been hurt NEB...did the bulls get ya bud?

I don't know if I would call it hurt but I have been truly disappointed like I am sure most of us have on this board. I am just looking for something to believe in this team again: a win against a team they should not beat, making a big play to win a meaningful game, etc. I mean how long can this misery continue? You do make a good point about Auggie's statement. I would love this team have some swag to them.

[Mama_Bull]

I wish I could be excited about the upcoming season.  After being disappointed over the last few seasons, I have taken the "I'm from Missouri--Show Me!" stance.

 

I'm not expecting a complete about face from previous seasons, but would be satisfied with being at least bowl eligible.  This is still far below what my previous expectations were and I am sure most other fans felt

 

I like CWT, but have to reserve decision as to his effectiveness this year. I definitely think this is a make or break season for him.  Skip Holtz was a complete and utter disappointment in the coaching department, although he was a media darling.  Part of me still wishes we had  CJL here.  He made you feel that USF had something special, and we did.  Of course it didn't hurt that we had Marquel, Matt and BJ leading the offenses under his coaching tenure.  

[Brad]

My standards have dropped, I'm not ready to ask for a number of wins or some ragtag bowl. I want a team that:

1) works hard

2) is well coached

3) is smart

4) is truly competitive, aka does the things to give themselves a chance to win, and, most importantly

5) plays like and believes they can do great things. We need to believe again.

Said more succinctly: make me want to watch the following week.

[Guest]

My standards have dropped, I'm not ready to ask for a number of wins or some ragtag bowl. I want a team that:

1) works hard

2) is well coached

3) is smart

4) is truly competitive, aka does the things to give themselves a chance to win, and, most importantly

5) plays like and believes they can do great things. We need to believe again.

Said more succinctly: make me want to watch the following week.

 

I think if they meet your expectations for 1 through 5, then the wins will be there... and from what I see and hear and read between the lines, I think we definitely have 1, 3, and 5 down... 2 and 4 we will still need to see in action.

1 - How do we do against FAMU?  It's a game that everyone should expect us to win... do we blow them out because of talent? do we run a basic/vanila playbook? do we have problems with the new up-tempo in real game situations?

 

>> I think USF wins easily - but there will be a few hiccups in the up-tempo style -- meaning more false start penalties than we want to see.

 

2 - How do we handle difficulty against FSU?  Florida State is a team that will turn every mistake USF makes into a major advantage.  Turnovers leading to short fields will be converted to points.  Too many 3-and-outs will be hard on our defense.  USF will need to be able to handle a game that will be hard on our emotions... this will be a game where we can truly see how the coaches do -- both in the initial game plan, but also in making adjustments during the game.

 

>> In years passed, USF would really game plan for a game like FSU during camp -- and I think the coaches will do this again.  Focusing a lot of energy on preparing to play a team like FSU -- the best team on our schedule.  It doesn't translate into a win, but I think USF keeps FSU at bay for the first half... perhaps being tied at halftime... before FSU wins by 10-14 points.

 

3 - How do we rebound at Maryland?  After what we all expect will be a loss - possibly a big loss - against the Seminoles, how does USF turn around and play the next week?  Do we struggle early to gain confidence / does the team turn into a 'woe is us' mode?  USF should be able to play with Maryland from a talent perspective -- it will all be about confidence, attitude, and the gameplan.

 

>> I think this game will be the one where everything finally clicks.  The up-tempo offense, the swarming Bull Shark defense, with great special teams... and USF manages to surprise everyone with a win here.

 

4 - How do we open against Memphis?  With a short week, and playing one of the best teams in the conference (predicted to win the West by the media)... USF has struggled with games like this for many years now.  It will really be on the coaches to either repair the shattered confidence from a two straight losses... or contain the enthusiasm and focus with a win the week before.

 

>> I think if USF comes into this game 2-1 and the loss to FSU isn't a blowout, the Bulls will have the swagger we want to see and the pride will return for all of us.  If USF is 1-2 and the losses to FSU and Maryland are bigger, then we are in for a long season.  Like I said before, I BULLieve we will be seeing the swagger back.

[Sellular1]

My standards have dropped, I'm not ready to ask for a number of wins or some ragtag bowl. I want a team that:

1) works hard

2) is well coached

3) is smart

4) is truly competitive, aka does the things to give themselves a chance to win, and, most importantly

5) plays like and believes they can do great things. We need to believe again.

Said more succinctly: make me want to watch the following week.

I think if they meet your expectations for 1 through 5, then the wins will be there... and from what I see and hear and read between the lines, I think we definitely have 1, 3, and 5 down... 2 and 4 we will still need to see in action.

1 - How do we do against FAMU? It's a game that everyone should expect us to win... do we blow them out because of talent? do we run a basic/vanila playbook? do we have problems with the new up-tempo in real game situations?

>> I think USF wins easily - but there will be a few hiccups in the up-tempo style -- meaning more false start penalties than we want to see.

2 - How do we handle difficulty against FSU? Florida State is a team that will turn every mistake USF makes into a major advantage. Turnovers leading to short fields will be converted to points. Too many 3-and-outs will be hard on our defense. USF will need to be able to handle a game that will be hard on our emotions... this will be a game where we can truly see how the coaches do -- both in the initial game plan, but also in making adjustments during the game.

>> In years passed, USF would really game plan for a game like FSU during camp -- and I think the coaches will do this again. Focusing a lot of energy on preparing to play a team like FSU -- the best team on our schedule. It doesn't translate into a win, but I think USF keeps FSU at bay for the first half... perhaps being tied at halftime... before FSU wins by 10-14 points.

3 - How do we rebound at Maryland? After what we all expect will be a loss - possibly a big loss - against the Seminoles, how does USF turn around and play the next week? Do we struggle early to gain confidence / does the team turn into a 'woe is us' mode? USF should be able to play with Maryland from a talent perspective -- it will all be about confidence, attitude, and the gameplan.

>> I think this game will be the one where everything finally clicks. The up-tempo offense, the swarming Bull Shark defense, with great special teams... and USF manages to surprise everyone with a win here.

4 - How do we open against Memphis? With a short week, and playing one of the best teams in the conference (predicted to win the West by the media)... USF has struggled with games like this for many years now. It will really be on the coaches to either repair the shattered confidence from a two straight losses... or contain the enthusiasm and focus with a win the week before.

>> I think if USF comes into this game 2-1 and the loss to FSU isn't a blowout, the Bulls will have the swagger we want to see and the pride will return for all of us. If USF is 1-2 and the losses to FSU and Maryland are bigger, then we are in for a long season. Like I said before, I BULLieve we will be seeing the swagger back.

I hope you're right! But I've BULLIeved the hype for years now. I hope we don't go into the Memphis game 0-3. I have a 95% belief we will be 1-2. A 50-50% belief we will be 2-1 and a 10% belief we will be 3-0

Edited August 8, 2015 by Sellular1

[Triple B]

I wish I could be excited about the upcoming season.  After being disappointed over the last few seasons, I have taken the "I'm from Missouri--Show Me!" stance.

 

I'm not expecting a complete about face from previous seasons, but would be satisfied with being at least bowl eligible.  This is still far below what my previous expectations were and I am sure most other fans felt

 

I like CWT, but have to reserve decision as to his effectiveness this year. I definitely think this is a make or break season for him.  Skip Holtz was a complete and utter disappointment in the coaching department, although he was a media darling.  Part of me still wishes we had  CJL here.  He made you feel that USF had something special, and we did.  Of course it didn't hurt that we had Marquel, Matt and BJ leading the offenses under his coaching tenure.  

 

To paraphrase what that wise old sage, swamprat, once proclaimed on here ... I don't look forward to USF seasons with expectations but rather anticipation ... and for me, the added, hope. I don't get caught up in the hype or the doom and gloomers. I go to, and watch games because that's my team ... through thick and thin. Tailgates are never a fail and the tv has an off button .... Seeing that written out, it sounds hokie as hell ... but so be it.