Daily Stampede - Need Money Article

[JTrue]

1 hour ago, TheGreatOutlaw said:

Usf campaigns  for and promotes their academics more than athletics.

Our academics can finish in the top 10 in the state. 

[chapelbull]

1 minute ago, JTrue said:

Our academics can finish in the top 10 in the state. 

So can football if we eliminate IMG Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Armwood High Schools ......... 

[bullsbucsfan426]

4 hours ago, brybull1970 said:

A couple of thoughts I will add:

"USF Athletics has mismanaged money you have given to it previously." 

• the examples given are a bit ambiguous and providing a cost value with each would allow readers to understand the order of magnitude. Otherwise this just sounds like someone complaining without laying out the financial impact in dollars

"And if you follow him on social media, you’ll see the level of interaction has never been higher."

• Don't we have a thread on this board indicating he has gone radio silent on his Twitter account? Is Collin inferring that he has fired up his MySpace account?

"USF has underinvested in the history of the program. It would make sense that the Bulls are behind UConn with their history and tradition in terms of athletics budget. But being more than $10 million behind Temple in operating income is inexcusable (they’re north of $60 million, we’re around $50 million)."

• Mr. Kelly shared with me, and I am paraphrasing, that it's unrealistic for people to think we will compete with SMU on the football field if they have revenues/operating budget $30M more than USF. And that <1% of all former USF students have ever donated money to the Athletic Department. I agree that the issue is a real one.

Lastly, I shared with Mr. Kelly, I don't donate money, I invest money. Show me where my money is going and what we should expect to see it produce, and I'll then be able to make an educated decision on if/how much of my money to invest. USF athletics cannot keep going to its limited, deep pocket donor base to solve its problems - the answer isn't how does the USF Athletics department get more people to donate, but how does USF Athletics department get more people to WANT to donate.

MK has been responsive to private messages, even as he doesn't comment much publicly (I've exchanged messages weekly via twitter PMs). He did speak up after the BYU win. 

It is hard because all the momentum that was built up between 2015 and 2017 got fizzled by that six game losing streak. That was three years of hard work and rebuilding the fan base-only to see it get wasted. They managed to rebuild a ton of that with promises of improvement over the offseason (hence the fairly strong attendance for WIsconsin), but the team going 3-10 over its last 13 games and getting smacked when they had an opportunity is very damaging. They're going to have to win even more than they won in 16 and 17 to have a chance at rebuilding this base. 

[Bull Matrix]

8 hours ago, CousinRicky said:

Let's start with this: 

Let us not forget that we certainly didn’t fail to take care of those that failed you, and even did things like having an athletic director match all the bonuses of his head coaches... and him also be the guy to set those bonuses. Or that investing in development officers and fundraising talent instead of billboards was probably a smarter way to build a base of revenue.

I'm sure the AD didn't set his own bonus so whomever signed his contract has some blame - if this is even a bad thing.  Also, if we didn't buy billboard space he'd be complaining of not marketing the team enough.

Then:

We are located in the lightning capital of the world, which means sunshine and palm trees and too many missed practices. As our friends at PAPN have repeatedly pointed out on a national broadcast, we’ve got a football team splitting a weight room with a volleyball team and a soccer team, and that just isn’t done in 2019 at any schools at our level.

I've seen WBB working out in a separate weight room.  Don't think every student athlete is using that same gym.  

And:

 Too many donors that could have helped were asked to spend for other departments. Improving a top-flight medical school or a College of Business are, ya know, why universities should and do exist. So I don’t begrudge the priorities. 

I don't believe anyone is twisting anyone's arm to give to Business over Athletics. People give where their hearts are. Some give to both. Some choose one over another.  Some people switched from Athletics because of Harlan.  

Finally:

He chose USF because he believed in the potential of the Bulls. He’s not offering his resume all over the NCAA unlike his predecessors. And he inherited an absolute mess from people that didn’t care enough or basically abdicated the best interests of the program, and has chosen to put his head down and start digging. And if you follow him on social media, you’ll see the level of interaction has never been higher. The people he’s hired are smarter, sharper, and they’ve got a plan to get this fixed.

And some of those people are leaving because they are smarter and sharper.  One is now the Pres of the new XFL Tampa team.  Another just took a job to head the fund raising dept at UTEP.  It is pretty normal in this business to lose people - either because they hate the boss, aren't paid enough or find better opportunities.

Well said ! 

[BulledOver]

2 hours ago, John Lewis said:

Thank you for the post and for all you said.

I believe that 1% of USF Alumni are donors to the Bulls Club. 1%! I find that number to be way too low, especially for anyone who attended/graduated after 1997. I certainly understand that there are going to be many alumni who are not fans of athletics, but there is nor reason that our percentage shouldn't be closer to 10% at minimum. I understand the "mored out" comment and that is why we're trying to reach out to those who have not been involved with us in any capacity. I'd love to give more personally, but I, like many who post here, have a family and there things that are a priority for the family above monetary giving.

I know Brad was busy this fall with some things, but we are going to work something out with the dollars that were raised for the IPF through the generosity of the members of this board. I thank all who participated and appreciate your love and passion for USF.

We've certainly had some issues in the past and some holes we've to dig out of, but I am confident of where we are going having Michael at helm.

Thing is re: giving? even though you are paid to work at USF( which you gotta love) I think you prob give everyday back to USF in some way that goes beyond your job description kinda like your appreciated input to the comments/questions on TBP...  Signed, Your Uncle Bud              ( disclaimer: for the serious minded...I'm kidding on the unc thing)

Thanks for the response John. 

[BulledOver]

1 hour ago, DELdaBull said:

Anyone that cries that the university raises funds better for academics than they do for athletics is making a poor argument.  

in the article under comments there was an interesting one by a recent grad. they touched on the academics vs athletics when they were looking for a university to attend. I thought that was a good comment by someone who has just completed their studies at USF. 

 

[chrisdashley]

Someone ask @Corey lea if we could find more money in the portal.

[MaltLiquorBull]

3 hours ago, John Lewis said:

Thank you for the post and for all you said.

I believe that 1% of USF Alumni are donors to the Bulls Club. 1%! I find that number to be way too low, especially for anyone who attended/graduated after 1997. I certainly understand that there are going to be many alumni who are not fans of athletics, but there is nor reason that our percentage shouldn't be closer to 10% at minimum. I understand the "mored out" comment and that is why we're trying to reach out to those who have not been involved with us in any capacity. I'd love to give more personally, but I, like many who post here, have a family and there things that are a priority for the family above monetary giving.

I know Brad was busy this fall with some things, but we are going to work something out with the dollars that were raised for the IPF through the generosity of the members of this board. I thank all who participated and appreciate your love and passion for USF.

We've certainly had some issues in the past and some holes we've to dig out of, but I am confident of where we are going having Michael at helm.

If 1% is a fact, that’s not good.  It is not at all difficult to believe, though.  I do what I can, and I don’t have an answer except to try to get other alumni off their butts and to the games, watch parties, and other stuff.  Maybe someone will catch the passion and become a contributor or season ticket holder.  Don’t know what else to do but keep contributing and trying to recruit other USF alumni.  There are thousands of them out there walking around with no attachment to our athletic events.  They just don’t know or care or whatever.  If I convert just 1 or 2 people to Lifetime fans before I am finished I will be proud of that.  Just think if we get to 2%, that’s double where we’re at today.

[BDYZR]

6 hours ago, brybull1970 said:

Lastly, I shared with Mr. Kelly, I don't donate money, I invest money. Show me where my money is going and what we should expect to see it produce,

With my investment I have met and made lifelong friends. I have seen their babies grow in to wonderful young people. Had some amazing meals at tatilgates. ETC, ETC, ETC...

[Skingraft]

17 hours ago, USFBULL_08 said:

https://www.thedailystampede.com/2019/10/23/20924948/usf-needs-money-now-and-weve-all-got-to-do-our-part-football-charlie-strong

I'm not the biggest donor, but jesus is this school serious?

Went scorched earth