What should be done to make USF feel like a UF

[bulls96go]

just win jim

[The Sheriff]

As much as we annoy each other JewBull, I must agree... I will cut my sac off before ever wanting to be compared to that F*cked up school! Any chance we can drop a couple cases of the birdflu on that redneck campus?

[Goldenbuc]

What should be done to make athletics big at USF?

As a college fan...a school like UF has developed it's tradition by playing football for about 100 years.  Been playing mostly the same schools to create a long history and rivalries for almost as long.  UF also has been the largest school in the state for it's entire exhistance.  That's a lot of time to develop a big fanbase, alumni base and generate a LOT of money!!

But people mostly remember UF from the past couple of decades as being a powerhouse type program.  But UF wasn't a consistant winner until the early 80's and a consistant Top 25 team until the early 90's.

Even FSU and Miami...no matter how many times they've beaten UF...can't escape their shadow across the state.  Odds are....schools like USF and UCF can win all they want...but it'll take a LOOONG time to be as big or have the fan base as UF, no matter how much each school wins.

I agree...winning will help matters and create exposure, revenue and put a school in a great position to remain a winner and build a larger and larger fanbase....but UF's identity is marked on this state for good.  Within the 30 miles surrounding Gainesville...everything is ALL GATOR...restaurants, bars, gas stations...etc. are all covered in Orange and Blue.

Miami is #6 in the nation going into it's home game vs. North Carolina last Saturday.  They have national championships, conference championships, a ton BCS and non-BCS bowl wins, history and a shot to finish in the top 5....this season.  UF isn't even close to that.  Why would they be in UF's shadow still?  Because they only had 30K for their game last saturday.  Their fans don't care unless it's FSU or UF coming to town.  They have lousy traditions and rarely sell out.  They share their hometown with just as many UF fans as they do UM fans.

I know that if USF were to win like that...and have that type of resume within the next 20 years...USF would have a packed house every game...but give either fan base in Tampa or Orlando a couple of bad seasons...they will high tale it and think of something else to do.  In fact...most will probably go back to being Gator or Nole fans.

It's a sad truth....but the truth.  We share our market with those teams and will always be out-numbered by their combined fan base in our home towns.

So...instead of saying....why can't we be as big as UF.  Just be what you are and hope for the best.  Nobody is taking the team away from you...but it'll take a long time for any school to have what schools like UF, Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, etc. have.

Winning does a lot for any program...but it takes a looooong history and a faithful fanbase, created throughout many decades to come even close to what those schools have.  It's almost impossible to recreate or achieve that.  Doesn't hurt belonging to conferences like the SEC and Big 10, either.  Both full of history and tradition to add fuel to every week.

I'm not saying you need to settle for mediocracy or be happy to just make a bowl...but just know the difference and realize that you are who you are and win your own championships and go to your own bowls or NCAA Tournys.  Make your own statement as USF.  Even if UF is always looked as being above USF....so what.  That won't change your feelings the day USF wins it's first BCS Bowl game or possibly one day an actual National Championship.

[lotsofbull99]

all we need is an inflated opinion of ourselves ;D

[Knight_Light]

I'll tell you what would help.

This year, USF is considering forcing EVERY freshman First-Time-In-College Student to live on campus for the coming year. Why? Because they have finally raised the prices so high that they didn't have a waiting list for students wanting to live on campus, and they had to shut down one of the dorms completely.

A Florida University shutting DOWN a Dorm because of vacancy's?

With all the housing shortage surrounding every college, that's almost too impossible to believe...especially in a Fall Semester.

KL

[goodknightfl]

What should be done to make athletics big at USF?

on campus stadium... and win a heck of a lot of games..

[FazaUSF]

A Florida University shutting DOWN a Dorm because of vacancy's?

With all the housing shortage surrounding every college, that's almost too impossible to believe...especially in a Fall Semester.

KL

It was one of the smaller, outdated dorms (Eta I think, but not sure).  It's now a lot cheaper to live off campus than to live on campus, whereas it used to be only somewhat more expensive. Somewhat more expensive is acceptable since you pay for the convenience of living on campus, but it's now significantly more expensive, pushing people away as a result.

Perhaps the students should have elected someone who wouldn't vote on the Board of Trustees in FAVOR of such cost increases.....

[flsportsfan83]

LOL Brandon taking a jab at Maxon.....Gotta love it

[BullsHater]

all we need is an inflated opinion of ourselves ;D

Bingo!

[ZeroBullChip]

Bingo!

It works for all things Orlando