Went to a Pitt B Ball game on Tues observations

[USFBULL_08]

2 hours ago, belgianbull said:

Things can change quickly in the current football landscape. You start winning;  build a nice OCS, win some bowl games, win a conference championship,  then go to a New Year bowl game; and before you know it people will be saying what about USF. UCF did it; so I don't see why we can't. As soon as the Big 12 loses teams, they will look at the AAC to replace what they lose. I am sure Tulane's stock has risen in the past year. They will look at SMU and Memphis as well. We need to make sure when that happens that we are more attractive.

Have to start winning though as soon as possible since we can't afford another 2-3 years of not winning. And when we start winning we have to sustain it. If we play our cards right we will be in a major conference within the next 5-7 years

Tulane has to sustain it and then find another coach when Fritz gets hired away. Couple of down years and then they start at square one.

Honestly, that goes for any of the G5 teams. I have to imagine if Boise wasn't located where they were they would have got an invite somewhere.

[Bull Matrix]

19 hours ago, Triple B said:

Do they have to lose a school for us to get an invite at some point ....?

I don’t believe so…

[hm101]

Good context. Thanks for sharing. 

[WoolyBully]

22 hours ago, belgianbull said:

If we play our cards right, we will be in a major conference within the next 5-7 years.

[Mike Stuben]

On 1/27/2023 at 3:31 PM, goingbackbull said:

I was up at my companies HQ this week to train some new people.  My company is a pretty big supporter of Pitt. On Tuesday we presented Pitt athletics with a check so we were wined and dined in the club area.     

Peterson athletic center is nice but Yuengling blows it out of the water.  It just seemed dated but had so much room on the concourses even bigger then Amalie.    Arena seats 12,500. It was probably a little less then half filled so estimating 5,500 people.  Student section was into it but I would say at most there were 1,200 kids   It was really loud though, the noise echos.  Pitt is decent this year and for playing a ACC conference foe I was expecting more students and fans.

We parked in a garage that was attached to their "indoor performance center"  Really strange setup as you almost walk straight into it when you get off the elevator.   Sow some Softball girls practicing in it.   It is really old and decrepit looking.  The Porter totally destroys it.

 

What was funny was the guy that was in charge of taking care of us and trying to get more cash, came to Pitt about two years ago from UC.  I told him I'm USF and somehow UCF came up .  He said he hates that school as does almost everyone else.   He became my friend            Also he doesn't believe the ACC is going to  lose any schools going forward so USF will never get an invite.   Not sure how in the know he is so probably means nothing.

 

Years ago when I worked in Athletics, when we were playing at Pitt in Football the team was staying at the airport (literally at the airport, not just near it), and our AD at the time Doug Woolard asked me if I would give him a ride out to the Pitt campus to tour their basketball facility (not the arena, but the practice part, as we were about to do that round of facility upgrades that included building the Muma Center). I wasn't important or anything like that, I just happened to have a rental car, but it was cool seeing the building and getting the tour, and pretending I was important for a few hours. Just mentioning this, because our building may in part be inspired from the Pitt facilities. 

[USF_Bullsharks]

If USF wins and builds the biggest college athletics brand in Tampa Bay (currently probably UF then FSU), then I think we will be welcome to the ACC even with FSU/UM. As long as FSU has a bigger presence in our own market, do not think ACC will see much value in an addition. Granted, if FSU leaves, it would make sense. 

Edited January 30, 2023 by USF_Bullsharks

[Mike Stuben]

13 minutes ago, USF_Bullsharks said:

If USF wins and builds the biggest college athletics brand in Tampa Bay (currently probably UF then FSU), then I think we will be welcome to the ACC even with FSU/UM. As long as FSU has a bigger presence in our own market, do not think ACC will see much value in an addition. Granted, if FSU leaves, it would make sense. 

We will have to wait and see what happens, but I think the theories of us to the ACC are based on the ACC losing 2-4 schools, most likely FSU/Clemson to the SEC.  (and maybe someone like UNC to the Big 10)

[USF_Bullsharks]

1 minute ago, Mike Stuben said:

We will have to wait and see what happens, but I think the theories of us to the ACC are based on the ACC losing 2-4 schools, most likely FSU/Clemson to the SEC.  (and maybe someone like UNC to the Big 10)

Agreed. GaTech/UNC/UVA (and possibly BC) I think are B1G potentials, with FSU/Clemson SEC targets. Think the SEC would do better long term to not let the B1G into the south and maybe even invite the B1G targets also. 

[olafberserker]

Aren't the ACC "theories" tied to Kelly's connections ... alleged?

[Mike Stuben]

3 minutes ago, olafberserker said:

Aren't the ACC "theories" tied to Kelly's connections ... alleged?

There are 5 conferences that would be a step up. I'll eliminate the Pac as illogical. 

While I would love a SEC invite, that seems a long way off. 

Big 10 - while we are getting close to AAU status, it also seems highly unlikely. 

That leaves 2. We are a better Geographic fit in the ACC. The other league has a school that may be our greatest ally or hindrance (they don't want us, but the league may want a travel partner so teams that play road trips can group two schools together). 

There is no question that our AD has incredible ACC contacts and connections, but that isn't enough, we have to be ready when the time is right (like we weren't ready the last time a shakeup happened).