USF has THE PERFECT opportunity for recruiting.

[Joe]

Can we quit saying "we need to jump on these programs while they're down and steal their recruits"

While USF is a very strong and young program, they still have a long way to go before they start taking out FSU and Miami for recruits. No matter how down and out those programs are they have the name, the pipeline, the media coverage, games on TV, and money that USF does not have right now.

I think FSU and Miami are more concerned right now about losing recruits to Florida, Auburn, UGA, other programs before USF. We just aren't that big of a factor against larger named talent that those programs are.

Finally, no matter how down they are the coaching staff always has the "We want you to come in and fix the problem _____ has had the last few seasons."

It's going to take quite a few years before we're taking out FSU, UF, and Miami consistently for  the bigger recruits

[Guest r_to_the_izzo]

Joe, you continue to be one of the few voices of reason. USF fans have been spoiled with how quickly we have gotten to were we are now. Unless FSU begins to have losing seasons, its going to take us winning the BE and going to BCS games before we are going to catch them. If we go 8-4 and they go 8-4, it wont help at all.

[Velcro]

8-4 always helps... as long as our recruiting keeps improving, which it has... we will catch them.

Of course it won't be this year, or next year... but it will happen.

[jfcohio]

Can we quit saying "we need to jump on these programs while they're down and steal their recruits"

Look, I'm not talking about the superstar stud 5-star rated QB that is chosing between FSU, UM, Auburn, UGA, etc. I'm talking about some of what they may consider 2nd string or average players, but that would be starters for USF.

This program shouldn't be losing ANY recruits to the likes of UL, Cincy, Pitt. And, WVU basically just reformed on the map a couple of years ago.

Cocker Should Lose Job Um, Coker...

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/6066906?FSO1&ATT=HMA

[dabull80]

I think they fixed it jfcohio, but did you read and hear the comments by the color guy for Fox(?).  Too funny, he was ready to go down into the brawl.  I think he lost his job on those comments.

[Paisa el Toro]

Recruits go where there is tradition and where they'll have the best chance to be propelled into the NFL. USF has done an amazing job in 10 years, but we aren't churning them out to the NFL like gangbusters nor do we have much tradition.

One could argue that the lack of tradition could be a positive because you could sell a recruit on coming to USF to make history. I totally agree with that point, but we still need to be getting kids in the NFL on a more consistent basis. Personally, I think we need to work on increasing our fan base. If we're consistently selling out games, getting our fan base in-synch when it comes to cheers, and getting them to stay through the whole game, then that will do wonders for our tradition.

Lets work on the fan base first, then the we can do a better job of retaining those blue-chip Tampa kids and we can even target big-name recruits else where. Lets keep that momentum building.