Tressel - "South Florida is going to be a power."

[mikebeau]

Was does doing it for a long time have to do with being overrated right now?  Last year shouldve shown everyone they have a cupcake schedule and get blown out by a real team.

[kastofsna]

considering that no one expected them to do much this year, and they're undefeated, seems like they're doing a good job in Columbus.

[mikebeau]

I guess we'll see what happens.  To me it doesn't look like they have done anything this year.

[Guest JulmisteForPrez]

considering that no one expected them to do much this year, and they're undefeated, seems like they're doing a good job in Columbus.

Um, OSU's best win is against a 2-3 Washington team.

Wow  ........impressive.

[mikebeau]

considering that no one expected them to do much this year, and they're undefeated, seems like they're doing a good job in Columbus.

Um, OSU's best win is against a 2-3 Washington team.

Wow  ........impressive.

Thank you

[Henry Jones Jr.]

The article is full of backhanded compliments.

[windbane]

considering that no one expected them to do much this year, and they're undefeated, seems like they're doing a good job in Columbus.

UConn is undefeated, too.

[BullsFanInTX]

I sent this guy an email.  What do you think?

Rob,

As a USF fan, I enjoyed reading your article about USF and their current status within the polls, as the current AP # 6 team.  I have enjoyed the publicity that the Bulls have garnered recently and enjoyed reading your article titled "Mongels hang with Big Dogs in College Polls".  I appreciate the publicity, however I do have to take exception with a few of your points regarding USF.  The article seems to be written with backhanded compliments towards USF.  For instance, you stated "As pets go, feisty South Florida is the kind of cute little college football program we adore -- a directional school that pulls off the occasional upset of the state university."  Are you aware that USF is the 9th largest university in the country.  Nearly the same size as The OSU, with over 45,000 students.  We are hardly a "cute little program".  Were you also aware that USF plays in a state of the art NFL calibur stadium, with nearly 66,000 seats. (Of which, every seat was sold out against WVU)  You seem to prejudge USF's place in the college football world by referring to them as a "directional school".  Are you aware that USF is in a BCS conference in the Big East Conference, unlike all the other so called "directional schools" you may be aware of such as MAC schools, C-USA schools, etc.  Would you make these same comments about WVU, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, etc?  We are in the same conference as those schools and you probably wouldn't have a problem with these schools in the polls, by referring to them as "cute little programs" or "directional schools".  USF has the same BCS access as the aformentioned schools, along with the Ohio States, Michigans, LSU's, etc. 

You also write " It's OK for South Florida to shock West Virginia and Auburn -- unless, of course, the Mountaineers and Tigers are your teams -- but don't let it happen more than twice in one season. And don't let more than one second-tier school do the shocking, either."  You seem to miss the point that USF and West Virginia are in the same conference, so it is no shock that we would beat them, or Louisville, or any other Big East team.  We are on the same level and playing field as the WVU's and Louisvilles, and Rutgers.  This is no big deal to USF, we have beaten both WVU, Louisville, Rutgers and Pitt numerous times in the past few years including 2 straight over WVU.  My point is, this is no shock, as you state, we were only 7 point underdogs to WVU, hardly a big upset.  And as a member of the same conference, we are not a "second-tier school" doing the schocking.  As with Auburn, we were only a 6 point underdog going in to the game.  These were not huge upsets or a "shock" as you seem to suggest.

You write as well "Now, the nothing. Despite the rise of South Florida -- and Boise State last season -- the actual number of less-known programs to finish the season in the top 10 is not vastly different from when before scholarship limits began in 1977.  In 1974, for example, Miami of the Mid-American Conference finished No. 10. Wyoming finished No. 6 in 1967, the same year Indiana was No. 4."

You seem to compare USF to Boise State, Miami of OH and Wyoming.  Well, there is one small difference, USF is a BCS program with an Auto BCS bid, and the ability to recruit under that tag, unlike any of the schools you mention.  This should come as no surprise that USF would achieve national prominence given the outstanding level of High School talent available in Florida to recruit from.

Then, you finish your article with "At the end of the day, the big boys still dominate the top of the polls. Ultimately, that's a good thing. Teams such as South Florida create interest for a season, but more than any other sport, college football is about maintaining tradition.  Underdogs are nice pets that are cute to cuddle, but they need to know their place -- at the foot of the bed and bottom of the polls."

To me, this was an underhanded dig at USF as trying to label USF as some cute little directional school.  Just about everyone in the know in college football realizes that USF is a rising superpower, and will stay there.  We do not accept that we have to "know our place" at the bottom of the polls.  You will see USF as a dominate force to be reckoned with for a long time to come.  Just as people come to expect Ohio State to be reckoned with.  Oh, and one other thing, within the 6 BCS conferences, there are 2 so called "directional schools".  One of them is USF, and the other is the University of Southern California.  Please do not associate USF with the MAC, WAC, or C-USA teams that you seem to associate USF with.  Remember, the University of Miami came out of the Big East to win 5 national championships and VT also appeared in a NC game, and that is what we are expecting at USF in the very near future.

Thank you for your article, and have a great day!

Sincerely,

[RSSMOOTH]

Nice E-mail. All these no name writers think they can just come out and say anything.

[USF-PMR]

How about "has already arrived" more like it.