realize the magnitude of DAMAGE done to the program...

[Bull Dozer]

This just in it takes more than a 6 game win streak to start a season to gain a "reputation" .  We dont have a rep yet, hell most people on a national level still couldn't tell you where this school is.  USF has a national reputation? Thats news to me. 

Edit: We had such a good rep that they called us the bulldogs in the first 1/2 when the game was still close.  Im sure powerhouses like UM, OSU, USC, UF LSU have their names confused all the time!

[Herman_Momart]

this was a lose/lose situation anyway and we made the worst out of it. 

if we won, critics would say;

Yea the South Florida "Bulldogs" beat Oregon but Oregon didnt have its BEST player

if we lost, critics would say:

The "Bulldogs" were pretenders all along, they lost to Oregon without their best player. 

if we get stomped, the critics:

continue to call us the "Bulldogs" and dont talk about us in the off season. 

[Bull Matrix]

You guys are acting like the SUN BOWL is big BCS game or something. If USF makes a BCS games and wins that BCS game then this game will be forgotten real quick. OHIO ST is the team that took a big hit in their rep after getting blown out by UF in the BCS game. Ask them if OHIO ST is doomed as they are back in the title game. One game does not make a season which is what you are trying to say. USF didnt get that much respect to begin with coming into this season, so this lack of respect by the polls is nothing new. It was the BCS computers that loved USF this year, not the coaches poll. Some of you need to get over yourself with this doom and gloom crap. Let me tell you something, USF basketball has been terrible the last 8 years, but the sky has not fallen yet has it??? They days will go on, and I am sure the SUNBOWL will be a distant memories pretty soon.

[USFbulls0208]

I really don't think the whole counrty was watching it....alot of people probably had to work and didn't really see the whole game. Just my opinion...

[usfbullcpa]

if you guys dont think this did pretty major damage to our national reputation, you need to take off the green and gold glasses

By that, if Wisconsin blows you out, will your UT rep be ruined?

[Guest JulmisteForPrez]

VaTech has been to 9 BCS games ... lost ALL but 1. Did it hurt theur perception ?

Yes.

[Bullmeister]

Big deal - we get blown out in a "meaningless" bowl game. Now the West Virginia loss to Pitt would have been a far more painfull experience if you were an 'eer fan.  We've been blown out before and survived. "2000" Southern Miss 41-7, and Middle Tennessee State 45-9 then came back and lost a total of 5 games ove the next two years.

[80mins]

The damage of which many speak isn't only in terms of what was lost, but also in what could have been gained. A metaphor, if you will: in the red zone, a QB throws a pick that gets returned by the defense for a touchdown. It's considered a 14 point swing--both the 7 points that were lost by not gaining a touchdown and the 7 points gained by your opponent. Such is the case here. Obviously more tangible is the loss of respect for having been embarrassed on nationwide network television in one of relatively few times in our 11-year history when all eyes have been on us--particularly in this case, eyes on the west coast and other places outside of our typical viewing area. But just as important when discussing the damage is what could have been: Momentum, both for the team and in terms of the polls, going into the off-season and subsequent pre-season polls (which, unfortunately, matter in this biz), increased interest from eyes which other wise may not have been on us, etc. This lack of gain is damage as well.

[SoFlaEer]

if you guys dont think this did pretty major damage to our national reputation, you need to take off the green and gold glasses

VaTech has been to 9 BCS games ... lost ALL but 1. Did it hurt theur perception ?

:

Va Tech has been to only 2 BCS bowls and is 0-2 in them.

[bulls96go]

no lasting damage...this is a program on the rise as long as we keep getting better we will be fine.

10 win season with a bowl win sounds like progress to me...throw in a BE tittle and BCS game.