Orlando Sentinel: USF overtaking the Big 3? Don't Bullieve it

[USFishin]

OrlandoSentinel.com

USF overtaking the Big 3? Don't Bullieve it

USF Bulls, after conquering FSU, now have their sights set on the Miami Hurricanes

Andrea Adelson

From the Press Box

November 25, 2009

When USF beat Florida State earlier this season, it was billed as a watershed moment for the program. The school even took out a billboard in Tampa congratulating the Bulls on turning the Big 3 into the Big 4.

Now another big game against one of the Big 3 looms -- a sold out home game against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday.

So what would it mean if USF beat FSU and UM in the same season, taking down two of the teams it has been chasing since becoming a full-time Division I-A team in 2001? Would USF have a permanent seat at the big boys table?

Unfortunately for the Bulls, wins over FSU and UM in the same season wouldn't represent a seismic shift for the program or football in the state of Florida. Sure, they would be nice wins. But that's all they would be.

"It's certainly a big deal, but I don't think it's important in the long run unless it becomes a pattern," said Allen Wallace, national recruiting editor for Scout.com and editor of SuperPrep Magazine. "Realistically, it would be a great shot in the arm. Any program would look forward to beating teams that have been impactful programs in college football, but if it's not sustained, it's always viewed as a fluke or a temporary phase."

USF had its magical run in 2007, getting ranked as high as No. 2 before dropping three straight. But the Bulls did nothing with the momentum of that season. They have yet to win a conference championship in a league derided for being "weak," though USF does deserve credit for putting together five straight bowl seasons.

The reason UF, UM and FSU became known as the "Big 3" is because they won championships and were a part of the national conversation. Yes, it takes time to build programs. It took many, many years for UF, FSU and UM to reach those incredibly high levels.

But USF has to compete against far too much history and tradition, not to mention the perception that the Big East cannot compete for national championships (Ahem, Cincinnati), to even think about busting out a Big 4.

Even after USF beat FSU 17-7, the perception was that it only happened because the Seminoles are down. Miami is finally back in the Top 25 and has put together its finest season in years. But still, neither of these programs are considered elite right now.

If USF beat the Gators, then you could call it a monumental day for the program. Are wins over FSU and UM going to be touted on the recruiting trail? Definitely. Are they going to change a player's mind about where he should go to school? Doubt it.

Most times, the four schools are not even going after the same players. Wallace has USF at No. 60 in his current recruiting rankings. UF is No. 7, UM is No. 9 and FSU is No. 35. Though that is FSU's lowest spot in years, it still is 25 places ahead of USF. Wallace said the average player who has committed to USF has 2.6 stars on a scale of 5. Compare that to 3.08 for FSU, and 3.16 for UM and 3.83 for UF.

"There's still a hierarchy in terms of what schools can get into the living rooms of the biggest time players," Wallace said. "It's extremely difficult for programs that haven't been routinely viewed as powers to break into that power realm because Miami, Florida State and Florida will always be viewed as the Big 3."

There is no doubt this is the biggest game in school history. Coach Jim Leavitt said it was a "powerful" statement his game was being played opposite UF-FSU. "Now you win a game like that, that would be pretty big," he said.

But it would not be a program changer.

Read Andrea Adelson's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/collegegridiron365 and e-mail her at aadelson@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel

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[T-Man]

OrlandoSentinel.com

USF overtaking the Big 3? Don't Bullieve it

USF Bulls, after conquering FSU, now have their sights set on the Miami Hurricanes

Andrea Adelson

From the Press Box

November 25, 2009

When USF beat Florida State earlier this season, it was billed as a watershed moment for the program. The school even took out a billboard in Tampa congratulating the Bulls on turning the Big 3 into the Big 4.

Now another big game against one of the Big 3 looms -- a sold out home game against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday.

So what would it mean if USF beat FSU and UM in the same season, taking down two of the teams it has been chasing since becoming a full-time Division I-A team in 2001? Would USF have a permanent seat at the big boys table?

Unfortunately for the Bulls, wins over FSU and UM in the same season wouldn't represent a seismic shift for the program or football in the state of Florida. Sure, they would be nice wins. But that's all they would be.

"It's certainly a big deal, but I don't think it's important in the long run unless it becomes a pattern," said Allen Wallace, national recruiting editor for Scout.com and editor of SuperPrep Magazine. "Realistically, it would be a great shot in the arm. Any program would look forward to beating teams that have been impactful programs in college football, but if it's not sustained, it's always viewed as a fluke or a temporary phase."

USF had its magical run in 2007, getting ranked as high as No. 2 before dropping three straight. But the Bulls did nothing with the momentum of that season. They have yet to win a conference championship in a league derided for being "weak," though USF does deserve credit for putting together five straight bowl seasons.

The reason UF, UM and FSU became known as the "Big 3" is because they won championships and were a part of the national conversation. Yes, it takes time to build programs. It took many, many years for UF, FSU and UM to reach those incredibly high levels.

But USF has to compete against far too much history and tradition, not to mention the perception that the Big East cannot compete for national championships (Ahem, Cincinnati), to even think about busting out a Big 4.

Even after USF beat FSU 17-7, the perception was that it only happened because the Seminoles are down. Miami is finally back in the Top 25 and has put together its finest season in years. But still, neither of these programs are considered elite right now.

If USF beat the Gators, then you could call it a monumental day for the program. Are wins over FSU and UM going to be touted on the recruiting trail? Definitely. Are they going to change a player's mind about where he should go to school? Doubt it.

Most times, the four schools are not even going after the same players. Wallace has USF at No. 60 in his current recruiting rankings. UF is No. 7, UM is No. 9 and FSU is No. 35. Though that is FSU's lowest spot in years, it still is 25 places ahead of USF. Wallace said the average player who has committed to USF has 2.6 stars on a scale of 5. Compare that to 3.08 for FSU, and 3.16 for UM and 3.83 for UF.

"There's still a hierarchy in terms of what schools can get into the living rooms of the biggest time players," Wallace said. "It's extremely difficult for programs that haven't been routinely viewed as powers to break into that power realm because Miami, Florida State and Florida will always be viewed as the Big 3."

There is no doubt this is the biggest game in school history. Coach Jim Leavitt said it was a "powerful" statement his game was being played opposite UF-FSU. "Now you win a game like that, that would be pretty big," he said.

But it would not be a program changer.

Read Andrea Adelson's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/collegegridiron365 and e-mail her at aadelson@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel

Link

Hey Andrea-  Bite me.... What is this a slow newsday?  We know we are not part of the Big 4....  But regardless we are closer than that two bit program in your backyard... The FSU win was big, and UM win would be bigger, regardless we know that until we win conference championship we can't join the Big 3 club...  This story is a rerun of the earlier 100 stories on the same subject, geez, must be a really slow newsday in Orlando!  You make a argument, about not being big 4 because we may beat UM after beating FSU, but then you say if we beat UF then we can be???  Gee did you graduate from UF maybe? Oh one more thing,  Bite me!  Happy Thanksgiving!

[DELdaBull]

It has been rare for UF even to beat those two schools in the same year.

You beat UM and FSU in the same year, you get to eat at the Big Boy table. Staying at that table depends on if you can parlay that into a BEast championship in the next two years.

[SRQ]

If it wasn't a big deal they wouldn't be addressing it.  A win on Saturday sends a strong message to recruits and the fan base in the state of Florida.  Hey, Big 3, pay attention to the little brother in Tampa, or feel the wrath!

Go Bulls!

exactly!  Rome wasn't conquered in a day.  These are all steps.  Check back in in 2020 for perfect hindsight as to what a win Saturday may or may not mean.

[Cubanbull]

Dunb article and you can expect more of the BigThree homer press to repost it if the Bulls win.

To join them we must beat them, we got one scalp, lets go for another.

USF needs to win these games and become a consistent top 25 team and BE champion to move to the next level. While the BE championship is out the window, this team can still accomplish some groundbreaking steps for USF football.

#1 first team to beat FSU- DONE

#2 first team to beat Miami- ?

#3 first team to FINISH in top 25- ? two years ago we where in final BCS poll but dropped from final polls after losing to Oregon.

#4 first team to win 10 games in season- ?

UM, UConn and bowl opponent wont be easy to sweep but if we do it sets the Bulls for next year.

Go Bulls!!!

[Green is Good]

Im sorry, I dont believe in reading anything posted, printed, or uttered by the Orlando Slantinel.....bitter much??

[Costa]

What an awful article. The fact is, that FSU win has already gained us some ground in the recruiting rankings. A win against Miami would gain us even more ground. Sure, its just 2 wins in a season against teams that UCF would never beat, but hey those wins dont matter  :

[SpikeBull]

Cough (Barrington) Cough, Cough (Giddins) Cough

Portions of this article may have been true, THREE YEARS AGO, but we are now directly in competition with the Big 3/4 for a lot of kids and getting some of them (see coughing above).

And to quote T-Man "Bite Me!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Triple B]

OrlandoSentinel.com

USF overtaking the Big 3? Don't Bullieve it

USF Bulls, after conquering FSU, now have their sights set on the Miami Hurricanes

Andrea Adelson

From the Press Box

November 25, 2009

When USF beat Florida State earlier this season, it was billed as a watershed moment for the program. The school even took out a billboard in Tampa congratulating the Bulls on turning the Big 3 into the Big 4.

Now another big game against one of the Big 3 looms -- a sold out home game against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday.

So what would it mean if USF beat FSU and UM in the same season, taking down two of the teams it has been chasing since becoming a full-time Division I-A team in 2001? Would USF have a permanent seat at the big boys table?

Unfortunately for the Bulls, wins over FSU and UM in the same season wouldn't represent a seismic shift for the program or football in the state of Florida. Sure, they would be nice wins. But that's all they would be.

"It's certainly a big deal, but I don't think it's important in the long run unless it becomes a pattern," said Allen Wallace, national recruiting editor for Scout.com and editor of SuperPrep Magazine. "Realistically, it would be a great shot in the arm. Any program would look forward to beating teams that have been impactful programs in college football, but if it's not sustained, it's always viewed as a fluke or a temporary phase."

USF had its magical run in 2007, getting ranked as high as No. 2 before dropping three straight. But the Bulls did nothing with the momentum of that season. They have yet to win a conference championship in a league derided for being "weak," though USF does deserve credit for putting together five straight bowl seasons.

The reason UF, UM and FSU became known as the "Big 3" is because they won championships and were a part of the national conversation. Yes, it takes time to build programs. It took many, many years for UF, FSU and UM to reach those incredibly high levels.

But USF has to compete against far too much history and tradition, not to mention the perception that the Big East cannot compete for national championships (Ahem, Cincinnati), to even think about busting out a Big 4.

Even after USF beat FSU 17-7, the perception was that it only happened because the Seminoles are down. Miami is finally back in the Top 25 and has put together its finest season in years. But still, neither of these programs are considered elite right now.

If USF beat the Gators, then you could call it a monumental day for the program. Are wins over FSU and UM going to be touted on the recruiting trail? Definitely. Are they going to change a player's mind about where he should go to school? Doubt it.

Most times, the four schools are not even going after the same players. Wallace has USF at No. 60 in his current recruiting rankings. UF is No. 7, UM is No. 9 and FSU is No. 35. Though that is FSU's lowest spot in years, it still is 25 places ahead of USF. Wallace said the average player who has committed to USF has 2.6 stars on a scale of 5. Compare that to 3.08 for FSU, and 3.16 for UM and 3.83 for UF.

"There's still a hierarchy in terms of what schools can get into the living rooms of the biggest time players," Wallace said. "It's extremely difficult for programs that haven't been routinely viewed as powers to break into that power realm because Miami, Florida State and Florida will always be viewed as the Big 3."

There is no doubt this is the biggest game in school history. Coach Jim Leavitt said it was a "powerful" statement his game was being played opposite UF-FSU. "Now you win a game like that, that would be pretty big," he said.

But it would not be a program changer.

Read Andrea Adelson's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/collegegridiron365 and e-mail her at aadelson@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel

Link

Hey Andrea-  Bite me.... What is this a slow newsday?   We know we are not part of the Big 4....  But regardless we are closer than that two bit program in your backyard... The FSU win was big, and UM win would be bigger, regardless we know that until we win conference championship we can't join the Big 3 club...  This story is a rerun of the earlier 100 stories on the same subject, geez, must be a really slow newsday in Orlando!  You make a argument, about not being big 4 because we may beat UM after beating FSU, but then you say if we beat UF then we can be???   Gee did you graduate from UF maybe? Oh one more thing,  Bite me!   Happy Thanksgiving!

Name Andrea Adelson

Location Orlando, FLA

Web http://www.orland...

Bio Staff writer at the Orlando Sentinel, bringing you Florida Gators commentary and all things college football.

http://twitter.com/OSAadelson

[smazza]

it is troublesome usf isnt recruiting better

this has always been a weak spot along with special teams

it takes a dynamic saleman with confidence and a giant ego to recruit.leavitt will never allow that type of coach on his staff