One Whole Recruiting Class Lost!!

[Reliable Source]

Gents,

Please behave civilly.

Thank you.

My apology. I just got a little lit up by the 2nd rate university comment. I graduated in 1979 and have listened to that stuff for a long time, simply because we didn't have a FB team with which to gain notoriety. USF has offered as fine an education as UF and  FSU since those days, but our reputation suffered because we didn't have the kind of fervent backing and press coverage that they got as a result of their football teams. Now that we have a FB team, I want it to flourish as quickly as is possible.  I have a hard time understanding how a USF supporter/Alum could ever consider OUR University a second rate instituition.

[Triple B]

Gents,

Please behave civilly.

Thank you.

My apology. I just got a little lit up by the 2nd rate university comment. I graduated in 1979 and have listened to that stuff for a long time, simply because we didn't have a FB team with which to gain notoriety. USF has offered as fine an education as UF and  FSU since those days, but our reputation suffered because we didn't have the kind of fervent backing and press coverage that they got as a result of their football teams. Now that we have a FB team, I want it to flourish as quickly as is possible.  I have a hard time understanding how a USF supporter/Alum could ever consider OUR University a second rate instituition.

Honestly, and I may be off base here, but I think the way BP used the term "2nd rate University" up there, what he probably meant was  "2nd rate football program" ... and he's right in that regard when comparing us to the top football programs in the country.

[LunchTimeBully]

We should be beyond taking risk. Coach Leavitt excuse was that we didn't have depth. He should have recruited less risky players.

Says who? All of us USF Fans? USF is still considered second tier by most high school coaches and players. Majority of the time, USF is going to lose out when they go head to head with FSU, UF and UM for a kid. Has there been kids that choose USF over the big 3? Yes (Giddins and TRex) but they are the exceptions, not the rule. USF is not there yet, or at leadt they are not where the fanbase thinks they are/should be.

Coach Leavitt excuse was that we didn't have depth. He should have recruited less risky players.

You have to take risks with with some kids because of their talent. Would it be nice if all "less risky" were the 4 and 5 star guys? Yes, but that is not the case. And picking the less risky kids usually means they are the less talented and if USF is to get to where this fanbase thinks they are/should be, taking the less risky kid is not an option.

You need to try to ignore Bullpride08. He likes "being right." He's a smart@$$. Some people are gaytor apologists on this site for whatever reason. Gunsby had a LEGITIMATE QB offer from UF and some think he was being recruited as tight end. UF has another QB who is a 3* recruit (Trey Burton) who seems to have equal or less potential than Gunsby.

Of your entire post the one piece you typed rings true and is the basis of this thread "...where this fanbase thinks they are/should be...."   Boy is that a truer statement...we have five straight bowl seasons, four straight seasons with 8+ wins, and it's not enough.  Now we were 'wasting' scholarships.  Like darn Leavitt was an idiot and now Skip is pure genius.  Well the genius has made missteps in recruiting his first month too.  There is no exact science to this game, and despite where the fanbase 'thinks we are', we're still a second rate University in a second rate BCS football conference that will continue to have trouble doing better at recruiting and to get ahead we have to take risks.  Mardy Gilyard at UC was ineligible as a soph from Cinci because of academics, risks, risks, risks...this is a high risk/high reward game at our level of program.  No other way to cut it.  You've got to take big risks.

Sorry Chump, I didn't go to a "second rate University". I STILL love the old girl. Maybe you should go back to your pay site. What are you  a Seminole??