Is it time for OCS?

[BrahmanBullzzz]

I have been trying to piece together the state of the program, as I am sure most of you have as well.  My thinking is the time is now for USF and Woolard to announce an OCS.  We can all agree this season has been a reboot.  CWT has stuck to his guns and forced a regime change, and for that I respect him.  Next year may be rough as well, as the last stains of the Holtz era are washing away.  However, by 2015 we should be poised to be competitive once again, especially in the diluted AAC.  So as CWT grows here at USF, I feel the university is poised to make a move to place a stadium on campus (where the Tennis courts are or east of Greek Village).

 

I have a limited understanding of the Genshaft regime, but everything up to know seems to point in this direction.  My time in Greek during undergrad allowed me to understand the Universities plan for Greek organizations, and it would seem to parallel all other facets of the Genshaft Regime. For Greeks, housing was to be designed in stages, or phases. Phase I saw the construction of the current Greek housing on the North-East side of Campus. However, this was to be temporary. Phase II would see the construction of improved Greek housing on a predisposed Greek Row located just north of Pizzo Elementary School on campus. There is even a long road and cul de sac located there in anticipation of the expansion. I’ve seen the blueprints, it would have been glorious (for Greeks).

 

Now in this same line of thinking Genshaft recently announced Phase II of the Unstoppable Fundraising Campaign. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/usf-increases-fundraising-goal-to-1-billion/2152763).  Phase I saw the University raise $630+ million.  Only around $100 million of that was used for athletics.  From that we saw the Sun Dome renovations, as well as improved facilities for all other varsity sports.  This leaves football as the only sport which was essentially unaffected by Phase I money (save for the re-purposed old IM fields).  Further, and more importantly, the renovations to athletics were done without using State money.  If a similar proportion of Phase II money is given to Athletics then we could see between $150-250 million available for ______.  

 

In 2012, USF executed it's five year option with Raymond James Stadium to remain there through 2016.  (http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bulls/content/usf-extends-raymond-james-lease-through-2016) Raymond James clearly wished to lock USF **.  This leaves USF without a home for 2017.  Also the terms of the lease are not that demanding, as USF pays $150,000 a game, plus $2.50 a ticket to Tampa Sports Authority who manages Raymond James.  USF also has to give a share of concessions up to $2,000,000/season to the Buccaneers.  Should USF decide to terminate the lease early, it shouldn't be hard to offset the damages (provided USF Athletics has the Phase II money to play with).  

 

Now our athletic department has been operating in the green for years, but such management has come at a price. (http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/248640/8/Athletics-taxing-USF-students-heavily).  However, rising tuition is not keeping new students from USF.  This is evidenced by the fact that the USF systems total student population is north of 48,000. (http://usfweb3.usf.edu/infocenter/?silverheader=&report_category=STU&report_type=SMAJS&reportid=211193) Further, it is conceivable that such a high commitment straight from tuition may be a better model for a young athletic's department like USF.  All sporting events are essentially free to those who wish to go.  We are not the likes of FSU and UF where we have the luxury of being a storied program to point where students will pay large sums of money to secure game tickets.  This approach has not cost USF and has kept Athletics solvent.  This is more than can be said for the likes of Maryland, or even our friends to the East (http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-06-27/sports/os-ucf-athletics-increasing-cash-big-east-062712_1_ucfaa-ucf-athletics-association-conference-usa).  I bring this up to show, (Woolard's faults aside) our Athletic Department is operating in the green and in a position to make make such a capital investment as an On-Campus-Stadium and bear the brunt of possibly breaking the RayJay lease early.

 

From the horses mouth, just this past summer Woolard expressed optimism about an OCS. (http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2013/06/06/audio-justin-pawlowski-with-usf-ad-and-coach-willie-taggart/) This also was not the first time Woolard expressed interest in a 50,000 person facility at USF.  In 2012, when the Sun Dome reopened Woolard mentioned how great it would be to have a 50,000 person OCS.  (http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/sun-dome-reopens-campus-football-stadium-usfs-future) I hate playing a psychologist, but he has said it twice.  I would think then that he, Genshaft, and the board of trustees have just such a facility in mind. 

 

 

Also, for those of you that believe winning is a prerequisite to constructing an OCS, look to UCF and FAU.  UCF went a combined 12-24 in the three seasons preceding Bright House Network Stadium.  FAU went 6-6, 5-7, to 4-8 in the three seasons preceding the completion of FAU Stadium, and that team went on to go 1-11. Further, Minnesota, who many suggest USF needs to emulate in order to get competitive facilities, went 14-24 in the three years preceding their $300 million facility.  We currently sit at 10-25 over the past three seasons.  It has been miserable, but it is also a perfect time to make a move and improve USF's situation.

 

Woolard also feels that he has a coach to build with in CWT.  Is Woolard going to build with him.

 

45,000 to 50,000 seat OCS opening 2017.  What do you all think?

[TheUpperHand]

As much as I love my seats and my club access, I'm sick of RJS. Nearly every school in college football has an OCS. UCF was showcased very well last night. We need a new home and a new game day atmosphere. What would people have seen if the game had been in Tampa? The empty red seats, the pirate ship, the lackluster field painting, the TSA, the corporate this and that everywhere. Likely no aerial shots of our athletic facilities. Tier 2 football or not, it's time to go all in.

[Rocky Style]

I would love to get one and spend gamedays on campus.

[TheUpperHand]

awfully nice of you

I'm no T Boone Pickens, but if they announce a stadium I'll help with what little I can. My donations, as meager as they may be, will help more than your sarcastic comments will.

[USFbulls24]

So I have not read all of the links you posted, but I would be completely SHOCKED if our Athletic Department was making $$ off of our athletics. Up until like 6 years ago there were less than 10 colleges in the nation that were actually making $$ off of their athletics. Duke, Texas, etc. Big time programs. 

 

I would love to have an on campus stadium, however I would want it done RIGHT. The stadium UCF has is miserable. A metal bleacher bowl that feels like it is going to collapse and only 45,000 seats? The school has 60,000 students by itself. 

 

Not to mention, we don't have near the land that most other schools have. 

 

If we can find a way to build a nice on campus stadium, and have a capacity in the range of 55,000-60,000 I would be all for it. But until that becomes on a reality, Ray Jay is just fine with me. 

[hm101]

I am in

[bullcocky101]

Ray Jay is the worst college gameday atmosphere I have experienced...really bottom of the barrel as far as the pageantry that makes college football what it is.

[USFbulls24]

Ray Jay is the worst college gameday atmosphere I have experienced...really bottom of the barrel as far as the pageantry that makes college football what it is.

 

Didn't seem too bad back in 2007 when we were playing meaningful games against good teams. I would agree an on campus stadium would do wonders for the atmosphere, but if this team is winning the atmosphere is pretty good. Whether we have an on campus stadium or not the atmosphere will never be that of a UF or FSU so..

[Southshore26]

So I have not read all of the links you posted, but I would be completely SHOCKED if our Athletic Department was making $$ off of our athletics. Up until like 6 years ago there were less than 10 colleges in the nation that were actually making $$ off of their athletics. Duke, Texas, etc. Big time programs. 

 

I would love to have an on campus stadium, however I would want it done RIGHT. The stadium UCF has is miserable. A metal bleacher bowl that feels like it is going to collapse and only 45,000 seats? The school has 60,000 students by itself. 

 

Not to mention, we don't have near the land that most other schools have. 

 

If we can find a way to build a nice on campus stadium, and have a capacity in the range of 55,000-60,000 I would be all for it. But until that becomes on a reality, Ray Jay is just fine with me. 

 

Why in creation do we need a 60k stadium? more like 45k with ability to expand down the line.

[BrahmanBullzzz]

So I have not read all of the links you posted, but I would be completely SHOCKED if our Athletic Department was making $$ off of our athletics. Up until like 6 years ago there were less than 10 colleges in the nation that were actually making $$ off of their athletics. Duke, Texas, etc. Big time programs. 

 

 

I don't know if they are making money (and I can't find the sound bite), but Woolard has "prided" himself on operating a balanced budget for like the past 6 years.  Now that may have come at the cost of rising tuition, but I wouldn't think he would lie about that.  I would love to see an accurate balance sheet for Athletics just to see what they are truly working with.  

 

I am just spit balling numbers in my boredom here, but it could be financially sound for USF to make such an investment at this current juncture.  I would think based on passed attendance numbers and USF's habit of providing a large student section (at the expense of rising tuition), USF would be able to both service the massive loan needed to finance such a purchase but also turn a profit.  Plus, such a facility could be managed by Global Spectrum, who currently manages the Sun Dome.  Thus, Global Spectrum would have a larger outdoor facility to provide offseason entertainment, and in so doing bring in more $$$.