I wish Harlan was here years ago!

[Bear]

USF Oracle article outlines what USF has been doing wrong! I wish this issue was corrected years ago, but I do see positive upward mobility if USF can WIN on the field.

 

Everyone new to USF (Harlan included) seems to have a rough initial start -- hopefully, things can take off

 

 

The initiatives Harlan created so far focus on improving the fans’ experience at football games. Specifically, their purpose has been to ease the hassle of student transportation and increase overall student support and passion. At the Bulls’ first game against Western Carolina, the student section was packed with 6,392 students. But Harlan isn’t done creating ways to increase student involvement...

 

“I told them when I was hired that we needed to get out and wake it up,†he said. “We cannot get people involved sitting in our offices on Fowler. Until we do that on a regular basis, people have every right not to support us. I’ve talked to city leaders, corporate leaders, even people in the community that root for other schools in the state and they all want to see the Bulls succeed. Everything is there for us, there’s no excuses anymore.â€
.

In the last fiscal year, USF had 2,100 donors for the Athletics program. Out of the 12-team conference (including Navy), this number ranks USF 11th.

In comparison, UCF has 4,100 annual donors, nearly twice as many.

 

 

What was Woolard doing this entire time!?!?!?

 

 

http://www.usforacle.com/news/view.php/845490/Harlan-We-cant-do-this-with-a-half-empty

 

"

 

And for your OCS fans:

 

“I’m really intrigued by (an on-campus stadium),†Harlan said. “I’m excited to learn more about how we could do it, where it would go, the financial implications … it’s absolutely foolish not to look into it.â€

Edited September 3, 2014 by Bear

[bullsbucsfan426]

Harlan is most definitely doing his job. Now it's up to Taggart and Antigua to do theirs and win.

 

What I like about Harlan is that he is very realistic, but he sets his goals and looks at how he can meet them. 

 

He definitely energized the students this week. I'd like to see how they turn out next week, of course, and over the course of the season. I think if Taggart gets us back to a 6-8 win season, there is no reason to expect that the 100 student section won't be full every game. 

 

The next piece, and this is the harder one, is to pull our alumni and the community back in. 

You know what Harlan needs to set his target on next? Homecoming against ECU. I went to the UConn game last year, and it was their home coming game as well-it didn't matter that the Huskies were winless, the stadium was sold out.It's not reasonable to expect a sell out but we have SO MANY alumni still here in Tampa. Invite them back and make it a big game night! If we can top 45k in attendance (announced or otherwise), that will be a win for me. Hopefully we're 4-2 going into that game. 

[Paisa el Toro]

Woolard focused on the big donors, rather than expanding the donor base. Harlan will have his work cut out for him, if our teams aren't performing on the field.

[hbryan]

 

USF Oracle article outlines what USF has been doing wrong! I wish this issue was corrected years ago, but I do see positive upward mobility if USF can WIN on the field.

 

Everyone new to USF (Harlan included) seems to have a rough initial start -- hopefully, things can take off

 

 

The initiatives Harlan created so far focus on improving the fans’ experience at football games. Specifically, their purpose has been to ease the hassle of student transportation and increase overall student support and passion. At the Bulls’ first game against Western Carolina, the student section was packed with 6,392 students. But Harlan isn’t done creating ways to increase student involvement...

 

“I told them when I was hired that we needed to get out and wake it up,†he said. “We cannot get people involved sitting in our offices on Fowler. Until we do that on a regular basis, people have every right not to support us. I’ve talked to city leaders, corporate leaders, even people in the community that root for other schools in the state and they all want to see the Bulls succeed. Everything is there for us, there’s no excuses anymore.â€

.

In the last fiscal year, USF had 2,100 donors for the Athletics program. Out of the 12-team conference (including Navy), this number ranks USF 11th.

In comparison, UCF has 4,100 annual donors, nearly twice as many.

 

 

What was Woolard doing this entire time!?!?!?

 

 

http://www.usforacle.com/news/view.php/845490/Harlan-We-cant-do-this-with-a-half-empty

 

"

 

And for your OCS fans:

 

“I’m really intrigued by (an on-campus stadium),†Harlan said. “I’m excited to learn more about how we could do it, where it would go, the financial implications … it’s absolutely foolish not to look into it.â€

 

 

Weren't you one of the ones in full support of Doug Woolard?  I took a lot of heat on this board concerning my disgust with the job done by one Doug Woolard and in the beginning I was a lone voice of dissension, although Bulliever did chime in every once in a while and was able to keep the larger pack of green gogglers at bay. Towards the end, there were more in agreement than disagreement.  He's the single worst thing to ever happen to USF Athletics, in my opinion.

[cmhatter]

there were plenty of people unhappy with Woolard's job..... dating back years

 

He did a fine job with the facilities but failed in just about every other area. It's pretty clear he was quite disconnected from the average fan, students, smaller donors. 

[KevinUSF00]

We need an "Ice Bucket Challenge" for USF Athletics. Maybe we can raise the funds for a OCS. The USF "Pie in the Face" Challenge? Pie in the face or $50 to help build a stadium. I think we could get traction with that. 

Edited September 3, 2014 by KevinUSF00

[hbryan]

 

USF Oracle article outlines what USF has been doing wrong! I wish this issue was corrected years ago, but I do see positive upward mobility if USF can WIN on the field.

 

Everyone new to USF (Harlan included) seems to have a rough initial start -- hopefully, things can take off

 

 

The initiatives Harlan created so far focus on improving the fans’ experience at football games. Specifically, their purpose has been to ease the hassle of student transportation and increase overall student support and passion. At the Bulls’ first game against Western Carolina, the student section was packed with 6,392 students. But Harlan isn’t done creating ways to increase student involvement...

 

“I told them when I was hired that we needed to get out and wake it up,†he said. “We cannot get people involved sitting in our offices on Fowler. Until we do that on a regular basis, people have every right not to support us. I’ve talked to city leaders, corporate leaders, even people in the community that root for other schools in the state and they all want to see the Bulls succeed. Everything is there for us, there’s no excuses anymore.â€

.

In the last fiscal year, USF had 2,100 donors for the Athletics program. Out of the 12-team conference (including Navy), this number ranks USF 11th.

In comparison, UCF has 4,100 annual donors, nearly twice as many.

 

 

What was Woolard doing this entire time!?!?!?

 

 

http://www.usforacle.com/news/view.php/845490/Harlan-We-cant-do-this-with-a-half-empty

 

"

 

And for your OCS fans:

 

“I’m really intrigued by (an on-campus stadium),†Harlan said. “I’m excited to learn more about how we could do it, where it would go, the financial implications … it’s absolutely foolish not to look into it.â€

 

 

If average donor is $1,000.......that's $2M less that USF has than their direct competitor to the east and let's not even talk about the 10-15K less in tickets that we're selling.  Last fiscal year we had more donors than we do this fiscal year and that is due in large part to Willie Taggart's lack of success.  He deserves the pressure that he's under because he's helped create it.  I would venture to say that this year we are probably at a $7+M disadvantage to UCF athletics which is our closest competitor of comparable size.  That's HUGE!!

Edited September 3, 2014 by hbryan

[Triple B]

To combat the lack of community support for USF, Harlan launched the “Around the Horns†tour this summer, during which he traveled the state with USF coaches to gather support and connect with the Florida community.

 

 

Apparently the article was written by an incoming freshman ...

[BullFan98]

Good article.  I like Harlan's candor and straight forward approach.

[GaUSFBull]

 

  Last fiscal year we had more donors than we do this fiscal year and that is due in large part to Willie Taggart's lack of success.  He deserves the pressure that he's under because he's helped create it.

 

 

 

 

 I would venture to say that this year we are probably at a $7+M disadvantage to UCF athletics which is our closest competitor of comparable size.  That's HUGE!!

 

There are lots of reasons for this, a step up for them in conference and coming off of a BCS win, for starters, but somehow I don't think you would hear that for the sound of the ax you're grinding in your garage.