Let’s not be homers: a realistic discussion for USF and our future.

by Bulls2Bones on Sep 19, 2011 8:30 AM EDT

I have read and read and read hundreds of posts concerning conference realignment, none of which look good for our beloved team.

We made it to a BCS conference and left the mediocrity of CUSA. However, along with that we seem to have left reality as well. We are a great team with a spattering of amazing wins across the years. But what have we done since being in the Big East?

We have not won the conference title, we have not been perennially ranked, we have never finished a season ranked, we have not established tradition (should have worked on an on campus stadium). Every time we beat a quality team we are looked at like a great “up and coming school”.

Translation? We have simply not done enough.

Our best hope is to join ranks with the Big 12 leftovers, but how long will that last? There are lots of unknowns.

At the end of the day, Bulls Fans, we simply did not take the opportunities we had to make a name for ourselves. Just like the UCF fans we hate so much, we think way too highly of ourselves and need to come back to reality.

We very well could be back in CUSA and we would have to make the best of it. The Big East folding in front of us is depressing. What is even more depressing is that we did not take advantage of the opportunity it, the conference, gave us.

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If this all ends in disaster, at least we can say we tasted the big time.

Here’s to somehow finagling our way into the SEC (yeah I know it’s about impossible). Maybe Texas and Oklahoma will stay in the Big 12 and keep the conference respectable for us.

Unfortunately USF, TCU, Kansas, K-State, Baylor, Cincy, and Iowa State don’t make a great conference. I guess we’ll have to add in a Boise, UCF, etc and hopefully make something half decent.

I think Louisville, WVU, and Missouri escape. Hopefully we’re thrown a lifeline as well. We need the B1G to act quickly and gobble up teams, namely Missouri and ND, forcing the SEC to settle (hopefully on USF).

Go Bulls!

by Leavitt Town on Sep 19, 2011 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

Reality Sucks!

I simply cannot, under any circumstance see the SEC inviting USF before they invite FSU. The ACC’s 20 million buyout is significant but compared to the long term effects of being in the SEC. However, if FSU ever leaves the ACC, USF will be in the conversation. However, this will take years and by that time we could be struggling to stay ahead of UCF is desirability. Again, it is not about wins and losses but markets, stadiums, and all the other money measurables.

by Bulls2Bones on Sep 19, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, at least the Tampa market is ahead of Orlando (about 1.8 million viewers versus 1.5)

And although nationally it may not be by much, USF is a more recognizable brand than UCF.

I really don’t see UCF getting into a situation where they hop over USF, but if the Big 12/Big East merger happens after we have a Pac16, SEC16, and ACC16, then UCF will obviously be at the table with us in the Big-12-East-16.

Go Bulls!

by Leavitt Town on Sep 19, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree, I just worry about falling behind.

by Bulls2Bones on Sep 19, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

If the SEC16, PAC16, ACC16, and B1G16 happen and we're not in one, we will definitely be falling behind.

Not to say there couldn’t be a 5th conference assembled of 12 or 16 that could eventually be respectable, but it’s not going to start out pretty. Especially with essentially 64 schools in 4 conferences pushing to take away the BCS tag from the 5th conference. It will be an uphill battle.

Go Bulls!

by Leavitt Town on Sep 19, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm.

If you think that we need a realistic assessment of our current situation, then you need to do some reading. I wrote a realistic assessment of our situation yesterday, the latest in a series of such assessments. In fact this entire blog is always a realistic assessment of our situation, whether it be football, basketball, baseball, conference affiliation, fan support, etc.

Also you use interesting examples. A conference title? An end-of-season-ranking? An on-campus stadium? Gee, who has those things?

Add in your location and I think we can safely rule TROLL.