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(01-31-2022 08:31 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  USF and UCF are an amazing study in contrasts. USF, to me, was a surprise when invited to the Big East and enjoyed some degree of football success there. But UCF just kept building its football program outside the BCS 6 and then in the American. USF spiraled down and never recovered. UCF has had better basketball the past few years than USF too. And UCF baseball has been strong.

USF for whatever reasons, fell behind in the facilities arms race and it may have cost the school a P5 opportunity. Ditto Temple, playing in an NFL stadium and unable to get a facility on campus. Looking back, think how significant it was for UC not to move downtown for football or basketball? And further, to rebuild first class facilities for both sports as well as new complexes for baseball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, and swimming in Varsity Village. The vision for that project has been realized and was critical to escaping the G5.

USF may have missed the last train out of the G5. Firing unsuccessful coaches only costs more money, which they don't seem to have much of anyway. A hot mess.

It starts and ends with not having an On-Campus Stadium. Ask Pitt, Temple, et., it's impossible to build increased fandom, financial support, etc. when you have to shuttle people miles out of their way for a game in a stadium that doesn't play to their team at all.