(09-07-2014 11:13 AM)KnightLight Wrote: (09-07-2014 10:27 AM)Cubanbull Wrote: (09-07-2014 10:25 AM)KnightLight Wrote: (09-07-2014 10:19 AM)Cubanbull Wrote: .... or that USF won't build a stadium unless is 300 million crap. It's total nonsense.
There have been dozens and dozens and dozens of post made of the above...on multiple sites...as thats what MANY at USF think they will do and/or want.
Sorry for bringing in reality and mentioning options (ala what Houston just did), as most, in this day an age (i.e. USF is now a member of the AAC), USF doesn't need a 50,000 seat, $250 Million - $300 Million plus on-campus stadium.
USF now has some pretty good leadership at the AD position...so I wouldn't be surprised over the next year or two for him to give some new plans/wants for USF's football future.
LOL posts by who?
BullsFaninTX made a good post on this sitenot too long ago...where he noting the same thing and even mentioned a solution:
USF has always said they are not building an OCS until they can build a Minnesota type stadium due to having RJS to play in. I am starting to wonder if USF shouldn't consider just getting one built, even if not perfect. A 45-50K Houston type stadium would look great on USF's campus and could be built very reasonably pricewise.
And who is he? Does he speak with or is part of the Athletics Administration?
I will give you a little real history about USF athletics
When football was approved and started USF had zero facilities which is why we had trailers to house the football offices in addition ALL of our other sports facilities were neglected and well below division 1 standards. Paying in RJS an NFL stadium was a fantastic facility for USF
2003 USF accepts Big East invite. The league told USF that they had to upgrade ALL sports facilities. Football at RJS was at the time the best facility of all sports.
2004 USF builds the LRS Athletic Facility at a cost of 15 million
The league is NOT happy that USF then seats for years without upgrading facilities promised when they entered league.
2009 approval of 33.5 million to build new soccer stadium,baseball,softball, basketball practice facilities and football fields approved. Completed 2011
June 2011 approval to renovate Sun Dome at a cost of 35.6 million finished in 2012
September of 2011 Cuse and Pitt bail out and Big East starts final implosion.
So here are the facts. There was NO WAY that USF could build an OCS BEFORE upgrading all the other sports facilities that they had promised the league. This is why some might have heard the 300 million OCS line because we COULDNT build one even at a cheaper rate and jump the other sports in doing so.
Now we move to current times football crashes with three straight losing seasons but team was starting to drop after 2007 and attendance plummets from a high of 44716 actual attendance according to TSA in 2007 to a low of 20379 last year. We might be lower or close to that this year and now we are in the AAC and outside of BCS a big let down for our young fan base not used to struggles.
In comes Harlan( Thank God) to replace our old AD which really was in retiring mode since he arrived at USF.
Now with all of our sports upgraded in facilities an OCS might be considered in the future. One like what Houston built is most probable. The 300 million is never going to happen. But before that here is what Harlan is doing.
1. Build a competitive product on the field
2. Increase studen attendance by providing transportation and incentives
3. Work on the season ticket holders that are bypassing the game. Bring them back on board.
4. Take into account that having a big stadium like RJS has allowed USF to sign home visits from schools like FSU that wouldn't do that in a 45k OCS.
With that said USF Athletics are not moving on an OCS until the 4 points above are taken into account and improved.
