(12-12-2009 07:21 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(12-12-2009 07:07 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  This tells you bowls will invite whoever they feel like inviting. USF needs to look more inviting, which brings us back to my original statement...

and that brings me back to my original post that the Toronto Bowl fits more with the rest of the league than USF. I cant freaking believe we have gotten into a crap war about the Toronto bowl vs St Pete or Bham bowl. The reality is that they are all LOW LEVEL bowls that at the end of the day are meaningless and no one excepts the die hards fans care about but still it makes zero financial sense for the bowl and the team to get a team that far away when others were closer and thus more likely to travel there.
I do think that the Sun Bowl was correct when they stated that the BE having only 8 teams restricts them from having a more varied choice and thus more likely to have to get a repeat team or get one that doesnt fit their bowl.

correction toronto and st pete bowl are crap and meaningless, the papa johns at least you play a decent sec team, that's why there was arguing. beating a steve spurrier team, especially one we always recruit against, would have been a big opportunity for another statement if we got the bid.

Cuban, I kind of understand what you're saying, but in the end, I think it's best for USF's players and fans to get a chance to have different experiences. Over the last five years, we've been to Charlotte, Birmingham, El Paso, St. Petersburg and now Toronto. That's great for the players. A return to St. Pete would have been nothing special for them, regardless of the opponent. If USF fans want to be invited to other places, we have to demonstrate to bowls that we're willing to follow our team. Sadly, except for a few of us diehards, we have a large number of frontrunning fans of convenience. That will hopefully change over time. I know I'm doing my part, as I'll be in Toronto, and haven't missed a bowl game yet. I can't say the same for many others. I know lots of people who have lots of excuses, but the old saying holds true. Everybody's got one, and they all stink.

And, I also agree with bit here. If USF's players and coaches want to go to better bowl games, they need to take care of business on the field. In the end, had they held UConn in the final minute, they'd be facing South Carolina in Birmingham right now. They have nobody to blame but themselves, just like USF fans have nobody to blame but ourselves for our lack of travelling. To quote Dennis Green, "we are who we think we are."

USFFan

TORONTO - TORONTO - TORONTO !!!!!!!

(12-13-2009 02:17 AM)usffan Wrote:  Cuban, I kind of understand what you're saying, but in the end, I think it's best for USF's players and fans to get a chance to have different experiences. Over the last five years, we've been to Charlotte, Birmingham, El Paso, St. Petersburg and now Toronto. That's great for the players. A return to St. Pete would have been nothing special for them, regardless of the opponent. If USF fans want to be invited to other places, we have to demonstrate to bowls that we're willing to follow our team. Sadly, except for a few of us diehards, we have a large number of frontrunning fans of convenience. That will hopefully change over time. I know I'm doing my part, as I'll be in Toronto, and haven't missed a bowl game yet. I can't say the same for many others. I know lots of people who have lots of excuses, but the old saying holds true. Everybody's got one, and they all stink.

And, I also agree with bit here. If USF's players and coaches want to go to better bowl games, they need to take care of business on the field. In the end, had they held UConn in the final minute, they'd be facing South Carolina in Birmingham right now. They have nobody to blame but themselves, just like USF fans have nobody to blame but ourselves for our lack of travelling. To quote Dennis Green, "we are who we think we are."

USFFan

Dont fool yoursef, yes the Bham bowl is a bit more attractive to fans because its vs an SEC team and its closer to home. Heck most USF fans would have driven to that one. BUT it still is a crap bowl at the end, Bham didnt do much to make that bowl a fan experience and the stadium is pure crap. As I was saying IF the Toront bowl matched alower BigTen team vs the BE opponent then it would be more attractive to northern BE teams also.
Look Im not here to say that USF desrved the gator or any other better bowl all Im saying is that the Toronto Bowl is a good fit for lower level BE teams , just not USF. So when people start talking about USF not attending this game, lets get real about it and that USF to this bowl makes no sense from a fans point of view

(12-12-2009 04:40 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(12-12-2009 02:10 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  If USF wants better bowls that are closer to home, they need to earn 'em...

Thats NOT the point bit, the Toronto Bowl is a bottom level bowl just like the Bham and St Pete Bowl. It makes no sense to send USF to a far away bowl when there are others in its backyard.

It's not like the BE forced any one's hand. PapaJohns and St. Pete made their choices.
Although I support the WAC-model for lower tiered bowls. Match them by geography.

(12-13-2009 10:25 AM)rferry Wrote:  

(12-12-2009 04:40 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(12-12-2009 02:10 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  If USF wants better bowls that are closer to home, they need to earn 'em...

Thats NOT the point bit, the Toronto Bowl is a bottom level bowl just like the Bham and St Pete Bowl. It makes no sense to send USF to a far away bowl when there are others in its backyard.

It's not like the BE forced any one's hand. PapaJohns and St. Pete made their choices.
Although I support the WAC-model for lower tiered bowls. Match them by geography.

and I UNDERSTANd those bowls decisions. Obviously PPJ knows SC is close enough and an SEC school to draw most of the fans they need so adding UCONN which will have to travel farther and book hotel rooms and off a three game wining streak is a better choice for them.
The St Pete Bowl knows UCF will also bring most of the fans they need this year so choosing Rutgers will give them some fans that will book hotel rooms and travel to a sunny destination.
In the case of the Toronto Bowl neither of those two scenarios are there. UNI is NOT going to bring major numbers of fans to fill the bowl and USF is not close enough and there isnt much about toronto to excite florida fans to travel there in early Jan. So thats why i think the Toronto Bowl is not a great fit for BE and definetely not for USF.
Now you add the Big Ten there and it becomes a better destination for the northern BE teams and even better for them than PPJ or St Pete