(02-08-2012 11:05 AM)CD11 Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:40 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:37 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:30 AM)ZachMan Wrote:  I am telling you guys that Memphis football will surprise you very soon, more potential than many teams that already throwing stones.

Seriously, what is your potential? Where are your quality recruits going to come from?

I have a question. Are you like this all the time, or is this just a bad week? j/k

She's like this all the time. It was actually really nice for the last few weeks, she hadn't posted nearly as much and this board became readable again. But you jerks getting invited to the party must've woken her up.

Sorry, but I'm not really a jerk.

(02-09-2012 08:30 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:37 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:30 AM)ZachMan Wrote:  I am telling you guys that Memphis football will surprise you very soon, more potential than many teams that already throwing stones.

Seriously, what is your potential? Where are your quality recruits going to come from?

There are a lot of quality recruits in their area. Does this mean with BCS tag they will all of a sudden get the 5* guys that were going to UT? No. But it does mean they will have a good shot at keeping the local 3* and some 4* that would have went to like Ole Miss, or Vandy, Texas Tech, etc.

4* guys aren't going to slip through any SEC cracks, and your position is predicated on AQ being in next deal, which is highly questionable. I don't see an avenue for memphis football to improve. i guess we will see.

(02-09-2012 09:17 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 06:20 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 12:55 AM)RandyMc Wrote:  Don't worry about us carrying our own weight. We haven't been working out of mobile trailers like USF in decades.

Give us four years of BCS recruiting ...

... still wondering where these better recruits are going to come from for you. At USF, we struggle badly in the face of recruiting by UF, FSU, Miami, Alabama, Auburn, etc. Often lose 4- and 5- star recruits from high schools in the shadows of our campus. We get the 2- and 3- star scraps left over.Fortunately for us, there are a lot of those, since Florida is such a talent hot-bed. But Memphis is in a far less munificent location, and the competition for talent is even more intense in your area. I don't see it happening dude ...

Quo, I have to correct the record. USF got basically all 3 star recruits, with a couple 4 stars, not "2 and 3 star recruits" as you stated. In this latest recruiting cycle, according to Rivals, USF had:

2 4 Star recruits
16 3 Star recruits
2 2 Star recruits

http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiti...12/usf-655

I was talking about our recruiting most years, but yes, we did pull in a good class this year ... kudos to coach holtz and the rest of the staff.

(02-09-2012 09:36 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  First off, It can be good for conf and school. It is all about TV$$$ not school money. Any non AQ stepping up is going to get a windall, that doesn't mean the conf doesnt get the same windall. UCF got 1.2 mil from CUSA, If our market brings in big bucks for BE it is a win, the fact we end up with 10 mil per year is also a win. Quo's statement make no sense. It can be good for BE and the fans of incoming school should also be excited. not a either or.

a win-win scenario is possible, but in the case of Memphis, what are the odds? They will likely take a 10 million dollar cut of conference revenues from a new deal, but how does their bad football contribute anything like that to us?

Memphis will likely earn their way financially, but on the gridiron they have a ways to go.

And it ain't all about recruiting stars either. Boise State doesn't get top 50 classes ever and we've been in the top 10 on the field for 4 censecutive years. We sent 7 players to the combine this year, only 3 other schools sent more. Most of those guys were two star recruits.

(02-09-2012 11:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 09:36 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  First off, It can be good for conf and school. It is all about TV$$$ not school money. Any non AQ stepping up is going to get a windall, that doesn't mean the conf doesnt get the same windall. UCF got 1.2 mil from CUSA, If our market brings in big bucks for BE it is a win, the fact we end up with 10 mil per year is also a win. Quo's statement make no sense. It can be good for BE and the fans of incoming school should also be excited. not a either or.

a win-win scenario is possible, but in the case of Memphis, what are the odds? They will likely take a 10 million dollar cut of conference revenues from a new deal, but how does their bad football contribute anything like that to us?

This point has been discussed countless times over the past 2 years at least:

Big East FB is solid and balanced top to bottom. There are no perennial bottom feeders. There haven't been for a while. If Memphis serves as a bottom feeder for a while, that's not a serious problem. It would allow the other conference teams to strenghten their W-L records, make a bowl a little easier, and reduce the week to week grind during the season.

So, bottom feeders (within reason) are not bad for the conference. The ACC gets a free pass from the media, even though they have Duke and others that stink in FB.

At the same time, Memphis basketball traditionally has been excellent. They'll help the Big East maintain their top basketball conference status. Keeping the belt as best basketball conference in the country will go along way when we sit down with NBC Sports.

(02-09-2012 08:57 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  don't worry about Quo....he's a perpetual debbie downer. I dont even think he's a real USF/Big East fan but I humor him anyway. It's fun to read his thoughts which originate from this alternate universe he has created in his mind....


He's kind of like the town drunk in this forum....we just humor him and people put up with his bs because it's kind of fun to watch him stumble around and fall down...hahahahah

You aren't kidding. Why do the mods let him get away with it?

(02-09-2012 12:11 PM)BroncoFan78 Wrote:  Memphis will likely earn their way financially, but on the gridiron they have a ways to go.

And it ain't all about recruiting stars either. Boise State doesn't get top 50 classes ever and we've been in the top 10 on the field for 4 censecutive years. We sent 7 players to the combine this year, only 3 other schools sent more. Most of those guys were two star recruits.

True, our coach is Justin Fuente, who was OC for TCU. They are used to recruiting good athletes and coaching them up.

(02-09-2012 12:28 PM)billyjack Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 11:19 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 09:36 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  First off, It can be good for conf and school. It is all about TV$$$ not school money. Any non AQ stepping up is going to get a windall, that doesn't mean the conf doesnt get the same windall. UCF got 1.2 mil from CUSA, If our market brings in big bucks for BE it is a win, the fact we end up with 10 mil per year is also a win. Quo's statement make no sense. It can be good for BE and the fans of incoming school should also be excited. not a either or.

a win-win scenario is possible, but in the case of Memphis, what are the odds? They will likely take a 10 million dollar cut of conference revenues from a new deal, but how does their bad football contribute anything like that to us?

This point has been discussed countless times over the past 2 years at least:

Big East FB is solid and balanced top to bottom. There are no perennial bottom feeders. There haven't been for a while. If Memphis serves as a bottom feeder for a while, that's not a serious problem. It would allow the other conference teams to strenghten their W-L records, make a bowl a little easier, and reduce the week to week grind during the season.

This logic would make sense if Memphis was joining, say, the SEC. Because the SEC has the powerhouses at the top to carry a bottom-feeder or three. But the Big East is already considered the runt of the AQ litter, we are always having to defend our status as a major conference.

In that context, adding a bottom-feeder wounds us when we are already bleeding pretty bad in the court of public opinion. I don't think we can afford that.

(02-09-2012 11:03 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 08:30 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:37 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:30 AM)ZachMan Wrote:  I am telling you guys that Memphis football will surprise you very soon, more potential than many teams that already throwing stones.

Seriously, what is your potential? Where are your quality recruits going to come from?

There are a lot of quality recruits in their area. Does this mean with BCS tag they will all of a sudden get the 5* guys that were going to UT? No. But it does mean they will have a good shot at keeping the local 3* and some 4* that would have went to like Ole Miss, or Vandy, Texas Tech, etc.

4* guys aren't going to slip through any SEC cracks, and your position is predicated on AQ being in next deal, which is highly questionable. I don't see an avenue for memphis football to improve. i guess we will see.

wrong..let's use something we call FACTS vs your alternate universe bs

You said 4* recruits will not slip through SEC cracks...yet UC picked up 4* QB Bennie Coney who was also OFFERED by Arkansas (and Michigan, Mich St, and Minn). I realize we are talking UC recruiting here not Memphis but the point is, if UC can do this, so can Memphis.

(02-09-2012 04:36 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 11:03 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 08:30 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:37 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:30 AM)ZachMan Wrote:  I am telling you guys that Memphis football will surprise you very soon, more potential than many teams that already throwing stones.

Seriously, what is your potential? Where are your quality recruits going to come from?

There are a lot of quality recruits in their area. Does this mean with BCS tag they will all of a sudden get the 5* guys that were going to UT? No. But it does mean they will have a good shot at keeping the local 3* and some 4* that would have went to like Ole Miss, or Vandy, Texas Tech, etc.

4* guys aren't going to slip through any SEC cracks, and your position is predicated on AQ being in next deal, which is highly questionable. I don't see an avenue for memphis football to improve. i guess we will see.

wrong..let's use something we call FACTS vs your alternate universe bs

You said 4* recruits will not slip through SEC cracks...yet UC picked up 4* QB Bennie Coney who was also OFFERED by Arkansas (and Michigan, Mich St, and Minn). I realize we are talking UC recruiting here not Memphis but the point is, if UC can do this, so can Memphis.

Our recruiting is going very well and will only improve. One of our coaches was named by Rivals as one of the top recruiters for a Non-BCS school. We will be fine. Hell, we beat out SEC teams every year for a hand full of recruits.

With the markets, Boise St's national appeal & solid basketball the Big East will wet their beaks nicely.

Wow. I am normally just a lurker but after all of the excitement of the BE announcement, I decided to finally register on the boards.

I must say that I am feeling all warm and fuzzy inside especially after being called a homer, jerks, and bottom-feeders.

Thank you so much.

I for one refuse to let you rain on my parade with our invite to the BE. It is something that we have been wanting ever since we lost our long-time rivals. I look forward to renewing the rivalries with Cincy and 'Ville.

I also look forward to creating new rivalries especially with Navy since two of my brothers went to the academy.

I think the Tigers bring a lot to the table (financially, TV market, and a solid all-sports member). I never count the Tigers out. Just ask UT and Peyton Manning what happens when you let the Tigers get a claw in the game.

Anyway, thanks for the welcome. I hope we can help feed the BEast. The BBQ is pretty good down here.

Did someone say fuzzy?


As for our football team, I think the coaching change is already a big step forward. You can have all the 4* recruits you want, but if you can't coach them, what good are they?

Memphis puts out a good number of 15-20 highly rated recruits yearly. Sure many go to SEC, but they also go to other BCS programs as well, usually Miami. We generally get our hands on 1 or 2 of those. But I feel being part of the BE will help us get more. We won't keep all of them but even 5-7 of those is a big improvement.
Years ago, Tommy West was able to pull a bunch of good local recruits from the private schools (they traditionally leave town). All he did was get his hands on 1 or 2 of those and the rest followed.

We will improve in FB.

I think its a little ironic that a USF fan would be talking about additional "mouths to feed". Memphis has had an athletic budget as large or larger than USF, and thats while USF was getting a BCS check. Memphis has continually generated more in ticket sales than USF. Memphis is bringing in a large tv market that it will be able to penetrate to a very high degree. Memphis is bringing with it to the BE the Liberty Bowl tie-in (The LB should have a $2M payout going forward, and has just started its new tv contract that greatly increases its visibility.) Memphis is bringing with it corporate sponsorship to the BE conference. Memphis could perpetually suck at football, yet it will add value to the BE.

I could understand Louisville or Uconn being concerned about more mouths to feed. I'm not sure where USF gets off saying anything. How would USF feel if the members of this conference started asking what value USF was bringing to the conference?

(02-09-2012 02:12 PM)PATiger Wrote:  You aren't kidding. Why do the mods let him get away with it?

Quo is usually a much more thought provoking devil's advocate than he showed in this thread. He missed the mark here, IMO.

I've been convinced that Memphis is not a significantly worse idea than we supposedly were at the time, and look at how we did. I have an open mind, and am especially excited about playing Memphis again.

I do think we should have tried harder with AFA first, though.

Once again..........

w/o BCS money, USF vs Memphis 2-2 (FB) 3-18(CBB)

I think he's scared someone might come in and take over USF's traditionally bottom spot, pushing them further down the "mouth feeding" pole.

Personally, I believe the Big East membership helps Houston, Memphis and San Diego State most of all allow these 3 schools immediately become revenue generators rather than revenue takers. These teams should see dramatic improvements in their recruiting classes.

I think it is reasonable to believe Houston immediately signs 15+ 3-star recruits and begins to regularly sign a few 4-star recruits. There is a HUGE difference for recruits who have a chance to play in Boise, Louisville, Cincinnati, New York, Tampa, etc. than Hattiesburg, Birmingham, and Huntington. That alone should move UH up to the mid- to high 30s in the rankings immediately. What Quo and others don't seem to understand is that UH doesn't really consider a National Championship as the standard. Sure they want to win it, but what they really want is to be given fair consideration for a Top 10 finish based on merit rather than have their successes artificially diminished because they played in Conference USA. I believe Boise (and TCU, WVU, etc.) want the same thing.

Memphis also should see a huge boost in 3-star players. It's not so much that I don't think Memphis will pull its weight in football as much as I just believe Temple is a better short-term and long-term fit for the Big East to retain at least some of its eastern culture. Temple's basketball may not reach the heights of Memphis, but it's football likely will remain ahead of Memphis long-term, and be a more balanced partner. However, there is no question in my mind that Memphis can be a revenue generator overall because of its basketball program. I think SMU also sees a significant bump, but its academic standards may play a role in keeping some recruits out. SMU will NOT risk sanctions or recruiting screw ups for a long, long time. Long-term, I have absolutely no doubt that SMU will win the Big East within the first 5-7 years and then stay at or near the top from then on.

I have no worries about the teams coming into the Big East, but that is mostly because I know their histories and what they are capable of achieving surrounded by the likes of Boise, Lousville, UConn, Rutgers, Cincinnati, etc. I am much more concern about how USF fixes it's monumental list of problems when it's been in the league enjoying BCS money for several years and has just not been able to sustain success in football. the downhill slide started almost immediately after entering the league instead of getting better. Personally, I believe USF lacks the leadership and commitment to get its programs where they need to be. At some point, the Big East has to start thinking about cutting its losses especially if it has to make room for a BYU or Air Force down the road. Hopefully, Houston and SMU will exceed expectations and we won't be the ones jettisoned because we are money-sucking, dead weight in the new Big East.

(02-09-2012 04:36 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 11:03 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-09-2012 08:30 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:37 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 10:30 AM)ZachMan Wrote:  I am telling you guys that Memphis football will surprise you very soon, more potential than many teams that already throwing stones.

Seriously, what is your potential? Where are your quality recruits going to come from?

There are a lot of quality recruits in their area. Does this mean with BCS tag they will all of a sudden get the 5* guys that were going to UT? No. But it does mean they will have a good shot at keeping the local 3* and some 4* that would have went to like Ole Miss, or Vandy, Texas Tech, etc.

4* guys aren't going to slip through any SEC cracks, and your position is predicated on AQ being in next deal, which is highly questionable. I don't see an avenue for memphis football to improve. i guess we will see.

wrong..let's use something we call FACTS vs your alternate universe bs

You said 4* recruits will not slip through SEC cracks...yet UC picked up 4* QB Bennie Coney who was also OFFERED by Arkansas (and Michigan, Mich St, and Minn). I realize we are talking UC recruiting here not Memphis but the point is, if UC can do this, so can Memphis.

You say 'wrong' even though it is obvious we will see? You offer an example of U C recruiting as proof? wtf?

(02-08-2012 12:26 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-08-2012 11:12 AM)attackfrog Wrote:  Quo, you often make very legitimate points---today must be an off day for you. This is just silly. Fan reaction on a bulletin board is absolutely no indication of the contribution a school will make to a conference's net worth. A better indication might be athletic budget. FYI-The Memphis athletic budget would tend to indicate they will be a worthy conference mate.

Fan reaction would seemingly matter, since fans often have good knowledge about what their programs bring to the table. E.g., i have no doubt that these Memphis homers flooding the forum know more about the ins and outs of Memphis's ability to contribute than i do.

As for athletic budget, what does that mean? Memphis has a big budget, and has terrible football.

I'll tell you what big budget means at a school like Memphis: it means the community is invested in the school. South Florida received 8 million last year from the Big East as part of its revenue split. Memphis, on the other hand, received less than 2 million from CUSA and still managed as much revenue as USF. Think of that for a moment, Memphis, in crappy ol CUSA & in the midst of one of the worst football runs in NCAA history, still had greater community/alumni/corporate support than USF. It is for those reasons many believe additional funds and the BCS label will help Memphis transform its football program. I'll make this bet. Within 5 years, Memphis' athletic budget will trail only UL & possibly Rutgers in the Big East. It will be larger than UCONN's. It will be larger than Cincy's and will be on par with Rutgers, and if football takes off, then we'll eclipse Rutgers.

With support like that, you'll see Memphis-based corporations like Fed Ex, Autozone, Servicemaster and IP invest in the Big East brand. The Liberty Bowl will also undoubtedly come on board. You'll also see ESPN, NBC, CBS etc pony up more TV money because Memphis, which is still a national brand in hoops, offers compelling basketball matchups for big-market, basketball-only members like ND, Marquette, St. John's, Villanova, etc, which helps keep this disjointed conference together. I'm sorry, but Memphis v Villanova is a bit more attractive to the average television basketball fan than Villanova-USF.

So yes, I have zero doubt Memphis will pull its weight in the Big East. My question to you is... what is USF going to do to start pulling its own? Any chance Tampa will rally behind the local school and flip the Outback Bowl to a Big East tie-in? Any chance USF can start raking in an additional 10 mill per year to put the athletic department on equal footing to a fledgling BCS school like Memphis? Any chance USF boosters start shelling out 5k per year for annual PSL seat licenses to USF basketball games? Seems like USF is leaving an awful lot of meat on the bone, or they simply don't have the pull in the market to command it.