USF

[fan]

Another example of a team that went from nothing to top 25 in about 10 years. I do, however think the big east is vastly overrated.
Don't know much about the school but they are akin to UH in terms of demo. Probably a bit larger.
The fact is they have not been D1 for more than 15 years, probably less. Would be interested in getting Stallion's take on the recruits they have.

[MrMustang1965]

Once again, the USF Bulls have defeated the WVU Mountaineers. The Bulls were ranked #18 going into Friday night's game and WVU was ranked #5. Final score: USF 21 WVU 13. It is now being called the biggest win in the school's short history of football competition. Last week the Bulls defeated the North Carolina Tarheels.

The Bulls began playing football in 1997 at the Div. 1-AA (now Div. 1 FCS) level and moved up to Div. 1-A (now Div. 1 FBS) in 2001 as an independent. In 2003 USF joined C-USA and then left for greener pastures in the Big East in 2005. Jim Leavitt has been the Bulls' only head football coach, now going on 11 years, with a 72-43 record.

The Bulls have earned a lot of media coverage for their upset victories over WVU, Auburn and Louisville. They have a 1-1 bowl record (lost to North Carolina State Wolfpack by a score of 14-0 in the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl, defeated East Carolina in the 2006 PapaJohn's.com Bowl by a score of 24-7).

The Bulls have never been shutout in regular season play. They have an 11-0 record in home opener games since the program began. They achieved their first Top 25 ranking faster than any school in the modern era, edging out Boise State.

Friday night's broadcast on ESPN showed a sold-out Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Seating capacity: 66,321.

The point of all this is....here's a school that wasn't even playing football up until 1997 and now they're in the Top 25! If a school like USF can bring their football program to such prominence in half the time since football returned to The Hilltop then what the hell is wrong at SMU? (I know the answer...it's a rhetorical question)

And...would anyone consider Jim Leavitt (age 50) on a list of candidates for the next head football coach at SMU? He's a native Texan, born in Harlingen. He's obviously had success with nurturing a program at USF.

[SMUPhil]

He's a native, but he grew up in St Petersburg FL (where he now coaches), so I think it's a stretch to say that his birthplace would be a positive in a hiring situation.

Plus, USF is the absolute opposite of SMU. They are like the 3rd largest school in Florida, probably 40,000+ students (although probably a majority of those are commuters). And I'm pretty sure they admit just about anyone with a pulse.

[MrMustang1965]

He's a native, but he grew up in St Petersburg FL (where he now coaches), so I think it's a stretch to say that his birthplace would be a positive in a hiring situation.

Plus, USF is the absolute opposite of SMU. They are like the 3rd largest school in Florida, probably 40,000+ students (although probably a majority of those are commuters). And I'm pretty sure they admit just about anyone with a pulse.

My reference to his 'Texas roots' was not meant to imply that it would be a 'plus' in hiring him. I just found it interesting that he has a connection to Texas. Sorry for the misunderstanding. But you can't really argue with his success at USF.

The point is not about the size of the school/student body makeup. It's the fact that here's a school that's been playing football in half the time that SMU has been fielding a team since returning from the DP and look at USF's success! Why the hell can't SMU find this kind of success?

And here's a rundown on the rankings of the top 10 Florida schools per undergrad populations (source: wikipedia)

1. University of Central Florida - 39,545
2. Florida International University - 39,500
3. University of Florida - 34,612
4. University of South Florida - 34,077
5. Florida State University - 32,525
6. Florida Atlantic University - 21,063
7. University of North Florida - 13,547
8. Florida A&M University - 11,223
9. University of Miami - 10,104
10. Florida Gulf Coast University - 8,292

[EmeraldCityPony]

I did not know that FIU was so large.

[ALEX LIFESON]

These are all great questions for Steve Orsini and Pres. Turner, when you see them on The 'Vard today. SMU could have a really good program........if it wants it.