Hope as a Strategy (Epilog – Summer 2007)
OK, so now it’s almost 4 years later – let’s see what’s transpired in that blink of an eye. First, the predictable:
When this series originally concluded it was becoming quite obvious that USF was going to get that all-sports bid to the Big East, and we were going to be extended an invite to become an all-sports member of CUSA. It was also clear that the Convocation Center was finally going to become a reality. There were also credible rumors of meetings taking place that would result in a FB series between the 2 schools (USF’s CUSA buyout agreement helped “encourage” their support). Those things have since happened, to almost no one’s surprise. Frankly if that’s all that had happened since then, most UCF fans would still have felt pretty damn good about those past 4 years.
But that’s not what happened at all…
In fact much, much more than that happened, and the unexpected has been dammed shocking!! A huge 2001 Florida Legislative bill had established Board of Trustee organizations at the individual university level, allowing UCF the autonomy necessary to grow phenomenally, academically and in student body size. It also gave UCF the independence to build the Division I program it had been denied since its inception.
Let’s just put into context the list of the unpredictable and remarkable events that have occurred to our alma mater and our athletic program during that very short span of time:
Although he wasn’t fully responsible for all of these results, Steve Orsini’s legacy will forever be that his vision has been largely achieved:
So it all begs the question – what does the future bring? Not to denigrate new AD Keith Tribble’s inaugural theme one whit, but we do need to – and will – “Finish” our current facilities infrastructure by the end of 2007. Apparently there’s also a soccer stadium improvement in the works, and hopefully soon there’ll be some kind of baseball stadium upgrade that will bring it up to NCAA Regional Host standards as well. Then what?
Sure there are the usual personnel questions/arguments/potential replacements – like Bergy’s eventual retirement, and Kirk’s and other HC’s suitability as HC’s in CUSA (and it shouldn’t be a surprise that I think they are). Then there’s the continual professional improvement of GKC, Sports Marketing, SID and the Ticket Office (the former has been improving for years, and the latter three are now finally show signs of advancement). There’s also our relationship with ISP – they’ve never really produced the media network they promised from Day 1. But these are the issues of day-to-day AD management.
When he arrived, Steve O. for the first time in our 30-year sports history articulated a vision for our athletic program. So to what Star do we now Reach, and how does Keith Tribble lead us to Reach that Star?
The only acceptable Star toward we should Reach can only be membership in a BCS conference (and personally I don’t like the geographical makeup of the BE). Period. That can only happen through a BCS-level fan base, national prominence and money. That means a BCS-level fan base, national prominence and money that either helps CUSA gain BCS status, and/or lifts us to BCS conference membership. That (and conference and national championships) is all that counts in today’s major college athletics. And that’s Keith Tribble’s (and ours’ as fans) challenge.
CUSA as a league of universities can’t declare or demand BCS status – we as a conference must earn that by adding to, rather than becoming a drain upon BCS revenues and prestige. Period. Failing that, UCF individually must earn that by adding to, rather than becoming a drain upon a BCS conference’s revenues and prestige as a potential member. Period. It’ll never again become a beauty contest.
That’s our job as fans and boosters. It’s that simple, and it’s going to be that incredibly difficult.
GO KNIGHTS!!
OK, so now it’s almost 4 years later – let’s see what’s transpired in that blink of an eye. First, the predictable:
When this series originally concluded it was becoming quite obvious that USF was going to get that all-sports bid to the Big East, and we were going to be extended an invite to become an all-sports member of CUSA. It was also clear that the Convocation Center was finally going to become a reality. There were also credible rumors of meetings taking place that would result in a FB series between the 2 schools (USF’s CUSA buyout agreement helped “encourage” their support). Those things have since happened, to almost no one’s surprise. Frankly if that’s all that had happened since then, most UCF fans would still have felt pretty damn good about those past 4 years.
But that’s not what happened at all…
In fact much, much more than that happened, and the unexpected has been dammed shocking!! A huge 2001 Florida Legislative bill had established Board of Trustee organizations at the individual university level, allowing UCF the autonomy necessary to grow phenomenally, academically and in student body size. It also gave UCF the independence to build the Division I program it had been denied since its inception.
Let’s just put into context the list of the unpredictable and remarkable events that have occurred to our alma mater and our athletic program during that very short span of time:
- UCF is now the 2nd largest school in the state, and the 8th biggest in the nation.
- The University gained a medical school, further blurring any perceived differences the general public has between UCF and USF.
- Dr. Hitt was named Central Florida’s Most Powerful Person (for good reason), and is now the University System’s highest paid president.
- The independent UCF Athletic Association was created to oversee and streamline our athletic operations.
- In part as a result of that, the Convocation Center project has blossomed from a stand-alone project into a $200M+ student/student-athlete development containing 5 high-rise dormitories, retail malls and 3 parking garages.
- Kirk will be coaching in that state-of-the art basketball facility in just 4 short months, and will be doing so for at least 4 more seasons.
- The Alumni Center is done, and standing proudly in the very heart of that athletic complex (thanks, Manny!).
- The state’s only indoor football practice facility has been built, and its use has already paid off in big game-day dividends.
- Another new softball complex has been built, is in use and serves as a construction model for another major on-campus sports venue…
- And now a $52M on-campus football stadium is near completion as we write, and is scheduled to open in 2 friggin’ months against (can you believe it?!) the 2005 National Champion University of Texas on ESPN national TV!! (none of which I ever expected to witness in my lifetime!)
- Sod is being laid and trees planted on the Memory Mall and new parking lots are ready to be paved in anticipation of that first-ever on-campus game day.
- We hired George O’Leary, and a staff of ACs comparable to any in the state.
- A year after a winless swan-song football season in the MAC, UCF wins the CUSA Eastern Division, hosts the conference championship game and we go to our first-ever bowl game (as does USF).
- Kirk’s basketball team earned trips to The Big Dance two times.
- Tom Schuberth realized his dream of becoming a D-I HC.
- Every major sport now has a Director of Operations.
- Contributions to GKC have more than tripled, surpassing the $2M mark for the first time.
- FB season ticket sales have doubled, topping 20,000, and we may sell-out the stadium for the season!
Although he wasn’t fully responsible for all of these results, Steve Orsini’s legacy will forever be that his vision has been largely achieved:
- Every sport now has the opportunity and ability to win a conference (if not a national) championship.
- All sports are in one conference.
- Every sport does (or will shortly) have a new or upgraded facility.
So it all begs the question – what does the future bring? Not to denigrate new AD Keith Tribble’s inaugural theme one whit, but we do need to – and will – “Finish” our current facilities infrastructure by the end of 2007. Apparently there’s also a soccer stadium improvement in the works, and hopefully soon there’ll be some kind of baseball stadium upgrade that will bring it up to NCAA Regional Host standards as well. Then what?
Sure there are the usual personnel questions/arguments/potential replacements – like Bergy’s eventual retirement, and Kirk’s and other HC’s suitability as HC’s in CUSA (and it shouldn’t be a surprise that I think they are). Then there’s the continual professional improvement of GKC, Sports Marketing, SID and the Ticket Office (the former has been improving for years, and the latter three are now finally show signs of advancement). There’s also our relationship with ISP – they’ve never really produced the media network they promised from Day 1. But these are the issues of day-to-day AD management.
When he arrived, Steve O. for the first time in our 30-year sports history articulated a vision for our athletic program. So to what Star do we now Reach, and how does Keith Tribble lead us to Reach that Star?
The only acceptable Star toward we should Reach can only be membership in a BCS conference (and personally I don’t like the geographical makeup of the BE). Period. That can only happen through a BCS-level fan base, national prominence and money. That means a BCS-level fan base, national prominence and money that either helps CUSA gain BCS status, and/or lifts us to BCS conference membership. That (and conference and national championships) is all that counts in today’s major college athletics. And that’s Keith Tribble’s (and ours’ as fans) challenge.
CUSA as a league of universities can’t declare or demand BCS status – we as a conference must earn that by adding to, rather than becoming a drain upon BCS revenues and prestige. Period. Failing that, UCF individually must earn that by adding to, rather than becoming a drain upon a BCS conference’s revenues and prestige as a potential member. Period. It’ll never again become a beauty contest.
That’s our job as fans and boosters. It’s that simple, and it’s going to be that incredibly difficult.
GO KNIGHTS!!
