So how did USF turn it around so quickly....

[Oldest Man]

anyone who was at last year's USF game at RayJay (we won 16-0) saw how pitiful their offense was... and the stadium had mostly UCF fans left by the 4th quarter.....sound like the tables have turned?

so how did USF turn it around?

one of the big reasons was coaching....they hired Danny Pope the former Purdue head coach as their co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach....as their co-coordinator, Hope is in charge of their running game...which has improved significantly (they had 5 yards rushing against us last year)...

they also hired a new D coordinator....and their D has improved....

the point is, the right coaches do make a difference....and coaches that make a difference are exactly what we need....make it happen Dr Hitt and Danny White...it's your responsibility now....so step up and do your job!

 

[Poolside Knight]

Don't forget Taggart's Recruiting. Mack and those guys got a year of experience in. He has a very good relationship with Tampa Bay Area HS Coaches. With a little success those HS coaches start trusting him more to send their kids there. And he's doing that with a very stale gameday to sell to them. He would have pulled in a Top 25 class with what UCF had to sell after that 2013 season and those energetic gameday crowds on our Campus

 

[HammerB08]

^^^ So true. It's unconscionable that Taggart out-recruited GOL in that era - convincing a lot of talented kids with options to come to a program located in a ghetto of Tampa while routinely winning between 2 to 4 games a year and playing in front of a 20% capacity audience in an aging off campus NFL stadium is no easy task. GOL had the easy sale (Top 10 finish, Fiesta Bowl Win, Multiple conference championship wins, graduating players at the highest rate among any public schools, putting many players into the NFL including 1st round picks and a #3 overall, playing time available due to attrition and early losses to NFL, on campus stadium with good facilities) and, as was the case with Mack, never really even gave them a look.

 

[Ucfmikes]

Very simple. It's the running/mobile QB and a quality, speedy RB. That's 50-75% of their success right there. Another 25% is playcalling. We have neither. So.., it is the recruiting and the coaching

 

[dausfbulls11]

The emergence of a quarterback....its been a long 4 years

 

[mattropolis]

I wouldn't say they turned it around quickly. The previous four seasons they haven't even been bowl eligible. They've put in the hard work to get to a season where they are 8-4. They have a solid defense and a good QB/RB combo. A really solid D-line (three starting Seniors). 8-4 is a solid season but I personally don't consider 8-4 "turning it around". Competing and winning conference titles is what I call "turning it around". They are pointed in the right direction and Flowers/Mack have at least one more year together to improve. 6-2 is by far the best record they've put up in conference play. I am jealous they were able to play Maryland and Syracuse OOC, who both suck. The still only went 1-1 against them (Syracuse's 3 wins are Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan (in OT); Maryland's two wins this year are Richmond and USF). We finally get a team like that scheduled (Maryland), instead of the likes of Ohio State or South Carolina, and we suck balls....figures.

USF will have a good shot at the East title next year. Cincy loses at east 8 starters (6 on offense...6 of the 9 WRs listed on their depth chart) due to graduation. They don't play defense so the other side of the ball really doesn't matter that much. There are also a couple RS JRs playing in the trenches this season as well and who knows if any of them try and leave early. Gunner Kiel can still come back but he's one hit away from being a drooling retard for the rest of his days. He's had so many concussions he really needs to consider whether to hang up the cleats or not. Temple is also a team full of upperclassman and will lose 5 guys on offense (2 WRs and 3 OL) along with six starters on defense (3 DL, one LB...Matekevich (who is the heart and soul of that team), and two guys from their secondary). UConn and ECU can certainly pull some upsets. We suck and will be a bottom feeder again.

I think we could turn things around fairly quickly. We looked really bad in 2004 (slow, weal, etc...), then in 2005 we looked much better. It probably takes two years instead of one, though. A new staff is going to come in and that alone will cause stresses we didn't have to deal with in 2005 because the staff was already in place. I think there is talent on this roster but it is young and green...as usual it has to be developed. Coaching was obviously a big, big problem this year. Our biggest priority is of course finding a QB and an OL that isn't pitiful. Holman doesn't look healthy and is just forcing stuff all over the field. Hopefully Bo can learn a lot in the offseason and compete for the starting gig next season. Maybe there is a 5th year guy out there we can bring in as well (at least to foster competition)? We have five extra scholarships this year. I would suggest we use them to bring in five OL. We need to get some depth and quality at those positions, else the skill positions become moot.

 

[KnightVision82]

Yes, combine ejecting the Stanford offensive approach and D-coordinator (3-4 approach) with finding a good QB/RB combo. The day of being simply a good pocket QB is over and also the need for RBs that can make plays away from the designated holes when they aren't open is how teams keep drives going.

 

[Ucfmikes]

The emergence of a quarterback....its been a long 4 years

Just hope it doesn't take anymore wasted time realizing Holman and Harris can't play and Schneider is too slow. Jury is still out on his passing.

When you guys realized that you wasted too much time on Mike White, he was gone and the turnaround began.

I knew that Bortles was a good QB from the beginning and we did a great job of not wasting time with Jeff Godfrey.

It doesn't take that long to know a good QB when you see one.

 

[ucffan642]

Just look at the size difference of our players. Both offensive and defensive lines are WAY undersized! The USF players towered over ours, therefore no push on either side. Thanks again to OLeary recruiting. Our offensive linemen should weigh no less than 310-315lbs. We have NO pass rush whatsoever and with our youth at the linebacker and secondary, not enough talent to keep coverage

 

[dausfbulls11]

I like mike white, he throws a beautiful ball, was just thrown to the fire way too early

 

[Ucfmikes]

I like mike white, he throws a beautiful ball, was just thrown to the fire way too early

So was Flowers. Maybe not quite as early. When is it really too early? If a guy can play, he will eventually get it if he's mentally tough. He wasn't going to be your answer to turning it around. You have your guy. Things like this happen for a reason.

 

[emrober5]

I wouldn't say they turned it around quickly. The previous four seasons they haven't even been bowl eligible. They've put in the hard work to get to a season where they are 8-4. They have a solid defense and a good QB/RB combo. A really solid D-line (three starting Seniors). 8-4 is a solid season but I personally don't consider 8-4 "turning it around". Competing and winning conference titles is what I call "turning it around". They are pointed in the right direction and Flowers/Mack have at least one more year together to improve. 6-2 is by far the best record they've put up in conference play. I am jealous they were able to play Maryland and Syracuse OOC, who both suck. The still only went 1-1 against them (Syracuse's 3 wins are Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Central Michigan (in OT); Maryland's two wins this year are Richmond and USF). We finally get a team like that scheduled (Maryland), instead of the likes of Ohio State or South Carolina, and we suck balls....figures.

USF will have a good shot at the East title next year. Cincy loses at east 8 starters (6 on offense...6 of the 9 WRs listed on their depth chart) due to graduation. They don't play defense so the other side of the ball really doesn't matter that much. There are also a couple RS JRs playing in the trenches this season as well and who knows if any of them try and leave early. Gunner Kiel can still come back but he's one hit away from being a drooling retard for the rest of his days. He's had so many concussions he really needs to consider whether to hang up the cleats or not. Temple is also a team full of upperclassman and will lose 5 guys on offense (2 WRs and 3 OL) along with six starters on defense (3 DL, one LB...Matekevich (who is the heart and soul of that team), and two guys from their secondary). UConn and ECU can certainly pull some upsets. We suck and will be a bottom feeder again.

I think we could turn things around fairly quickly. We looked really bad in 2004 (slow, weal, etc...), then in 2005 we looked much better. It probably takes two years instead of one, though. A new staff is going to come in and that alone will cause stresses we didn't have to deal with in 2005 because the staff was already in place. I think there is talent on this roster but it is young and green...as usual it has to be developed. Coaching was obviously a big, big problem this year. Our biggest priority is of course finding a QB and an OL that isn't pitiful. Holman doesn't look healthy and is just forcing stuff all over the field. Hopefully Bo can learn a lot in the offseason and compete for the starting gig next season. Maybe there is a 5th year guy out there we can bring in as well (at least to foster competition)? We have five extra scholarships this year. I would suggest we use them to bring in five OL. We need to get some depth and quality at those positions, else the skill positions become moot.

Uh...we have a shot at the east THIS YEAR.

Both UCF and USF fans are aware that UCONN wins the games that they absolutely should lose (like Houston last week).

As to the rest of your post...yeah, that Maryland loss is a head scratcher.

 

[Poolside Knight]

There is a rumor that Taggart gave up play calling duties to Danny Hope after the loss to Maryland. Their offense took off after that game

 

[USFBullPride]

There is a rumor that Taggart gave up play calling duties to Danny Hope after the loss to Maryland. Their offense took off after that game

Not true. Team just did a lot of maturing during the season. The Memphis loss really killed this team and that locker room had a different feel to it after the game. There was also a players only meeting to air everything out and then Flowers also met with Taggart on Wednesday following the Memphis loss and told him to just let him play. Quit holding him back. That's all that Taggart needed to hear. He was game planning before to protect Flowers but once Flowers showed the confidence that he was ready, that's when Taggart said "ok" and opened everything up. It's been a different team since then...clearly.

Lots of maturing from the young guys. Crazy how much they have grown when a lot of the skill positions are only sophomores or redshirt freshmen. Same with our secondary.

 

[HammerB08]

Both UCF and USF fans are aware that UCONN wins the games that they absolutely should lose (like Houston last week).

They love getting one of our warm weather teams up into their frozen tundra in November.

 

[Oldest Man]

Not true. Team just did a lot of maturing during the season. The Memphis loss really killed this team and that locker room had a different feel to it after the game. There was also a players only meeting to air everything out and then Flowers also met with Taggart on Wednesday following the Memphis loss and told him to just let him play. Quit holding him back. That's all that Taggart needed to hear. He was game planning before to protect Flowers but once Flowers showed the confidence that he was ready, that's when Taggart said "ok" and opened everything up. It's been a different team since then...clearly.

Lots of maturing from the young guys. Crazy how much they have grown when a lot of the skill positions are only sophomores or redshirt freshmen. Same with our secondary.

like I wrote...good coaching additions and believe me, Hope was the best addition....these kids don't mature like "crazy" without good coaching....

UCF needs to make some damn good hires to surpass the moves by Taggart last offseason.....

 

[mattropolis]

Uh...we have a shot at the east THIS YEAR.

Both UCF and USF fans are aware that UCONN wins the games that they absolutely should lose (like Houston last week).

As to the rest of your post...yeah, that Maryland loss is a head scratcher.

They win them at home but the game is at Temple. Temple wins...you've basically done nothing this year but prep for next year. I don't count coming in 2nd place as success. I guess I have a different bar based on my fan experience. If FSU doesn't play for the ACC title, the year is a bust. If Bama doesn't play for the SEC title, the year is a bust. If Ohio State or Mich State aren't playing for the Big 10 Title, the year is a bust. You have to think like they do. Mentality should be about one thing....playing for and/or winning titles. If not, the season isn't much of a success.

 

[dausfbulls11]

2nd place after the last 4 years...ill take it

 

[emrober5]

They win them at home but the game is at Temple. Temple wins...you've basically done nothing this year but prep for next year. I don't count coming in 2nd place as success. I guess I have a different bar based on my fan experience. If FSU doesn't play for the ACC title, the year is a bust. If Bama doesn't play for the SEC title, the year is a bust. If Ohio State or Mich State aren't playing for the Big 10 Title, the year is a bust. You have to think like they do. Mentality should be about one thing....playing for and/or winning titles. If not, the season isn't much of a success.

Quite a mindset for a fan of an 0-12 team.

 

[hemightbejeremy]

USF has only one great win which is Temple (who we led entering the 4th quarter). They are a good team, but they aren't great yet. They should be better next year and will be the favorite in the East with Flowers and Mack back. Taggart has done a good job recruiting and is finally seeing the success on the field. Our good experienced players either left early for the NFL or graduated last year or were dismissed from the team and our good inexperienced players were mostly injured this year so we were left with the backups backups who had pretty much no experience. I think we have talent at the skill positions, but need to recruit some better linemen and linebackers.

 

[Knight_Classes_begin_7pm]

The emergence of a quarterback....its been a long 4 years

Yeah, it wasn't that quick. It took willie a while but I new he would do it.

 

[mattropolis]

Quite a mindset for a fan of an 0-12 team.

When you guys actually win a conference title (or multiple ones) you'll have that mindset as well. If you're not winning it all, you're not winning at all.

 

[emrober5]

When you guys actually win a conference title (or multiple ones) you'll have that mindset as well. If you're not winning it all, you're not winning at all.

What have those conference titles done for you? Jack shit in recruiting and you are now infamous for fans dancing alone in an empty stadium.

You've made 0 progress.

 

[Poolside Knight]

What have those conference titles done for you? Jack shit in recruiting and you are now infamous for fans dancing alone in an empty stadium.

You've made 0 progress.

I wouldn't say that. Despite UCF getting their shit pushed in by USF, ESPN was still talking our Program up and calling it the 2nd Best G5 Job in the Country. That kind of praise doesn't happen without the Conference Titles, BCS Bowl, Top 10 Finish, and First round draft picks.

You know the reason UCF has failed in Recruiting. It was bc of an older coach that forgot that was part of the job his last few years.

Taggart has done a great job building you guys up. Talent wise you are right behind Houston in the Conference and you guys should be the Favorite in the East next season.

 

[emrober5]

I wouldn't say that. Despite UCF getting their shit pushed in by USF, ESPN was still talking our Program up and calling it the 2nd Best G5 Job in the Country. That kind of praise doesn't happen without the Conference Titles, BCS Bowl, Top 10 Finish, and First round draft picks.

You know the reason UCF has failed in Recruiting. It was bc of an older coach that forgot that was part of the job his last few years.

Taggart has done a great job building you guys up. Talent wise you are right behind Houston in the Conference and you guys should be the Favorite in the East next season.

Fair enough. I have had a few beers

 

[USFBullPride]

like I wrote...good coaching additions and believe me, Hope was the best addition....these kids don't mature like "crazy" without good coaching....

UCF needs to make some damn good hires to surpass the moves by Taggart last offseason.....

Yes, I should have added in that post that the OP (you) had the majority of your own question figured out. Great offseason hires when Taggart was given a real budget from our new AD and didn't have coaches forced on him the previous year under our old POS AD. That's most of it but these kids also got tired of losing. This was the second year for the majority and they had enough. That caused the players meeting and everything and players asking for key players to be more leaders. That hasn't happened in a while.

So, it was a combination of all things which allowed USF to have one of the most remarkable end of season turnarounds to date. This kind of thing just doesn't happen often.

 

[USFBullPride]

They win them at home but the game is at Temple. Temple wins...you've basically done nothing this year but prep for next year. I don't count coming in 2nd place as success. I guess I have a different bar based on my fan experience. If FSU doesn't play for the ACC title, the year is a bust. If Bama doesn't play for the SEC title, the year is a bust. If Ohio State or Mich State aren't playing for the Big 10 Title, the year is a bust. You have to think like they do. Mentality should be about one thing....playing for and/or winning titles. If not, the season isn't much of a success.

Meh...after how we have been playing the previous few years, this absolutely is a success to us. Nobody predicted for us to be like this this year. No one. There just wasn't any evidence showing that any turnaround was coming.

Let's remember who we are talking about here. A USF team who has been 14-34 over the past 4 years. We weren't anywhere close to be in a position to contend so that's not really a bar to set for yourself. What we were looking for is progress and we sure as hell saw progress this year. Hell, we even have an outside shot of making into the conference championship game. That's a huge turnaround from being a bottom feeder just last year. Therefore, this season has been a huge success for us. We will continue to try and build off that going forward.

 

[Central Floridave]

Go TEMPLE...BEAT UCONN...

 

[Knight_Light]

anyone who was at last year's USF game at RayJay (we won 16-0) saw how pitiful their offense was... and the stadium had mostly UCF fans left by the 4th quarter.....sound like the tables have turned?

so how did USF turn it around?

one of the big reasons was coaching....they hired Danny Pope the former Purdue head coach as their co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach....as their co-coordinator, Hope is in charge of their running game...which has improved significantly (they had 5 yards rushing against us last year)...

they also hired a new D coordinator....and their D has improved....

the point is, the right coaches do make a difference....and coaches that make a difference are exactly what we need....make it happen Dr Hitt and Danny White...it's your responsibility now....so step up and do your job!

A lot of USF front lines (OL and DL), were 4th and 5th year guys (i.e. not recruiting by Taggart) that developed late...but thats what happens a lot of redshirt and/or experienced players in programs.

I do agree that USF's RB Mack was not used properly last year and add in with not good QB play (think, like UCF this year, they tried 3 different QB's), their defense was on the field a lot last year, usually playing from behind.

 

[mattropolis]

What have those conference titles done for you? Jack shit in recruiting and you are now infamous for fans dancing alone in an empty stadium.

You've made 0 progress.

Go find the USF trophy case (if there is one) and see if you like looking at an empty one. That's like saying FSU hasn't made any progress as a program because they haven't won the National Title every year they play. They are back competing for the ACC title every year and that's what they should expect to do. We're fine. Every program has bumps in the road it has to deal with. Like I said, if your program ever starts consistently playing for and winning conference titles you'll set the bar higher than thinking 8-4 is a good season. 8-4 should be the low-end expectation for your program. It is for mine. Did we make it...nope...but we'll hopefully be back competing for titles again in 2-3 years.[/QUOTE]

 

[mattropolis]

Meh...after how we have been playing the previous few years, this absolutely is a success to us. Nobody predicted for us to be like this this year. No one. There just wasn't any evidence showing that any turnaround was coming.

Let's remember who we are talking about here. A USF team who has been 14-34 over the past 4 years. We weren't anywhere close to be in a position to contend so that's not really a bar to set for yourself. What we were looking for is progress and we sure as hell saw progress this year. Hell, we even have an outside shot of making into the conference championship game. That's a huge turnaround from being a bottom feeder just last year. Therefore, this season has been a huge success for us. We will continue to try and build off that going forward.

That's what hard work got you guys. All of a sudden all that hard work just starts clicking and success starts to happen. We've played each other now 7 times and in almost every one of those contests one of us sucked and the game has had almost no importance. Let's hope down the road we can both be good because that's what makes a rivalry game good....when the game matters in the overall scheme of the season.

 

[emrober5]

Go find the USF trophy case (if there is one) and see if you like looking at an empty one. That's like saying FSU hasn't made any progress as a program because they haven't won the National Title every year they play. They are back competing for the ACC title every year and that's what they should expect to do. We're fine. Every program has bumps in the road it has to deal with. Like I said, if your program ever starts consistently playing for and winning conference titles you'll set the bar higher than thinking 8-4 is a good season. 8-4 should be the low-end expectation for your program. It is for mine. Did we make it...nope...but we'll hopefully be back competing for titles again in 2-3 years.

[/QUOTE]

When was the last time FSU had a "bump in the road" the size of an 0-12 season in front of an empty stadium? Maybe not the best program to compare with UCF.

8-4 is a good season when you double your wins from the previous year. Nobody expected that from USF. I was just hoping for any bowl game. A shot at the championship and just destroying UCF is a great bonus.

UCF is the joke of college football right now. With the right hire you will be back, and you are just trying to make yourself feel better, but USF certainly had a good season.

 

[Poolside Knight]

Since Flowers is now the unquestioned leader of USF I think its time for Asante Woulard to get a hardship waiver to play closer to his Winter Park Home, fair trade Bulls?

 

[From_The_Bulls_pen]

Go TEMPLE...BEAT UCONN...

Go uconn baby!!!

 

[Knightssssss]

I agree that usf's solid year is good for the rivalry. Let's not try and take anything away from this season for them, that makes us look ridiculous. I don't remember seeing them be as bad as we were this year.

Looking forward to getting a new coach (Collins, please) and putting a competitive team on the field and hopefully having a fun game to watch next year.

 

[knight_tracker]

When was the last time FSU had a "bump in the road" the size of an 0-12 season in front of an empty stadium? Maybe not the best program to compare with UCF.

8-4 is a good season when you double your wins from the previous year. Nobody expected that from USF. I was just hoping for any bowl game. A shot at the championship and just destroying UCF is a great bonus.

UCF is the joke of college football right now. With the right hire you will be back, and you are just trying to make yourself feel better, but USF certainly had a good season.[/QUOTE]


Very poor coaching this year at times the players looked lost. After watching this season I believe the fall practices was closed because they did not hold practice. Just my opinion your mileage may vary but still 0 - 12.