Hotz talks about OCS

[E.T.]

Agree Therapy.

[Ghost]

I'm a big fan of an eventual on campus stadium but a few comments.

Skip Holtz seemed way to politically correct in his interview. Feasibility study means a lot of different things to different people. While we all hope this means they have contracted with an outside firm to crunch some real numbers, this could easily be Judy and Doug riding around in a golfcart with a clipboard and tape measure.

He thinks fans are treated to an expceptional experience at RJS. What is he using for his definition of experience? Modern amenities like a club, wide seats, seat backs, and leg room yes. College atmosphere, not at all. He's been around enough programs to see a bland atmosphere. Lets face it, a lot of games can be mistaken for neutral site contests, even if we have the vast majority of fans. RJS is great for the NFL Bucs but not college football. Its covered in bucs colors, to big for our fan base, and the gathering areas in both endzones leads to empty seats and fans more concerned with getting digits then whats going on in the game, this all leads to less fan engagement which does help with a home field advantage. Just seems like he is being PC and rightfully so, he knows RJS is our home for the near future, why knock it.

I do think an OCS will lead to more student interest and not simply because of proximity to campus. Right now the action is 12 miles from campus, it essentially happens in another world. However, when 40-50 thousand fans flood the campus on gameday, its hard not to want to be a part of it. Curiosity eventually will get the best of us. The game becomes the social thing to do. Thats how these other universities engrain new fans. We all know kids who never went to a highschool football game, but came back from UF or FSU rabid football fans.

Lastly I hope they build a stadium that seats about 45,000 - 50,000 with room to expand. There needs to be some sort of premium on tickets to create a buzz. This is used in every industry. Right now RJS is too big, there is no scarcity of tickets, so no urgency to buy them, or become a season ticket holder. You can pick and chose games, and if your buddy offers them to you, you see if there are better options. If however, we always had sellouts or close to it, people would be more inclined to purchase season tickets. Fans would see the scarcity and want it, and place value in the event. Sold Out is a great marketing weapon. A capacity crowd of 50,000 will look much larger then a crowd of 50,000 with 15,000 empty seats, even if the attendance is the same, its these little things that does win some recruits.

yeah that is the biggest problem at RJS at the moment.

[cmhatter]

we also need to increase the number of students living on campus... we need to limit the total number of commuters

[Joe]

we also need to increase the number of students living on campus... we need to limit the total number of commuters

This is a common misbelief with schools that are seen as "commuter". Having worked at a couple other schools, on campus housing doesn't necessarily solve the problem. It's the campus and campus area environment.

Let's face it, we can build all the dorms we want, but USF seriously lacks the immediate campus environment that many schools have.

When I was in school we'd go get drinks at Tia's or Bennegins or Chili's or some other massive chain. There was the Greenery and a couple other small bars. Nothing like some of the immediate campuses in large cities like Columbus or Chicago. High street in Columbus is amazing.

I think an on campus venue could at least start building that. Not sure it will ever be like Ohio State or Northwestern, but it would improve.

[Brad]

Its all about the money, folks. USF doesn't have the money at this point to build an OCS. It will take some major donors and corporate sponsors to get it done the right way, maybe in 10 to 15 years.

there are a variety of examples of schools building them all around the country.

it can be done...

Yes it can.

Side note... It is on a different scale, but have you seen what Allen HS in Texas is building? Crazy...

http://www.wfaa.com/...-164931536.html

42 concession stands?

That's way more than UCF has.

That's more concession stands than UCF has water fountains.

[Brad]

He's a hardcore fan, just has a weird way of supporting ... except with his muscle t-shirt friend in the suite.

I figured he was a fan, but based on his posts on here the verdict is still out on the "hardcore" part.

He'll be hardcore after a National Championship.

[Skingraft]

He's a hardcore fan, just has a weird way of supporting ... except with his muscle t-shirt friend in the suite.

I figured he was a fan, but based on his posts on here the verdict is still out on the "hardcore" part.

He'll be hardcore after a National Championship.

You've all got it wrong...

He's not a hardcore fan...

He's a fan of hardcore...

[cmhatter]

we also need to increase the number of students living on campus... we need to limit the total number of commuters

This is a common misbelief with schools that are seen as "commuter". Having worked at a couple other schools, on campus housing doesn't necessarily solve the problem. It's the campus and campus area environment.

Let's face it, we can build all the dorms we want, but USF seriously lacks the immediate campus environment that many schools have.

When I was in school we'd go get drinks at Tia's or Bennegins or Chili's or some other massive chain. There was the Greenery and a couple other small bars. Nothing like some of the immediate campuses in large cities like Columbus or Chicago. High street in Columbus is amazing.

I think an on campus venue could at least start building that. Not sure it will ever be like Ohio State or Northwestern, but it would improve.

agreed an on campus venue would be really nice.

[Brad]

He's a hardcore fan, just has a weird way of supporting ... except with his muscle t-shirt friend in the suite.

I figured he was a fan, but based on his posts on here the verdict is still out on the "hardcore" part.

He'll be hardcore after a National Championship.

You've all got it wrong...

He's not a hardcore fan...

He's a fan of hardcore...

That too.

[Bull-by-Marriage]

we also need to increase the number of students living on campus... we need to limit the total number of commuters

This is a common misbelief with schools that are seen as "commuter". Having worked at a couple other schools, on campus housing doesn't necessarily solve the problem. It's the campus and campus area environment.

Let's face it, we can build all the dorms we want, but USF seriously lacks the immediate campus environment that many schools have.

When I was in school we'd go get drinks at Tia's or Bennegins or Chili's or some other massive chain. There was the Greenery and a couple other small bars. Nothing like some of the immediate campuses in large cities like Columbus or Chicago. High street in Columbus is amazing.

I think an on campus venue could at least start building that. Not sure it will ever be like Ohio State or Northwestern, but it would improve.

agreed an on campus venue would be really nice.

I know Beef's is a chain, but it is in The Marhsall Center.