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The Lonely Bull: Mascot On Own As Real Brahman Goes To Pasture

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By PHILIP MORGAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2007

TAMPA - It may be some time before a real Rocky the Bull charges out on the field for University of South Florida football games.

John Massaro, the booster behind the effort, hoped to have a real Brahman bull on the field this fall. But while he was trying to find a place to house it and people to train it, the animal grew too big - 850 pounds - to train for the task.

So the original Rocky-to-be is back in the pasture of Riverview rancher Robert Newsome, who donated the animal to the cause.

'We never wanted to do this with a full-grown animal,' said Massaro, 41, of Tampa, co-owner of four Beef O'Brady's restaurants in West Central Florida.

The 1989 graduate of USF said he had long envisioned a live bull as a mascot. He said last year that he didn't see enough excitement at the games. Though that has changed with the team's successes this year, Massaro said the sight of Rocky thundering out on the field would electrify fans.

'It would be the beginning of a great football game. It would really start the crowd with momentum,' he said.

The bull would not replace the current Rocky the Bull costumed character.

Massaro had offered to buy the original calf, worth $2,500 to $5,000, but Newsome told him, 'If you can pull it off, I'll donate him to you.'

Newsome continues to look for a gentle, trainable calf, and Massaro for a place to board the animal and people willing to train it. They would have to be with the bull every day and start taking it to games while it is young, so the animal could get used to being around crowds, Massaro said.

'That's the key. He has to be acclimated to people.'

Reporter Philip Morgan can be reached at (813) 259-7609 or pmorgan@tampatrib.com.

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