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Fans Say USF's First Loss Won't Dampen Bulls Fever

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By MICHELE SAGER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2007

TAMPA - Bulls fever swept the Sun Dome on Thursday night and USF students were hoping their excitement would be contagious.

But the energy wasn't enough to keep the team undefeated, as students watched USF lose to Rutgers, 30-27.

'I'm really sad,' said Vanessa Rosa, a freshman. 'I really believed they were going to pull it out. I didn't know what it felt like to lose. It doesn't feel good.'

About 2,500 USF students gathered to watch the game on the Sun Dome's video screens.

Some had hoped for revenge against Rutgers; others simply wanted to share their school spirit. But most students wanted to send a message to the nation.

'People are finally talking about us,' sophomore Melissa Sadler said. 'It's no longer, 'USF who?' We're here to show them we've got spirit and we're the best.'

Students couldn't stop talking about the ESPN camera. The sports network was broadcasting crowd shots from the Sun Dome during the game. They gave bull hand gestures, danced for the cameras and rattled the stands with every touchdown.

While the ESPN commentators debated USF's No. 2 ranking on-screen, there was no question among those in the crowd.

'We are the best,' said sophomore Brian Dillard, who donned his usual green and gold superhero attire for the night. 'There is no debate, and I'm 125 percent sure we're going to win tonight.'

But the mood changed as Rutgers pulled ahead during the third quarter.

Many of those once-confident fans were left biting their nails as the Bulls lost their lead. When the officiating crew reversed a touchdown by USF, students kicked chairs and chanted another word that started with 'bull' not suitable for print.

While students said they expected the Sun Dome crowd to be bigger, many guessed students were watching the game at private parties.

USF cheerleader Breezy Dusnik said Bulls spirit has swept the Tampa Bay area, making her job a lot easier.

'I don't even have to get the crowd excited; they already have the spirit,' she said.

Though the Bulls experienced their first lost, sophomore Jasmine Knight didn't expect this to dampen Bulls fever.

'It's like a virus,' she said. 'People are catching it, and it just won't go away.'

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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