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Bulls Beat: Bandwagon Expected To Thin Out After 2 Losses

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Brett McMurphy/The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

TAMPA - Saturday is the University of South Florida's homecoming. The nation's 20th-ranked football team is still in contention for a decent bowl trip and possibly even a BCS bowl.

The Bulls' inaugural team will be recognized at halftime.

So will the Bulls, who sold out their past two games, have another sellout?

Don't count on it.

About 50,000 tickets have been sold as of Wednesday, including 8,000 allotted for students, USF sports information director Chris Freet said.

So where did all the Bulls' fans go? How many suffered broken ankles jumping off the bandwagon?

'I don't know what the crowd's going to be like, I don't really care,' LB Tyrone McKenzie said. 'I just care about the win. I don't care if there are five people out there, I don't care if there are 70,000 people out there.'

McKenzie may not care, but bowl officials will be looking at USF's attendance numbers.

It's one thing to back a team that's undefeated and rolling, but it's an accurate sign on what the fan base is really like when the Bulls come home after two losses.

INTERESTED IN USF: Athletic Director Doug Woolard and Atlanta Sports Council president Gary Stoken have had 'preliminary conversations' about the Bulls playing a neutral-site game against an ACC or SEC opponent at the Georgia Dome.

Stoken said Woolard told him there may be an opportunity for USF to play there during the 2009, 2010 or 2011 seasons.

Stoken and the ASC are trying to bring an annual college football game to the dome. He initially spoke with Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese last summer about the possibility of having a Big East team involved.

'Strategically looking at it, Tampa to Atlanta is not a big trip,' Stoken said. 'South Florida recruits up here. There are a lot of kids that sign outside the SEC and ACC schools. It makes sense from a recruiting and fan perspective.

'I think the South Florida fan base will continue to grow.'

Woolard does not comment on speculation about future football opponents.

In 2008, the Georgia Dome likely will host a game between Alabama and Clemson. The ASC also tried to schedule a contest between Florida State and West Virginia, but the game never materialized.

THE FIRST TEAM: The Bulls' 1997 inaugural football team will be honored at halftime Saturday, and more than 40 players are expected to attend.

'It's good to be recognized,' former DE Shawn Hay said. 'I know from the 'original guys' standpoint, this has been a great ride to see what we started.'

Hay was one of the 14 'originals,' who participated in the first practice Sept. 6, 1996, and remained the entire five years.

'Although it hasn't worked out the last two games, USF has come so far,' Hay said. 'For the fans that jumped on the bandwagon recently, they can see where the program has come from.'

USF Shorts

HONOR ROLL: Freshman Mariana Thon was named to the Big East honor roll after leading the volleyball team to a 2-1 record last week.

SOUNDBITE CENTRAL: "I'm going as T.J. Rives." - New men's basketball play-by-play announcer Jim Lighthall on what his Halloween costume was going to be for Wednesday night's exhibition game with Saint Leo. Lighthall, the former analyst, replaces Rives this season.

LOOK OUT FOR: The women's soccer team (4-9-3), seeded fifth in the American Division, visits Villanova (10-3-6), the fourth seed in the National Division, today at 3 p.m. in the opening round of the Big East Tournament.

Listen to reporter Brett McMurphy discuss the USF-Cincinnati game on 'Hot Lunch with JP Peterson' on WHBO, 1470 AM, today between noon and 2 p.m.

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