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USF's Scheduling Pursuit Has Caused Strife

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By BRETT McMURPHY and ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

Updated: 02/13/2008 12:12 am

TAMPA - Aware of a contract giving exclusive use of Raymond James Stadium to the Atlantic Coast Conference the first week in December, University of South Florida officials pursued scheduling a nationally televised Big East football game at the venue two days before the Dec. 6 ACC Championship Game.

The USF-Rutgers game, which ESPN wanted to televise Dec. 4 from Raymond James Stadium, will be played on another date.

And no one is happy.

USF officials are upset the Bulls won't be allowed to play a nationally televised marquee Thursday night home game, while ACC officials are upset at being cast as the bad guy for not changing their plans.

The situation has caused enough strife within the Tampa community that Mayor Pam Iorio felt the need to intercede, scheduling a meeting for Friday with local parties, including officials from USF, the Tampa Sports Authority, which manages Raymond James Stadium, and other organizations instrumental in bringing the ACC championship to Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission, as part of the bidding process for the ACC title game, secured the stadium dates Aug. 21. Six days later, USF signed a 10-year contract to play its home games at Raymond James Stadium. In December, Tampa was awarded the ACC title game.

The ACC has the stadium Dec. 2-7.

According to Tampa Sports Authority executive director Henry Saavedra, USF president Judy Genshaft recently called to express her displeasure. In voice mail messages to Saavedra and director of stadium operations Mickey Farrell, Genshaft threatened to move the Dec. 4 game against Rutgers to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. She also indicated that not being allowed to play the game would force the school to build an on-campus stadium.

USF's contract with TSA requires the Bulls to play all home games at Raymond James Stadium.

"She was concerned we were evicting her," Saavedra said. "That's not true. It didn't sound like she was well-versed with USF's contract."

Genshaft was unavailable for comment Tuesday. University spokesman Ken Gullette said Genshaft "was not pleased" about USF's inability to play the Dec. 4 game.

The Bucs have top priority for scheduling games at Raymond James Stadium. After that, it's first come, first serve, Saavedra said.

"That's where the rub lies," Saavedra said. "USF feels like a major tenant here and feels like it should be treated better."

Last month, ACC officials learned USF was attempting to play the Thursday night game less than two days before its 1 p.m. Saturday kickoff. The ACC secures the additional days before the game to paint the field, allow team walk-throughs and hold required rehearsals and promotions, ACC associate commissioner Michael Kelly said.

"We believe it's unfair to expect us to adjust our timetable for another game within 36 hours of our game," Kelly said. "To do anything else would be a disservice to our schools and student-athletes."

Kelly met with stadium officials in Tampa in January, when USF athletic director Doug Woolard again asked to be allowed to play the game. He also contacted ACC commissioner John Swofford.

"The Big East contacted the ACC to see if the Dec. 4 game would be acceptable and they felt there was too short of a turnaround, which is unfortunate," Woolard said.

Big East associate commissioner Nick Carparelli said his league is required to play two games the first Saturday in December. Unlike the ACC and other leagues, the Big East does not have a title game.

"We were aware Dec. 6 was not an available date, but we were hopeful Thursday night was an option," Carparelli said.

Carparelli said there is no guarantee USF-Rutgers will be nationally televised on another date.

USF consistently benefits from collegiate championships brought to the area by the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, such as recognition for serving as the host school for the Women's Final Four in April. Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, said he is disappointed by USF's handling of this situation.

"Hosting the ACC championship is an enormous economic development win for this community and it needs to be treated like that," Higgins said.

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