TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

USF Fans In An Uproar Over Scheduling Snafu

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

TAMPA - News that the University of South Florida cannot play a nationally televised ESPN home game against Rutgers on Dec. 4 because Raymond James Stadium is unavailable has caused an uproar from Bulls fans.

USF faithful are upset the school is not guaranteed the first selection of dates after the Bucs at RJS. That's because the use of the stadium is basically first-come, first-serve, said Henry Saavedra, executive director of the Tampa Sports Authority, which manages RJS.

However, USF could have had the power to have the first right of refusal for specific dates, if only the school would have negotiated that into its new lease with RJS.

The TSA and USF AD Doug Woolard first began discussing the new deal about a year before it was signed Aug. 27, 2007, Saavedra said. Had Woolard included that clause in the lease - a five-year extension with an option for five more years through 2016 - USF could have been able to determine if it wanted to release the dates needed by the ACC or other events.

On Tuesday, Big East associate commissioner Nick Carparelli said USF's agreement with the TSA was unlike any other in major college football because the Bulls don't have complete availability of RJS during the football season.

The thing is, USF could have - if only the school would have negotiated for it.

Now, Bulls fans are left clamoring for an on-campus stadium - again. That's a great idea. Except a stadium along the lines of what USF wants costs major, major bucks. An example of a comparable stadium USF would want is what the University of Minnesota is building. The reported price tag for UM's 50,000-seat, on-campus stadium, scheduled to open in 2009, is $288 million.

PATRICK NEW DE COACH: Kevin Patrick, who was an assistant on USF's inaugural staff, will be named USF's defensive ends coach. A former Big East defensive player of the year at Miami, Patrick coached USF's defensive ends in 1997. He was the first Bull to run on the field before the 1997 inaugural game against Kentucky Wesleyan.

Patrick, who could not be reached for comment, helps fill the departure of DL coach Dan McCarney. USF also is expected to hire a defensive tackles coach, with safeties coach Troy Douglas assuming the entire secondary duties.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS? The Sept. 6 football game at UCF and Sept. 13 home game with Kansas are being considered for broadcasts by ESPN's networks. ESPN is considering televising both contests, but would move each to Friday night.

USF Shorts

HONOR ROLL: Volleyball recruit Alli O'Connor, a senior at Louisville (Ky.) Mercy Academy, was named among 150 All-Americans by PrepVolleyball!.com. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter is set to enroll at USF in the fall.

SOUNDBITE CENTRAL: "It was real cold. Chris [Howard] said he's sick of playing in ice arenas." - Men's basketball G Solomon Bozeman, about playing at DePaul's Allstate Arena. The Bulls' last five road games - DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Seton Hall and Providence - have been played in facilities with the court sitting on an ice rink.

LOOK OUT FOR: The men's basketball team hosts No. 17 UConn at noon Saturday, while the women's basketball team hosts No. 5 Rutgers at 7 p.m.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who was USF's biggest pickup on National Signing Day? To vote and monitor results, visit TBO.com, Keyword: Bulls.

BLOG BONUS: USF's football recruiting class wasn't ranked by the recruiting services among the nation's top 10. However, the Bulls just missed the top 10 in one category. To read more, go to TBO.com, Keyword: Bulls.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT