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USF/ACC Committee Formed

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By MIKE SALINERO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 26, 2008

TAMPA - Only 10 days ago, the door seemed shut on Tampa's chances of regularly hosting the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship game.

But business and political leaders didn't give up landing the high-profile matchup, and by Monday the door had swung open once again.

Acting on positive statements in recent weeks from University of South Florida officials and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, the Tampa Sports Authority created a committee Monday to resolve scheduling conflicts between USF's football program and the ACC title game.

If the committee is successful, a deal will be worked out with the ACC and the Big East to allow the Bulls to play a televised game at Raymond James Stadium the first week in December every other year. The stadium could then host the ACC title game on alternate years.

"How special would that be to have a game in Raymond James Stadium the first of December every year," said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. The commission works to bring big amateur sporting events to Tampa.

Ten days ago, Iorio, acting at the behest of USF, instructed city officials not to pursue the ACC championship beyond 2009. University officials were angry that they had to reschedule their final home game next December because the ACC had contracted for Raymond James Stadium that week. The game was to be televised on ESPN.

Iorio's statement alarmed city business leaders, who saw millions of dollars in economic benefits to the region. The mayor changed course and called ACC Commissioner John Swofford to see if an agreement could be reached that would allow USF and the ACC to play at Raymond James the first week of December on alternating years.

"It's been a horrible, horrible two or three weeks," said Paul Catoe, executive director of Tampa Bay & Co., formerly the Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The last thing we want to happen is to be denied the opportunity for this community to have a championship game."

On Friday, USF President Judy Genshaft wrote the Sports Authority saying she supported Iorio's overtures to the ACC. Genshaft went on to say she wanted Henry Saavedra, the authority's executive director, to work with USF athletic director Doug Woolard on a multiyear scheduling agreement with the ACC and Big East.

Genshaft asked the Sports Authority to give Saavedra and Woolard 30 days to work with the two conferences on a long-term schedule. But authority member and County Commissioner Jim Norman pushed to move forward with the committee.

The committee will include Saavedra, Higgins, Catoe, Woolard, representatives from Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa, and someone from the Bucs organization.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be

reached at (813) 259-8303

or msalinero@tampatrib.com

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