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Bulls Finalize Football Schedule

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By BRETT McMURPHY

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: March 7, 2009

TAMPA - Nationally televised weekday home games against defending Big East champion Cincinnati and rival West Virginia highlight the University of South Florida's 2009 league schedule.

The Bulls, 8-5 last year, 2-5 in the Big East, will have at least four of their seven Big East games on national television.

The Bearcats, with former UC defensive coordinator Joe Tresey now the Bulls' new coordinator, visit for a Thursday night ESPN contest on Oct. 15. The Mountaineers and Bulls play in Tampa on Friday night, Oct. 30, on ESPN2.

USF visits Rutgers for a Thursday night, Nov. 12, ESPN contest and closes the regular season at UConn on Dec. 5. That game will be televised by either ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC.

The Bulls' nonconference schedule includes their first game against Florida State in Tallahassee on Sept. 26 and a Nov. 28 home game against Miami. The Bulls' home schedule also features two Division I-AA opponents: Wofford and Charleston Southern.

UF's Tebow In The Clear

When Florida quarterback Tim Tebow leaves for the Philippines next week, he won't have to worry about the mission trip affecting his NCAA eligibility.

A day after Gators coach Urban Meyer told lawmakers in Tallahassee that Tebow returned for his senior season partly because he was granted a waiver from the NCAA to raise money for the orphanage his father helps out with in the Philippines, the NCAA clarified its position on the matter.

Tebow was not given special permission to raise money for Uncle Dick's Home, said Erik Christianson, director of public and media relations for the NCAA. Tebow always has been allowed to promote the orphanage as long as he abides by guidelines set forth in NCAA bylaw 12.5.1.1, Christianson said in an e-mail Friday.

"There is no waiver involved here," Christianson wrote. "We have worked cooperatively with the University of Florida, the Southeastern Conference and the Tebow family for a few months to help interpret and apply our bylaws related to extra benefits and promotional activities."

Christianson pointed out that the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association is a charitable organization that is separate from Uncle Dick's Home. So donations to the orphanage from the University of Florida or any of the school's boosters would be allowed under NCAA rules, he said.

The Associated Press

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