TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Leavitt denounces USF marketing's 'Big 4' billboard

Staff photo by KATHY MOORE

This new billboard located at I-275 near I-4 welcomes University of South Florida Bulls fans to the Big 4, meaning University of Florida Gators, Florida State University Seminoles, University of Miami Hurricanes, and now the Bulls. It was put up by USF marketing department to proclaim how the football team is now one of the state's powers.

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2009

Updated: 10/07/2009 06:00 am

TAMPA - University of South Florida fans remain giddy about the Bulls' recent victory at tradition-laden Florida State - and that mood is reflected in a USF-sponsored billboard near downtown Tampa that proclaims that the Bulls have crashed into the state's "Big 4."

USF coach Jim Leavitt doesn't like it.

Leavitt has a singular focus - preparing the No. 23-ranked Bulls (5-0) for the Big East Conference showdown against No. 8 Cincinnati (5-0) on Oct. 15 at Raymond James Stadium.

"I had nothing to do with (the billboard), I don't know how it got up, and I don't know who put it up," Leavitt said Tuesday. "We have not won national championships, and we have not won conference championships. What gives us the right to sit there all of a sudden like we've won all these championships and done all this stuff? That's not me. That's never been me.

"I don't want people to sit there and think I think we're all that - because we're not. We're a program that's trying to get competitive. We're a program trying to build."

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly shares that philosophy - his tunnel-vision approach is all about getting ready for USF - even though Bearcats fans also are dreaming much bigger.

This week's talking point: Cincinnati Bearcats, best team in Ohio?

For the first time since 1951, the Bearcats are ranked ahead of the Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 9 in the Associated Press poll). Cincinnati won't play Ohio State again until 2012.

"By that time, hopefully we've continued to accelerate our program where Ohio State has something to gain by playing us," Kelly said. "In years past, this (best team in Ohio topic) wasn't really a conversation ... because Cincinnati wasn't the kind of program that would merit that kind of conversation."

And now, maybe it is. The other day, Kelly's 8-year-old son, Kenzel, matched Cincinnati against Ohio State in PlayStation. Final score: Cincinnati 91, Ohio State 0. "I promptly took him to McDonald's," Kelly said, laughing.

For Cincinnati, unranked in the preseason, the expectations have been super-sized.

Ditto for USF. That's the spirit of the billboard, which has the words "BIG 3" with the 3 crossed out and replaced by a 4. USF's logo is placed next to logos from the Seminoles, Gators and Hurricanes, with these words underneath:

"Welcome to the Club Bulls Fans!"

Bill McGillis, USF's executive associate athletic director who oversees the program's marketing efforts, said the billboard was intended to "celebrate one heck of an achievement" - USF's 17-7 win at FSU on Sept. 26.

"Really, it was a feel-good message for Bulls fans," said McGillis, who added that he received no negative feedback about the billboard. "That game is something our fans are very proud of.

"In no way was it intended (to slight the other schools)."

McGillis said the billboard will be switched out on Thursday for USF's "Paint The Town Green" campaign to promote the game against Cincinnati.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT