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USF student gets late $10,000 payday for his horseshoes win

Staff photo by GORDON DEMPSEY

Philip Davis, of Dover, thought he won $10,000 last Friday night for tossing horseshoes and getting a ringer during the university's Basketball Frenzy celebration at the Sun Dome.

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By STEVE ANDREWS | News Channel 8

Published: October 22, 2009

Updated: 10/22/2009 05:42 pm

TAMPA - A 22-year-old University of South Florida student got his big payday today, though it was six days late.

Philip Davis, of Dover, thought he won $10,000 last Friday night for tossing horseshoes and getting a ringer during the university's Basketball Frenzy celebration at the Sun Dome.

As he stood at one free throw line, Davis tossed two horseshoes at a stake on the free throw line at the other end of the basketball court.

His first toss missed. Before his second, he stepped to his left and fired away. To his amazement he got a ringer.

The crowd went wild, Rocky, the USF mascot, hugged Davis and spun him around, and USF men's basketball coach Stan Heath high-fived him.

But the celebration was cut short when the public address announcer informed the crowd that Davis had stepped on the free throw line and was disqualified. Instead of winning $10,000, he was awarded 18 tickets to a Tampa Bay Lightning game.

But Davis wasn't satisfied with the decision. He asked for an explanation and told the athletic department it never informed him of any rule about stepping on the line.

Today, after reviewing tapes of the event and going over the rules, the athletic department decided to award Davis the prize money.

"I'm glad that USF was able to review the tapes and see that it was a win and do what I feel was the right thing," Davis said.

After men's basketball practice today at the Corral, the team's practice facility, the athletic department presented Davis with a ceremonial check for $10,000.

"It was just one of those things where it could've gone either way and we decided to award him the money," Ayo Taylor-Dixon, assistant athletic director of marketing, explained.

News Channel 8 reporter Steve Andrews can be reached at (813) 221-5779.

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