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USF athletics gets free jet from donor Morsani

Philanthropist Frank Morsani is giving the University of South Florida this Cessna Model 501 Citation I/SP. The university's athletic foundation will take possession.

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By LINDSAY PETERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 5, 2010

TAMPA - The University of South Florida now has a jet for its athletic department.

It's a 1979 Cessna Model 501 Citation I/SP, a single-pilot turbofan, given to the university by one of its top donors, Frank Morsani.

"It's a wonderful idea from a wonderful friend. Frank Morsani is a great friend of USF," Joel Momberg, USF's vice president for advancement and CEO of the USF Foundation, said in a news release.

Sun Dome Inc., one of USF's private support organizations, will own the plane and pay its operation and maintenance bills, said USF spokeswoman Lara Wade.

It will be used primarily for athletic recruiting in cases when it would be cheaper than taking a commercial flight, Wade said. USF officials will also be able to use the plane, but will have to pay Sun Dome Inc., when they do.

No tax money will be used for these payments, she said.

The plane is valued at $500,000 to $1.5 million.

Morsani and his wife Carol are long-time donors to USF.

They gave $10 million for the construction of the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for Advanced Health Care. They also funded the Robert L. Anderson professorship at the College of Business Administration and a women's softball stadium and a football practice complex.

The couple has a home in Lutz. Morsani worked in the auto industry.

Some of Florida's other universities already have their own planes.

The University of Florida's athletic association owns two planes, said UF spokesman Steve Orlando. They are a Cessna Citation Bravo and a King Air B-200.

UF President Bernard Machen uses a plane two to three times a month, primarily for in-state trips, Orlando said.

Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at (813) 259-7834.

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