12-31-07
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| Sun Bowl Stadium El Paso, Texas ( Sun Bowl)
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Stadium
Raymond James Stadium is a $168.5 million facility which opened September 20, 1998 with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Chicago Bears. Two weeks later, the Bulls debuted in their new home with a 45-6 win over Citadel in front of 32,598 fans. [4] From 1998 to 2007, only the lower half of the stadium has been typically opened for USF games, allowing for a capacity of 41,441, [5] (although the upper deck has been opened numerous times to accommodate crowds in excess of what the lower bowl can handle). However, as of 2008, USF has opened the upper deck for every home game and is selling season tickets in the upper deck as well. The largest crowd to see the Bulls play a home game came on September 28, 2007 against then #5 ranked West Virginia, when 67,012 saw the #18 Bulls win. [6] The Bulls played at Houlihan's Stadium in 1997.
The Bulls have continued to enjoy a winning edge in Raymond James, building a 43-11 record since 1998. [7]
, including one streak of 21 straight victories at home. [8]
Current Pro Players
- DeJuan Green - Running Back, Oakland Raiders
- Anthony Henry - Cornerback, Dallas Cowboys
- Kawika Mitchell - Linebacker, Buffalo Bills
- Frank Davis - Offensive Guard, Detroit Lions
- J.R. Reed - Safety, Philadelphia Eagles [9]
- Andre Hall - Running Back, Denver Broncos
- Stephen Nicholas - Linebacker, Atlanta Falcons
- Jeremy Burnett - Strong Safety, Minnesota Vikings
- S.J. Green - Wide Receiver, Montreal Alouettes (CFL)
- DeAndrew Rubin - Wide Receiver/Cornerback, Orlando Predators (AFL)
- Mike Jenkins - Cornerback, Dallas Cowboys
- Trae Williams - Cornerback, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Ben Moffitt - Linebacker, Houston Texans
Media
Bulls football games currently air on the radio in Tampa on 970 WFLA-AM. Play-by-play man Jim Louk is teamed with color analyst and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mark Robinson in the booth for the broadcasts. Many of the televised games air locally on ESPN Plus outlet WFTS-TV, as does Coach Leavitt's weekly show. Some replays of the games can be seen on Catch 47. Due to USF's affiliation in the Big East Conference, most games can be seen on one of the many channels ESPN owns.
Rivals
Due to the youth of the program and the aggressive growth that it has experienced, establishing a permanent rival has posed somewhat of a challenge. Rapidly changing conference affiliations and a quick ascension through the NCAA football ranks have made an annual rivalry difficult. On the heels of upsets that have garnered national attention, the seeds of rivalry have been planted with powers such as Louisville and West Virginia, and to a lesser extent with Pittsburgh. Additionally, due to the close geographic proximity of the two schools, the University of Central Florida has expressed interest in extending their four game series with the Bulls' by establishing an annual home-and-home series. However, according to the Tampa Tribune report released on 7 July 07, USF does not plan on renewing the game with UCF after 2008. [10]
Likely candidates for a future rivalry game include Louisville, another former member of Conference USA before its move to the Big East; West Virginia; and Miami, with whom USF has announced a 6-year series to be played on Thanksgiving weekend. The last 4 games of the USF/UM series (2010-2013) will be televised by one of the ESPN networks on Thanksgiving weekend. [11] With UM locked up for 6 years, USF appears very unlikely to continue the series with UCF, but instead focused on potentially establishing a rivalry with Miami. [12]
For more on the USF-UCF games, see The War on I-4.
Facts
- The Bulls have never been shut out in a regular season football game. The only shutout they suffered was a 14-0 loss to North Carolina State in the 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl, officially the Bulls' 100th game. [13] [14]
- The Bulls were the opponent of The University of Alabama on August 30, 2003 in the Crimson Tide's final game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
- USF has won every home opener in school history (11-0).
- Bill Gramatica holds the record for the longest field goal in school history at 63 yards. [15]
- USF plays in the largest stadium (65,657), the stadium with the largest student section (12,501) and has the largest enrollment (44,038) of any school in the Big East. [16]
- USF was ranked for the first time exactly 10 years and 10 days after its inaugural game against Kentucky Wesleyan in 1997. [16]
- USF rose at an unprecedented pace, earning an AP ranking 104 polls after becoming a full-time, bowl eligible FBS member in 2001. Boise State had the previous record, getting ranked after 115 AP polls during their seventh season. [16]
- USF became the fastest team in the modern era of college football to go from upstart NCAA FBS school to a top-10 ranking on Sunday, Sept. 30. There were 106 AP polls and 112 Coaches Polls since USF became a full-time FBS member in 2001. [16]
- The same can be said about the top-5 ranking, which took USF 107 weeks to achieve. [16]
- USF's first ever first-round pick in the NFL Draft was cornerback Mike Jenkins, who was selected #25 in the 2008 draft.
School Songs
Golden Brahman March (Fight Song)
Chorus:
USF Bulls are we,
We hold our standard upright and free.
For Green and Gold we stand united.
Our beacon lighted and noble to see.
USF Bulls are we,
For USF will always be.
With all our might we fight the battle
here and now, and we will win the victory!
Shout: S-O-U-T-H F-L-O-R-I-D-A
South Florida, South Florida
Go Bulls!
(return to chorus)
Alma Mater
Hail to Thee, our Alma Mater
May thy name be told,
Where above thy gleaming splendor,
Waves the green and gold.
Thou our guide in quest for knowledge.
Where we all are free
University of South Florida,
Alma Mater, Hail to thee!
Be our guide in truth and wisdom
As we onward go,
May thy glory, fame and honor
Never cease to grow;
May our thoughts and prayers
be with thee through eternity,
University of South Florida,
Alma Mater, Hail to thee!
References
- Meet the driving force behind South Florida
- Official Big East website
- GoUSFBulls.com
- University of South Florida Bulls 2006 Football Media Guide (pdf file) page 12
- University of South Florida Bulls 2006 Football Media Guide (pdf file) page 10, sixth paragraph.
- 67,018
- University of South Florida Bulls 2006 Football Media Guide. Includes the 2006 results
- University of South Florida Bulls 2006 Football Media Guide (pdf file) page 142, 1st game of 2000 season to 4th game of 2003 season
- Current NFL Players
- Bulls Series With UCF Likely Over
- Sports: USF adds statement series with Hurricanes
- USF-UM Series Extended, Moved To Thanksgiving Weekend
- 2006 USF COVER
- Football - Schedule & Results - GoUSFBulls.com—Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida
- Bill Gramatica - ArenaFootball.com — The Official Web site of the Arena Football League AFL
- Game Preview: UCF at No. 5 USF - GoUSFBulls.com—Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida
- Game Preview: UCF at No. 5 USF - GoUSFBulls.com—Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida
- Game Preview: UCF at No. 5 USF - GoUSFBulls.com—Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida
- Game Preview: UCF at No. 5 USF - GoUSFBulls.com—Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida
- Game Preview: UCF at No. 5 USF - GoUSFBulls.com—Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida
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