USF officials ready to act for on-campus stadium
By Joey Johnston | Tribune Staff
Published: September 12, 2014
TAMPA — Friday afternoon on the University of South Florida’s campus, school spirit was alive and well. Speaking at the weekly pep rally — “Marshall Mayhem’’ — Bulls guard Thor Jozwiak whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his professional-wrestling persona. Cheerleaders cheered. The band played. Players and students alike sang the fight song.

“This gets you hyped up,’’ said Dennis Matthews, a USF junior majoring in communications. “Can you imagine if the game was right here on campus?’’

Actually, Bulls fans have been imagining that scenario for at least a decade.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, USF athletic director Mark Harlan is preparing to possibly bring it closer to reality.

Harlan is delighted with the amenities and comfort of Raymond James Stadium, home to USF football since 1998 and site of today’s game between the Bulls (1-1) and N.C. State Wolfpack (2-0). But when he took the job in March, Harlan said he wanted to learn more about the local conversations concerning an on-campus stadium.

Now he’s ready to act.

Harlan said this week he and USF president Judy Genshaft will soon begin a fact-finding mission, probably during the school’s current fiscal year, to determine the feasibility of constructing an on-campus football stadium. He’s not certain if a task force will be assembled.

Read more: http://tbo.com/sports/colleges/usf-bulls...-20140912/

Well that escalated quickly... lol

Congrats USF!

(09-13-2014 12:20 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Well that escalated quickly... lol

Congrats USF!

LOL....Harlan must be reading these boards.

I wouldn't expect anything overnight but it's the most significant movement we seen toward an OCS.

Btw...back the 1970s Pepin Distributors in Tampa offered to build USF an OCS if they started a football program. USF said thanks but no thanks....as the first couple administrations were belligerent if not out right hostile to collegiate athletics. Harlan should make a quick phone call to Pepin to see if they are still interested in writing a big check....

Great news for USF!

a "task force"

oxymoron is an oxymoron

It's a bit of a misleading headline as all they're doing is beginning to look into what it would take to build a stadium.

Still, it's a step in the right direction since it's more than USF's ever done regarding an OCS. Kudos to USF.

Getting a on campus stadium would be a game changer and get some excitement back for usf. I like the idea because it will push ucf into more upgrades.

Congratulation Bulls!

(09-13-2014 06:23 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  Getting a on campus stadium would be a game changer and get some excitement back for usf. I like the idea because it will push ucf into more upgrades.

Like I said a a couple years ago, UCF and USF in the same conference would spur each school to try and out do each other which in the long run elevate both programs to a much higher place.

For example, I'm sure that USF's new stadium will have a kick ass scoreboard, chair backs and water fountains........

(09-13-2014 06:43 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  Congratulation Bulls!

Thanks, but all we are doing is kicking the tires right now. However, our new AD is a "doer" and privately this has been on the to do list for the university and a couple of our prominent boosters. The $1 billion capital campaign we just completed has opened up a lot of opportunities for the university ranging from new buildings on campus, faculty recruitment, downtown medical school and hopefully a new football complex OCS/IPF.

Here's hoping a new OCS becomes reality for USF.

(09-13-2014 12:36 AM)CyberBull Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 12:20 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Well that escalated quickly... lol

Congrats USF!

LOL....Harlan must be reading these boards.

I wouldn't expect anything overnight but it's the most significant movement we seen toward an OCS.

Btw...back the 1970s Pepin Distributors in Tampa offered to build USF an OCS if they started a football program. USF said thanks but no thanks....as the first couple administrations were belligerent if not out right hostile to collegiate athletics. Harlan should make a quick phone call to Pepin to see if they are still interested in writing a big check....

No doubt...but comments from USF HC Taggart, as he has now coached more games at USF in barely over 1 season that drew crowds in the "teens"in that 65,000 seat stadium than any other coach...and no doubt he (privately at first) and now publicly, stated that RJS is not helping his program grow.

Article comes out 2 days after Taggart stadium article...then day after lead editorial by a USF fan in the Tribune that dared to speak the truth.

Here's that USF's Alum letter to that was selected as the Letter of the Day that the Tribune published.

Green and gold doesn’t mesh with red Published: September 12, 2014

As a USF grad and season-ticket holder since day one, can I ask my fellow USF grads and the Tampa Bay area community a question? Can we please stop pretending like the USF Bulls playing at Raymond James Stadium is a good thing? It is not. As a matter of fact, it is horrible. RJS is a college-atmosphere-life-sucker. It sucks the enthusiasm right out of a USF game.

Complete article here
http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letterd...-20140912/

Are all of these articles prior to Harlan's statement really a coordinated campaign to drum up support for a real on-campus stadium idea....or is it the grass roots that want what is best for the school and not just for them (some might have to give up some of the amenities of RJS, i.e. no Pirate Ship to have an on-campus stadium)?

Either way...you could say its perfect timing regardless.

(09-13-2014 07:27 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 12:36 AM)CyberBull Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 12:20 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Well that escalated quickly... lol

Congrats USF!

LOL....Harlan must be reading these boards.

I wouldn't expect anything overnight but it's the most significant movement we seen toward an OCS.

Btw...back the 1970s Pepin Distributors in Tampa offered to build USF an OCS if they started a football program. USF said thanks but no thanks....as the first couple administrations were belligerent if not out right hostile to collegiate athletics. Harlan should make a quick phone call to Pepin to see if they are still interested in writing a big check....

No doubt...but comments from USF HC Taggart, as he has now coached more games at USF in barely over 1 season that drew crowds in the "teens"in that 65,000 seat stadium than any other coach...and no doubt he (privately at first) and now publicly, stated that RJS is not helping his program grow.

Article comes out 2 days after Taggart stadium article...then day after lead editorial by a USF fan in the Tribune that dared to speak the truth.

Here's that USF's Alum letter to that was selected as the Letter of the Day that the Tribune published.

Green and gold doesn’t mesh with red Published: September 12, 2014

As a USF grad and season-ticket holder since day one, can I ask my fellow USF grads and the Tampa Bay area community a question? Can we please stop pretending like the USF Bulls playing at Raymond James Stadium is a good thing? It is not. As a matter of fact, it is horrible. RJS is a college-atmosphere-life-sucker. It sucks the enthusiasm right out of a USF game.

Complete article here
http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letterd...-20140912/

Are all of these articles prior to Harlan's statement really a coordinated campaign to drum up support for a real on-campus stadium idea....or is it the grass roots that want what is best for the school and not just for them (some might have to give up some of the amenities of RJS, i.e. no Pirate Ship to have an on-campus stadium)?

Either way...you could say its perfect timing regardless.

You think? There is no way our AD, football coach and President lend their name to all this recent OCS chatter without there being some substance and genuine interest. #BringOurBullsHome

BTW, our last AD was hesitant to even get out in front of the fanbase to discuss the ongoing gorgeous SunDome renovations. Final drawings of the new SunDome had to be leaked by Greg Auman b/c Woolard et al refused to make anything public just weeks before the scheduled grand opening.

Now we have an AD who has enough vision and confidence to openly discuss a huge project like an OCS that is a couple orders of magnitude more difficult than our $38-million SunDome renovation.

It's been a night and day change in culture around here.

(09-13-2014 07:42 AM)CyberBull Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 07:27 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 12:36 AM)CyberBull Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 12:20 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Well that escalated quickly... lol

Congrats USF!

LOL....Harlan must be reading these boards.

I wouldn't expect anything overnight but it's the most significant movement we seen toward an OCS.

Btw...back the 1970s Pepin Distributors in Tampa offered to build USF an OCS if they started a football program. USF said thanks but no thanks....as the first couple administrations were belligerent if not out right hostile to collegiate athletics. Harlan should make a quick phone call to Pepin to see if they are still interested in writing a big check....

No doubt...but comments from USF HC Taggart, as he has now coached more games at USF in barely over 1 season that drew crowds in the "teens"in that 65,000 seat stadium than any other coach...and no doubt he (privately at first) and now publicly, stated that RJS is not helping his program grow.

Article comes out 2 days after Taggart stadium article...then day after lead editorial by a USF fan in the Tribune that dared to speak the truth.

Here's that USF's Alum letter to that was selected as the Letter of the Day that the Tribune published.

Green and gold doesn’t mesh with red Published: September 12, 2014

As a USF grad and season-ticket holder since day one, can I ask my fellow USF grads and the Tampa Bay area community a question? Can we please stop pretending like the USF Bulls playing at Raymond James Stadium is a good thing? It is not. As a matter of fact, it is horrible. RJS is a college-atmosphere-life-sucker. It sucks the enthusiasm right out of a USF game.

Complete article here
http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letterd...-20140912/

Are all of these articles prior to Harlan's statement really a coordinated campaign to drum up support for a real on-campus stadium idea....or is it the grass roots that want what is best for the school and not just for them (some might have to give up some of the amenities of RJS, i.e. no Pirate Ship to have an on-campus stadium)?

Either way...you could say its perfect timing regardless.

You think? There is. Ow way our AD, football coach and President lend their name to this recent OCS chatter without there being some substance and genuine interest.

BTW, our last AD was hesitant to even get out in front of the fanbase to discuss the ongoing gorgeous SunDome renovations. Final drawings of the new SunDome had to be leaked by Greg Auman b/c Woolard et al refused to make anything public ebven weeks before the scheduled grand opening.

Now we have an AD who has enough vision and confidence to openly discuss a huge project like an OCS that is a couple orders of magnitude than our $38-million SunDome renovation.

It's been a night and day change if culture around here.

Yeah..that was one of Judy's biggest mistake...as she hired the previous AD from a non-football school (St Louis U), which for a "BCS" Football School seemed strange...which turned out to be right as he seemed clueless on how to really grow a program (winning isn't the sole marketing strategy).

She didn't make the mistake this time (Harlan from UCLA) and no doubt it had to be eye-opening for him to see less than 20,000 fans inside RJS last week vs a Big Ten School.

I stated in a previous post that USF's struggles at RJS could/would help push for USF to get an on-campus stadium...as others said USF should dare build an on-campus stadium till they averaged 50,000 "actual" fans in RJS...which may never come.

On-campus stadium has helped a lot of programs...and it would inject more pride/spirit to USF's program vs even what a 10 win season could do....as a stadium (and/or its location in variety of renovations) will last for 50-100 plus years.

(09-13-2014 07:42 AM)CyberBull Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 07:27 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 12:36 AM)CyberBull Wrote:  

(09-13-2014 12:20 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  Well that escalated quickly... lol

Congrats USF!

LOL....Harlan must be reading these boards.

I wouldn't expect anything overnight but it's the most significant movement we seen toward an OCS.

Btw...back the 1970s Pepin Distributors in Tampa offered to build USF an OCS if they started a football program. USF said thanks but no thanks....as the first couple administrations were belligerent if not out right hostile to collegiate athletics. Harlan should make a quick phone call to Pepin to see if they are still interested in writing a big check....

No doubt...but comments from USF HC Taggart, as he has now coached more games at USF in barely over 1 season that drew crowds in the "teens"in that 65,000 seat stadium than any other coach...and no doubt he (privately at first) and now publicly, stated that RJS is not helping his program grow.

Article comes out 2 days after Taggart stadium article...then day after lead editorial by a USF fan in the Tribune that dared to speak the truth.

Here's that USF's Alum letter to that was selected as the Letter of the Day that the Tribune published.

Green and gold doesn’t mesh with red Published: September 12, 2014

As a USF grad and season-ticket holder since day one, can I ask my fellow USF grads and the Tampa Bay area community a question? Can we please stop pretending like the USF Bulls playing at Raymond James Stadium is a good thing? It is not. As a matter of fact, it is horrible. RJS is a college-atmosphere-life-sucker. It sucks the enthusiasm right out of a USF game.

Complete article here
http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letterd...-20140912/

Are all of these articles prior to Harlan's statement really a coordinated campaign to drum up support for a real on-campus stadium idea....or is it the grass roots that want what is best for the school and not just for them (some might have to give up some of the amenities of RJS, i.e. no Pirate Ship to have an on-campus stadium)?

Either way...you could say its perfect timing regardless.

You think? There is no way our AD, football coach and President lend their name to all this recent OCS chatter without there being some substance and genuine interest. #BringOurBullsHome

BTW, our last AD was hesitant to even get out in front of the fanbase to discuss the ongoing gorgeous SunDome renovations. Final drawings of the new SunDome had to be leaked by Greg Auman b/c Woolard et al refused to make anything public just weeks before the scheduled grand opening.

Now we have an AD who has enough vision and confidence to openly discuss a huge project like an OCS that is a couple orders of magnitude than our $38-million SunDome renovation.

It's been a night and day change if culture around here.

Yes it has and like I keep repeating he is looking at improving ALL facets of athletics NOT just cosmetic ones like building an OCS.
I have complete faith that Harlan and Taggart will get this program up again and reach higher levels

Funny how these things quickly mushroom...

Harlan speaking to the media in about 30 minutes about today's game......and.....possibility of building an OCS.

@wflaAdrienne: Interviewing the USF Athletic Director on set at 9:20. We'll chat about boosting student game attendance and possibly adding campus stadium.

(09-13-2014 07:58 AM)CyberBull Wrote:  Funny how these things quickly mushroom...

Harlan speaking to the media in about 30 minutes about today's game......and.....possibility of building an OCS.

@wflaAdrienne: Interviewing the USF Athletic Director on set at 9:20. We'll chat about boosting student game attendance and possibly adding campus stadium.

It is and will do so because its such a no-brainer...and while a few USF folks that have fought the idea of ever leaving RJS for an on-campus stadium...I know many USF fans that hope this movement is a tidal wave and take those naysayers out to sea.

Awesome!!! Good for the AAC and good for USF!

Fact finding mission without task force is Genshaft looking out her window, and saying we just don't have the room. I hope they are moving forward, but to me it sounds like they are thinking about thinking about it.

(09-13-2014 08:25 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  Fact finding mission without task force is Genshaft looking out her window, and saying we just don't have the room. I hope they are moving forward, but to me it sounds like they are thinking about thinking about it.

It has never been about not having room. As for Genshaft I know you guys don't like her and many USF fans think she should be more supportive of athletics but she has done a great job in improving the university academics standards