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USF Hits The Big Time In Historic Football Weekend

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

Whatever else happens - or doesn't happen this football season - the University of South Florida will always have that magical weekend.

That Friday when USF beat West Virginia, the nation's fifth-ranked team, under a luminous Bull moon in front of a national TV audience and 67,018 live spectators at sold-out Raymond James Stadium. That Sunday when the AP poll validated it all by ranking USF 6{+t}{+h} in the country.

Win a game for the ages, and you come of age nationally. This was the big time.

For all of us who have endured that geographically-challenged name, that singularly unfair 'commuter school' put-down, and that Gainesville/Tallahassee primacy, this was especially sweet. Enough of the growth-pain rites of passage and redress rehearsals.

This was the SunTrust Financial Center illuminating its roofline in green and gold and Region's Bank spelling out 'USF' in lights. And the cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace declaring official USF Days.

This was students camping out for tickets. This was the thunderous running of the Deci-Bulls. This was a celebratory, game-ending, undergraduate mosh pit on Ray-Jay's Bermuda grass. This was the rationale for collapsible goal posts. This was tailgating until 1 a.m. This was experiencing what Bear Bryant meant when he said that it was awfully hard to 'rally around the math department.' This was VCR-thanking, replay-savoring, good stuff.

This was worth the wait.

This was also one of those occasions when even opposing mayors got into it. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Morgantown Mayor Ron Justice made one of those friendly municipal wagers. Not unlike the one between Iorio and her Calgary counterpart before the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004. The USF-WVU game was that eventful.

As it turned out, Mayor Justice didn't have to part with any private stock moonshine or Jerry West memorabilia. He only had to wear Bulls' green and gold to work. Luckily for him, it wasn't one of those 'Beat WVU...And The Couch Burnin' Hillbillies They Brought With 'Em' T-shirts.

'We need sports,' Iorio said. 'So many things in life are complicated and stressful. And fortunately we're a sports city. But it's been mainly high school and the pros. USF now fills that void. The sense of spirit has been wonderful. It's great to see the emphasis on the college game, which is so affordable for families.

'This is great for USF, and it's great for Tampa,' Iorio said. 'And for all those folks who've wondered where USF actually is, this is a great help. Tampa is the home of USF.'

That point was underscored with features in USA Today, The New York Times and the Washington Post. And, most notably, with ESPN's prime time coverage. Not only was it gratis marketing of USF and its campus - but the video included establishing shots of the downtown skyline as well as de facto promotional footage in Ybor City.

That, too, was part of replay savoring.

Political Potpourri

•Hustings helper: There is political pandering - and then there is presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail. During a recent forum hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus, Sen. Clinton suggested that every child born in the United States should get a $5,000 'baby bond' from the government to help out with college or house-buying.

The economic implications, of course, are staggering given that 4 million babies are born each year in the United States. That is $20 billion right there.

•Scary: This comment from Bill Geddie, executive producer of The View. 'I think talk shows will decide who is in the White House in 2008.'

•The Theater of the Absurd, otherwise known as the Democratic Party approaching a presidential election year, continues with the Democratic National Committee still at incongruous odds with Florida. Lawsuits, disenfranchisement scenarios, undemocratic pledges and nuanced definitions of what actually is meant by 'campaigning' are the subplots. Eugene Ionesco could have scripted it.

But here is the irony. Ultimately, none of this will matter.

The winner of the Florida primary Feb. 29 will be a real winner - and will not disavow the results. No more than a big spike in credibility and momentum could be disavowed. And come the general election, no nominee wants an alienated mega swing state. So those 210 window-dressing delegates at the national coronation will be seated if the nominee - already decided well beforehand - has anything to say about it.

And she will.

Joe O'Neill is a South Tampa writer and can be contacted at www.OpinionsToGoOnLine.com

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