Eric_Soncrant

Thought I'd put this back up and perhaps add a little to it. As I mentioned before the hack, it appears our tailgate will be at the TD Waterhouse Center under a tent in the parking lot.  The TD Waterhouse Center is about 3 miles from the stadium (thanks for the correction triple).  My original post mentioned bus transportation to everyone that attended the tailgate but that seems to have now fallen through.  So if you attend the tailgate you may still have to drive to the stadium. But we are still working through these details, this is not final in any regard. I think the best option for everyone is still the bus package for $88 that included bus transportation from Tampa to Orlando, game ticket and tailgate.  Those on this package will take a bus from the tailgate to the game. Let me know if you have questions and I'll update as they are finalized.  Again, to sign up for any of the tailgates go the the alumni association web site. Eric

Their are two men's shirts and one ladies shirts. Who ever gets them I will exchange for whatever size they want as long as we have them. If I recall correctly, they are different sizes. I am out of XXL's. Eric

This auction is part of a mascot competition. Our head Rocky, Matt, asked for these items and they were donated by USF Athletics to help our Mascot. So the more you bid, the better Rocky looks as well. And I can tell you everything is authentic although the helmet is refurbished. Eric

Outrunner: It probably won't be until August. They are negotiating who plays on tv and when. Once they get all that settled they'll tell us who we are playing. But that is the reason the women's schedule is out and the men's is not. Eric

Matt: Thank you! Eric

I hope that we remind him of Marlin Bryant. If my brain serves me correct, Marlin had torn ACL's two consecutive years and had a very good senior year after that. Basketbull, this is where all of our focus should be on, the student athlete. It has to be tough on him. Hearing about the type of kid he is, I have no doubt he'll be back next year as strong as ever. Eric

Just wanted to take a quick moment to thank all of those that attended one of the Around the Horns events this year. All of them that went off as scheduled were in our opinion fantastic events and what we had in mind when we started them. For the Miami folks, we'll see you on July 14th to talk about what we need to do to kickstart that area. If you have any ideas on what you'd like to see as part of next years event or what you liked or didn't like about this years events, please feel free to email me at soncrant@admin.usf.edu. We hope to have next years dates set by the end of July so that we can promote throughout football and basketball seasons. Go Bulls! Eric

Thanks to everyone that attended our events this year. It was a major improvement over the first year and we hope to continue the growth. Our goal is to set next years dates by the end of July so everyone will have 11 months to ask for that day off from work. ;D Please feel free to let me know any ideas those of you that went may have on improving or adding to the event. Go Bulls! Eric

We are still trying to finalize one piece. Information should be online next week or the week after. Thanks for your patience. Eric

I added them to the host but don't know how to get them to here. By the way, your bags are in. I'll be getting them to you in early July. Eric

Thanks Apis. No idea how to do that. Hope to see all of you on Thursday. Eric

If you go to the tool bar at the top of the page, the third icon over says image hosting. If you click on that in brings you to a bunch of photos and images. I'm just learning this now. Eric

[i've uploaded some pictures into the image gallery. Not sure how to put them in here. Hope that helps. Eric

You've all heard some of the testimonials from those that have attended the Tampa, Atlanta, and Longboat Key events.  We have two more to go.  Friday, June 23rd at Lone Palm in Lakeland and Thursday, June 29th at Belleair Country Club. A foursome at Lone Palm for this event is $500 and the event at Belleair is $700 per foursome.  Come out and show your Bulls Pride, have some fun, and win some prizes. If you aren't a golfer, come just for dinner.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I am going to try and post some pictures from the Longboat Key event but I am somewhat technologically challenged so they may get emailed to Velcor to post.  Just so you can see some of what goes on. Go Bulls! Eric ONLY BELLAIR TO GO!

Hey guys: Coach Leavitt did have to leave the tournament early. Unfortunately something came up and he had to take care of it. Thanks for making it out. Hope you enjoyed and look forward to your feedback. Thanks again. Eric

Puc: A good show it will be. Cheerleaders, Rocky, golf, USF Coach's, good food, drink, what more would you want. Oh, how about some nice USF merchandise you can't get at the store. Good times, USF everywhere. You won't be disappointed. But afterward, come back and tell me what you'd like to see at future Around the Horns events. Always want to improve them. Eric

Are you sure we only interviewed one person? Didn't see that in the story. Eric

We'll be working on that this year. The last two years have had the one or two drink free. Our hope is to at least have complimentary beer/wine service and the hard stuff at a cost. Eric

Actually, the thinking is to cover as much of our costs for the event as possible so that it doesn't take away from our budget. At most places, our cost per person is upwards of $50 per person. We are at the mercy of the vendors that we are required to use at some places. If we do an outside event, the cost of a large enough tent, table and chair rentals, security, portable toilets, etc. all run up our cost of doing these events. It's not just the cost of doing food. We've agreed to the $35 per person charge and then a discounted rate for children between 5-13 and the young tots will get in free. We fully expect that we will lose money on these but we want to provide the experience for those not as ambitious as you. Believe me we'd love to do it cheaper but it is not realistic. Thanks. Eric

All of you in the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm area, I apologize for the cancellation of the event. We've got some work to do. With that in mind, Amabel Aqui and I will be coming down to your area the last week in July to meet people and to get us organized so that next year this doesn't happen and we know well in advance we will have enough people. If you are interested in meeting with us while we are there, we will probably be in West Palm in the morning/lunch and Miami in the afternoon/evening before heading back to Tampa. Shoot me an email if you'd like to sit down with us and talk about what we need to do and what you would like to see. Thanks. Eric

Thanks to Gene's efforts, the Pinellas County Alumni Chapter will have a table at the event. This event, just like all the others still on the calendar are happening. We are getting great feedback on the event and the things we've added this year. Hope to see eveyone out at one of the events. Eric

Puc: The lower price basically means we got a really good deal from Lone Palm (thanks to them and Publix). It is happening and is a good event. Of all the areas we go to Lakeland is probably the toughest as it is so Gator oriented. This event is crucial in converting them. It will happen. I can tell you the coaches attending that event are Leavitt, McCullum, Lessinger, Holt, Fee, Fleck, Kiefer. Our Athletic Director Doug Woolard will be there as well. We are adding teams every day but until it is sold out we will always need more. If you have any questions, just let me know. Eric

Hello Everyone: We typically put the information up in early July and we are still on target for that. We've got several new places we've never traveled to before so the planning takes a little more effort that our usual locations. We are also trying to find a safe, secure location for our tailgate in Orlando. I'll keep you posted. I will let you know that the tailgates will be about $35 per person and we will have a childrens rate this year. Please let me know if you have any questions. Eric

The Belleair event is a go. It is very generously being supported by a handful of corporate sponsors including: Hooters, Connelly Solutions, Bonefish Grill, MI Homes, and Colliers Arnold. There is no chance of this event not happening this year. We are looking forward to it. Let me know if you have any questions. Eric

Bullish: Thanks for your comments. We worked hard to make the event better this year and will hopefully continue to add to it each year. Remember, even if you don't golf you can come to the dinner portion of any event. We make the dinner feel like a separate event. I hope to have some photos from the event up in the next day or two so take a look at them. The Polk event is a little less expensive to than the others. Only $500 a foursome. Thanks again Bullish and everyone else who attended yesterday. We're in Atlanta on Monday and Longboat Key next Friday so see you there. Eric