Eric_Soncrant

Greetings All: Here is the rundown for watch parties Saturday night. Remember our game is on ESPNU which a large part of the area doesn't get so you may expect larger than normal crowds. Clubhouse Sports Cafe on Fowler Ave. (Temple Terrace) Capogna's Dugout on SR60 (Clearwater) Lee Roy Selmon's at Tyrone Square Mall (St. Petersburg) Lee Roy Selmon's on Boy Scout (Tampa) Lee Roy Selmon's on Cortez (Bradenton) Beef O' Brady's on Hillsborough Ave. (Tampa) I'm sure others have locations as well in Orlando, Atlanta, Philadelphia/Jersey so feel free to add them to this thread. Go Bulls and thanks to all of you for our continued success. Eric

The Glazers don't control that. We do. But Bulls Heaven purchased the merchandising rights a year or two ago so they have that exclusive opportunity at RJS and at the SunDome. They also set up at some other events throughout the year (soccer, baseball, etc.). Not sure when the contract is up with them. I do know it takes a huge staff to handle and they have it in place because I believe they have the Bucs as well. Eric

January 12-14th at Disney. I think it will be at Wide World of Sports Milk House. That is where it's been in the past. They don't list performance times usually until the week of the event or just before so I'll bring the subject back. But be proud of all three teams as they work their butts off for this. The tape results are screwy and you can almost predict who is going to lead after the tapes each year. But that's why you have the competition. Eric

Just thought I'd let everyone know that Bulliever and his family where in the building today and we gave them a tour of the new facility. It's always great to see Bulliever. He has his two boys well trained. The oldest (Bradley) went around the building identifying every football player in the photos around the building. It was great. Welcome Home to Brad, Pam, Bradley, and Matt. Eric

As most of you are aware, each year the USF Cheerleaders and SunDolls compete at their national competition in Orlando. The bids were announced today. Here are the results. Keep in mind this is like a seeding for the competition. Their score from their tape only counts a small portion so they can all move up and typically have once they reach the competition. USF All-Girl Cheerleading - 5th USF Small Co-Ed Cheerleading - 6th SunDolls - 17th Like I said, expect all of them to move up once the competition hits. Also, if you see any of them tomorrow at the game congratulate them as they will really appreciate it. And if they ask you to buy a calendar, if you haven't already, please do as they need to raise somewhere around $10k per team to compete and this is not money budgeted by the University. Congratulations to all of them for their efforts! Go Bulls! Eric

As much as I would love for us to add hockey, it won't happen. Hockey is a very expensive sport to put on. I feel for the Ice Bulls because I know they finance it themselves for the most part. Hockey players are some pretty good people though as well. Plus the travel costs would get us, more so than the rest of the BIG EAST already does. Hockey schools are in some pretty remote areas ie. Orono, ME. We also would have no natural conference to play in. Hockey East, which is where some of the BIG EAST schools play won't take us for sure. Anyway, hope next year they have something like UW, UofM, BC and Alabama Huntsville (they'll be in it every year because of their role as the host institution for the NCAA Frozen Four). Eric

Yeah I saw they beat BC badly last weekend. But I have to believe that wasn't a true measurement of how either of those teams will be this year. Notre Dame isn't that good and BC probably isn't that bad. It did make way for the Maine Black Bears to become the #1 team in the country after sweeping two games from North Dakota. The rest of those teams are awful. But still it is college hockey and I hope the Tampa area embraces it in leading up to the Frozen Four. Maybe next year they'll improve the lineup. If you have Notre Dame and a couple similar or better schools it wouldn't be bad. Notre Dame should win this easily (but that's why they play the games). Eric

Dang, I hate it when I'm wrong. Just want it here sooner. Thanks for the correction.

2011, that I can't wait for.

I was extremele excited when they announced a NCAA College Hockey tournament....right up until they announced the teams playing. None of them are decent teams. I wish they would have at least gotten some one decent like the Everblades Tournament usually has 2-3 good teams. But I might go to get a college hockey fix anyway. Remind us of the dates of that tournament. Thanks. P.S. I think you should change your name to USF Hockey Girl. It has a nice ring to it.

It's been interesting reading remarks from all of you on this subject. Now I won't say I am completely unbiased here as I do follow UM as my wife was a cheerleader there (just love to remind all of you of that ;D), but I have a hard time condemning the current program because of the antics of those teams in the 80's and 90's. And my wife, who paid the price for the Jimmy Johnson/Dennis Erickson years as she had to cheer during the probation years feels the same way. When Butch Davis came in and to some extent Donna, the program really turned around. They cleaned up their image and won, a lot. Now Miami has always had this extreme confidence (some will call it arrogance) about there University which is something you hope all of your student athletes feel about their university. They take great pride in their Univeristy's successes in athletics, something we would love to have at USF I'm sure. The former players come back and help the current student athletes during the offseason. Something I've seen many of you rave about the likes of Kawika and others starting to do now for USF. Anyway with out making this too long, I can't argue with UM's suspensions (other than maybe merriweather only getting the one game). As someone pointed out, if you just kick them off the team they'll have nowhere to go and potentially cause problems in the street. Our jobs here are to win games, but also to educate and develop young men and women into good citizens. Read Chris Fowlers points (it's an insider only article). I agree with just about everything he says. My two cents. http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/columns/story?columnist=fowler_chris&id=2632024&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos3 Eric

Bullman3: Give me a call in the office (813) 974-3481 and I'll help you get some stuff for your watch party. We want to start paying more attention to the Pasco area now that we are back to being fully staffed so I may ask you some questions about the county as well. Eric

Are standard locations: Capogna's on SR 60 (Clearwater) Selmon's at Tyrone Square Mall (St. Petersburg) Selmon's on Cortez (Bradenton) Selmon's on Boy Scout (Tampa) Beef O'Brady's on Hillsborough (Tampa) Clubhouse on Fowler AVe (Temple Terrace) And I'm sure there will be a few others. Eric

Hey guys: Just a couple thoughts. The Clubhouse will always be were we try to push the students to. He has been a great supporter of the Bulls Club and SBC. Also, the capacity issues may not be a weekly thing. Remember last weeks game was on ESPNU only which isn't available in most households in the area. This weeks game will be on ESPN so I think more people will stay at home and watch it from the comfort of their own home....plus it is on Sunday night. My guess is we won't necessarily see all the same issues you saw last week. Beyond that here are my thoughts although my opinion doesn't matter. Gators - I like the food (except for the nachos) and the viewing, but the name. I KNOW....it's a chain and they don't have a choice. But I can't get over it. Winners - used to live up that way and only went there twice. It's the darkest place I've ever been in and don't recall having good views of a television. Selmon's - they are being good to us every where else but as grif will tell you we had an issue with them back a few years turning our game off for UF-FSU. Would be willing to go that route again. Beef's - I have a hard time believing the owners of this place actually want it to be a sports bar. I mentioned in the other thread about them not having the NCAA Tournament package. What kind of sports bar is that. Rocky's - 20 people....tops! So I guess my preferences in order from a Bulls Club stand point would be: Selmons, Winners, Gators, Beef's, Rocky's

You mean you read this stuff even when you aren't being paid too?  You're (almost) as sick as we are!  ;D Does the Bulls Club supply all of the give away items?  I was thinking of doing a watch party up here in the Wesley Chapel area, but didn't know if there was a need? If I read it home then I already know what I need to respond to when I get to a computer that I can log in from. Actually saves me time. You guys are a part of the pulse of USF Athletics so I do actually listen to what you have to say....well at least some of you.

We try and help with anyone wanting to put a watch party together. It's tough sometimes to get items to someone but for instance with Kdawgy and a few others, I brought stuff to the last home game for them to bring to the UNC and Cinci watch parties in their areas. We will typically give you some beads, poms, and a couple door prizes. It's nothing to fancy and at some point in time it will get to be too much for us to supply but it has helped us build them and we will continue to as long as possible. Eric

It looks like Frank Davis played some for the Lions as well. Eric

The nation is falling in love with my Tigers after they beat the "evil empire" and then swept the A's. I'll be in Cinci so won't be watching the Tigers take game 2 from whomever they play. Now if Detroit can only get a football team. Eric

The Beef's on Bearrs is ok. My only real experience there was when I lived over that way and wanted to see my alma mater playing in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Went there and they hadn't bought the package so they only got the locally broadcasted games. I couldn't believe it. So we'd have to make sure they have the ESPN game plan first just to be safe. We could give LRS a try up that way or head up to Dale Mabry. Wouldn't be bad to give some love to the Carrolwood area. Someone that want's to run with it gets to pick the location. Eric

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Some people might not like BBQ or think Selmon's is too expensive. I personally enjoy watching games at places that serve liquor and just not beer and wine. But these places, especially the Clubhouse, stepped up when other establishments were turning our game off or to the small tv's when the Florida or FSU games were going on. We've changed the climate now but we will continue to be loyal to those that laid the foundation for what we have today. But if you don't like a place, feel free to go somewhere and join another or start your own. Eric

If anyone is experienced at putting together a sort of highlight video and is interested in making a couple hundred extra dollars and has some free time over the next two weeks, please email me at soncrant@admin.usf.edu. One of our programs needs an experienced person that has the equipment as well. Eric

Not condoning anything but if any other team ever does that to our holder on field goals. I hope we have a few guys step up to defend him. The guys kicking and swning helmets/crutches should be suspended for the year. Cleats, helmets and crutches are weapons. But those of you calling for one or both teams to be suspended/dispanded for the year are out of line. What about the players in the middle trying to break up the fight and restore calm (Barraka Atkins for one). You want to punish all the kids that weren't involved as well. That's not right. 31 players have been suspended from the two teams and I think both schools are handling it the right way.

Hey everyone: Would have chimed in earlier but I can't log in from my home computer for some reason. Reaper sorry you didn't have a pleasant experience at the Clubhouse but they do a great job for us and are always willing to help out. That location has been really where we try to steer all the students to watch the game so it is a different crowd. Our watch party program is growing like you can't beleive. I think it all started with a group at the Carrabas on Fowler (Bulliever I think started them) and we (Bulls Club) kind of took their lead. Our goal, as I've stated before, is to have watch parties pop up all over the place. At some point in time in the near future we probably won't do "official watch parties" but just provide a list of USF friendly places that we know fans gather at. This has always been the one of the goals. The other goal was to demonstrate to Bay Area businesses the opportunities available by partnering with USF. To the point where now places like the Bull Ring, although it isn't an "official' watch party, is promoting their own. And that's what we want. So if you want to start your own just let me know, even if it's just a place a few of you gather and you see some other Bulls fans their as well. Thanks for all of your feedback everyone and keep up the great work. We have some great people that put these things on (mutt and the gang, alau and Student Bulls Club, Tony Holbrook, the Sarasota Group, Donna and Audrey, and now BDYZR). Go Bulls! Eric

Grateful Dad: Just ask them if they are willing to put our game on the main screen with sound that we can promote it to our local alumni. If you've attended one of the other watch parties, that's what we are looking for. Once you have a place committed, just let me know and the Bulls Club will supply you with poms, beads, and door prizes to hand out at the event. We also do schedule cards when they are timely. Eric

BullDoug: I think you are thinking of MJ Barleyhoppers. I wouldn't suggest that. On the Barnacles issue, that really surprises me as one of the owners is a USF grad and former hoops player for us. It is also partially owned by John Smoltz (yes, that one). It is a great place to watch games but I get over stimulated there. If you guys settle on a place let me know. I like the BW3's (Buffalo Wild Wings, I can't get myself to call them that) for watching games but the food in my opinion is so so. And the ones I've dealt with have been reluctant to reserve space for groups. Beef's tend to work out well in most areas and may be the best option. I know there is a Selmon's planned for the area in the near future and will be a great location. It may be up by next football season. Let me know what you guys want. Eric