Adding Traditions to USF games

[E.T.]

1 hour ago, Triple B said:

Somebody realized what happened to the bulls after the running ala Pamplona...

That's why it should have been named Tamplona !

[E.T.]

1 hour ago, puc86 said:

Viva Tamplona. War Flamingo.

Speaking of War Flamingo ... was watching a game over the weekend and a group of 6 girls were wearing flamingo hats.

[bowman1]

46 minutes ago, E.T. said:

Speaking of War Flamingo ... was watching a game over the weekend and a group of 6 girls were wearing flamingo hats.

Are you referring to 6 female fans sitting at a football game with birds on their head or . . .

Are you calling the AAC, MAC, MWC, CUSA & SBC a bunch of flamingo wearing girls?

inquiring minds want to know

[Cornada]

At one time they were planning to bring a real brahma bull to the games.  As I recall a bull was donated and the plan was to raise it with a lot of human interaction so that it was comfortable around people.  Never heard how it went.

[Mama_Bull]

1 minute ago, BullTime said:

At one time they were planning to bring a real brahma bull to the games.  As I recall a bull was donated and the plan was to raise it with a lot of human interaction so that it was comfortable around people.  Never heard how it went.

It was nixed because of insurance/safety problem.

Edited September 26, 2017 by Mama_Bull

[Cornada]

5 minutes ago, Mama_Bull said:

It was nixed because of insurance/safety problem.

Figures; dang lawyers

[Mama_Bull]

Flashback:

Mascot was too real to prowl the sidelines at USF football games

• Kevin Smetana, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, January 17, 2009 8:00pm

 

 

Special to the Times

The Brahman bull was to charge out of the tunnel at USF football games. He’s now 1,200-pound Suva Wolfe at Auburn University.

RIVERVIEW — He was supposed to be Rocky II, a hulking Brahman bull mascot prowling the sidelines during University of South Florida football games.

But then he lost his mascot-in-waiting title, his name, and his cushy life at a local ranch.

Rocky II is now Suva Wolfe, tipping the scales at 1,200 pounds and living on a hilltop pasture — at Auburn University.

Suva, called the pick of the litter by a local rancher, was cut before ever hitting the field. Three other bulls picked to be USF mascots weren't so lucky. They'll likely end up on someone's dinner plate, if they haven't already.

Riverview rancher Robert Newsome offered to donate a bull after USF alumnus John Massaro approached him several years ago. Massaro envisioned a live bull charging out of the tunnel on game days.

"I think it would've built excitement for the school to have a real, live mascot on the field," said Massaro, an owner of several local Beef O' Brady's restaurants who pushed the idea for several years.

Newsome and Massaro's plan was to take a 300-pound calf and get him used to being around people. When he reached 500 pounds, the bull would hit the field like Bevo, the University of Texas' Longhorn steer, or Ralphie, the American bison at the University of Colorado.

In summer 2006, USF officials were close to approving the idea. Then the discussions between Massaro and USF's athletic department dragged out, and Rocky II and his three body doubles got too big. The talks ended before the 2007 football season — the same year that USF upset 17th-ranked Auburn on the road.

"I had one bull picked out four times," Massaro said, noting that several local businesses had pledged thousands of dollars in products to maintain the bull. "That was the problem — we never were able to get the approval. I was always ready with a bull in line."

USF assistant athletics director Chris Freet said only that "largely due to the liability issues related to having a live bull at Raymond James Stadium, USF athletics does not have any current or future plans for a live mascot at sporting events."

Still, things could be worse for 2-year-old Suva Wolfe. Of the other three dethroned, would-be mascots, two were sold as commercial cattle and one was sold at market.

Suva, whose first name is derived from his bloodline, would've made the best mascot of the four because of his calm temperament and superior quality, Newsome said. So rather than sell the bull to another rancher and not know his ultimate fate, Newsome shipped Suva to Auburn, where he serves as a beef cattle breeder at the JT Vaughn Large Animal Teaching Hospital.

"I think he's quite happy," said Dwight Wolfe, a professor at the teaching hospital where veterinary students get hands-on training.

Suva spends most his time in a pasture with a Brangus steer that was donated to the program after suffering a broken leg. Twice a year, for about 60 days at a time, Suva performs his breeding duties in an adjacent pasture.

Wolfe, from whom Suva got his last name, said the bull "would make quite a showman" and would've loved it as USF's mascot.

"He's structurally sound," Wolfe said. "To put it in athlete terms, his legs and his back are straight where they should be, and he has a proper amount of muscle everywhere he should have it."

He's also got a lucky streak: Unlike his three counterparts and most breeder bulls, Suva likely won't see the slaughterhouse when his breeding days are over.

"He's kind of special," Wolfe said. "We'll probably let him live his life out here."

Kevin Smetana can be reached at ksmetana@sptimes.com or (813) 661-2439.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/mascot-was-too-real-to-prowl-the-sidelines-at-usf-football-games/968493

[Mama_Bull]

Since Harlan is the AD now, he could revisit the issue of having a live bull at FB games.

IMO, It has always been a good idea to create excitement/tradition. 

If I see him at the next tailgate, I'll broach the subject. However, I think he's already had enough of me. LOL

Edited September 26, 2017 by Mama_Bull

[Mama_Bull]

6 hours ago, KB said:

This idea was posted as a comment on another site in an article about fan attendance.  Someone mentioned USF needs to add more tradition to the games and brought up that USF should fire a military cannon after scores.  This is an excellent idea and would be a great tradition that would also show off our ROTC program.  USF could also get MacDill involved.  From the USF website:

USF is one of only 50 campuses in the Nation that hosts ROTC programs from all of the nation's Armed Services (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force).

It would be great to start this at the Salute to Service game this year.   

Thoughts?

New Ranking Names USF the Nation’s Top College for Veterans

The prestigious recognition by Military Times highlights USF’s initiatives to help student veterans achieve success.

TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 1, 2016) –The University of South Florida has been named the best four year college in the United States for veterans by Military Times EDGE magazine. The “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017” rankings released on Tuesday recognize accredited institutions of higher learning for their commitment to the success of student veterans. USF has consistently placed in the top five, but this is the university’s first time earning the top spot on the annual list.

“It is quite an honor to be ranked number one by this highly respected publication,” said Lawrence Braue, director of the Office of Veteran Success at USF and Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.). "USF has long been committed to serving those who have served in the military.”

The magazine evaluates institutions in five main categories: university culture, academic outcomes/quality, student support, academic policies and cost/financial aid. Evaluations were completed based on a comprehensive 150-question survey submitted by each school, as well as the analysis of public data from three different federal agencies, responses of veterans about what is important to them and the editorial judgment of the magazine.

In the publication, Military Times highlights USF’s proactive efforts to assist student veterans, track their progress and counsel them through their college experience.

With an 83 percent retention rate and 68 percent graduation rate, USF student veterans are highly successful in the transition from the military to college.

“Our goal has always been to find ways to connect veterans with our university and each other,” said Braue. “To ensure their success, we began tracking academic performance more closely and being more proactive in connecting directly with the veteran to offer our assistance. By introducing services like tutoring or counseling, we are very successful in keeping student veterans on the path to graduation.”

The dedicated staff of USF’s Office of Veteran Success is made up of veterans who eagerly assist nearly 1,600 student veterans and their dependents with benefits processing, peer tutoring and career/professional development - all while providing encouragement and camaraderie.

Included with the Army Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times, Military Times EDGE magazine reaches service members in all branches of the military.

Last year Money magazine also named USF the number one college in the country for veterans.

http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=7567&z=220

One of things we could do is give a season ticket discount to all vets.

Considering our very good reputation with the military, we should make every effort to schedule Army and the Air Force. 

I'm sure there are many other things we can do for them as well.

 

 

 

 

[Turd Ferguson]

6 hours ago, KB said:

Great point.  Might as well tell the band and cheerleaders to stay home as well. 

Might just as well, yep.  Invite them back when we're playing in a stadium that's not 75% empty and they'll have a decent chance at helping to create some atmosphere.