Why the heck did the game start at 6 last nite?

[BullDoug]

It took me an hour to get to the S'Dome from Brandon going up US301.  I tried twice to get to I75 at US60 and MLK but traffic was at a complete stand still and went back to US301.  If it had to do with halftime and the 3.0 gpa's it could of waited for a Sat. game.  That was a nice gesture but just a 3.0?  Isn't that like the min. stu's should grad with?  Let's keep it to the dean's list.  Anyway, whatever USF official made this decision better have a legit excuse.  

[Zonald]

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGBHKO4G6JE.html

Arena's Bottom Line Not So Bright

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BRETT MCMURPHY

Published: Feb 2, 2006

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TAMPA - When the University of South Florida men's basketball team hosts DePaul on Friday at 6 p.m. - that's right, 6 - it will be a historic night in the Sun Dome.

Sure, it might be the Bulls' best opportunity to get their first Big East victory, but it also will be the last time a USF men's or women's conference basketball game will be dictated by a cheerleading contest or a home and garden show.

Friday's early start time against DePaul is needed because the Sun Dome has to be configured for a dance and cheerleading competition being held there this weekend.

In past years, events such as a Mario Frangoulis concert (I have no clue who he is, either), the U.S. Open Taekwondo Championships, the Bay Area Home and Patio Show or the Winter Guard International South Power Regional caused scheduling hardships for the basketball programs.

However, a new Big East rule prohibits campus venues from booking events until the league completes the men's and women's basketball conference schedules. Exceptions are university functions, such as graduations.

The rule was put in place because of the difficulty scheduling league games for 16 schools, five of which share an arena with an NBA team, said Big East associate commissioner Tom Odjakjian.

While the decision is great news for the basketball programs - USF no longer will go three weeks between January home conference games like in 2004 or play four games in seven days - it could be devastating to the Sun Dome's ability to host any non-USF events from January through early March, meaning the Sun Dome will lose even more money.

"It's good from an athletic standpoint, but it will make it a little more difficult to schedule outside events," USF AD Doug Woolard said. "It probably will restrict [scheduling] some of the [outside] events."