Leavitt, USF seek support

[Mama_Bull]

Leavitt, USF seek support

By Craig Handel • chandel@news-press.com • June 26, 2008

University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt had seen this before.

He had driven two hours to Estero and there were fewer than 50 people in attendance.

But to Leavitt, it didn't matter. He talked to USF's new dean of engineering, who left Iowa, and told of his experiences of playing and coaching in the corn state. He asked a trivia question. He talked about his team's chances this season. And he kibitzed with fans after he, men's basketball coach Stan Heath and athletic director Doug Woolard talked to the small assembly Tuesday night at the Crowne Plaza. It was part of the Bulls' Around The Horn state gatherings.

To Leavitt, this reminded him of Kiwanis and Rotary events years ago.

"We used to have 20, 30 people," he said. "Now we have a couple of hundred. At other events, we'll have 600 or 700."

Through Leavitt's hard work, desire and loyalty, South Florida has developed one of the better college football programs in the nation.

When USF beat Auburn and West Virginia as it moved to No. 2 in the national rankings last season, the Bulls literally became an overnight success.

"It was like a light switch flipped on in Tampa when we got ranked that high," Woolard said. "When we played West Virginia in front of 67,000 fans, I had fans tell me it was louder than any Bucs game they had been to. The SunTrust building was green and gold. The mayor declared it 'Bulls Day' and put a banner up on city hall.

"People are starting to understand what an asset an entire university is."

Largely because of the football team's success, the booster events have extended from Tampa, Bradenton and Lakeland to Miami and Estero.

Woolard said the event in Estero is more friend-raising than fundraising. USF's deans of engineering and business spoke, as well as the coaches.

"There may not be big numbers here, but all it takes is one," Leavitt said, referring to a donor.

If the Bulls' football success continues, so will the interest.

Already it has shown in attendance and donations. Last season, USF's averaged 53,000 fans, which was a 23,000-per-game improvement - the best in the nation.

At one time, there were just three Iron Bulls - similar to Florida's Bull Gators major boosters - who made yearly donations of $10,000. Now there are 90. There also is a $25,000-a-year donor and a $50,000-a-year contributor. Woolard said that donations also have been as high as $3 million.

And with USF's enrollment at 45,000 - which ranks No. 9 among public universities in the country - and a Tampa-St. Petersburg-area population of 31/2 million, there are a lot of potential fans.

Leavitt said he'd like to hold a golf tournament here with former USF player Anthony Henry. Heath said he's had preliminary talks with Florida Gulf Coast University men's basketball coach Dave Balza of playing two games in Tampa and one in Fort Myers. He'd like to play other state teams as well.

"We want to get more of a presence for our program around the state," Heath said. "Not normally do coaches want to play in those environments. But this allows us to play very competitive teams and reduce the cost of travel."

From these gatherings, Heath said a lot of people are interested in being part of the Bulls' family.

"We have to find people who are previously connected and have an interest in our school," he said. "We want to draw both of those groups into USF and get more fans to our games."

Leavitt, who was also on the ground floor of Kansas State's turnaround, said building the program at USF was harder.

"Kansas State was lousy but it had tradition, it had been to a bowl game, it had some players," he said. "We were never bad, but we had nothing. We had no alumni.

"But seeing this happen is really amazing."

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/SPORTS/806260376/1010/SPORTS

[Costa]

Great article. The more fans we have, whether they are alumni or not, the better the chances are for more donations. In order to get better facilities (which we need), we need more donations from fans! I think its great the CJL travels the state and does everything he can to better this university.

[E.T.]

And we are growing ... and each new fan giving what they can helps greatly.

Future is very bright at USF, especially football.

Go BULLS !!!

[SANJAY]

Was there.  Small but good event.  Thanks to Anwar and those in Athletics for putting it together.  Small correction, the event was at the embassy Suites not Crown Plaza.

Also, for those in Southwest Florida, the news-press intends on running a college football preview cover with the 5 bulls currently from the area: Taurus Johnson, Nate Allen, Louis Gachette, Tyson Butler and Quenton Washington.

[smazza]

Leavitt, USF seek support

By Craig Handel • chandel@news-press.com • June 26, 2008

University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt had seen this before.

He had driven two hours to Estero and there were fewer than 50 people in attendance.

But to Leavitt, it didn't matter. He talked to USF's new dean of engineering, who left Iowa, and told of his experiences of playing and coaching in the corn state. He asked a trivia question. He talked about his team's chances this season. And he kibitzed with fans after he, men's basketball coach Stan Heath and athletic director Doug Woolard talked to the small assembly Tuesday night at the Crowne Plaza. It was part of the Bulls' Around The Horn state gatherings.

To Leavitt, this reminded him of Kiwanis and Rotary events years ago.

"We used to have 20, 30 people," he said. "Now we have a couple of hundred. At other events, we'll have 600 or 700."

Through Leavitt's hard work, desire and loyalty, South Florida has developed one of the better college football programs in the nation.

When USF beat Auburn and West Virginia as it moved to No. 2 in the national rankings last season, the Bulls literally became an overnight success.

"It was like a light switch flipped on in Tampa when we got ranked that high," Woolard said. "When we played West Virginia in front of 67,000 fans, I had fans tell me it was louder than any Bucs game they had been to. The SunTrust building was green and gold. The mayor declared it 'Bulls Day' and put a banner up on city hall.

"People are starting to understand what an asset an entire university is."

Largely because of the football team's success, the booster events have extended from Tampa, Bradenton and Lakeland to Miami and Estero.

Woolard said the event in Estero is more friend-raising than fundraising. USF's deans of engineering and business spoke, as well as the coaches.

"There may not be big numbers here, but all it takes is one," Leavitt said, referring to a donor.

If the Bulls' football success continues, so will the interest.

Already it has shown in attendance and donations. Last season, USF's averaged 53,000 fans, which was a 23,000-per-game improvement - the best in the nation.

At one time, there were just three Iron Bulls - similar to Florida's Bull Gators major boosters - who made yearly donations of $10,000. Now there are 90. There also is a $25,000-a-year donor and a $50,000-a-year contributor. Woolard said that donations also have been as high as $3 million.

And with USF's enrollment at 45,000 - which ranks No. 9 among public universities in the country - and a Tampa-St. Petersburg-area population of 31/2 million, there are a lot of potential fans.

Leavitt said he'd like to hold a golf tournament here with former USF player Anthony Henry. Heath said he's had preliminary talks with Florida Gulf Coast University men's basketball coach Dave Balza of playing two games in Tampa and one in Fort Myers. He'd like to play other state teams as well.

"We want to get more of a presence for our program around the state," Heath said. "Not normally do coaches want to play in those environments. But this allows us to play very competitive teams and reduce the cost of travel."

From these gatherings, Heath said a lot of people are interested in being part of the Bulls' family.

"We have to find people who are previously connected and have an interest in our school," he said. "We want to draw both of those groups into USF and get more fans to our games."

Leavitt, who was also on the ground floor of Kansas State's turnaround, said building the program at USF was harder.

"Kansas State was lousy but it had tradition, it had been to a bowl game, it had some players," he said. "We were never bad, but we had nothing. We had no alumni.

"But seeing this happen is really amazing."

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/SPORTS/806260376/1010/SPORTS

funny coming from millionare coach

[Orlando Bull]

Leavitt, USF seek support

By Craig Handel • chandel@news-press.com • June 26, 2008

University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt had seen this before.

He had driven two hours to Estero and there were fewer than 50 people in attendance.

But to Leavitt, it didn't matter. He talked to USF's new dean of engineering, who left Iowa, and told of his experiences of playing and coaching in the corn state. He asked a trivia question. He talked about his team's chances this season. And he kibitzed with fans after he, men's basketball coach Stan Heath and athletic director Doug Woolard talked to the small assembly Tuesday night at the Crowne Plaza. It was part of the Bulls' Around The Horn state gatherings.

To Leavitt, this reminded him of Kiwanis and Rotary events years ago.

"We used to have 20, 30 people," he said. "Now we have a couple of hundred. At other events, we'll have 600 or 700."

Through Leavitt's hard work, desire and loyalty, South Florida has developed one of the better college football programs in the nation.

When USF beat Auburn and West Virginia as it moved to No. 2 in the national rankings last season, the Bulls literally became an overnight success.

"It was like a light switch flipped on in Tampa when we got ranked that high," Woolard said. "When we played West Virginia in front of 67,000 fans, I had fans tell me it was louder than any Bucs game they had been to. The SunTrust building was green and gold. The mayor declared it 'Bulls Day' and put a banner up on city hall.

"People are starting to understand what an asset an entire university is."

Largely because of the football team's success, the booster events have extended from Tampa, Bradenton and Lakeland to Miami and Estero.

Woolard said the event in Estero is more friend-raising than fundraising. USF's deans of engineering and business spoke, as well as the coaches.

"There may not be big numbers here, but all it takes is one," Leavitt said, referring to a donor.

If the Bulls' football success continues, so will the interest.

Already it has shown in attendance and donations. Last season, USF's averaged 53,000 fans, which was a 23,000-per-game improvement - the best in the nation.

At one time, there were just three Iron Bulls - similar to Florida's Bull Gators major boosters - who made yearly donations of $10,000. Now there are 90. There also is a $25,000-a-year donor and a $50,000-a-year contributor. Woolard said that donations also have been as high as $3 million.

And with USF's enrollment at 45,000 - which ranks No. 9 among public universities in the country - and a Tampa-St. Petersburg-area population of 31/2 million, there are a lot of potential fans.

Leavitt said he'd like to hold a golf tournament here with former USF player Anthony Henry. Heath said he's had preliminary talks with Florida Gulf Coast University men's basketball coach Dave Balza of playing two games in Tampa and one in Fort Myers. He'd like to play other state teams as well.

"We want to get more of a presence for our program around the state," Heath said. "Not normally do coaches want to play in those environments. But this allows us to play very competitive teams and reduce the cost of travel."

From these gatherings, Heath said a lot of people are interested in being part of the Bulls' family.

"We have to find people who are previously connected and have an interest in our school," he said. "We want to draw both of those groups into USF and get more fans to our games."

Leavitt, who was also on the ground floor of Kansas State's turnaround, said building the program at USF was harder.

"Kansas State was lousy but it had tradition, it had been to a bowl game, it had some players," he said. "We were never bad, but we had nothing. We had no alumni.

"But seeing this happen is really amazing."

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/SPORTS/806260376/1010/SPORTS

funny coming from millionare coach

I don't even know what that means, but it's funny coming from a california attorney.