Leavitt Wants an Indoor Practice Facility

[USFishin]

September 15, 2009

Arena football: Rain sends Bulls indoors again

Heavy afternoon rains sent USF's football team indoors to practice in the Sun Dome for the second day in a row, limiting the Bulls' preparations for Saturday's home game against Charleston Southern.

"I think Central Florida was smart by building an indoor (practice facility)," coach Jim Leavitt said.

Leavitt has long lobbied for a dining hall tailored for student-athletes, and when asked if he'd prefer a dining hall or a practice facility -- UCF's cost $4.5-million back in 2005, while New Mexico spent $6-million for one in 2007 -- he said he'd rather not choose.

"How about both? Let's be really a Division I BCS school," Leavitt said. "How many BCS schools have a dining hall? Would you say every one of them? How many have an indoor? Not a lot. Up north they do, but Florida doesn't, Florida State doesn't. Miami, I don't think does either. They probably get in the same jam we do. I don't know why it has to be one or the other."

The Bulls worked out on the upper level of the Sun Dome, Leavitt said, in an area where seating is pushed back, but coaches aren't able to do most of what they would do in a typical practice.

"You can throw the ball (in an indoor). You can't do that in there (in Sun Dome)," Leavitt said. "You can punt a ball. You can kick a ball. You can run routes. You can be on turf and actually get footing and do some plays. ... It'd be nice if we went in with the Bucs. I wonder if they run into this jam. Shoot, we could just bus (over) and they could build it where they are. ... It really hasn't affected us over the last number of years."

Leavitt said if he can't practice Wednesday, he could practice Friday, when the team normally just does a walk-through.

THIS AND THAT: Leavitt said he is "not real optimistic" about receiver/holder Evan Landi, who injured his right shoulder Saturday, playing this week. Starting cornerback Quenton Washington, who injured his ankle, is more likely but unsure, Leavitt said. ... USF released an additional 1,000 tickets for student and their guests for the Sept. 26 game at Florida State. The Bulls have sold nearly 12,000 tickets for the game in Tallahassee and are asking fans to "Go Green" to counter a "whiteout" promotion from FSU.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2009/09/arena-football-rain-sends-bulls-indoors.html

[Bullshutter]

I remember hearing a while back that the Bucs had around 14 million in taxpayer money to build an indoor facility, not including their new HQ which they paid for with their own money..... Could the Bucs and Bulls team up and build something together?  Even if I'm wrong about that opening statement, I'm sure both teams could use the facility, the true benefit would be the shared cost.

[Apis Bull]

If the Bucs are involved it would be at One Buc Place.  I'm not sure that USF want's to travel if rain comes.

[2000bull]

Leavitt said in the article, "...Shoot, we could just bus (over) and they could build it where they are. " So I don't think  he cares if it's at their place or not. Mind you, I don't see this happening any time soon.

[Donno]

I heard the Dallas Cowboys have one cheap

[CousinRicky]

I was a bit surprised that he put that on par with a dining facility.  That has been on his wish list forever.  How much good is that indoor facility doing UCiF?  >

[BULLfreak]

when we get one they need have some A/C unlike UCF's

[thatBULL]

lets all pony up and make it happen. ;D

5 million at $500 a piece is 10,000 donations.

If I'm not mistaken USF is 501 C-3.  Most corporations have "giving campaigns" (that have a match) or simply grants/gifts that you can appy for.

This is a tight economy - I know.  However, we keep saying we want to play with the big boys - we need to start putting our money where are mouth is.

I'm in . . . . ;D

[The_Reaper]

If we are to play at noon at FSU, schedule practice all week at noon to get used to the weather. That way you should be able to beat the PM rain and get used to the situations that early.

[bslow7385]

If USF football set up a specific fund, I would be willing to donate as well!  I would really like it if we had funds set up into which we could choose what to contribute too.