From Tampa Sports comm.  - FAMU/USF Classic

[Brad]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            CONTACT:

November 24, 2004                                                            

                                                                                                           

Tampa, Fla. -- The University of South Florida and Florida A&M University football teams will meet in the inaugural Tampa Bay Sports Commission Classic on September 10, 2005 at Raymond James Stadium, the three parties announced today.

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission has been instrumental in coordinating the first-ever meeting between two programs that have added much to the college football tradition in Tampa Bay.  The sports commission is a division of the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, the official tourism marketing organization for Hillsborough County.

“You cannot speak of Tampa Bay’s college football tradition without mentioning Florida A&M University,” says USF Director of Athletics Doug Woolard. “The many years that Florida A&M played football in this area may have helped lay the foundation that has enabled USF to bring college football back to the Tampa Bay area on a permanent basis. So I am pleased to be able to play a role in continuing that tradition by playing this game.”

“Florida A&M is excited to return to Tampa and take on USF,” says Florida A&M Director of Athletics Dr. Joseph Ramsey, II.  “This is a game that all of our fans have wanted for a long time.  We look forward to not only a great football game, but an exceptional weekend of events as well.”

The game marks Florida A&M’s first appearance in Tampa since 1996, the year prior to USF’s inaugural season. The Rattlers and their famed “Marching 100” band are no strangers to playing in front of large crowds, with recent appearances in the Georgia Dome, the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, the Louisiana Super Dome, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and Ford Field in Detroit.

“The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is excited to be involved in this strong partnership with Florida A & M University and the University of South Florida,” says the commission’s Executive Director Rob Higgins.  “We are committed to making this an incredible and memorable weekend for all of the fans, players, and coaches.”  

[BullWriter]

This "inaugural Tampa Bay Sports Commission Classic" verbiage implies that it will be an annual game.

Are we happy with a guaranteed 1-AA on the schedule every year?

[Guest HowieP1]

Tampa, Fla. -- The University of South Florida and Florida A&M University football teams will meet in the inaugural Tampa Bay Sports Commission Classic on September 10, 2005 at Raymond James Stadium, the three parties announced today.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it sounds like this will be a yearly game. Well, if we have to schedule a 1-AA team every year at home anyway it might as well be FAMU.

[CyberBull]

Maybe the term "inaugural" refers to an annual game hosted and financed by the  Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC) and FAMu just happens to be the first opponent. This of course assumes that USF will always be the host team.

This could be a way of woolard getting the community involved and getting the TBSC to help with dollars needed to bring a higher caliber team in the future.

Then again, if this is true why would they have not announced this during the press conference?

Forgive me for not being more excited. A permanent date with any Division I-AA team is not very exciting. It's bad enough we now have SOS killing UCF on our schedule.

[Guest HowieP1]

Maybe the term "inaugural" refers to an annual game hosted and financed by the  Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC) and FAMu just happens to be the first opponent. This of course assumes that USF will always be the host team.

This could be a way of woolard getting the community involved and getting the TBSC to help with dollars needed to bring a higher caliber team in the future.

Cyber...You make an interesting point.

There is nothing on the TBSC site yet about this.

I noticed that one of its Sponsors is:

http://www.tampabaysports.org/athletic_events_sponsors.html

This may be a way of getting "Glazer" money to us indirectly, since I think the "Bucs" marketing deal fell through because of it being a professional team.

It's conceivable that TBSC would then have enough sponsor's money to pay a decent team to come here every year.

[bullsmania]

Maybe we can ask Woolard about this at the luncheon in December.  I will see if we can get a straight answer.

[79 Bull]

Guys, this press release says absolutely nothing except that there will be a game called the whatever Classic at RayJay every year.  USF and FAMU just happen to be the teams for the inaugural game.  It says nothing about USF and/or FAMU always being a participant.

I am sure the papers will ask all the questions we are and there will be an article clearing it all up in tomorrow morning's editions.

[GarySJ]

Yeah, it could be like the Dodge Shootout where one game a year is designated.

The idea of a "Classic" at RJS also doesn't mean that USF will play in it every year. It could be a neutral-site game between FAMU and somebody else. That is a common practice among HBUCs.

[RHBullsFan]

Howie, I am in total agreement with you. If we must continue to schedule a 1AA team every year, we might as well make an in-state team that will bring some crowds along with an entertaining band.

[Guest HowieP1]

Yeah, it could be like the Dodge Shootout where one game a year is designated.

The idea of a "Classic" at RJS also doesn't mean that USF will play in it every year. It could be a neutral-site game between FAMU and somebody else. That is a common practice among HBUCs.

Gary...Bulliever or yourself might wish to call the TBSC and get the actual info, since you are part of the media:

The TBSC public relations department serves as a resource for media interested in all sports-related issues in the Tampa Bay area. We can provide qualified media with photographs, b-roll, editorial content, and other information, and would be happy to schedule interviews for you with Tampa Bay's sports leaders.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need additional promotions information. You may call our office at (813) 342-4076.