Article in Today's Oracle about on Campus Stadium

[Matt]

I don't know if someone can find it online and post the link but in class today I was reading the Oracle and it mentioned that the student body president is trying to get the ball rolling in hopes of having one around 2015 or so.

[Apis Bull]

A modest proposal?

By Chris Wagenheim

Staff Writer

February 16, 2005

The Bull Bowl? Genshaft Field? The Pasture?

If Bijal Chhadva and Andrew Aubery get their way, all of these could be names for an on-campus football stadium here at USF, but the student population should not get their hopes up of tailgating on Holly Drive. Though USF has no plans to even look into building a stadium -- let alone begin construction -- the Student Government administration is just trying to spark some preliminary interest in the idea.

"Athletics has no plans for an on-campus stadium due to the very young football team," Aubery said. "There are no plans for a stadium, but I would like to initiate something to show student interest, because a lot of students this year are complaining we do not have an on-campus stadium."

According to a Feb. 1 memorandum from Associate Athletic Director Vicki Mitchell to Aubery, the USF Athletic Department has agreed to establish a fund in the USF Foundation for private donations sought by SG in support of a future on-campus football stadium.

"Athletics has just agreed that we can start the fund," Aubery said. "They are in no way agreeing that a stadium is going to go up on campus or that they are even looking into it."

Along with insisting that SG does not misrepresent the intentions of the Athletic Department, the seven-point memorandum also makes it clear that the USF Foundation, Inc. will manage and invest all received funds.

Perhaps the most important of the agreed-upon points, however, is the agreement that outlines a timetable of events and what happens to the fund if that timetable is not met.

"If, by July 1, 2015, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has not begun any study of an on-campus stadium, dollars in the Student Stadium Initiative fund my be transferred to the University's general scholarship fund," Point 4 of the memorandum stated.

As for what constitutes a study, Aubery did not have any details and Mitchell did not return two phone calls from the Oracle.

Aubery, however, is sure that the Athletic Department will be willing to extend the contract beyond 2015 if enough interest has been shown in the project.

"I think if there is a lot of money in this account, I don't think that athletics will say, 'Oh yeah, let's just move it.' They will extend the contract," Aubery said.

Aubery, who plans on using this as a piece of his platform while running for the office of student body president, vows to continue pushing for an on-campus stadium regardless of his position in SG, eventually fishing for big donors.

"It is just a spark, but hopefully it will be a wildfire before ten years," Aubery said.

Although the prospect of an on-campus stadium seems exciting, some student responses to the idea were mixed.

"What do we have, 5,000 students on campus? I don't think that even half of them attend the games at Raymond James just because of transportation," marketing major Nick Derise said. "It would increase school morale, you know, brand equity and brand identity -- you are not a real Division-I school until you have an on-campus stadium."

Opposite that is another student who is against the idea due to the comforts that Raymond James provides to the USF student population.

"I like Raymond James. I think it is a blast," graduate student Craig Ajmo said. "(The fans) can drink there and everything. It's a little more accommodating -- you don't have to stand the whole time because they have the seats and everything, so I dig (Raymond James)."

And according to yet another student, class earns you a stadium, and USF's football does not have enough points in that area as of yet.

"If the team comes up with a little bit of integrity, I think they deserve it. When I started going here they had class," biomedical science major Sarah Ford said. "To be honest with you, I think they are a bunch of thugs. In my opinion, they are not very nice, they are not very classy and the staff is wonderful. We just have to instill some tradition, I think. (The students) deserve an on-campus stadium, (the football team) does not. Not yet."

Football Stadium

[TyBull]

Hey, footBULL was talked about for many years before Frank Borkowski authorized a study. Maybe this is the first step in a long journey.....

P.S. I love Ray-Jay

"What do we have, 5,000 students on campus? I don't think that even half of them attend the games at Raymond James just because of transportation," marketing major Nick Derise said. "It would increase school morale, you know, brand equity and brand identity -- you are not a real Division-I school until you have an on-campus stadium."

What? I guess that by that description, UMiami is not a real D-1 Unviersity.

[Jewbull]

Athletics is not against the idea, they are just not funding it right now or planning to put a fundraiser together for it. But I'll bet ya if a group of people approached athletics with $100-150 millon dollar check that stadium would go up somewhere real quick. I hope to be that guy one day I want an on-campus stadium REAL BAD.

[achiever1911]

This quote is really disturbing...........

"If the team comes up with a little bit of integrity, I think they deserve it. When I started going here they had class," biomedical science major Sarah Ford said. "To be honest with you, I think they are a bunch of thugs. In my opinion, they are not very nice, they are not very classy and the staff is wonderful. We just have to instill some tradition, I think. (The students) deserve an on-campus stadium, (the football team) does not. Not yet."  

[bulls96go]

pitt is not a real d1 program!

[Omniscientbull]

I wonder which football player had a one night stand with Sarah Ford?

[BULLheaded]

I think the students should first show they will support the team win or lose and show up regardless of record, weather, day of the week, holiday, time of day or many of the other numerous excuses. Once the support is there then a stadium probaby won't be too far behind.

[thatBULL]

I am about as large a bull fan as they come, but we have to be realistic.  If everyone could assemble the teams Miami does, it wouldn't matter where you play. but we are no Miami (yet). Without a stadium on campus it is practically impossible to achieve a true college atmosphere at football games, which not only draws fans, but recruits.  Most are only in college for 4 years, although apparently that number is nearing 5, and will never be able to relive their college days again.  Not too mention it would attract many casual fans, as well as alumni.  Although you might not think so, stating miami as an example, we are not miami and it would make a world of difference.  I'm not trying to be critical on USF, it is amazing what they have done with the program in a short period of time (and that the university is not yet 50), but an on campus stadium would be the best thing the program could do (although it would be nearly impossible in the near future).  I truly believe that this program is going inthe right direction and have faith in the athletic department that there will be huge things in store for USF in the future.

[beastiebull]

Although impossible to think of at this point, having an on campus stadium would attract the type of students who are looking for that "traditional" college atmosphere.  These types of students would be more apt to attend football games, thus increasing revenue and attendance.  We still have a lot of non traditional students who live in Pinellas and come to USF-Tampa for class and then go home.   Students who support athletics become donors who support athletics.  The commuter students generally do not "give back" to the university once they graduate.  To me this is one of the reasons why our donor base is not up to par.  (well that and being only 50 years old of course...)