Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

College football

USF near to games vs. I-AAs

TAMPA -- South Florida is on the verge of filling one or two of the three openings in its 2003 football schedule with home games against I-AA schools Western Illinois and/or Nicholls State.

A deal with Western Illinois, a I-AA powerhouse, could be finalized by the end of the week, WIU athletic director Tim Van Alstine said. The game would be played Sept. 13 or 20.

"Two things need to be resolved from our end: a date and a contract," Van Alstine said. "I think (USF is) ready to pull the trigger. (USF athletic director) Lee Roy (Selmon) said it was a matter of getting a couple of other scheduling issues resolved.

Van Alstine said money has not been discussed.

Western Illinois, 11-2 last season, lost to national champion Western Kentucky 31-28 in the I-AA quarterfinals. The Leathernecks visited USF on Nov. 10, 2001, a 48-17 Bulls victory.

Nicholls State athletic director Rob Bernardi said he is mulling a tentative offer from Selmon for a Sept. 6 game at Raymond James Stadium.

"We're working out the details of, hopefully, a contract," Bernardi said. "I told (Selmon) I would get back to him. ... I will probably speak with him by the end of the week."

Adding Western Illinois and Nicholls State would give the Bulls 11 games this fall. USF would continue pursuing an additional road game. Eastern Michigan and Baylor exercised buyout options this month. USF has available Saturday dates on Sept. 6, 13 and 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 15 and Dec. 6.

A trip to Hawaii could be available for the Bulls. Akron athletic director Mike Thomas said his school's game this fall at Hawaii probably will be postponed. Hawaii would have an available home game and mutual open dates with USF on Sept. 6 and Dec. 6.

Marshall athletic director Bob Marcum said last week he wants to begin an annual series with the Bulls this fall. Tuesday he said he had not heard back from Selmon but that the Mid-American Conference was assisting on Marshall's schedule and might have contacted USF or Conference USA.

ARKANSAS: The trial of former defensive lineman Jermaine Brooks on drug and weapons charges is scheduled for today in Little Rock barring a delay or a plea agreement.

SAN DIEGO ST.: The NCAA handed down two years' probation for holding banned offseason practices from 1998-2001. The penalties do not include postseason or television bans.

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright