South Florida announced its 2003 football schedule Thursday, several months after most Division I-A schools announced theirs.
But most schools did not get dumped by two teams in a one-week span in early February.
USF added Division I-AA Charleston Southern, which it defeated 56-6 last season, to complete an 11-game slate. The Bulls added I-AA Nicholls State in early March after I-A schools Eastern Michigan and Baylor exercised buyout options on games against USF.
USF is one shy of the 12-game maximum for this season and is not likely to add another, though coach Jim Leavitt said "never say never."
"We've certainly pursued anybody and everybody," Leavitt said. "It's been difficult ... but we're excited. Opening with Alabama, and Nicholls State is one of best I-AA teams in country and went to playoffs last season and eight teams from Conference USA. It's a very, very tough schedule."
USF also announced a game for Sept. 18, 2004, at South Carolina. The Bulls have nonconference games at Bowling Green (Sept. 11) and home against Pitt (Sept. 25) arranged for 2004.
"When we had the cancellations, we worked diligently to replace them with I-A teams but we were unable to get that done," athletic director Lee Roy Selmon said. "At the same time, we feel the 2003 schedule is still the toughest and the most exciting we have faced in our seven seasons."
BIG EAST: The five football schools not invited to join the ACC are committed to keeping Miami, Syracuse and Boston College from leaving. UConn athletic director Lew Perkins said he is hopeful the united front of UConn, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Rutgers is enough to persuade the three to stay put. A decision is expected by June 30, he said. Perkins said regardless of their decision, the three schools have to participate in the Big East until '05.
Baseball
C-USA TOURNAMENT: Myron Leslie, Travis Brown and Allen Shirley each had two RBIs as South Florida beat Texas Christian 10-6, eliminating the Horned Frogs in New Orleans. Starter David Austen went six innings and got the win, striking out five and allowing five earned runs on seven hits and five walks. The Bulls face Louisville, which fell 3-1 to Tulane, today.
ACC TOURNAMENT: Matt Lynch pitched eight innings and Florida State had 14 hits in a 13-0 victory against Duke in the first round at Salem. The 'Noles face North Carolina, a 10-2 winner over Clemson.
SEC TOURNAMENT: Sean Gamble drove in two runs as Auburn beat Vanderbilt 3-1 in Hoover, Ala. The Tigers face Alabama, which beat South Carolina 9-7, today.
SUN BELT TOURNAMENT: Dennis Diaz's first home run of the year, a two-run shot in the sixth inning, lifted Florida International 5-4 over Arkansas State in Lafayette, La.
Basketball
USF: Women's coach Jose Fernandez agreed to a three-year, $267,200 contract. Fernandez, 31, is 25-57 in three seasons - 7-20 last season, 2-12 C-USA. He vastly upgraded USF's nonconference schedule, including hosting national champion UConn last season.
"This type of commitment to the program shows, not only our present players, but future prospects, that the university and our athletic department is serious about women's basketball," Fernandez said.
Fernandez will earn $80,000 next season, $84,000 in 2004-05 and $88,200 in 2005-06, plus a $5,000 annual payment for radio and TV appearances. Incentives range from $2,000 to $7,500.
"One of the reasons we're rewarding him with this are because of his efforts in recruiting ... and making an impact in the state of Florida, which we've never been able to do before," associate AD Barry Clements said.
CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Hillsborough Community College men's assistant Tim Ryan was named head coach. "I'm excited. I think it's a great program and a great opportunity," Ryan said. "They have a great setup there."
Ryan, who coached St. Petersburg Catholic from 1997-2000, replaces longtime coach Gene Smithson. CFCC is in Ocala, about 90 minutes away. Ryan said his family will remain in Pinellas County. His daughter Nicole is an All-Suncoast guard for Clearwater High.
Golf
FLORIDA: Andrea Vander Lende, who shot a tournament-best 69, was tied for the lead at 4-over 220 with Southern Cal's Mikaela Parmlid at the NCAA Championship in West Lafayette, Ind. USC was first after the third round (37-over 901), UF fifth (918).
Tennis
WOMEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP: Florida's Jennifer Magley of Bradenton and Zerene Reyes upset Vandy's Sarah Riske and Aleke Tsoubanos 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the semis in Gainesville. They face Kentucky's Sarah Witten and Amy Trefethen at noon today.
MEN'S SINGLES: Florida sophomore Hamid Mirzadeh advanced to the quarterfinals in Athens, Ga., defeating North Carolina's Trystan Meniane 6-3, 6-2. He faces Tulane's Michael Kogan today.
- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
