October - USF president Francis Borkowski convenes a group of 40 faculty, staff, students, alumni and community friends to assess the feasibility of adding a football program.
1992
March 20 - The chair of the feasibility committee, Dr. Leon Mandell, reports to Borkowski that football would be feasible.
Dec. 3 - The Athletics Council votes 15-2 in recommending Borkowski "initiate efforts to determine if ... resources are present to support intercollegiate football at USF."
1993
JULY 12: Lee Roy Selmon named associate athletic director for external affairs. A month later, Selmon is assigned to the community committee formed to raise $10-million for football.
1994
Sept. 19 - Borkowski's successor, Betty Castor (Dec. 10, 1993), states her support for football but asks for a complete review before proceeding.
Oct. 20 - Season ticket commitments available for purchase. Through July, 1995, 2,000 commitments are received.
1995
June 28 - Athletic director Paul Griffin reports the $5-million fund-raising goal has been reached before seeking Florida Board of Regents approval.
July 20 - Regents approve a student fee increase of 50 cents per credit hour in order to generate $350,000 annually to support the football operating budget.
Sept. 15 - At their meeting in Orlando, regents approve USF football.
Dec. 3 - Two days before his 39th birthday, Kansas State co-defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, a St. Petersburg native and Dixie Hollins graduate, is named USF football coach.
1996
February - First recruiting class signed. It grows to 81 players, including walk-ons.
Sept. 6 - First practice.
Sept. 25 - First intrasquad scrimmage.
1997
Sept. 6 - USF, competing as a Division I-AA school, defeats Kentucky Wesleyan 80-3 in its first game before 49,212 at Tampa Stadium, which remains a record home attendance.
Nov. 22 - USF defeats Davidson 48-3 to finish its inaugural campaign 5-6, its only losing season.
1998
Sept. 19 - The Bulls improve to 3-0 with a 24-21 win at Liberty and earn their first I-AA ranking, No. 23 in The Sports Network poll.
Oct. 3 - USF plays the first collegiate game in Raymond James Stadium, beating The Citadel 45-6 before 32,598.
Oct. 17 - The Bulls are dropped from their highest ranking, No. 12, after a 31-24 loss to Western Kentucky.
1999
Sept. 4 - USF plays its first game against a Division I-A team, losing 41-12 at San Diego State.
Oct. 11 - Conference USA presidents vote unanimously to admit USF as a football member beginning in 2003, two years later than USF sought.
2000
Oct. 7 - USF loses 41-7 at Southern Miss in its first game against a C-USA school.
2001
Aug. 30 - After one season in limbo (making the transition from I-AA to I-A), the Bulls make their I-A debut in a 20-17 loss on a final-play field goal at Northern Illinois.
Sept. 8 - USF wins its first game against a I-A school, 35-26 at Pittsburgh. It is generally considered the biggest win in program history.
Nov. 3 - The Bulls win their first game over a C-USA school, 45-6 over Houston.
2002
Sept. 28 - USF loses 31-14 at Oklahoma in its first nationally televised game (TBS) before 74,432, the largest crowd to watch the Bulls play.
Nov. 16 - The Bulls defeat Bowling Green 29-7 at Raymond James Stadium for their first win over a I-A ranked team (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today) and 19th straight at home, the second-longest current streak behind Miami (22).
Nov. 23 - USF wins at Houston 32-14 to finish 9-2, 4-0 against C-USA schools. Leavitt says he will run naked through the streets of Tampa if it will get the Bulls in a bowl game, but USF is shut out despite ranking between No. 14 and 34 on the eight computers used by the BCS.
Dec. 12 - Leavitt, courted by numerous schools since the end of the 2001 season, including Alabama, signs a five-year, 2.835-million deal, more than doubling his salary.
2003
Aug. 30 - The season opener at Alabama is USF's first game on ESPN.
Sept. 27 - USF plays its first C-USA game at Army.
Oct. 4 - USF plays its first C-USA home game against Louisville.
2005
Sept. 3 - USF slated to play before more than 100,000 at Penn State.
Sept. 17 - The Bulls begin a home-and-home series with Central Florida.
2008
Sept. 13 - USF's first game against one of the state's "Big Three," at Florida.
