Colleges

USF officially joins Big East

USF president Judy Genshaft says the school's move to the Big East brings it national visibility.

By GREG AUMAN
Published July 1, 2005

TAMPA - A new flag will fly over USF's campus today as Bulls officials celebrate the school's ascension into one of the premier conferences in college athletics.

Today marks USF's official entry into the Big East, a huge step that USF president Judy Genshaft and athletic director Doug Woolard will mark by raising a Big East flag in front of the campus administration building at a ceremony this morning.

"I think it's a remarkable story that this university has a chance to be in a BCS conference because of the youthfulness of the institution," Woolard said. "It's almost unbelievable it could happen."

Believe it or not, USF's future is here, as seen on buttons worn at an alumni luncheon Thursday that read "A PROUD MEMBER" with the USF and Big East logos and today's date.

"It's something we've hoped for and planned for, but now it's a reality," Genshaft said. "It's a very exciting moment."

USF is one of five new members in the 16-member league, along with Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville and Marquette. The Big East will have eight schools for football, with the Bulls playing their first conference game Sept.24 against Louisville at Raymond James Stadium.

Genshaft said the new prominence of playing opponents in the large metropolitan areas of the Northeast will give USF recognition it never could achieve in Conference USA.

"We're playing teams out of the Southeast, so we have a whole new region of the country. It becomes a national visibility," she said. "It's a step up for all of us."

With bigger opponents bringing expectations of larger crowds in football and basketball, and with a more lucrative TV contract, the Big East should give USF an opportunity to expand its athletic budget. As Woolard sees it, the Bulls' move can bring new revenues that reach far beyond campus.

"I think we have a chance to have more economic impact in the Tampa Bay area than a lot of entities," he said. "Think about when we play Syracuse or UConn here, think about the number of graduates who live here or are retired here. They're going to come to the game, they're going to take hotel nights, restaurants, rental cars and other services here."

[Last modified July 1, 2005, 01:24:21]