The real bull will make his debut in 2007 when he's big and intimidating enough.
By Shannoncolavecchio-Van Sickler
Published July 7, 2006
TAMPA - No bull, it's official: The University of South Florida has a live mascot.
Rocky II, a Brahman bull calf from Riverview, is the new face of USF athletics.
"Any time you can say you literally run with the bulls, it's going to be a good time," Kosha Irby, assistant athletic director of marketing and event management, said Thursday.
Riverview rancher Robert Newsome donated the bull after meeting USF alumnus John Massaro, a local Beef O' Brady's franchise owner who has tried for months to make his dream of a live mascot come true.
"The last two years, whenever I've gone to the football games, I've envisioned the bull there," said Massaro, 40, who lives in Tampa and grew up in Brandon. "I would see Rocky running across the field."
Officials say the timing of Rocky II's arrival is ideal, given the continued development of the football program. The USF Bulls played late last year in their first bowl game, the Meineke Car Care Bowl against N.C. State.
But Rocky II is not quite 5 months old and weighs a mere 200 or so pounds, so don't expect to see him before the 2007 football season.
For now, Rocky II is at Newsome's ranch in southern Hillsborough, preparing to join the ranks of college mascots like Bevo the Texas Longhorn and Ralphie the Colorado Buffalo.
USF's current mascot, now known as Rocky I, is a human in a furry gray bull costume. USF officials have long pondered a real Rocky the Bull. But the stars didn't line up until Massaro stepped in, said Irby.
In recent weeks, Massaro and USF officials reached an agreement that makes Rocky II the mascot, as long as Massaro gets someone to care for the bull.
Massaro is trying to arrange for a high school agriculture program, such as Durant, to care for Rocky II.
Irby said the safety of students, players and staff will be the first priority when planning Rocky II's public appearances, but they haven't worked out the details.
Newsome said he chose this particular calf because "this calf's a little bit nicer than others."
Todd Thrift, an assistant professor of cattle management at the University of Florida, said it's a "popular myth" that Brahman bulls are inherently aggressive.
"Actually, some are very gentle," he said. "They can be very docile if they have lots of exposure to people. If they're handled gently, they will be fine."
Rocky II will grow to be as big as 2,000 pounds.
"He'll be a big boy," Newsome promised. "He'll make those football players look small."
Oh, and what about Rocky I?
He's not going anywhere, Irby said. Only now, he'll have to share the spotlight.
