Colleges

Atlanta wooing Bulls for future visit

Athletic director Doug Woolard has had multiple conversations with the Atlanta Sports Council, as recently as a month ago, about the possibility of playing in the Georgia Dome, potentially as early as 2009.

By GREG AUMAN
Published October 31, 2007

TAMPA - Is the next step for the football program scheduling a neutral-site game with an SEC or ACC opponent in Atlanta?

Athletic director Doug Woolard has had multiple conversations with the Atlanta Sports Council, as recently as a month ago, about the possibility of playing in the Georgia Dome, potentially as early as 2009.

"We've talked with Doug Woolard a couple of times to express our interest in having USF play here, and he's expressed an interest as well," ASC president Gary Stoken said. "We think South Florida is a fan base that is only going to continue to grow."

Georgia has emerged as a secondary recruiting area for the Bulls, and such a game would come in addition to six home games, taking the place of a traditional road game. Woolard has a policy of not commenting on future football scheduling.

"Our talks have been more strategic than talking about a particular year or a particular opponent," said Stoken, who said he also has talked with West Virginia and Louisville about games against an ACC or SEC opponent.

Stoken said Georgia high schools make the state a fertile recruiting ground, ranking first in Division I-A football signings per capita and fourth overall behind California, Florida and Texas. USF's next opening on its schedule would be in 2009.

HOOPS IS HERE: Basketball fans get their first look at Stan Heath's team tonight at the Sun Dome as the Bulls play an exhibition against Saint Leo.

Heath has not decided on a starting lineup beyond center Kentrell Gransberry and point guard Chris Howard, though tonight's is expected to include junior guard Jesus Verdejo and freshmenDominique Jones and Orane Chin at forward. Heath is hoping to see more consistency from his freshmen.

"One minute, they can pressure the hell out of the ball, and the next minute, you don't even know they're there," Heath said. "You want to get where the abilities they have, they can sustain the same abilities whether they get fatigued mentally or not."

With a new system to put in place, Heath said the biggest transitions are mental and not physical, but he has been pleased by his team's progress.

"I'd like to get to the point where there's not as many plays we take off," he said. "I'd like us to be able to play 40 minutes and look like a well-conditioned team, not turn it over a lot and really get after it on the defensive end."

There's plenty of competition as Chin is being pushed by junior B.J. Ajayi, who will also back up Gransberry; sophomore Solomon Bozeman will push for time at both guard spots; and sophomore Amu Saaka will challenge at both forward positions.

NOT DONE YET: Defensive end Jarriett Buie will be recognized as a senior this month, but it doesn't mean he's done playing for the Bulls.

Initial NCAA nonqualifiers such as Buie must sit out a year then are limited to three seasons of eligibility unless they can graduate by the end of their fourth year. Buie, who has 20 tackles as a starting end, said Tuesday he's on pace to graduate next summer with a degree in sociology and criminology, which would allow him to return next season.

THIS AND THAT: The women's soccer team got the last berth in this week's Big East tournament, playing an opening-round game at Villanova at 1 p.m. Thursday. A win puts them at West Virginia on Sunday. ... The women's basketball team has an exhibition Sunday against the Miami Sun. Jose Fernandez has been pleased by the play of 5-foot-6 freshman Gianna Messina, who played at Academy of Holy Names and is competing for playing time on the wing.

[Last modified October 30, 2007, 23:23:50]