USF BULLS Excitement in Lakeland

[Don Toro]

By Lisa Coffey

Along U.S. 98, in a blue-collar section of South Lakeland, sits a sign of success. (Grothe's Billboard)

Success for a university that's toiled decades for respect amid larger siblings.

And success for an offshoot of that university seeking its share of the respect.

If the sign screams, "the University of South Florida has arrived," then the face on the sign says, "Lakeland is driving."

A billboard promoting USF's football game Saturday against the University of North Carolina went up Wednesday at U.S. 98 and Winter Lake Road. The larger-than-life-image is of sophomore quarterback Matt Grothe, a former Lake Gibson star who led USF to its first bowl victory last year and was named the Big East freshman of the year.

Saturday's game will be USF's first as a nationally ranked team. The Bulls are 23rd in The Associated Press poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches poll after a thrilling overtime upset of then-No. 17 Auburn two weeks ago.

Students and faculty say the new attention is great for the university and the Lakeland campus.

"This kind of national coverage for football allows people to connect with the institution who wouldn't have," said David Steele III, USF Lakeland director of university advancement. "The number of times Lakeland is mentioned in a broadcast is substantial. That's good for us as well.

"It's definitely something marketing is taking advantage of," said Steele, who gave up his normal bow tie on Wednesday for a USF polo.

Steele said he's had out-of-state family members call him with trivia they heard about the university on national broadcasts.

Saturday's game will be shown at noon on ESPN. It will be the Bulls' third consecutive game aired on national television.

"It brings a lot of attention to us," said USF junior Isaiah Jewell, 20, who attended Evangel Christian (now Victory) and graduated the same year Grothe graduated from Lake Gibson. "Now more people will want to come to USF."

Bulls fans have long coveted a day when USF football would be considered the equal of Florida's traditional Big Three - Florida, Florida State and Miami.

"This helps with recruiting," said USF senior Nick Taylor, 27, from Cocoa Beach. "Maybe Lakeland High School will have players going here instead of Florida or FSU."

USF's 11-year-old football program made it into a national poll in its seventh season after moving into the upper-tier Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A). Only Boise State has made a top 25 list faster - appearing in the USA Today Coaches poll for the first time on Nov. 11, 2002, a span of 114 polls. Since USF joined the FBS in 2001, 124 coaches polls have been released.

"It's just been a matter of time," said Renee Campisi, a Santa Fe grad and USF Lakeland non-degree student. "Auburn was great to watch. They played like they've been playing like that for years."

But for some fans, like 26-year-old nursing student Jacob Levy, it wasn't fast enough.

"We beat Auburn," he said. "We should be No. 17, and they should be No. 23."

Levy acknowledged campus morale is higher.

"Football is an integral part of college life," he said. "It adds another dynamic to the whole college experience and this is drawing more attention to the school on a state and national level."

All 250 tickets for faculty and staff for Saturday's game went quicker than usual. And Steele said the upper deck at Raymond James Stadium, where the Bulls play, has been opened for the West Virginia game next week - the earliest that's ever happened.

And to top things off, Saturday's game has been designated USF Lakeland Community Day.

Coincidence, or another sign?

As folks at USF Lakeland will gladly point out, the Bulls have never lost on USF Lakeland Community Day - going 2-0.

"Two years ago, we won over Louisville on USF Lakeland night and made national headlines," Steele said. "We're kind of proud of that. Last year we beat Connecticut and Matt scored right in front of us. We like to feel like we're lucky."

http://www.theledger.com/article/20070920/NEWS/709200585/1002/SPORTS

[bullwark]

A Sign of Success

USF's New Fame Energizes Polk Campus

By Lisa Coffey

Along U.S. 98, in a blue-collar section of South Lakeland, sits a sign of success.

Success for a university that's toiled decades for respect amid larger siblings.

And success for an offshoot of that university seeking its share of the respect.

If the sign screams, "the University of South Florida has arrived," then the face on the sign says, "Lakeland is driving."

A billboard promoting USF's football game Saturday against the University of North Carolina went up Wednesday at U.S. 98 and Winter Lake Road. The larger-than-life-image is of sophomore quarterback Matt Grothe, a former Lake Gibson star who led USF to its first bowl victory last year and was named the Big East freshman of the year.

Saturday's game will be USF's first as a nationally ranked team. The Bulls are 23rd in The Associated Press poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches poll after a thrilling overtime upset of then-No. 17 Auburn two weeks ago.

Students and faculty say the new attention is great for the university and the Lakeland campus.

"This kind of national coverage for football allows people to connect with the institution who wouldn't have," said David Steele III, USF Lakeland director of university advancement. "The number of times Lakeland is mentioned in a broadcast is substantial. That's good for us as well.

"It's definitely something marketing is taking advantage of," said Steele, who gave up his normal bow tie on Wednesday for a USF polo.

Steele said he's had out-of-state family members call him with trivia they heard about the university on national broadcasts.

Saturday's game will be shown at noon on ESPN. It will be the Bulls' third consecutive game aired on national television.

"It brings a lot of attention to us," said USF junior Isaiah Jewell, 20, who attended Evangel Christian (now Victory) and graduated the same year Grothe graduated from Lake Gibson. "Now more people will want to come to USF."

Bulls fans have long coveted a day when USF football would be considered the equal of Florida's traditional Big Three - Florida, Florida State and Miami.

"This helps with recruiting," said USF senior Nick Taylor, 27, from Cocoa Beach. "Maybe Lakeland High School will have players going here instead of Florida or FSU."

USF's 11-year-old football program made it into a national poll in its seventh season after moving into the upper-tier Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A). Only Boise State has made a top 25 list faster - appearing in the USA Today Coaches poll for the first time on Nov. 11, 2002, a span of 114 polls. Since USF joined the FBS in 2001, 124 coaches polls have been released.

"It's just been a matter of time," said Renee Campisi, a Santa Fe grad and USF Lakeland non-degree student. "Auburn was great to watch. They played like they've been playing like that for years."

But for some fans, like 26-year-old nursing student Jacob Levy, it wasn't fast enough.

"We beat Auburn," he said. "We should be No. 17, and they should be No. 23."

Levy acknowledged campus morale is higher.

"Football is an integral part of college life," he said. "It adds another dynamic to the whole college experience and this is drawing more attention to the school on a state and national level."

All 250 tickets for faculty and staff for Saturday's game went quicker than usual. And Steele said the upper deck at Raymond James Stadium, where the Bulls play, has been opened for the West Virginia game next week - the earliest that's ever happened.

And to top things off, Saturday's game has been designated USF Lakeland Community Day.

Coincidence, or another sign?

As folks at USF Lakeland will gladly point out, the Bulls have never lost on USF Lakeland Community Day - going 2-0.

"Two years ago, we won over Louisville on USF Lakeland night and made national headlines," Steele said. "We're kind of proud of that. Last year we beat Connecticut and Matt scored right in front of us. We like to feel like we're lucky."

[RandyGator]

The excitement for the BULLS has started to grow in Lakeland/Polk County

See these articles.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20070920/NEWS/709200585/1002/SPORTS

http://blogs.polkvoice.com/default.asp?item=678646

[E.T.]

I was reading this article while in the men's room of Wing House this evening.

:coldone

[Triple B]

As folks at USF Lakeland will gladly point out, the Bulls have never lost on USF Lakeland Community Day - going 2-0.

Looks like it's going to be Lakeland vs Clucko to see who has the strongest karma ...