College football season is officially underway and thousands of players, coaches and alumni are focused on one goal, the College Football Playoff National Championship in Tampa Bay. In our September newsletter, take a peek at an exclusive video highlighting one of the unique ways that Extra Yard for Teachers has already begun impacting our community. We’ll check out two newly unveiled special events – Championship Beach Bash in Clearwater Beach, and Taste of the Championship, hosted at the Florida Aquarium. Columnist Joey Johnston provides a look at “a century-old romance” that Tampa Bay has with college football. Finally, we’ll wrap with an insightful Q&A with Mayor Bob Buckhorn on Tampa’s rise to a sports tourism destination.
TAMPA -- COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOWN By Joey Johnston No one can deny the Tampa Bay area’s high-profile history of professional sports. After all, it has hosted four Super Bowls. It has rabidly supported the Buccaneers — from 0-and-26 to a Super Bowl championship — for four decades. The Lightning won a Stanley Cup. The Rays reached the World Series. Dating to the 1970s, there has been a huge soccer following, highlighted by consistently large crowds for the Rowdies at the old Tampa Stadium. But different words are needed to describe the Tampa Bay area’s relationship with college football. It’s a century-old romance. The latest flirtation occurs Jan. 9, when the College Football Playoff National Championship is held at Raymond James Stadium. It’s certain to be love at first hike. The legacy runs much deeper. The home teams — the old University of Tampa Spartans and the University of South Florida Bulls — have captured everyone’s hearts. There also are gigantic followings for the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Continued on page 5
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“It could not have gone any better. This is a great sports community and now it has a great track record with this event. Our fans are used to going to the Frozen Four, so they have seen a lot of cities. I think Tampa will be a favorite because of the hospitality, the venue, the great weather and all the positives this area has to offer.’’
BRIAN FAISON
CHAIRMAN OF THE NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S HOCKEY COMM I T TE E UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
CLEARWATER BEACH SET TO WELCOME COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FANS What’s a trip to the Tampa Bay area without a visit to America’s #1 Beach? In addition to the incredible events being held in Downtown Tampa, football fans can soak up the sun at the Championship Beach Bash being held at Pier 60 Park on Clearwater Beach, Sunday, January 8, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will create a pep-rally type atmosphere on the beautiful white sand of Clearwater Beach. The Championship Beach Bash will feature a “Kids Zone,” with games, inflatables, live music and more. Both teams competing in the College Football Playoff National Championship will be well-represented at the Beach Bash as their respective bands and cheerleaders will provide plenty of school spirit. With the waves of the Gulf of Mexico serving as a pristine backdrop, the pageantry of college football’s final game of the year will reach a frenzied pitch for locals, fans and alumni alike. “St. Petersburg/Clearwater excels at hosting high-caliber events and we offer a wide variety of experiences and hospitality options to our guests,” said Deputy Director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, Tim Ramsberger. “We are amped up to play our part in hosting the participating teams, guests and media during the championship weekend in January.” CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION! FOOD AND FOOTBALL GO HAND IN HAND AT THE TASTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP As Tampa Bay prepares for the two top teams in the nation to meet on the field, the country’s best chefs, including local favorites, will meet at the Florida Aquarium. Football and fine food will be on display at the Taste of the Championship being held on Sunday, January 8 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sixteen of the Tampa Bay area’s top chefs will be joined by a noted chef from each of the major college football bowl cities in this delicious charity event. The evening benefits the College Football Playoff Foundation’s primary philanthropic initiative, Extra Yard for Teachers. “The Taste of the Championship takes a bite into the culinary diversity of the Tampa Bay area,” commented Rob Higgins, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “Our community has everything you can imagine, from fine dining and farm-to-table restaurants, to fresh seafood and authentic Spanish dishes. It will all be on display at the Taste of the Championship.” An array of delicacies will be served by Tampa Bay’s top restaurants including: 717 South, Ava, Bern’s Steak House, Boca Kitchen Bar, Cigar City BrewPub, The Columbia Restaurant, Datz, Fodder & Shine, Goody Goody, Haven, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Mise en Place, Parkshore Grill, The Refinery, Roux, and Ulele. As an added bonus, those in attendance will have the chance to share this incredible dining experience, along with memories of past gridiron glories, with former college football stars. Tickets are limited, so Bay area foodies should reserve their spot in advance. CLICK FOR TICKETS!
EXTRA YARD 5K THROUGH DOWNTOWN TAMPA BENEFITS LOCAL EDUCATORS Lace up the running shoes for the Extra Yard 5K to show your support of the College Football Playoff National Championship and its major beneficiary, Extra Yard for Teachers. The event, being held at Amalie Arena on Sunday, January 8, also offers a one mile fun run. Participants will enjoy ideal January running temperatures as they take in the beautiful scenery of Downtown Tampa and Bayshore Boulevard. Race day activities include live entertainment, race sponsor activations and a post-race awards ceremony. Get full details and register at EY5K.com!
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SIX POINTS WITH...TAMPA MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN Since 2011, Bob Buckhorn has served as the Mayor of the City of Tampa, but his legacy far precedes the mayor’s office. Throughout his political career, Mayor Buckhorn has been a champion of moving Tampa forward with a smarter urban core, strong business infrastructure, and a vibrant Riverwalk that serves as the central focus of a growing downtown community. With that in mind, here are a few questions...
How do big-name sporting events like the College Football Playoff National Championship enhance the quality of life for Tampa residents? National sporting events help put Tampa on the map. We get noticed for all the incredible assets we have in our city from our waterfront to our museums. It draws in visitors from all over the nation and possibly the globe and gives us the opportunity to showcase what Tampa has to offer. The increase in business, tourism, and recognition all improve the quality of life for our residents by making us more competitive for talent and jobs. What is it about Tampa’s infrastructure that makes it such an attractive AGE: 58 | OCCUPATION: MAYOR OF TAMPA | COLLEGE: PENN STATE destination for sports and events? First, our Riverwalk. It covers 2.6 miles of waterfront for biking, walking, or just relaxing. No other city has an asset like that. Our cultural institutions are second to none. From our art museums to our world class zoo and aquarium, there is something in Tampa for everyone and every family. You also won’t eat or drink better anywhere in the country than here. There are unique restaurants and craft breweries around every corner. Visitors who come for the sporting events will surely want to come back again to make sure they try it all. What do you feel differentiates Tampa from other cities in the way it approaches an event? We work closely with all the teams involved to put together an event like this. From the county to the venues, we are in lockstep with one another. That communication allows us to provide the safest and most desirable environment for the event to go on without any issues. We have hosted the Republican National Convention, the Bollywood awards and other events that have tested us and we score big each and every time. Tell us how downtown and the Tampa Riverwalk has evolved since you’ve been Mayor. The idea of the Riverwalk started four decades ago and took the dedication of six mayors to come to full fruition. I was lucky enough to cut the ribbon on the final segment of the Riverwalk during my tenure. We worked hard to see that project completed. We fought and won a TIGER grant and committed the needed resources to build out what is now a beloved Tampa landmark. What has taken place to raise Tampa to its national standing as a sports tourism destination? I don’t know if you can point to one specific event that put Tampa on the national stage. I think we have been doing things right for a number of years now and the world is taking notice. What would make the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship a success in your eyes? Other than a Penn State victory? All kidding aside, it would be the same thing that means success for all events, no matter how large or small, that we host here in Tampa – that people experience our great city and leave wanting to come back. We want them to cheer on their teams, wear their colors, and take in some great football and then we want them to head out to the streets of Tampa and see everything we have to offer so they can go home and tell their friends and family what an amazing city Tampa is. EXTRA POINT
If the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game is on the line and a field goal wins the game, do you want to be the snapper, the holder or the kicker? Kicker. Time to go big or go home.
BY THE NUMBERS...
The number of volunteers that the Tampa Bay host committee will be recruiting and training.
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TA M PA - - C O L L E G E F O O T B A L L T O W N - C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 Miami Hurricanes, along with hyperactive branches of the alumni base that live locally. There’s a significant presence for the Florida A&M Rattlers and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, including memories of the annual Florida Classic rivalry game that began in Tampa. And don’t forget about the transplants, who bring every region of college football fandom to Tampa Bay, showing particularly heavy representation throughout the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. On a typical Saturday, sports bars and restaurants are packed with watch parties for fans of every team imaginable. There were now-defunct games such as the Cigar Bowl, the Lions American Bowl all-star game and the Can-Am Bowl, matching top players from Canadian and American programs.
televised game 53-21. The turning point came when a FSU player veered off the sideline and stuck out his foot to trip a Cougar defender who was headed to the end zone with an interception. Although the Gators and Seminoles were welcomed guests, the UT Spartans were the featured attraction, a wonderfully talented small-school unit that often served as giant-killers. Scores of great players passed through the program, such as defensive lineman John Matuszak, who became the NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall draft pick in 1973, and the incomparable Freddie Solomon, who set an NCAA record for career quarterback rushing yards before becoming an NFL wide receiver for 11 seasons. UT dropped football following the 1974 season — no doubt a financial response to the arrival of the NFL’s Buccaneers — and left a cavernous hole in the area’s sports heritage.
Now there’s the Outback Bowl, a Tampa Bay fixture since 1986, a matchup of the SEC and Big Ten staged on New Year’s Day. It’s where Alabama’s Gene Stallings coached his final game and where Penn State’s Joe Paterno made the last of his NCAA-record 37 bowl appearances. It’s where Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon put on a show for the ages, galloping just short of the NCAA’s single-season rushing record. Three of the last seven Outback Bowls have gone to overtime, including Michigan State’s unforgettable three-OT triumph against Georgia.
It was rekindled in 1997, when USF began a fledgling Division I-AA program. Its first staff meeting was held under a palm tree. The football offices were trailers located just beyond the baseball program’s left-field fence. About 45 minutes before the first game, a discovery was made. USF didn’t have a kicking tee. A trainer was dispatched to a nearby mall’s sporting-goods store, solving the problem.
“Tampa is a terrific college football town,’’ said Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, the former Florida coach who got to know the Tampa Bay area well while recruiting as a Notre Dame assistant. “I used to run on the Bayshore and I know the restaurants. The people are great. There’s great passion, so it’s always a great place to have a game.’’
The Bulls have conference-title potential, but playing for a national championship was nothing new for past Tampa Bay area residents, either.
Tampa was the site of an epic neutral-site showdown to open the 1984 season — defending national champion Miami against the Florida Gators in the first night college-football game ever televised by ESPN — when nearly four dozen future NFL draft picks roamed the Tampa Stadium turf. Miami won the back-and-forth showdown 3220, and only a final play interception return made the margin look fairly comfortable. It wasn’t. It was high drama from start to finish. In all, the Gators have made 42 appearances in Tampa, most notably a 1919 game against rival Georgia, a 35-0 loss against Bear Bryant’s Kentucky Wildcats in 1947, a 23-20 season-opening victory against Air Force in 1968 (when the Air Force’s famous falcon was released for a halftime flyover, only to have it circle the stadium, then head for parts unknown, leaving its trainer empty-handed), Charley Pell’s first Gator win (41-13 against California) to open the 1980 season and four Outback Bowl trips. The Seminoles have been less frequent Tampa visitors, but the results have resonated. Bobby Bowden’s first great team announced itself to the nation with a 31-3 thumping of Frank Kush’s Arizona State Sun Devils in 1979. But in 1970, FSU’s appearance was more infamous. Houston won the Thanksgiving night nationally
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USF grew rapidly, rising to No. 2 in the nation midway through 2007 — just 10 years after the initial team debut — and the Bulls have beaten the likes of Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Auburn, West Virginia and Louisville as the program celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Local luminaries such as Alabama defensive lineman Marty Lyons (St. Petersburg Catholic), Miami linebackers Bernard Clark (Leto) and Maurice Crum (Hillsborough), Ohio State wide receiver Michael Jenkins (Leto), Michigan place-kicker Jay Feely (Jesuit) and Florida State running backs William Floyd (St. Petersburg Lakewood) and James Wilder (Plant) and Alabama defensive back Javier Arenas (Robinson) are among those who have tasted the ultimate triumph. The Tampa Bay area might be best known as a professional sports town, but it also has an unmistakable mania for college football. The College Football Playoff National Championship is just the latest example of that ongoing tradition. Joey Johnston, a sports journalist with the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times for more than three decades, has covered all of the Tampa Bay area’s major sporting events and can’t wait to witness the College Football National Championship game on Jan. 9 at Raymond James Stadium.
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