The Oracle M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6 I V O L . 5 3 N O. 5 8
Inside this Issue
w w w. u s fo r a c l e. co m
The Index
Opinion.......................................................4 Classifieds..............................................8 Lifestyle......................................................5 Crossword..........................................8 sports.........................................................12
U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F LO R I DA
Behind the series USF World The collaborative process of selecting ULS speakers
By Abby Rinaldi C O - N E W S
L I FE STYLE
Remake of Jumanji to star “The Rock.” Page 5
Montage
S P ORTS USF hopes to cash in on FSU game. BACK
E D I T O R
backgrounds in order to get a broader scope of who and what students want to hear about, according to Bressack. These efforts are expected to begin in the next academic year. Currently, ULS surveys students of their own and adds questions to some Student Government (SG) surveys. Currently, a committee
Students at USF are familiar with big names like Jessica Williams, Killer Mike and others coming to campus as part of the University Lecture Series (ULS). However, students often know little about the selection process for ULS speakers or how ULS operates. When it comes to choosing speakers, Center for Student Involvement (CSI) Campus Traditions Board Coordinator Athena Bressack said the process focuses on a couple main outlets of input. One method is student surveys — both formal and informal — that ask for names and topics. Another is close communication with those who work at agencies from which ULS hires speakers, agents who are hired to focus on USF. “They do a very good job of knowing our campus culture, knowing what types of speakers would be successful, and so we rely on their experience to help recommend ideas for us and then we’ll typically ask students how they feel about that, whether that’s through informal asking at Bull Market or via surveys,” Bressack said. ULS is currently trying to expand its opportunities for student input, mainRJ Mitte was one of the first speakers for ly through focus ULS last fall and focused on overcoming groups that consist of students from varied physical disabilities. ORACLE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
employed by CSI, an advisor and a graduate advisor vote on speakers. Applications for new committee members will open in January. “We’ll ask for input from the whole office when we’re doing speaker selection, not just the five that formally vote,” Bressack said. Input is also gathered from those working within CSI and those involved in events. Student suggestions for speakers and topics are always welcome, either by email or in person, as emphasized by Bressack. However, they might not always be available. “Sometimes, students will want someone but they don’t know that that person doesn’t do speaking engagements, so every celebrity doesn’t always do them or sometimes it’s a one-time gig,” she said. “So we will also asks what topics (students are) interested in … so that even if we’re unable to bring this specific speaker who may have topped our survey, maybe they don’t speak or they’re unavailable or they’re out of our budget, then we can say ‘Well, who’s comparable that the students would find interesting?’” ULS is a product of CSI and exists in partnership with SG. It dates back to 1989, when it featured speakers such as Frances Moore Lappe and Edwin Newman. ULS funding comes from SG, with certain amounts set aside per speaker. The administrative budget, which covers costs like renting space in the Marshall Student
n See ULS on PAGE 2
announces new vice president By Miki Shine C O - N E W S
E D I T O R
Patel Center ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
Vice Provost and former Associate Vice President for USF World Roger Bridley will be stepping into the new position of Vice President for USF World beginning in July. USF World is known for promoting interaction between students from across the globe. The organization also works on study abroad opportunities and international curriculum designed to encourage students toward a more global way of thinking. Bridley has served as a professor at USF for 19 years, receiving several awards including Honored Professor from the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He has also written and edited for international journals, as well as spoken at conferences around the world. Part of USF World’s mission is to help guide the USF system into engaging more internationally, which includes working with international students, providing study abroad opportunities to students and helping organize campus events that focus on the global society. According to a press release, Brindley plans to continue with USF World’s goals of global curriculum, student success, campus global awareness, global mobility and international research.
2
M O N DAY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
T H E O R AC L E
ULS
Network and Keppler Speakers. Both companies offer a wide Continued from PAGE 1 selection of speakers from many different backgrounds with a Center (MSC), was $4,300 this variety of topics to cover, includyear, while the marketing budget ing but not limited to business, sat at $5,000. To cover speaker politics, entertainment and contracts and related expenses, sports. This year, speakers ranged the budget was set at $219,570. An additional $50,000 was from $15,000 for Michael Uslan built in for the new Global to $55,000 for Abby Wambach. Conversation series, a collabo- In dealing with pricing, Bressack ration between ULS, SG and said ULS aims to go for a greater the Center for Strategic and number of speakers over paying Diplomatic Studies run out big money for expensive names. The goal is to host five to six of USF World, which features lectures a year, so speakers who speakers on global issues. Alan Gross, the former Cuban cost $100,000 are unattractive hostage and humanitarian aid to ULS. Plus, Bressack warned, worker, was the first in this cost doesn’t ensure better qualnew series. The voting process ity. “We work really hard to be for selecting these speakers good stewards of the money includes SG. The prices are lump sums we’re given,” she said. Overall, for all the speakers paid by ULS in order to cover not only the lecture but trav- ULS brought this year, CSI spent el expenses, transportation $229,500 of its $269,570 total expenses, lodging and other budget. When it comes to selecting such costs, as well as payment to the agency hiring out the speakers, the voting body looks for broad appeal. speaker. “We try and pick names Bressack is unaware of how much of the payments make it that students will know and be excited about who also have a into the speakers’ pockets. message and a background,” CSI hires speakers Bressack said. through two main ULS doesn’t pick a theme agencies: for each year, although speakers G re a t e r can sometimes overlap in their Talent messages. Bressack feels that ULS works hard to ensure a wide variety of topics are discussed. She recalled Jessica Williams, who touched on her struggles as an African American woman and with mental health. R.J. Mitte discussed overcoming his disability. Killer Mike talked about race relations and clashes with the police, a hot topic at the time of his lecture. “Our goal is to bring as many diverse voices as we can in a school year,” Bressack said. ULS works with the Office of Multicultural Affairs in correlating speakers with themed weeks such as MLK Week, during which the message of diversity is typically championed. USF Week doesn’t have the same theming, and Jessica Williams’ lecture focused tends to lean towards on mental health and was not more universal topics. what some students expected. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
n See ULS on PAGE 3
M O N DAY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
3
T H E O R AC L E
ULS
Continued from PAGE 2
Bressack holds that ULS also seeks to provide a wide variety of viewpoints. However, speakers are not hired to respond to one another. In the past, ULS has featured lecturers such as Ron Paul in 2014 and Meghan McCain in 2010, a contrast from those who may have slanted to the left in their lectures. On the other hand, Bressack noted that speakers are not hired based on their political affiliation. “We don’t consider ourselves a political speaker series,” she said. “I think getting closer to the election season, there may be some desire from the student body that maybe in the beginning of next year we bring someone to address that. We don’t want to avoid engaging in those topics but we are a nonbiased or a nonpolitical entity.” The hope is that students will not only go to see speakers that they agree with, as Bressack thinks it is great when students leave a lecture having disagreed with points the speaker made. “It’s not a goal of ours that people necessarily agree with our speakers,” she said.
Bressack feels the lectures give students an opportunity to learn about new ideas and new ways of thinking about the world. “Clearly, a lot of people come to our lectures for the opportunity to meet and see a celebrity and that appeal is really strong and that’s a great reason to come,” she said. “But we hope that when they come, they’re engaged in thinking about things that they can build connections in their own life.” Bressack gave the example of Williams’s lecture, which attracted students because of her role on “The Daily Show,” who lectured about mental health. “I don’t think people came to that lecture to talk about mental health,” Bressack said. Of the challenges facing ULS, one is reaching students who don’t attend lectures and getting their input on who they would like to see. “The challenging area for us is getting input from people who are not yet attending our lectures, which is the people we really need to reach,” Bressack said. “We want them to come and we want to bring people that will encourage them to come, so we’re always looking for ways to do that better.”
Another challenge is venue expansion. Currently, ULS hosts lectures in the Marshall Student Center, typically in the ballroom, oval theater or combination for an additional live stream audience. Bressack has heard many students ask why ULS doesn’t hold lectures in the Sun Dome. The USF Sun Dome is a separate entity from USF, managed by Spectra, part of Comcast Spectacor. Costs for holding a lecture there are $25,000, which Bressack observed is more than some of the speakers cost. In order to raise money for a move to the Sun Dome, ULS has thought about charging the general public for admission to events, as it is bound by Activity and Service (A&S) fee policy not to charge students for admission. This is because ULS is funded through A&S fees, which students pay to the university each year. However, charging the public would still not cover the cost of a move to the Sun Dome, and charging students would be against the spirit of what ULS does, according to Bressack. As of now, the lecture series will stick with the Marshall Student Center as its venue of choice.
Producer Michael Uslan spoke about his journey in trying to make the Batman film he’d always wanted to see. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
Abby Wambach’s lecture on women in sports was the most expensive lecture ULS hosted this year at $55,000. ORACLE PHOTO/ JACKIE BENITEZ
4
Opinion UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966
Editor in Chief Grace Hoyte oracleeditor@gmail.com Managing Editor Adam Mathieu oraclemeditor@gmail.com
●
M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
Safety Squad aims to reduce violence on campus Breanne Williams COLU M N I ST
USF’s SAFE Team, a service provided by Student Government (SG) that shuttles students across campus, is now available during the day, News Editors thanks to a new expansion to the Miki Shine program. This announcement was highAbby Rinaldi lighted during Safety Week, a week oraclenewsteam@gmail.com sponsored by SG dedicated to raising awareness about the various Sports Editor safety programs available for stuJacob Hoag dents around campus. This endeoraclesportseditor@gmail.com vour is a great way to help students learn how to prevent violence on Opinion Editor campus. Breanne Williams This is the first year USF has had oracleopinion@gmail.com Safety Week, but former Student Body President Andy Rodriguez is Lifestyle Editor hoping it will become an annual Jasmin Faisal event. oraclelifestyleeditor@gmail.com Student safety is an issue that plagues universities across the Copy Editors nation. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 33 Zach Lowie men on college campuses face sexIsabelle Cavazos ual assault. Those alarming numbers have led to the creation of Title Graphic Artists IX victim centers on campuses and Luke Blankenship seminars on sexual assault at orientations across the nation. Destiny Moore Unfortunately, we live in a society that has yet to accept the realities Advertising Sales of sexual assault. Many still make Lauren Alford a habit of blaming or completely Alyssa Alexander disbelieving the victim, and this has Adriana Covate led to less than 5 percent of comDestiny Moore pleted or attempted rapes against Dylan Ritchey college women being reported to law enforcement. Luckily, groups like N.I.T.E. The Oracle is published Monday and Thursday during the fall, spring and summer semesters. (Network, Improve, Transform, Empower), a social justice group The Oracle allocates one free issue to each student. Additional copies are $.50 each and available at the dedicated to helping those who Oracle office (SVC 0002). have fallen victim to violence, are working to not only raise awareness BY PHONE of the threats facing college students Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 974-6242 Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 974-5190 but also to increase safety for all News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 974-1888 those attending college. Sports ................ 974-2842 However, sexual assault is just Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . 974-2620 one of the many threats college Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 974-6242 students face. The increase in school Website: usforacle.com shootings over the years has recentFacebook: facebook.com/usforacle ly sparked discussion of allowing Twitter: @USFOracle students with concealed weapons CORRECTIONS permits to bring weapons on camThe Oracle will correct or clarify factual errors. pus. Contact Editor in Chief Grace Hoyte at 974-5190.
Thankfully, Florida lawmakers realized that armed students create more of a problem than they solve and refused to pass the legislation. According to the 2015 Sunshine State Survey by Nielsen, 73 percent of Floridians believe allowing students with permits to carry on campus would be moving the state in the wrong direction, whereas only 17 percent thought it would be a good idea. It seems that students are constantly receiving texts from USF’s University Police (UP) department warning them of possible threats on campus that have recently included a flasher, a mugger and a potentially armed individual. SG is right in trying to raise awareness about the many services at USF. During orientation, students learn about the emergency blue lights and are given planners with UP’s phone number. However, not everyone is aware of SAFE Team or the text and email updates available from UP. “The safety resources exist for a reason and it’s to keep the students on our campus safe,” Rodriguez said. “One of the most important things on campus is making sure that students are safe, and I know that it’s a priority of the university as well as the family members and the students themselves. I think if students know about the resources, they’re more likely to use them and in turn, not only feel safer, but be safer.” So far, SG has been advertising the amenities via themed Facebook posts and is calling the combination of SAFE Team, UP and emergency blue lights the “Safety Squad.” While there is still much to be done in order to ensure student safety, SG is taking steps toward a safer campus. Promoting the amenities available to students and ensuring those services are always accessible is a great way to help reduce violence on campus and provide peace of mind for students.
Breanne Williams is a junior majoring in mass communications.
●
T H E O R AC L E
What you said
Student Government has been highlighting several of the safety amenities available to students on campus via themed Facebook posts. Opinion Editor Breanne Williams asked students if they have ever used one of the features on campus.
“I’ve used SAFE Team before. It’s useful, but it takes forever, so if you’re in a rush it isn’t effective.” - Sofya Bratishko, a senior majoring in finance
“I’ve used them before when I parked across campus and it was really late at night. It gets sketchy at night, so I called SAFE Team.” - Luke Franchina, a senior majoring in information technology
“No, I’ve never had to use any, but when students are in need, they are useful.” - Yashaswi Peesapati, a graduate student studying management and information systems
“I like the texts from University Police because it tells me to avoid certain areas and lets me know when it is safe to go back.” - Brandon Do, a senior majoring in information technology
Lifestyle
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
●
M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
T H E O R AC L E
5
Jumanji remake adds “The Rock” to cast By Jasmin Faisal L I F E S T Y L E
E D I T O R
In the age of remakes, movie hits from the 90s have become fair game, and “Jumanji” is next on Hollywood’s list. But no one could have guessed whom filmmakers had their sights on to star in the upcoming reboot. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson posted a statement on Instagram Friday confirming his role. “We’ll produce and deliver to a whole new generation a title that I love and is one of my all time favs: There’s games you play for fun ... then there’s games that change your life,” Johnson posted. It’s been 21 years since the iconic film “Jumanji” hit the big screen for the first time.
Originally a children’s book written by Chris Van Allsburg, the story follows two siblings as they play what appears to be a harmless board game called “Jumanji.” However, things quickly get out of hand when they realize that everything happening in the game is being acted out in reality, and the only way to change everything back to normal is to finish the game. They eventually discover that they can’t continue without the two original players who started the game in 1969, one of whom had been trapped inside the game for 26 years. The original all-star cast included Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce as the two siblings, Bonnie Hunt as Sarah Whittle, one of the two original players, and the late Robin
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is set to star in the 2017 reboot of “Jumanji,” which is facing negative comments from the online community. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE
Williams as Alan Parrish, the player who got trapped. According to Cinema Blend, “Jumanji” remake rumors started in 2012, and were confirmed in August when Sony released a list of its upcoming projects. The rumors of Johnson starring in the film began when he co-hosted the 2016 MTV Movie Awards with “Central Intelligence” co-star Kevin Hart, who Variety reports may also star in the film. This is not the only remake Johnson will be starring in. The former WWE star will also appear in the upcoming “Baywatch” reboot and video game adaptation, “Rampage.” “To produce, create and deliver original properties to fans like HBO’s #ballers to this summer’s #CentralIntelligence is one of the best parts of my
job,” Johnson wrote. “But to take great properties that are beloved worldwide like #BAYWATCH and #RAMPAGE and have the opportunity to reimagine their stories in dope new ways to a whole new generation is truly an honor.” However, not everyone is as thrilled with the news of a new “Jumanji.” The original announcement was met with harsh critiques as millions of fans took to social media to express outrage over remaking the beloved classic. “Forget about the fact that they are remaking a classic film from the ‘90s, which was also the gem of many people’s childhoods…but why on earth would you do this movie without the great Robin Williams?” wrote Jenna Mullins in an August 2015 article for E!
News. “Now that he’s no longer with us, can we all just agree to not touch his movies? He is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of actor, and we feel so sorry for anyone who is taking on a role that previously belonged to Robin Williams. So not only is the ‘Jumanji’ remake unnecessary and kind of insulting, but it’s in danger of tarnishing the onscreen legacy of one of the great comedians of our time.” Johnson is keeping these critical fans in mind. “I promise to deliver something cool and special,” he posted. “And not screw the whole damn thing up.” Filming is scheduled to begin in fall, with the movie set to release in July 2017.
6
M O N DAY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
T H E O R AC L E
M O N DAY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
T H E O R AC L E
7
8
Classifieds
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
To place a classified ad go to
Crossword
●
M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds
HELP WANTED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PETS & ANIMALS
Medical Assistant (No Experience Needed)
mother helper immediate opening. pt time 3-4 hrs/day M-F. two girls, . picking up from school. laundry. Errands. prepare for next school day. Yasir@ cancerconsult.us Email yasiralhassani@ yahoo.com
Help Wanted Luxury Boarding Kennel needs 5 people to help in the day to day operations of a upscale boarding kennel. 3 jobs will be for summer. 2 are for immediate openings. Duties include cleaning, exercising and assisting in daycare operations. We have two shifts, one in am from 7am - 2pm, other shift from 2-7 pm. Must be available for 1-2 weekends per month. Need one person for receptionist duties. Can be student or non-student. Must have great computer and telephone skills. Apply in person: The Lodge at New Tampa 15403 Morris Bridge Road Thonotosassa 1/2 mile south of the Cross Creek/ Morris Bridge Road intersection. Application available on line at: thelodgefordogs.com
Part-time Medical Assistant needed. No experience necessary; will train on the job. Saturday availability is required. Apply in person. Call 813-932-5389 for more information.
●
T H E O R AC L E
M O N DAY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
T H E O R AC L E
9
10
TICKETS
Continued from PAGE 12
marks.” While attendance has certainly been a problem for USF over the past three seasons, including a program-worst sub20,000 average in 2014, Harlan said that didn’t have an impact on restricting the lower-level to multi-game packages. However, even though poor attendance didn’t prevent USF from creating the ticketing deals, the Bulls’ return to a bowl game certainly helped the anticipation and thus, ticket sales. “Our team has done such a great job in putting us in the position to have, I think, a much fuller stadium not only for the Florida State game, but for the other games that we’re going to have at Raymond James (Stadium) this fall, with great opponents coming in,” Harlan said. “So, I certainly like to think their play was a big part in our decision making. “We’re really in a position to capitalize on the success they had last year and this is certainly one piece of that.”
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
●
M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
T H E O R AC L E
AAC
Continued from PAGE 12
AAC championship, with its three-year run dating back to the AAC’s inaugural season in 2014. Sunday’s match began with USF taking the doubles point with a 6-2 win from juniors Vadym Kalyuzhnyy and Sasha Gozun. Then came singles, where USF has been dominant of late, mostly due to the commanding play of senior Roberto Cid who topped Tulane’s Dominik Koepfer — once, the topranked player in the country — in the Saturday semifinal. To give perspective, Koepfer is 0-2 against Cid — the tournament MVP — and undefeated against everyone else this spring. “We have the 10th toughest schedule in the country, so to be that successful from the first position, he’s been incredible this year,” Hill said. With Gozun winning 7-5, 6-3 and Kalyuzhnyy winning 6-2, 7-5, the clinching point came down to sophomore Peter Bertran.
The USF men’s tennis team has won every conference tournament since the AAC’s inception. The Bulls beat Tulsa 4-0 on Sunday to claim their third-straight title. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM Bertran took the first set 6-5 last three years and served as ment and hopefully these guys and after being tied 5-5 in the the driving force behind this continue to keep it up next second, he broke through, win- trio of championships. year.” ning the match and the tourna“It’s crazy, I didn’t expect The Bulls now look to the ment for USF. any of this when I came to col- NCAA tournament. Play will The senior class, which lege; it’s a great feeling know- begin on May 13 with first and includes Cid, Everth Dzib, ing that since my freshman second round matches held at Ignacio Gonzalez-Muniz and year we’ve been able to do various campuses. The NCAA Dominic Cotrone, has provided well in conference play,” Cid tournament finals will take the spark for the Bulls over the said. “It’s a huge accomplish- place on May 19 in Tulsa, OK.
M O N DAY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
11
T H E O R AC L E
Softball
Spivey’s record home run spurs road win By Jacob Hoag S P O R T S
Coming into the season, senior catcher Lee Ann Spivey needed 13 home runs to break Kourtney Salvarola’s career home run record. Sunday, she did just that, hitting her 13th homer in the second inning of a 5-2 win over Tulsa. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
E D I T O R
As senior catcher Lee Ann Spivey rounded the bases, another piece of USF history flew over the center field wall. Spivey’s solo home run in the second inning of USF’s comeback road win over Tulsa on Sunday not only aided USF’s sweep of the Golden Hurricane, but also put her name in the record books with her program-record 37th career homer. Spivey, who deflected all questions pertaining to the record for much of the season, came into the year needing 13 home runs to break the mark Kourtney Salvarola’s set in 2014. Spivey’s milestone home run knotted the game up after USF fell behind 1-0 early in the game, but USF’s offense was able to heat up late to pull out a 5-2 win. Sophomore Astin Donovan tacked on an RBI in the second, but from there it was the strong effort in the circle that allowed the Bulls to keep Tulsa at bay.
Senior Erica Nunn, who earned a win in each of USF’s three games over the weekend, allowed just four hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Entering the seventh, the Bulls had a narrow 2-1 lead. But a pitching and fielding error by Tulsa allowed junior outfielder Juli Weber to score and put Spivey in scoring position. With Spivey on third base, senior Mo Santos stepped up and launched her fourth home run of the season to give the Bulls a threerun lead that would hold. With the win and a UCF loss, USF moved into sole possession of first place in the AAC standings with only one conference loss. Over the past two months, USF has a conference-best 33-2 record. The Bulls return home for the regular season finale against UCF to determine seeding in the conference tournament set for May 12-14 in Tulsa, OK. The rivalry series against UCF kicks off Friday at 4 p.m. at the USF Softball Stadium.
12
Sports
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
The Rundown
Football
●
M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
●
T H E O R AC L E
Seizing the opportunity New ticket program looks to capitalize on FSU game
Outside USF
Ex-Bill Thomas struggles with lingering effects
By Vinnie Portell S T A F F
W R I T E R
T
he last time the Florida State Seminoles came to town, USF hosted its largest crowd in program history, falling to FSU 30-17 in front of an announced For the first time, hall of fame crowd of 69,383. running back Thurman Thomas, Since then, much has a workhorse for the Buffalo Bills changed for the Bulls, who fell in his prime, opened up about to the cellar of college football the lasting only to fight back to relevancy once again in 2015 with their effects of the concussions he first bowl appearance since 2011. endured durWith USF on the rise, the ing his 13-year school is planning to cash in on Thomas career. Thomas, another historic matchup when who turns 50 next month, FSU returns to Raymond James said at a concussion summit Stadium on Sept. 24. “When you’re in a game like in Canada that he suffers from this, there’s a couple of things mood swings and that his you want to try to accomplish,” condition has worsened, acUSF athletic director Mark cording to ESPN. “On so many Harlan said. “You want to maxdays, I have to apologize to imize your revenue potential my family for them,” Thomas when you have a premier game said. “I thank God that I have like this. The other thing you want to do is really try and a family that understands the make your best effort to protect things that I’ve been through your brand.” over my 13-year (professional) Similar to FSU’s last visit to career, and even after my 14 or the Bay, USF announced it will 15 years that I’ve been retired. have special ticketing plans for They all understand that with what will likely be an in-state my mood swings, sometimes I game against a top-25 oppojust can’t help it.” Thomas is just nent. To secure a seat in the lower one of hundreds of former NFL players that are dealing with the bowl, be prepared to commit to the Bulls for the long run. residual effects of their careers. Unlike in 2012, fans won’t be forced to buy a season ticket package to snag a lower bowl Women’s tennis ticket, but will now have the alternative option to purchase finishes second in a three-game flex package to AAC tournament escape the nosebleeds. For fans that don’t want to The USF women’s tennis team invest in more than the one fell to top-seeded Tulsa 4-0 in game, upper-bowl single-game the AAC conference tournament tickets start at $85 — which Saturday. It was the second time go one sale on May 30 — and in three years that USF reached will likely rise as availability the finals. The Bulls won the title decreases. The process for obtaining in the AAC’s student tickets and the seating inaugural season in 2014. location will not change.
Men’s Tennis
USF captures thirdstraight AAC title
Senior Roberto Cid has been a force for USF, knocking off four of the top five players in the country this spring. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM
By Jacob Hoag S P O R T S
With USF pulling close to 70,000 fans for the Bulls’ last meeting with FSU, athletic director Mark Harlan looks to use this year’s meeting to the program’s advantage . ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU Among many of the moti- Harlan said he didn’t foresee vating factors for setting these USF needing to open up the special ticketing deals is the lower bowl to single-game tickoverwhelming number of FSU et buyers to fill the stadium. fans in the Tampa area. “We’ll look at that,” Harlan “For all the Seminole fans said. “Obviously, I think we’re throughout Central Florida, this very confident that we’re going is a great opportunity to once to do well. We’ve already seen again see their team play in an a surge in season tickets this NFL facility,” former FSU ath- year; we’re already well ahead letic director Randy Spetman of last year’s pace. So, I’m not said in a statement about the really concerned about that. 2012 game. “The last time we “I do know we’re going to played in Raymond James vs. monitor things very closely just USF, the atmosphere was excel- like we’re going to monitor the lent and the excitement gener- upper-level $85 price, if that ated among our fan base was needs to go up from there, we’ll unmatched.” keep an eye on it. But, I’m very With both Bulls and FSU confident we’re going to hit our fans in the area likely to be n See TICKETS on PAGE 10 highlighting this Sept. 24 game,
E D I T O R
When it comes to the AAC men’s tennis tournament, USF has been simply unstoppable. For the third straight year, the Bulls have brought home the AAC championship hardware, after sweeping No. 2 seed Tulsa 4-0 on Sunday at Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center in Memphis. “I couldn’t be more proud, there is a lot of adversity that comes with winning championships and we’ve handled it well,” first-year coach Matt Hill told GoUSFBulls.com. “We are just really excited for today and excited for NCAA’s coming up.” USF has never lost a conference tournament game and is the only team to win an
n See AAC on PAGE 10