Exciting times for U. Florida- Tampa

A strong day of ticket sales has USF on the verge of its first home sellout for Friday's game against West Virginia. No tickets are available right now, though Bulls officials are evaluating blocks of tickets reserved for staff, recruits, etc., and could make "a couple of hundred" seats available in the next day, senior associate athletic director Bill McGillis said.

USF had increased its allotment of free student tickets from the normal 8,000 to 12,501 -- the largest student section in the Big East, they say -- and of those, about 10,000 were distributed Monday as students camped out in tents overnight, a line wrapping around the Sun Dome in the early morning. The remaining student seats are in the upper deck, and no companion tickets can be purchased.

USF was able to sell "a couple of hundred" three-game mini-plans, McGillis said. West Virginia, having sold its initial allotment of 4,000 seats, had asked for 250 more on consignment earlier this month; the Mountaineers returned 150 of those seats unsold Monday morning, and they sold out in minutes, McGillis said.

USF will also have a free concert in the Raymond James Stadium north parking lot before Friday's game, featuring rapper Mims, of the hit song "This Is Why I'm Hot." Bulls fans will be proud to find his official site, where his tour page lists a Sept. 28 stop at "U. of Florida- Tampa." Also playing will be the Shop Boyz, they of "Party Like a Rockstar." Their Myspace.com page correctly identifies their show at "Univ. of South Florida."

Comments

[Ari]

That young girl passing away from menegitis is just the saddest thing I have read in a long time. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. My brother had menegitis when he was a teenager, thank the lord he made it though. I remember how sick you can get from it. You litterlay can't walk because you are so sick. What a terrible terrible tragedy. Girl is 19 years old and passes away like that. Just awful. God bless her family.

Maybe the bulls can lay one on the line for one of their fellow students this weekend. Just awful.

[cee]

"UF-Tampa".. that's sad. i guess it goes to show how ashamed he must be about playing for our commuter/directional school. however, the thuggery of our program kind of fits right in with the hip-hop culture that Mims will bring to RJS.

[Chris]

OK, I'll bite...It helps traffic right?

First, do you really think the hip-hop culture is only for thugs?

And, I think you forgot a 'y'. When you were referring to OUR program you meant to say YOUR program. OUR program, unlike YOUR program, is something to be quite proud of.

[DAVID FELDMAN]

At least people around the country know where the University of Central Florida is located with USF or UF at Tampa it might be a little confusing to some and funny to others.

[Matt]

David, trust me, people know where USF is located - #18 in the AP.

Score.

Board.

See you in Tampa for the third installment of your annual beat-down.

[Tom]

Matt,

Awesome comment! Nothing else to say. . .

[Reality]

Amen Cee, why bring in thug rappers???????

USF, you guys need to try and clean up the program, this is not helping.

Bulls 27
WVU 24

Mike Ford Three Td's.....Noel Devine, over 100 yards on 6 carries but the bandwagon fans are enough to put the bulls over the top.

[ewerbeck]

I'm not sure why we need to clean up our program... Unlike some others we have a coach that instills discipline. This means players occasionally get suspended and such. I'd rather see that than it being swept under the rug. CJL has built a solid, disciplined, team.

[Omaha, NE Husker Fan]

Saw the USF v. Auburn game a few weeks back... I have to say I was pretty impressed with your team. Good luck against WV.

[Dave]

Wow- Reality is on the optimistic side. Welcome to the world of hope. Sure you're disappointed with a loss, but it the anticipation is a great time. This should be the best week I've ever had at USF (Year #4), the unfortunate death of the girl notwithstanding (at this time of USF unification, it would be nice if we can offer any support possible to her family. This is truly a terrible thing to happen to such a young girl).

[john nelson]

I usually dont respond to nonsense but its idiotic to what cee said. if he wants to talk about thug you he needs to look at texas who has had 6 arrests since june. I admit we play undiscipline sometimes on the field but for the most part off the field we dont have problems that most programs dont have. Look at Noel Devine, hes a choir boy??? there is a reason why dude got accepted in june not in feb like most people. He had serious grade problems and only where he would know he would be accepted because he was headed to juco if it wasnt for wvu. Love my florida boys but he is dumb as a rock!

All due respect John, I don't think your comments regarding Noel are fair. Every player has to clear the NCAA clearinghouse. Just ask USF players like Fonua, Warren and others how hard that can be. Let's face it, if USF thought Noel could clear the clearinghouse, and he wanted to be here, then we would have taken him.

[Al]

If you don't like how your program deals with the elements it recruits, then do as I have been doing...cut your donations to the program.

[DAVID]

It will not be a beat down on the 13th of October Matt, and UCF needs to beat their first ranked opponent and USF is the first victim.

[RD]

Man, yall are real optimistic about USF vs WVU. There is a reason WVU is ranked #5, Lets come back to reality here. And they will be wanting to settle the score from last year with a healthy team.... +Devine... Not good for USF.