Hardship U.: Pupello gets waiver to play in '08

USF's magic with NCAA hardship waivers is still strong. For the third year in a row, the Bulls have gotten a waiver to allow a Division I transfer to play immediately without sitting out a year. Tight end Trent Pupello, a Jefferson graduate who transferred to USF from Florida in January, will be eligible to play for the Bulls this fall.

Last year, the Bulls got significant impact from such a transfer, as former Iowa State linebacker Tyrone McKenzie led the team in tackles as the starting strongside linebacker. Running back Jamar Taylor (Alabama) and special-teams star Lucas Darr (N.C. State) also played immediately after transferring. Two years ago, the Bulls got waivers for offensive lineman Ryan Schmidt, defensive tackle Julian Riley, and linebacker Marvin Peoples.

Pupello, 6-foot-2 and 276 pounds, hasn't elaborated publicly on the nature of his hardship, but said in December he was transferring to USF to be closer to home because of a "private family matter." He's expected to compete for a backup role at tight end after getting a brief look at defensive line this spring. He'll have three years of eligiblity with the Bulls.

Comments

[Mr. Ari Hinkelberger]

UNREAL!!!

Just flat out unreal. Somebody has the magic touch in that building.

Hilarious.!

Urban Meyer will be scratching his head.

[Herman Momart]

This should help. It always seems as if Ben Busbee is nursing some kind of injury.

Why not add some depth.

[Dave W]

He's too big and talented to waste at TE in our offense.

Anyways, that's great for us that he is eligible, but it means that whatever is wrong in his family life is serious, so hopefully it has a positive resolution.

I think the success in gaining hardship waivers is simply because of where we are; it isn't our fault that half of the good college football players are from Florida, and many from near here. All of those guys wanted to be closer to home for a reason; we just happen to be a top-25 program that is close to home.

[Mr. Ari Hinkelberger]

The hardship waiver for Jamar Taylor is what set Nick Saban off last year.

Pretty funny that USF got another one for a major college transfer this year too.

Comical.

[David]

From what I understand Jamar's waiver last year was due to the fact that he needed to be closer to home because he has a young son. Tyrone needed to be closer to home I believe because of a medical issue with his mother, which I hope all turned out well or will turn out well for he and his family. With those two waivers in mind I too hope that all is well Trent's "private family matter" The USF nation's welcomes you and can't wait to see what you have to offer.

[Gator Fan]

I'm glad it worked out for Trent. Maybe he will find a home and get some playing time at USF. I remember he was highly recruited out of Jefferson HS only to find himself stuck behind Ingram, Casey and Hernandez on the Gator depth chart. Good luck Trent, we hardly knew ye.

[Gary BULLfreak]

Greg,
Do you see him play TE or moving to DLine because of the lack of depth

Gary

[G.A.]

Gary, I think his immediate future is at tight end this fall, but because of his size, I know Coach Leavitt has mentioned him as a possibility at center down the road. He got a look on defense this spring but was moved back to offense. Right now, I'd say Cedric Hill and Ben Busbee are definitely ahead of him. Not sure which side of the ball Quincy Okolie will be on this fall, so Pupello's in there with Andrew Ketchel and the incoming freshman, Jeff Hawkins.

[The Champ]

I'm waiting on the NFL draft.

Please, please, please don't let D-MAC go to the Raiders!!!

Hoping like heck that he ends up in a NY Jets uniform.

If D-MAC goes to the Raiders his career will die before it even has life.

Al "Just Win Baby" Davis needs to sell his team because he isn't fit to run it anymore.The game has passed him by.He appears to be going senile.

[Herman Momart]

I've been praying that McFadden slips to the Jets around midseason last year.

But something tells me McFadden and New York City is like water and vinegar. Just ask his Mom.

[Mr. Ari Hinkelberger]

Dallas could take him right here. They just traded up.

[Rob]

Tyrone McKenzie - health problem in the family - check

Jamar Taylor - needs to take care of his young son - check

Trent Pupello - needs more playing time - check

I have not criticized the Bulls for some of their past hardship waivers (though the fact that FAU/FIU down in talent rich Miami don't get more says something about the "we're near where all the talent lives argument"), this one is nonsense. Gainesville is 90 minutes from Tampa, and unless he's living at home, this is a nonsense deal. This was a lack of playing time and exploiting the NCAA's lack of ability to really investigate these waivers because they don't have a police power

[Mr. Ari Hinkelberger]

Gainesville is actually about 1:45 from Tampa.. Everyone always says that Gainesville is 1:30... but I have tried it. Not doable. You can make it to the G-vill exite in almost 1:30. No way you can get to Florid Field in 1:30

But I agree. USF has found a nitch

[Stephen]

It is a joke that USF continues to take advantage of this rule. The only hardship Pupello had was lack of playing time. You really have to wonder why the NCAA even has a sit out rule when USF can continue to come up with BS reasons. Hell, it would not surprise me if USF just had some of their med students come up with false crap for the parents so the kids can tranfer.

[Bob]

What a joke. This whiny baby couldn't play at UF so he gets a hardship. WAAAA WAAAA, what is he going to do when he goes into the real world.