Big news for college baseball fans in Tampa, as the New York Yankees are finalizing a marquee event that would bring four of the state's top programs together for a doubleheader at George Steinbrenner Field (formerly Legends Field) in February 2010.
Florida and Florida State would meet in one game, with USF and Miami squaring off in the second at the Yankees' spring training home. The four schools would meet again in 2011, perhaps as part of a larger event.
"It's not finalized, but we're going to bring in the top universities in the state," said Yankees senior vice president Felix Lopez. "It will be four schools to begin with, and we'll make it grow from there. It's been Mr. Steinbrenner's idea from the start."
Tampa was host to a "Florida Four" men's basketball tournament in 1981, with USF beating Florida and Florida State on back-to-back days.
BOWL UPDATE: It's very likely that USF will be headed to the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl on Dec. 20, but Meineke Car Care Bowl officials reiterated Monday that USF would be in play for their game if the Bulls can beat West Virginia on Saturday.
Both sides of the Meineke bowl -- from the Big East and ACC -- are up in the air, with four Big East and six ACC teams still being considered. If USF beats West Virginia, the bowl might consider the Bulls, as winners of two straight, a better choice than West Virginia, which would have lost three of four to finish 7-5. If Rutgers beats Louisville on Thursday, they would have won six straight, so the Knights might also be preferred, but there's a catch there.
The Meineke does not want its game to be a rematch of a regular-season game, and the bowl would love to get North Carolina, which would bring a considerable following to Charlotte. It seems unlikely that UNC would be available -- they seem a match for the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando -- but ESPN.com's current projections have UNC going to Charlotte. If that happens, Rutgers wouldn't be an option, because the Scarlet Knights and Tar Heels played this season, leaving the door open for USF on the Big East side.
Again, the scenario that makes the most sense has USF going to St. Petersburg, but Meineke does get to pick first, and they maintain the Bulls remain on their radar if they can win in Morgantown. The likely opponent in St. Pete would be Memphis (6-6), because sending Southern Miss (6-6) to St. Pete would have Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl for the second year in a row.
CANALES A FINALIST?: Utah State has completed its initial round of interviews for its head coaching vacancy -- USF receivers coach Mike Canales interviewed Saturday -- and the school could make an offer to its top choice within a day or two, according to the Deseret News.
The Standard-Examiner identifies Canales as one of three finalists, calling Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen "a favorite." Canales, a Utah State alum, has called the opening "a dream job" that would allow him to take another step in advancing his coaching career.
AKOL CLEARED: Former Bulls basketball signee Teeng Akol, who was part of Stan Heath's recruiting class and briefly attended summer classes at USF, has finally been cleared by the NCAA to play this season at Oklahoma State. Akol, a 6-foot-11 center from Sudan, was released from his scholarship in July because of academic issues that arose after he started classes. Here's the story from NewsOK.com.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Hey Greg I would love to see the florida four once again played in basketball has anyone try to get that started again any interest again?
Posted by: Rob | December 05, 2008 at 02:42 PM
I think it is the reading class I need, Greg. I thought USF was on the front side of all of those. Oh well.
Posted by: | December 03, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Thanks, Joe. I think you might have even dropped a reference to it on here while I was trying to track down confirmation. I've been trying to get it in the paper for a while ...
Posted by: G.A. | December 03, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Good stuff Greg. I was told this would happen for this year, but I guess it takes a little more planning than that with the other 3 universities. Keep up the good work with the baseball updates!
Posted by: JoeB | December 03, 2008 at 01:49 AM
If you look at 2005, UCF took two of three from USF.
USF: 2+2+2+1 = 7
UCF: 2+1+1+2 = 6
I'll be back tomorrow for my next seminar: "Subtraction, Addition's Tricky Pal."
Posted by: G.A. | December 02, 2008 at 09:10 PM
I don't follow the math, Greg. I get 8-5, rather than 7-6 (we've won 2 each year for 4 years, they've won 1 each of 3 years and 2 the other).
I'm hoping to Charlotte, too, but even if we have to stay here, I'd sure like to win this last game.
Posted by: | December 02, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Derry, Akol has since retaken an entrance exam after a previous score was called into question.
Posted by: Greg Auman | December 02, 2008 at 02:07 PM
The St. Petersburg Bowl is just ridiculous and I wouldn't be excited that my team is going there.
BTW Memphis had less 15,000 fans attend a must win game that would get them bowl eligible at 6-6. Speaking of which... No team and I mean no team should be rewarded with a postseason bowl finishing with a 6-6 record. The loser of the game between 2 sorry teams finishes with an under .500 record. However they were rewarded with a bowl game.
Posted by: The Champ | December 02, 2008 at 01:55 PM
I would LOVE to go to Charlotte. It was a blast in 2005 and would be a blast again. Those North Carolinians are great hosts!
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | December 02, 2008 at 01:47 PM
I'm kinda confused-are the academics that different from USF to OK State? Did he just have a change of heart, or is there more to it?
Posted by: DERRY BECK | December 02, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Would be good for Canales to get that job. I would have liked him to become the OC here, but maybe he can take Gregory to USU.
The baseball plan sounds pretty cool.
Posted by: cg | December 02, 2008 at 11:57 AM
The only downside to be playing Memphis is that a lot of Memphis fans wont travel to St Pete since the game is on 12/20 at 4:30pm. The reason I say this is that I checked their basketball schedule and they are hosting Syracuse on 12/20 at 6:30pm, so that will hurt their attendence numbers.
Posted by: Bull Daly | December 02, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Akol... I wish he was still here along with Teague and McMillan. I'll be watching him with the Cowboys when I catch them on TV.
I like Leemow's defensive ability but he is not the offensive player Dwan is at this point and time. Keep at least two of those guys here with the rest of the fellows and our depth isn't as much of a weakness anymore.
We should be hearing the names Teague and McMillan resurface with USF early next year. Wish Akol had went to a JC and come back.
Posted by: The Champ | December 02, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Almost every time? Not exactly.
In 2008, the schools split their four-game series, with USF scoring 31 runs in their two wins.
In 2007, USF won two of three from UCF.
In 2006, USF won two of three from UCF.
In 2005, UCF won two of three from USF.
Last four years, it's a 7-6 edge for USF. Overall, it's a 53-50 edge for USF. Nothing convincing, but not quite "almost everytime" for UCF.
Posted by: Greg Auman | December 02, 2008 at 10:30 AM
why would they not invite UCF we have a darn good baseball program. We beat USF almost everytime we play,
Posted by: ucfrocks | December 02, 2008 at 10:14 AM