Bulls moving up in license-plate hierarchy

We've blogged a few times here about the state's specialty license plate program, which to me gives a true quantification of fan interest levels and how they show their support for their favorite schools.

We first blogged about the plates in November 2006, when USF's alumni association had a promotion to pay the initial $25 for alums who would switch theirs to a USF tag. We came back in October 2007, when USF rose to No. 2 in the national rankings and more and more fans were buying USF plates.

Now, we can look at the most recent figures -- through Dec. 1, 2008 -- and see that USF has moved ahead of Central Florida to No. 5 among the state's college license plates. Here's a chart showing the total registrations in November 2006 and December 2008. USF has easily the largest percentage growth -- up 50 percent in two years, when the closest rival is Florida, up 20.2 percent from what was the state's biggest total two years earlier. Of the nine top state programs with football teams, you'll see that four of them -- including Florida State and Miami -- actually have fewer license plates than they did in 2006.

School                         2006      2008          % change
1. Florida                   85,214    102,435     +20.2
2. Florida State          71,258      69,580      -3.4
3. Miami                    27,721      26,772      -2.3
4. Florida A&M           19,672      19,268      -2.1
5. USF                         9,029      13,551     +50.0
6. Central Florida       11,935      13,493     +13.1
7. Bethune-Cookman    6,319       6,113      -3.2
8. Florida Int'l              2,347       2,726      +16.1
9. Florida Atlantic        2,207       2,349       +6.4

You can find a full list of the current registration totals here.

The state also has an interactive page that allows you to check out plates in each county. You can visit it here, but I've already done some relevant math. If you look at the four-county area in which the Times circulates (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando) you'll see there are still slightly more FSU plates than USF plates, but that margin is one-tenth what it was just two years ago, suggesting USF will pass the Seminoles in the Times' four-county area in 2009. Here are the local numbers:

School                   2006      2008      % change

1. Florida               13,089     16,227   +24.0

2. Florida State        9,786     10,114    +3.4

3. USF                     6,439      9,761    +51.6

4. Florida A&M        2,185       2,328    +6.5

5. Miami                 1,697       1,692    -0.3

6. Central Florida       944       1,134    +20.1

Check out the numbers in Hillsborough County alone -- in 2006, FSU had 4,726 tags there, more than USF, which had 3,947. Two years later, FSU has 4,734 (just eight more) while USF has 6,111, for a jump of 2,164 plates. Florida, in the same span, goes from 6,550 to 7,957, a growth of 1,407 plates.

Comments

[Bulliever]

Greg,

We like your figures...we'll stick with that!

[Greg Auman]

It's odd -- the same site has two different totals. I had used the list labeled "valid registrations," but the school-by-school totals for sales and renewals are all significantly higher -- like 10 percent more. Can't tell which is the more accurate figure ...

Greg according to TBOs page:

"Statistics are provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles."

Scroll down to the bottom right.

http://www2.tbo.com/static/news-special-reports-data-bay/tbocom-special-reports-florida-specialty-license-p/?appSession=272143056427536

I believe you'll find TBO's numbers are the same as the Sentinels.

[Greg Auman]

I've already linked to the stats I provided. They're straight from the state's official site. Those were as of Dec. 1 -- not sure what date the Sentinel was using.

[Al]

http://www.flhsmv.gov/specialtytags/slpfaq.html#2

[Al]

Bulliever

The proceeds go to each university...not to a general fund.

http://www.floridafund.uff.ufl.edu/UFLicenseTag/Default.aspx

[Bulliever]

Hey Greg,

I just read the following information on the Sentinel article...

113,562 out of a total of 1,630,332 specialty license plates. That's almost 7 percent of the take, and with $25 from each plate going to University of Florida's Academic Enhancement Program, that's more than $2.8 million.

So, does UF actually get the $2.8 million ($25.00 each plate?)...or does all the sales on each plate go into a "General Fund" for academics in the State University System in Florida?

[RR]

Wow.

Honored to be considered among the greats on this blog.....Cee, Chalko, and Al.

I'm speechless.....except for this one I've prepared......

[Steve O'Neal]

Al, nice to see you up and whinin' already this morning. I just don't know where us crazy overly optimistic Bulls fans would be without you to keep us grounded. Seriously though, you are a such a clown! Yep, you've made it right up there with cee, chalko,and rr. What an illustrious group! GO BULLS!

[Al]

Here's the stats just for "University" tag sales.

http://www2.tbo.com/static/news-special-reports-data-bay/tbocom-special-reports-florida-specialty-license-p/?appSession=272143056427536

[Al]

It appears that the Sentinel's numbers are correct.

http://www2.tbo.com/static/news-special-reports-data-bay/tbocom-special-reports-florida-specialty-license-p/?appSession=318143055477847

[Steve]

As usual, Orlando has different numbers to make themselves look better...

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_popculture_blog/2009/01/gators-are-cham.html

Who is correct?

[Al]

Greg you said "to me gives a true quantification of fan interest levels and how they show their support for their favorite schools."

The number of USF tag that are purchased by Bull "FANS" is rather small....all one has to do is look at the plates on the cars in the reserved parking lots at the RJ.

There are 5 or 6 USF tags on my street and my 2 are the only ones that have ever been to a USF athletic event.

13K+ is only a very small percentage of the total number of alumni living in Florida

[KBull]

I support USF as much as possible. I even had the first generation tag with the crazy looking bull on it. Thanks Greg for the different things you report on. MOST of us who read this blog appreciate it. Al seems like one of those tools we know about out there.

[G.A.]

Al, as I wrote in the first paragraph, I see the specialty plates as a way to quantify the number of people with allegiance to a school -- not all athletic fans, true, but it certainly seems like a valid point for conversation, given that yours isn't the only comment here.

And you had to scroll down past three entirely sports-related posts to read this one, so it shouldn't bother you but so much about the lack of sports on a sports blog, right?

[Al]

True, but this is USF SPORTS BULLETIN not ALUMNI BULLETIN - Correct me if I'm wrong, but USF auto tags are a Alumni Association undertaking.

[Bulliever]

Al,

There is probably no direct correlation with the Athletics dept...But, as earlier posted it does help students through scholarship programs...

And the license plates do promote USF...whether you like USF because you got your degree there or you love the football team, basketball team, etc...

It is pretty cool that people want to be a part of what is happening...

And I love it when Greg gives us any kind of positive news on USF...USF has more to offer than just athletics.

[Al]

Nice, but what do the sales of USF auto tags have to do with USF athletics?

[Steve O'Neal]

I've never seen the inside of a USF classroom as a student. I was born in Tampa in '56, the same year as USF. I pay taxes, so I guess I support all the state schools. I was referred to a program at USF for area "problem" teens while a student at Horace Mann jr high. They paired us up with a grad student that interviewed and counseled us twice a week as they got their degree and became school counselors etc. What a blast back in the early 70's. Getting in the "right" frame of mind, then riding my dirtbike from Seffner to USF campus and riding around campus(not many buildings on campus back then). BS'n the USF student and having a lot of fun! I blamed everything on my parents,HAHA(my parents were good). The ladies name was mrs White. She was a single mother that had gone back to school and did become a school counselor. I met her sons while in School a couple of years later. She and I were both surprised the 1st time I visited her house to see her son, Joe. Oops, got carried away there, reminiscing. I guess I'm a tool also. Whatever. I'm a booster and have 16 season tickets and a specialty tag(56BULS) for my USF BULLS!

[Derrick]

Many tools that sport Gator plates never saw a classroom there!

As for Genius, ...
That was funny!

[Mike Lakeland]

Genius - with tires like that, it's odd that you haven't experienced an increase in automobile accidents!

[Genius]

Not only did I buy the USF license plate, but I also have new tires made out of recycled Under Armour shoes.

[Little Timmy]

That's what happens when you get a successful football program started. I have my plate.

[Ken]

Great testimonial. Thanks.

[David Weber]

I want to point out that some of the proceeds go to a scholarship fund. I received the license plate scholarship in Fall 07 for participating in the Legislative Internship Program (LIP). So basically, I got a small stipend (which was awesome because it covered my gas used on the commute!) plus great experience at Kathy Castor's office. So Bulls fans, buy the plates! Your car will look cool and you'll be helping students out!

[Mike Lakeland]

Great research, Greg! We love you long time!

[Bulliever+2]

And this is why we love the blog, Greg.

Cool info... thanks!

[Bulliever]

Now that is kewl!

Thanks Greg!