Helping with the Times' Super Bowl coverage this week has overlapped with my usual USF coverage, as the Steelers are practicing on USF's practice fields and using the Bulls' athletic facility for meetings in preparation for Sunday's big game against Arizona.
It's a zoo around the building, with security everywhere and Steelers fans lining up hoping to get pictures and autographs. Got to see USF's two practice fields just before Pittsburgh's first practice Wednesday, and they've gotten quite a makeover. The NFL put new sod in on 80 percent of the practice area, and the fields are newly painted, marked and lined, with a huge Steelers logo in the entry area to the fields.
Presiding over the makeover is legendary NFL groundskeeper George Toma, known as the "God of sod" or even the "Marquis de Sod" as the caretaker of turf for every Super Bowl since the start. A spot of paint here, a little manicuring there, all to make the practice fields as ideal as possible for the Steelers -- the Cardinals are using the Bucs' new facility, closer to Raymond James Stadium.
Pittsburgh's interviews on Wednesday and Thursday were in the Sun Dome -- and you thought there wouldn't be a day when hundreds of media members gathered for an event there -- with the upper level stands pushed in and players lined up at podiums and tables to talk about the game. Wild to see Troy Polamalu getting escorted from the Dome to the athletic facility via golf cart, or to know that Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger were doing their one-on-one interviews with John Madden and Al Michaels in the meeting room next to Doug Woolard's office.
It's a circus at USF, but a well-timed one for the Bulls' football recruiting -- it's one thing to sell a recruit on the chance to play in an NFL stadium, another to show him he'll be playing on the same field as the biggest game in all of football. We'll get more up on USF's final recruiting push later in the day ...
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
I believe USF hosted a bunch of stuff, including practices for one of the teams, for the last SB.
Posted by: Ken | January 31, 2009 at 08:11 AM
It is obviously killing the UCF honks about all the free pub the Bulls are receiving; not to mention brand new turf at the practice facility and the home field. If their new place is so nice, why do they play two bowl games in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl?
Posted by: Don Corleone | January 29, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Can't wait to see the Cards run rampant on Pitt. Look for Boldin to win the MVP if they don't give it to Warner for throwing him three TD's on Sunday.
Posted by: Terry Lucas | January 29, 2009 at 09:38 PM
I've got a post up now on Pierre-Paul committing. Was at the Springsteen press conference downtown ...
Posted by: Greg Auman | January 29, 2009 at 03:39 PM
Ignoring the chance of wetting myself, I will say yippee! We may get everyone I had hoped for. I can ask no more from this class. Mr. Leavitt, you and your coaching staff are recruiting masterminds.
Posted by: | January 29, 2009 at 03:35 PM
Sweetness!
Posted by: Mike Lakeland | January 29, 2009 at 02:52 PM
It is just potential at this point, though it is a numbers game. The more top recruits you can get, the better your chances of improving the quality and success of your team. There are always exceptions, but the odds are definitely better of improving when you can get better athletes. GO BULLS!
Posted by: Steve O'Neal | January 29, 2009 at 02:31 PM
let's hope the coaches took advantage of this weekend to bring in the recruits. plenty of NFLers around. a chance to meet with the USF NFLers too.
Posted by: Rich | January 29, 2009 at 01:40 PM
I think you guys may be a little premature on this Pierre-Paul thing.
Yeah, he may sign with USF, but I'm not sure he's even a solid verbal at this point.
As with all things recruiting, settle down, quit wetting yourself, and just breathe deeply. Recruiting is about as inexact science as there is.
Posted by: RR | January 29, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Holy poop!
That would be a huge get!!
What is the over/under for defensive shutouts next season 3.
Posted by: KC | January 29, 2009 at 01:36 PM
Greg,
I wish I had your job...
I know it is not the first time Tampa hosted a Super Bowl, but is this the first time that the USF has hosted so many events...
Ultimately, is Pittsburgh (the players) and the media happy being at USF?
Posted by: Bulliever | January 29, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Hey Greg: As far as recruiting goes, here's your lede.
"It is becoming more and more clear that USF is collecting the best defensive line recruiting class in the nation."
Just a clue, new commit...
Posted by: greg budzban | January 29, 2009 at 01:28 PM
Hey Greg -- can you confirm that USF just received a verbal from a 5-star JUCO Defensive End?
Posted by: Growler Bull | January 29, 2009 at 01:21 PM
I wish they would've had all the recruits come in this weekend. They would've been sold on USF.
Posted by: Joe | January 29, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Didn't George O'Leary have "God Of Sod" on his resume?
Is this George Toma dude trying to take O'Leary's position?
Posted by: RR | January 29, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Greg,
Those practice fields are really nice. Too bad you could not have posted a picture before they started practicing because it looked like a gameday field.
Posted by: ws | January 29, 2009 at 01:03 PM
They should have played the Superbowl at the Bright House.
Posted by: ucf rocks | January 29, 2009 at 12:52 PM
This is a really cool article. Great job Greg
Posted by: flsportsfan83 | January 29, 2009 at 12:52 PM