What's next: USF playing a home-and-home with Enormous State University? Jim Leavitt making a cameo on Marmaduke?
The Bulls, whose 12-year-old football program is still entering the mainstream of cultural awareness, got a reference in Thursday's Tank McNamara, even if it's a slightly cynical nod to colleges' public perceptions.
"When you think 'University of South Florida,' what do you think?" a university chancellor asks two men in her office in today's strip.
"Minor-major with a darn good football team," one answers. "Came out of nowhere to rank Number 2 for a week a couple of seasons ago."
"See," the chancellor replies. "That translates to academic prestige."
If the 35-year-old sports comic doesn't make your daily paper -- I'm still in Orlando, and it doesn't make the Sentinel's lineup here, you can read the strip at Yahoo.com. Thanks to the sharp eyes over at Thebullspen.com for spotting it ...
(Comic image from Yahoo.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.
Root root root for the home team!
Sry, I'm from Tampa. I've always managed to watch the Bulls on TV a few times a year and go to a few games. I visited UF and it is a nice looking school. The Swamp is awful. I cannot believe the National Champions play there. I don't care if USF shares Ray Jay with the Bucs. Pitt and Miami have more than twice the National Championships UF has and they share a NFL stadium.
Posted by: BullsRaysBucsLightning | July 13, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Please, the swamp is an eyesore. They continually made additions to the point that there are random walls in the grandstand and then they painted the inside neon orange. Ugly Ugly stadium that doesnt compare to Ray Jay, at least they sell beer at our games.
Posted by: Bullseye | July 13, 2009 at 02:51 PM
No doubt that Gainesville is a nice college town. The swamp is kinda like a hodgepodge put together thing. Don't try to compare the stadiums. Actually to have big grassy areas and parking close to the stadium for tailgating is good. As far as the attendance and how good UF football is.... the years before Spurrier were pretty darn lean ones. We will be OK as we build our program and the traditions that go along with that. GO BULLS!
Posted by: Steve O'Neal | July 13, 2009 at 01:07 PM
BRBL, I will probably be at the Rays game on Aug. 1st as I go to quite a few games so if I get a Rays hat with a Bulls logo on it, I will give it away. Nothing personal, nothing against USF if that happens.
As for this area being greater than Gainesville, that's a ridiculous comparison.
1. It's comparing the areas, not the schools.
2. Tampa Bay, or any city within the "bay area", to the best of my knowledge has never been ranked by Money magazine as the Most Liveable City in America. Gainesville was in 1995.
3. I grew up in St. Pete and know what this area has to offer. I lived in Gainesville from '94-'02 and know what it has to offer. They are very different areas with different demographics. But the area around UF is as fun an area for attending college in the state. I dare say that Temple Terrace and its spread is no where near as charming as Gainesville.
But tell me, what's it like tailgating in such an area as Raymond James stadium? Tailgating before and after games in The Swamp is what it's all about. It's like that with most real football programs. You get to visit the campus a few times a year and reminisce and show your kids the places you saw and hung out as a student. That's a lot better, for me anyway, than tailgating along Dale Mabry highway and walking into a rented NFL stadium which is barely half full to watch a game.
Have a nice week, we have but eight weeks until the season starts.
Posted by: GatorSphere | July 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Ken, I posted the USF-Tank McNamara backstory (or lackthereof) on a different thread ...
http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2009/07/more-on-usf-football-and-tank-mcnamara.html
Posted by: G.A. | July 12, 2009 at 09:12 PM
GatorSphere, you should come out to the Rays game on August 1. It's USF night and you get a Rays hat with a USF logo on the back!
Tampa Bay>Gainesville by FAR.
Posted by: BullsRaysBucsLightning | July 12, 2009 at 07:53 PM
So, Greg, do tell: How did USF get in his cartoon? That might be the most interesting post of all.
About the rest of this, I don't know what's funnier: My fellow USF fans who think our school is as good as UF (it isn't, except in a very few areas) or the UF fans with a very inflated sense of UF's significance.
Posted by: Ken | July 12, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Nothing wrong with that at all--he got it more or less right and spelled our name correctly.
Posted by: Ken | July 12, 2009 at 03:17 PM
BA's got things figured out pretty well. A lot of these summer topics are all about trying to generate interest and conversation, and yes, it's amazing that Tank McNamara can generate 55 comments, however on point they might be.
Here's what's fun: I got Tank McNamara writer Jeff Millar on the phone Friday night to find out how/why USF made it onto his strip. It was surprisingly easy to get him on the phone ...
Posted by: G.A. | July 11, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Greg,
I've got to hand it to you. Great job during the 'wasteland' time of the summer to throw fresh meat out in your blog and watch the natives fight over it. It's a beautiful thing you've created. As of my count this is post #55 on a non-topic (cartoon) during the dog-days of summer.
Outstanding job!
Go Bulls!
Posted by: BA | July 11, 2009 at 07:18 AM
Great link Griggsy, I couldn't stop laughing. "I want to gradulate the Universeea Flora not only for bein the best ACK!ademic school..." Great stuff, nothing beats "Tim Tivo" though! Hilarious!
Posted by: Byron | July 11, 2009 at 12:17 AM
I don't know why Gators are in here defending their school. They should let one of their esteemed alumni speak for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgbBP9Em00A&feature=related
Enough with the 'USF sucks' talk, eh?
Posted by: Griggsy | July 10, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Lovebug.... OMG, that is hilarious!!! ROTFL
Posted by: Bulliever | July 10, 2009 at 05:13 PM
When it comes to law school admissions, the big boys up north don't differentiate between USF, UF, FSU, or any other state school in the south. It's just a fact. And for me, that's all that matters.
Posted by: David Weber | July 10, 2009 at 05:12 PM
I cant wait until next year when we get to hear that "Jaws" theme song. I am going to be using my hook em shark's fin in the USF section. Why did UF rip off Bama's cheers also?? Crazy. I guess UF has some originality as they created the lovebug. Oh joy!!!
Posted by: Bull Daly | July 10, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Yea right, gator. Everyone thinks of a BIG WHITE SHARK FIN cutting through the water when they hear that music, not gators chomping. Why couldn't UF come up with something original instead of ripping off the sharks music?
Posted by: Steve O'Neal | July 10, 2009 at 04:55 PM
ROFL at the Gators bragging about their degrees while tapping away on a blog in the middle of the day. Unemployed much?
What a joke.
Posted by: PDQ | July 10, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Gatorsphere,
Before you correct...I meant USE. We all type fast and this is not graded.
Posted by: Bullie | July 10, 2009 at 04:55 PM
GatorSphere,
Looks you just got owned. It is pretty lame to copy a movie theme song. Why dont you go after that Indian Jones theme song while you are at it. Also, why did UF rip off Mich St's chomp?? I mean the chomp looks like a bunch of idiots on crack trying to clap, but I love getting a good laugh at you all anyway.
Posted by: Bull Daly | July 10, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Gator,
You're still here, bashing us... Wow... how sad that you don't have your own gator blog to post your awesome comments :(
gator=pathetic
Posted by: Bulliever | July 10, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Steve, Texas fans and alumni have been doing the "Hook 'em Horns" hand sign for decades. USF started a football program in the mid 90s. Can YOU tell the difference.
It's simply so lame to steal another team's tradition. But I guess USF needs anything it can get when it.
Yeah, Steve I am a college graduate. One doesn't "graduate from college", one earns a degree and becomes a college graduate. Haven't you learned the decorum? I suppose not.
Well, Bulls "fans" I'm out. I'm headed to the Rays game so enjoy your weekend at your 2nd jobs and go ahead and just make an extra batch of fries, it'll save you time while you work the drive-thru at Mickey D's. :) Have fun!
Posted by: GatorSphere | July 10, 2009 at 04:51 PM
the gators stole their chomp from the tomahawk chop the noles had going for years before that... and by the way, it still looks gay when they do it.
Posted by: Bullseye | July 10, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Gatorsphere,
You are correct....steel is different than steal. Stealing is a term you are used to hearing with 24 arrests under Meyer's tenure....gangstaville!!!
Red Herring...you won't answer my questions...because you know I'm right on the $.
Posted by: Bullie | July 10, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Gators ripping on the USF logo now? when does it end. Our logo still looks better than the "Gators" written in blue crayon on the side of their helmets. I love that they even have a politically correct male & Female gator mascot...next they'll have the gay mascot to stay PC.
Posted by: Mark | July 10, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Who had horns 1st? Texas steers or Brahma bulls? The "USF stole the longhorns sign" is so lame. The fact that texas steers and Brahma bulls BOTH have horns is a valid answer. Can't you figure that out Einstein? Didn't you say that you graduated from college?
Posted by: Steve O'Neal | July 10, 2009 at 04:47 PM
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Matt Yoder | July 10, 2009 at 04:46 PM
Bull Daly, there is a massive difference in using music from a movie and a college ripping off another college.
Jesus, stop with the unparallel comparisons and answer the question, please. Why did USF rip off Texas?
Posted by: GatorSphere | July 10, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Gator fan,
Can UF even tell the difference between a Croc or gator?? Why did UF steal the "Jaws" theme?? I thought sharks used that John Williams score, not alligators. Well, I guess UF can really tell the difference of anything these days.
Posted by: Bull Daly | July 10, 2009 at 04:40 PM
1. Again, no answer.
2. It's steal, not "steel".
3. Why not say they both got the Power G from Grambling.
Way to throw a red herring, That's what WE thought.
Posted by: GatorSphere | July 10, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Gatorsphere,
Good comeback and way out from dodging the real questions. That is what we all thought buddy!!
Did Georgia steel the Packers' logo or is that vice-versa. If we put a SF on our helmet like the 49ers would that be better for you.
Posted by: Bullie | July 10, 2009 at 04:33 PM
Steve O'Neal failed to do so on another thread, but could one of you Bulls fans please tell us all why USF and its athletic department marketed season tickets by ripping off Texas' "Hook 'em Horns" hand sign? Don't give me this crap about Brahmans and horns. USF stole Texas' tradition and that's final. Why?
Also, why does the "U" with the horns for your helmet logo look eerily similar to Jack Link's beef jerky logo?
Can USF come up with ANYTHING original? ANYTHING at all? Didn't think so. You people have a nice weekend, afterall we have but 8 weeks until college football begins.
Posted by: GatorSphere | July 10, 2009 at 04:26 PM
Wildcat, I'm a Bull! Please watch where you're shooting.
Tom
Posted by: Tom | July 10, 2009 at 04:06 PM
Gatorsphere,
Not sure if you have a business degree or what not but do you really think a UF business degree outwieghs a USF or FSU degree in any Market?? Assuming similar grades at all institutions.
Newsflash.....it does not......
Posted by: Bullie | July 10, 2009 at 04:01 PM
Gatosphere, such intellectual prowess! I'm especially impressed with the name calling. Was that an elective at the harvard (hahahaha) of the south? I could't even type that without laughing! Nice post wildcat.
Posted by: Steve O'Neal | July 10, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Gatorsphere, you are the moron and should read your own link. It shows all three schools he mentioned (UM, FSU, UF) are on par with one another as Teir 1 schools. So keep bashing FSU, they are on the same level as you, Mr. "Harvard of the south"
Posted by: Nole Daddy | July 10, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Hey gator if you are so great, invite me onto your favorite Gator blog and let's got at it...
But, the RULES are no name calling (that is usually what most people do when they don't have anything intelligent to say).
And everyone must back up all facts with a URL or reference a publication with name, date, and author... How about it?
Posted by: Bulliever | July 10, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Gatorsphere-
What do you do that is so impressive?
What is your degree in and post graduate degree in?
How has UF made it easier for you to succeed in this world...
Please tell us all....
Posted by: Bullie | July 10, 2009 at 03:57 PM
Pretentiousgators is one word! At it again, I'd take FSU or UM over that crap dump in the middle of the state anyday...
Posted by: Mark | July 10, 2009 at 03:52 PM
To the moron who posted at 3:11, read this: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search/title+florida
THE Univ. of Florida is a Tier 1 school. YOU are retarded. I am beginning to believe academics at Florida State are not too bad compared to the University for STUPID FLORIDIANS. USF is for RETARDS.
Posted by: GatorSphere | July 10, 2009 at 03:45 PM
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Gator fans:
Everyone that lives in Florida and goes to any JC in the Florida, and recieves an AA degree, CAN GO TO ANY STATE SCHOOL IN FLORIDA, such as USF, UCF, FSU, UF... and get it.
Most of us went to USF by choice, not because we could not get in, anywhere else... I applied to Duke and UM, got accepted...but, decided to stay close to home and went to USF.
As for USF, it has some amazing credentials in the many feilds of research, (so does UCF and UF) but Moffitt is one of the leading cancer research centers and is teamed up with Sloan Kettering and MD Anderson ...
Here is an award that USF won... no mention of UF...
http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=6615
Whatever, we could be here all day pulling links about how great our schools are... They call it a pissing contest, but I would rather stay on my blog, not bashing some other school.
How about you invite me to your UF blog and I can start the contest there? How 'bout it!
Posted by: Bulliever | July 10, 2009 at 03:43 PM
Tom, Rob, and UFPIKE,
To all you ding dong gators who went there before 1999... get real about your school. It was not hard to get into before Bright Futures and the population of Florida exploding....I am in my low 30s and was born and raised in Tampa so I know. As for tradition...you have none. Your football team was irrelevant before 1995 and your bball team will be in the NIT for the third straight year = no tradition. I come from a school with great tradition at least with bBall (mouth shut for football)...Kentucky..and know what it is like to be around a historical Bball program (7 titles, two back to back and three appearances in the finals '96,97,98, we also have 45 SEC titles to your 4). We own you in BBall...check the records for the dominance or just ask Billy. You have no idea what it is like to be around a tradition rich program that has been winning for decades which is why your are so hyper and green. By the way, I went to UK on an athletic scholarship and could have gone to UF. As for the Harvard of the South...not a chance and anyone who went to harvard laughs at that comment. Also..Florida has no good, small private colleges, which litter the Northeast, to compete with around here. My buddy went to law school at UF (undergrad at Michigan) and was told in interviews in NYC that no one respected his degree from a Florida School. Keep pumping your ego and thinking that USF people will be working for you....studies show that ambition outweighs your college choice.
Posted by: Wildcat | July 10, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Funny stuff about "some people considering UF the Harvard of the South"...I thought that was Duke, UVA, UNC, Wake, Rice, Tulane, Georgia Tech...
In Law school a fellow student was asked by a prof where he went to undergrad. He answered "the harvard of the south, the university of florida"--the prof answered "well, quite impressive, but I went to the Harvard of the north."
funny enough, this guy went to UF and goes to the same law school that I got into with my tiny little usf degree.
Posted by: BigDave | July 10, 2009 at 03:34 PM
All the academicians from the "Harvard of Alachua County" got tripped up and drawn to this blog today thinking this was the comic strips.
Posted by: Tom | July 10, 2009 at 03:26 PM
UF grads have insecurity issues as you can see. They constantly feel the need to tell you they're better at everything. If UF really is so great, why do they need to reassure us of their greatness all the time. UF is a teir 2 school, just like UM, just like FSU. Many of the same students get accepted at all three. None of those degrees looks better than the other in a job interview.
Posted by: Gators = Insecure | July 10, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Get over yourselves gators, you are just another STATE school. Big Deal!
Posted by: Steve O'Neal | July 10, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Laughing at the fools who think USF can hold a candle to UF. UF is a cut above the rest in this state. Some refer to it as the harvard of the south.
We will be the ones giving jobs to USF students after they graduate.
Posted by: UFPike | July 10, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Whoa guys, comparing USF to UF right now just isn't smart. They are definitely on top. But don't forget UF fans, USF has only been around for 50 years compared to 150 for UF. USF is catching up quick. GO BULLS!
Posted by: TampaBull | July 10, 2009 at 02:32 PM
It always cracks me up when people who have already graduated from UF and are off in the real world brag about academic prestige. Up until 5-10 years ago UF was easier to get into than UCF-FSU-USF, etc. are now. Meaning, you aren't even smart enough to get into UF now.
Posted by: Mike | July 10, 2009 at 02:18 PM
"...my degree from UF carries a lot of weight around the country as Florida has one of the best broadcasting schools in America."
#######
Rob, UF's Agriculture College is widely respected. As far as "Bull-stuff," you can broadcast it with the best of them.
Posted by: Tom | July 10, 2009 at 02:15 PM
I'll save you goons from doing the research, not that you'd know how, of finding the also-ran USF in U.S. News and World Report's rankings.
USF is a Tier 3 school. Tier 3= kids who get by with doing the minimum and will end up working for people like me, a proud UF alum.
Here ya go: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search/title+South%20Florida
Posted by: Rob | July 10, 2009 at 01:47 PM