TAMPA, Fla. (Friday, August 19) – The University of South Florida men's soccer team will face the University of Tampa in an exhibition match Saturday, August 20 at the USF Soccer Stadium at 8 p.m. to battle for the Rowdies' Cup. The USF, UT match will round out an evening celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies North American Soccer League (NASL) Championship.
Prior to the 8 p.m. kick off, a round robin alumni soccer tournament between former Bull, Spartan and Rowdies players will take place, beginning at 6 p.m. Former Rowdies Steve Wegerle, Derek Smethurst, Farrukh Quraishi, Refik Kozic, Mike Connell, Winston Dubose, Kevin Clinton, Dave Power, Don Tobin, Peter Ward, Derek Backman, Alan Anderson, Doug Wark, Giles Hooper, Jimmy McKeough, Darren Roe, Mark Lindsay, Neill Roberts, Ed Austin, Perry Van Der Beck, Ed Firmani, Ron Newman, Ken Schields, Steve Horne, Steve Glickman will be on hand.
The Rowdies defeated the Portland Timbers, 2-0, to claim the 1975 Soccer Bowl championship in their inaugural season, becoming Tampa Bay's first professional championship team. Tampa Bay played for 10 seasons in the NASL, posting a 147-135 record, including two more appearances in the Soccer Bowl (1978 and 1979). It also fielded an indoor soccer team from 1975-1984, winning two championships. After the demise of the NASL in 1984, the Rowdies operated as an independent team for two seasons before joining the American Indoor Soccer Association in 1986. During the summer of 1988, Tampa Bay joined the American Soccer League. It would stay in the league and its successor (the APSL) until the team folded in 1993.
During halftime of the USF, UT match, the Rowdies in attendance will be introduced with the 1975 NASL Championship Trophy, which will be awarded to the winner between the Bulls and Spartans
The battle between cross-town rivals USF and UT was introduced in 1972. During a span of 16 straight seasons (1977-1992), the two teams played annually . In those 16 years, the Bulls edged the Spartans with a 8-6-2 head-to-head record. The teams played once more in 1997, a 4-1 win for Tampa. USF holds an all-time 10-7-2 series lead dating back to 1972.
Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for youths/seniors. For more information, log onto www.GoUSFBulls.com or call 1-800-GoBulls.
USF will continue its exhibition portion of the 2005 season with a match versus St. Leo on Monday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youths/seniors.
The Bulls' 2005 season will begin on Sept. 2 when they face in-state rival FIU at the USF Soccer Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
