TAMPA -- Last Friday, the USF Bulls Club and Varsity Club put on the first of four Verizon Around the Horns (ATH) Golf events at the Bayou Club, where a number of Bulls fans had the opportunity to play a round of golf with USF coaches, legends and dignitaries.
GoUSFBulls.com's Garrett Woolvard was able to catch up with a few of the Varsity Club members in attendance and even dove into how some of the former Bulls fared on the links.
Check out BullsVision exclusive interviews with former men's basketball player Tommy Tonelli, USF football place-kicking brothers Bill and Santiago Gramatica, former baseball standout Scott Glaser and men's basketball head coach Stan Heath.
Other alums and legends in attendance were men's basketball players Andrrik Frazier and Brian Lamb and women's golfer Sally Dee, who recently advanced to the final four on the Golf Channel's Big Break X.
Heath, entering his third at the helm of the men's program, recently reeled in one of the more sought after recruiting classes in USF men's basketball history, including headliner Jarrid Famous. Last year, Heath led the Bulls to an upset over then No. 8 Marquette, the highest ranked team USF has ever beaten.
Tonelli, who currently is in his third year as director of basketball operations, was a a three-year starter at USF during his playing career (1982-86). He served as a team captain for USF during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons and his 1982-83 squad still holds the school record for wins with 22. Tonelli led the team for three years in assists and still ranks fourth all-time on the career list with 480. He also ranks eighth all-time for career steals with 138.
Glaser, a former standout on the baseball diamond, is in his third year as Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and Event Management. Glaser graduated from USF in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary social sciences. He was a four-year letter winner on the Bulls' baseball team and the all-time career wins leader. Glaser was drafted in 1997 by the New York Yankees and in 1998 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played one season for the Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League following his graduation.
Bill Gramatica played for the Bulls before moving on to a four-year career in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and the Miami Dolphins. During his tenure in the NFL he made good on 77.1 percent of field goals tried and made 60-of-61 extra point attempts. Gramatica's collegiate career at the University of South Florida was an impressive one. He owns most of the school's kicking records, including longest field goal in school history at 63 yards. The Arizona Cardinals drafted the now 27 year-old kicker in the 4th round (98th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Santiago, a four-year letterwinner at USF, holds numerous school records including most career points (246), most field goals made in a season (16), most field goals made in a career (38) and career PAT's attempted (147) and career PAT's made (132).
The group enjoyed the challenging course and a truly great event for alumni and fans alike.
The Verizon USF Around the Horns Coaches Tour takes the Bulls to various Florida regions an provides an opportunity for local fans to spend the day with the Bulls. Plan for a full round of golf, followed by dinner for all attendees with entertainment provided by USF coaches and administrators. The four events will include the counties of Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota, Polk and Hillsborough and Pasco. The three remaining sites are listed below:
The Tour Dates (click on the link below for more information and to register)
June 19: Manatee and Sarasota (Lakewood Ranch)
June 26: Polk (The Golf Club at Eaglebrooke)
June 29: Hillsborough and Pasco (Tampa Palms Country Club)
The USF Varsity Club is a community of alumni and friends who are investing in the future of the USF Bulls with the goal of positioning USF varsity sports to compete for national championships, as well as to become a model program on all levels of Division I athletic success. This is measured by titles, trophies, and championships on the field, and by graduating student athletes and generating positive publicity and exposure for the institution off of it.
Keep checking back in with GoUSFBulls.com as we bring you more exclusive updates from Alums and Varsity Club members throughout the Summer.
