TAMPA - December 11, 2010 will forever be a special day for 24 University of South Florida student-athletes as they walked across the stage at the Sun Dome, including  four from the USF football team.

Seniors Sampson Genus, A.J. Love, Moise Plancher and Jacob Sims were handed their degrees symbolizing their lifelong connection to a rapidly increasing alumni base of over 244,000.

This marked the second graduation ceremony for Plancher, a sixth-year senior who first stepped on campus during the summer of 2005. He will not only leave USF as one of the top rushers in USF history, he will more impressively leave with a pair of degrees.

"I was extremely blessed to have the opportunity to come back and not only be able to play another year of football, but pursue a second degree," said Plancher. "I would have been foolish to not take advantage of the situation.

He finished up last spring with a degree in Interdisplinary Social Science, then used his sixth year on the gridiron to finish up a second major, Psychology. He plans on pursuing a masters degree.

Love, who earned his degree in communications, will have the opportunity to follow the path of Plancher and will begin work on a second bachelor's degree in mass communications this spring.

"I'm excited for the chance to come back for another season and do something I love," said Love. "It will be great to continue my education and pursue the second degree and a career in public relations."

With so many obligations to their trade, student-athletes learn early on that the key to success both on the field and in the class room is about finding the balance. Both are demanding, and at times overwhelming, but Sims believes the rigors of balancing football and the pursuit of a degree in business management were vital to his success.

"I don't know if I could do it without the routine and discipline of football," said Sims, in reference to the demands of being a student-athlete. "If I didn't have to balance the two, I can almost guarantee my grades wouldn't be as good and I might have some problems."

Genus, the Bulls' senior captain and unquestioned leader of the offensive line, was a role model for his teammates on the field, in the weight room and in the class room. Arguably the strongest member of the team, Genus accomplished the feat of graduating with a degree in criminology in three and half years, rare for any student let alone a student-athlete.

"When I first arrived on campus, I learned that it is possible to graduate in three and half years and from that point on I set a goal to finish in that time frame," said Genus. " It wasn't always easy but being able to accomplish that goal is very rewarding and something I'm very proud of."

Each of these individuals and their families have much to be proud of, and each of them accomplished the goals that were set when they signed their national letters of intent; to play at the highest level of collegiate football and more importantly graduate from college.

Although the four individuals took different routes in earning different degrees, and at some point, their football days will come to an end, they will always be able to look on the wall and see a framed diploma proclaiming them as graduates of the University of South Florida.