By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA – Suzanne Ward is a USF football fan like no other.

The 1986 USF graduate was at the first-ever Bulls game against Kentucky Wesleyan on Sept. 6, 1997 and she hasn't missed a home game since then.

“Everybody knows what my fall looks like. Everybody knows from work where I'll be,” Ward said.

What makes the feat extra special is the dedication Ward has shown since 2003, when she relocated to Oregon for work purposes. The Intel Corporation technical program manager has flown a total of 412,878 miles to attend about 80 games at Raymond James Stadium, along with all the Bulls' bowl appearances and three ladies clinics.

“When I moved out here I didn't want to turn my life completely around, so it wasn't like I was just going to give up everything,” Ward said. “I was there before USF even had football games. I was there at the first game and have been there ever since.”

Ward's work also has taken her to Singapore, but that still didn't stop the USF superfan from making it to her 50-yard line seats at Ray Jay in time for kickoff.

“I love football. It's fun and it's the right thing to do to support my team,” said Ward, a USF donor since 1996. “I think we all should be supporting our team no matter what.”

Ward's flight from Singapore to Tampa took a full 24 hours and she said regular trips from Oregon take about 9 hours here and back.

“I go through about two or three books and about six movies a weekend,” she said.

Ward has shown her USF dedication beyond the football field as well. The former economics major started the Alpha Kappa Psi coed, professional business fraternity on campus in the mid 90's and she's a regular speaker at the USF College of Business.

“That's a big reason why we come out and work hard every day, for fans like Suzanne,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “You want to make her appreciate what we're doing and you know she does when she flies across the country. That's unbelievable and that's the first time I've ever heard of anything like that.”