New USF Looks, New Tradition at Ray Jay
August 31, 2017 | Football
USF GAME NOTES
GAME DAY CENTRAL
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 31, 2017 – USF football has called Raymond James Stadium home since 1998 and the Bulls' presence in the awesome venue will be apparent as ever in 2017.
After USF continues the tradition of greeting fans in the parking lot during the Bulls Stampede to the stadium on Saturday, which is moving its start to the east side of the stadium near the corner of Tampa Bay Boulevard, players are in for an eye-opening experience when they check out the program's new, USF branded locker room.
"It feels great knowing they made a locker room exclusively for us," said junior receiver Tyre McCants (Niceville, Fla.). "This is truly our home. We take pride in where we play, protecting the house."
With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moving to a new locker room a few feet across the corridor to the west this season, the Tampa Sports Authority and the Buccaneers have turned over the previous home to both teams to USF for a total rebranding in green and gold.
Let's take a little tour.
The Bulls will be greeted by a revamped locker room entrance that features a USF awning and green doors that used to be standard gray. Player graphics depicting USF's Under Armour uniforms and shiny, gold helmets fill the entrance walls that lead to the main area.
Once Quinton Flowers goes to suit up, he and the rest of the team will see Bulls branded lockers, green carpets, more program graphics on the walls and other elements that resemble USF's on-campus locker room. Head coach Charlie Strong's staff can now go over game plans in their own newly branded office and locker area.
"I really like the locker room, knowing you've got your own locker room," Flowers said. "It's good to know (the Bucs) have their own locker room, too. It's a big part of you in this stadium now."
Players got a sneak peek at their new digs before the San Jose State trip and were impressed with the new look.
"It's pretty cool. You go in in there and it's green and gold stuff, and on the wall it's USF," said senior linebacker Auggie Sanchez (St. Petersburg). "It's cool, we haven't had it since I've been here and it's nice to kind of have something that's our own."
USF's game day experience gets even better once the team puts on the pads.
Instead of running out the tunnel through Gate D like in the past, the Bulls will now make a longer walk to Gate C while fans get to watch their whole pregame journey to the field on Ray Jay's massive video boards. Plans for the updated run out of the tunnel include USF getting to greet fans right away in the student section before the Bulls' final stop at the home sideline.
"Anytime you get to play at home, in front of your fans and people you know – classmates, family – that's a blessing," said senior running back Darius Tice (Miami). "That's fun to come out there and just show Tampa what's going on."
Look for Number Changes on Saturday
When Darius Tice gets the ball Saturday, look for USF's senior back to be sporting a new uniform number, going from 13 to 6. The move was made due to Tice's very active slate on special teams, which sometimes coincides with another No. 13, Tajee Fullwood, being on the field at the same time.
Other Bulls with new uniform numbers include: receiver LaDarion McBride (27), running back Davion Sutton (36), kicker Jake Vivonetto (42), linebacker AJ Franco (57) and linebacker Andrew Mims (59),
Big Thursday for Bulls Coverage
USF's award-winning football coaches show, #BULLSTRONG: Inside USF Football, makes its season debut Thursday at 2:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Florida. Get TV channel lineup HERE and also look for every episode on GoUSFBulls.com and USF's Athletics' Youtube channel throughout the season.
Fans can enjoy a free pretzel or flatbread while attending the next USF Football Radio Show on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at World of Beer on East Fowler Ave. (near USF's campus). Coach Strong will chat with attendees during commercial breaks and fans have a chance to win prizes throughout the show. Plan for future shows by checking out the full season schedule HERE.
Florida Is the Place for Football
USF matched a program record with a No. 19 ranking in the Associated Press preseason poll while another milestone was reached in the process.
For the first time, the state of Florida had four teams ranked in the AP's preseason poll with Florida State at No. 3, followed by No. 17 Florida, No. 18 Miami and the Bulls.
USF is looking to make more school history as the first team to stay ranked in the top 25 throughout the entire season. The Bulls spent 10 weeks in the 2008 rankings.
Bulls Bits
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, will return in 2017.
Purchase tickets for the upcoming season by following the USFBullsTix.com link HERE.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
GAME DAY CENTRAL
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 31, 2017 – USF football has called Raymond James Stadium home since 1998 and the Bulls' presence in the awesome venue will be apparent as ever in 2017.
After USF continues the tradition of greeting fans in the parking lot during the Bulls Stampede to the stadium on Saturday, which is moving its start to the east side of the stadium near the corner of Tampa Bay Boulevard, players are in for an eye-opening experience when they check out the program's new, USF branded locker room.
"It feels great knowing they made a locker room exclusively for us," said junior receiver Tyre McCants (Niceville, Fla.). "This is truly our home. We take pride in where we play, protecting the house."With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moving to a new locker room a few feet across the corridor to the west this season, the Tampa Sports Authority and the Buccaneers have turned over the previous home to both teams to USF for a total rebranding in green and gold.
Let's take a little tour.
The Bulls will be greeted by a revamped locker room entrance that features a USF awning and green doors that used to be standard gray. Player graphics depicting USF's Under Armour uniforms and shiny, gold helmets fill the entrance walls that lead to the main area.
Once Quinton Flowers goes to suit up, he and the rest of the team will see Bulls branded lockers, green carpets, more program graphics on the walls and other elements that resemble USF's on-campus locker room. Head coach Charlie Strong's staff can now go over game plans in their own newly branded office and locker area.
"I really like the locker room, knowing you've got your own locker room," Flowers said. "It's good to know (the Bucs) have their own locker room, too. It's a big part of you in this stadium now."
Players got a sneak peek at their new digs before the San Jose State trip and were impressed with the new look.
"It's pretty cool. You go in in there and it's green and gold stuff, and on the wall it's USF," said senior linebacker Auggie Sanchez (St. Petersburg). "It's cool, we haven't had it since I've been here and it's nice to kind of have something that's our own."
USF's game day experience gets even better once the team puts on the pads.
Instead of running out the tunnel through Gate D like in the past, the Bulls will now make a longer walk to Gate C while fans get to watch their whole pregame journey to the field on Ray Jay's massive video boards. Plans for the updated run out of the tunnel include USF getting to greet fans right away in the student section before the Bulls' final stop at the home sideline.
"Anytime you get to play at home, in front of your fans and people you know – classmates, family – that's a blessing," said senior running back Darius Tice (Miami). "That's fun to come out there and just show Tampa what's going on."
Look for Number Changes on Saturday
When Darius Tice gets the ball Saturday, look for USF's senior back to be sporting a new uniform number, going from 13 to 6. The move was made due to Tice's very active slate on special teams, which sometimes coincides with another No. 13, Tajee Fullwood, being on the field at the same time.
Other Bulls with new uniform numbers include: receiver LaDarion McBride (27), running back Davion Sutton (36), kicker Jake Vivonetto (42), linebacker AJ Franco (57) and linebacker Andrew Mims (59),
Big Thursday for Bulls Coverage
USF's award-winning football coaches show, #BULLSTRONG: Inside USF Football, makes its season debut Thursday at 2:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Florida. Get TV channel lineup HERE and also look for every episode on GoUSFBulls.com and USF's Athletics' Youtube channel throughout the season.Fans can enjoy a free pretzel or flatbread while attending the next USF Football Radio Show on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at World of Beer on East Fowler Ave. (near USF's campus). Coach Strong will chat with attendees during commercial breaks and fans have a chance to win prizes throughout the show. Plan for future shows by checking out the full season schedule HERE.
Florida Is the Place for Football
USF matched a program record with a No. 19 ranking in the Associated Press preseason poll while another milestone was reached in the process.
For the first time, the state of Florida had four teams ranked in the AP's preseason poll with Florida State at No. 3, followed by No. 17 Florida, No. 18 Miami and the Bulls.
USF is looking to make more school history as the first team to stay ranked in the top 25 throughout the entire season. The Bulls spent 10 weeks in the 2008 rankings.
Bulls Bits
- SUPPORT THE CAUSE: USF will hold a moment of silence for Hurricane Harvey victims before Saturday's 4 p.m. kickoff and fans will see fundraising messages throughout the game day presentation at Raymond James Stadium. Donate to the American Red Cross HERE or by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW. Text "HARVEY" to 90999 to make an immediate $10 donation.
DID YOU KNOW? Darius Tice's nickname is "Whop," which was shortened from "Whopper," and it's not because of his bruising running style. "When I was a baby, I was chubby like a Whopper," Tice told reporters Thursday. "Even still to this day, my mom, my brothers, my father, they call me 'Whopper.' If somebody calls me 'Whopper,' I know to look, I gotta look."
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, will return in 2017.
Purchase tickets for the upcoming season by following the USFBullsTix.com link HERE.
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
- #GoBulls -
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