Bull Speed Ahead Podcast: Episode 7
TAMPA, DEC. 4, 2018 – USF Vice President of AthleticsÂ
Michael Kelly sits down with USF radio hostÂ
Darek Sharp to cover a number of important program topics during Kelly's seventh
 Bull Speed Ahead podcast.
FOOTBALL HEADED TO GASPARILLA BOWL: Kelly shares his excitement about the Bulls getting to play in front of the home fans again in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl versus Marshall on Thursday, Dec. 20 at Raymond James Stadium. The game is set for an 8 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on ESPN. This is USF's fourth straight bowl game trip (10th overall) and the Bulls will be seeking their third straight postseason victory. Kelly provides some insight on the bowl selection process, shares his thoughts on Marshall and talks about how staying in Tampa can benefit the Bulls, who have a chance to be tourists in their own town and impact the community.- RISE IN FOOTBALL ATTENDANCE, STUDENT SUPPORT: Kelly touches on USF football posting its best season home attendance average in six seasons, including a notable increase in student support since last season. As a way of saying thanks, USF Athletics is providing free Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl tickets to students who attended every home game this season while other students have a chance to purchase discounted tickets for $10 (plus service fees). Learn more about the bowl game and ticket deals HERE.
FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET RENEWALS: Kelly talks about the Bulls starting the USF football ticket renewal process earlier than in the past to accommodate fans and explains how the ticket staff used analytics to make sure each section of the stadium was priced appropriately. Kelly reiterates the fact that USF tickets are priced in the lower half of the conference, which provides one of the best values in Tampa Bay entertainment. Kelly also looks ahead to USF's seven-game home schedule in 2019 (one opponent to be announced), which starts with a test against Wisconsin and before BYU travels to Tampa a little later in the season. Kelly said more scheduling news will be released soon. USF football 2018 season ticket members who renew their season tickets for the 2019 season prior to Dec. 15 will receive two complimentary tickets to the Gasparilla Bowl.
USF HOOPS TEAMS BOTH 6-2: Kelly commends both USF basketball teams for jumping out to 6-2 starts. Head coach Brian Gregory's men's team tied the top program mark with six wins in November and hits the road to face Charlotte on Sunday at 2 p.m. Head coach Jose Fernandez's women's team has had several players step up since star guard Kitija Laksa's season-ending injury in USF's third game. The Bulls continue their four-game homestand Sunday at 2 p.m. against George Washington.
SOLID VOLLEYBALL, WOMEN'S SOCCER SEASONS: Kelly reflects on USF volleyball's memorable 20-win season that saw the Bulls punch their first postseason ticket since 2002, appearing in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. "It's a great step in the right direction as a program as a whole," Kelly said. Kelly also proudly looks back on USF women's soccer's impressive season that included a conference regular season championship and the program's third second-round appearance in the NCAA tournament, falling to eventual national champion Florida State. Junior forward Evelyne Viens recently made history as the program's first two-time All-American.
KELLY INTERVIEWS ANDERSON: Kelly spends the final portion of his podcast interviewing Tim Anderson, Associate Director of Athletics/Academic Services. Now in his fourth year with USF Athletics, Anderson talks about his sports background and career path in collegiate academic support before giving listeners a complete rundown of his staff and the services they provide. Anderson also details the transformation of the Fishman Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center inside the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center. Anderson spends the part of his interview explaining the many academic benefits of eventually having the indoor USF Football Center, which would keep student-athletes' schedules intact instead of weather affecting practices that are now outdoors.
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About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men's and women's teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls' athletic program celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015, having begun with a men's soccer contest in 1965. Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 15 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, including four in 2016-17, and own 112 conference championships overall. Ten USF programs reached national postseason competition in the 2016-17 season and nine were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a program-record 86 percent Graduation Success Rate in 2016, logged an annual department grade-point average over a 3.0 for the six straight semesters, and saw 106 student-athletes earn their degree during the 2016-17 academic period.
– #GoBulls –
