Bull Speed Ahead Podcast: Episode 9
TAMPA, FEB. 12, 2019 – USF Vice President of Athletics
Michael Kelly sits down with USF radio host
Darek Sharp to talk about several notable program topics during Kelly's ninth
Bull Speed Ahead podcast.
RED-HOT MEN'S BASKETBALL: Kelly talks about the excitement surrounding head coach Brian Gregory's USF men's basketball team that improved to 17-6 (7-4 in AAC) with two thrilling victories last week. The Bulls have won five straight games in league play for the first time since 1991-92 in the Metro Conference. USF also has put together two five-game winning streaks this season, a program first since 1990-91. The Bulls shoot for six wins in a row at UCF in Wednesday's War on I-4 clash in Orlando that's set for a 7 p.m. start (TV: ESPNews). The Bulls are back at the Yuengling Center on Saturday to host Temple at 6 p.m.- MORE MEN'S HOOPS: Kelly touches on USF's upcoming home game against Florida College that's set for Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. Admission and parking will be free, and seating is general admission. USF vs. Florida College will take the place of the Bulls' previously scheduled matchup at Charlotte that was cancelled earlier this season on Dec. 9 due to travel complications caused by Winter Storm Diego. Learn more HERE.
2019 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE RELEASED: Kelly looks ahead to the 2019 USF football season, which begins in a big way with a home game against Wisconsin on Friday, Aug. 30 (time TBD). "It's a great showcase opportunity for the university and for our program as a whole," he said. The Bulls will play seven games in Raymond James Stadium, including five against opponents that played in bowl games last season. USF's conference slate is highlighted by three straight November home clashes with conference title contenders Temple (Nov. 7), Cincinnati (Nov. 16) and Memphis (Nov. 23) before the War on I-4 in Orlando on Nov. 29 to conclude the regular season. Learn more about the 2019 schedule HERE.
BELL BECOMES USF FOOTBALL OC: Kelly shares his excitement about the Bulls adding Kerwin Bell as their new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Bell, a former standout quarterback and SEC Player of the Year at the University of Florida (1984-87), comes to USF after 12 seasons as a successful head coach leading programs at Valdosta State (2016-18) and Jacksonville University (2007-15), and a 14-year playing career in professional football. Last season, Bell led Valdosta State to the 2018 NCAA Division II championship with the nation's No. 1 ranked scoring offense in the division (52.0 ppg). "I think it's going to be a great fit for this particular program at this particular time with his roots. I'm just very excited to see how it all comes together with spring ball as they start to input the system," Kelly said. Kelly noted the Bulls plan on the annual spring game returning to Corbett Stadium on campus and said spring dates will be released soon.
USF ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME: Kelly talks about the chance for fans to get involved with the USF Athletic Hall of Fame by nominating their favorite Bulls student-athletes, coaches and administrators of the past for the newest class that will be inducted in the fall of 2019. The USF Athletic Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 2009, currently has 22 individuals and one team among its honored members of outstanding contributors to Bulls athletics. The 2019 class will be the first to be inducted to the Hall of Fame since 2013. Get more Hall of Fame info and submit your nominations HERE.- BULLSFEST IS BACK: Kelly touches on a big event for the program on May 18 with BullsFest taking place at Raymond James Stadium. BullsFest is a premier auction event the Bulls have brought back and proceeds will benefit USF Athletics' Selmon Mentoring Institute. Get all the BullsFest details, including sponsorship opportunities HERE.
WOMEN'S GOLF WINS TITLE: Kelly congratulates USF women's golf on its spring season-opening title victory at the Florida Challenge on Jan. 28. The host Bulls topped a talented field that included Miami, UCF, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Jacksonville. Freshman Ramya Meenakshisundaram also earned co-medalist honors after shooting a career best 4-under 68 at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club. Learn more HERE.- ROMAN DOMINGUEZ'S TENNIS SUCCESS: Kelly takes a look at impressive starts by the USF tennis programs. USF women's tennis senior Ana Roman Dominguez has stolen the show so far in singles with a perfect 7-0 record after a huge win over the nation's top-ranked player.
SOFTBALL SEASON STARTS IN SPECIAL FASHION: Kelly reflects on USF softball's special experience hosting the USF Opening Weekend Invitational this past weekend. Large crowds at USF Softball Stadium saw the Bulls start the season with a 2-1 win over Illinois State before they battled No. 7/6 Arizona, No. 19/14 Michigan, NC State and No. 5 Florida. After that, the Bulls gained a world of experience hosting Team Japan on Monday night.- BASEBALL SEASON IS ALMOST HERE: Kelly looks ahead to USF baseball season that begins this weekend with a three-game home series against Samford, which starts Friday at 7 p.m. USF then hosts No. 6 Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 19 before heading to Chapel Hill for a three-game series at No. 7 North Carolina (Feb. 22-24). Check out the complete schedule HERE. USF posted 36 wins last season under first-year head coach Billy Mohl and made an NCAA Regional appearance for the third time in the past four years.
KELLY INTERVIEWS SCERBA: Kelly spends the final portion of the podcast interviewing Meredith Scerba, the new Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Relations. Scerba, who brings nearly 20 years of experience in sports and event management, comes to USF from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where she served as Director of Community Relations, managing all aspects of the organization's player outreach programs and events, as well as those for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation and Glazer Family Foundation. Scerba talks about the start to her career with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a group events coordinator and the impact she helped make during her 10-year tenure at the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Learn more about Scerba HERE.
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 began in 1965 and is in its 53rd season in 2018-19. 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 16 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, including at least three in each of the last three seasons, and own 113 conference championships overall. Nine USF programs reached national post-season competition in the 2017-18 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the third straight year in 2017-18 and have posted a program record seven straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has seen more than 180 student-athletes earn their degree in the last two years.
