Bull Speed Ahead Podcast: Episode 11
TAMPA, APRIL 2, 2019 – USF Vice President of Athletics
Michael Kelly sits down with USF radio host
Darek Sharp to talk cover numerous notable program topics during Kelly's 11th
Bull Speed Ahead podcast.
RECORD-BREAKING MEN'S HOOPS IN CBI FINALS: Kelly talks about the electric atmosphere at the Yuengling Center on Monday night, when head coach Brian Gregory's men's basketball team won game 1 of the College Basketball Invitational championship series in dramatic fashion. David Collins made the go-ahead basket with 1.7 seconds remaining in USF's 63-61 victory over DePaul that helped the Bulls set the program's new season record for wins with 23. The Bulls also extended their program single-season record for home wins to 18. The best-of-three CBI championship series continues 8 p.m. Wednesday at DePaul in Chicago (TV: ESPNU).
NEW MEDIA RIGHTS DEAL: Kelly commends American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco and his staff for the great work they did on a "monumental" new deal for the league and its teams. The American and ESPN have reached agreement on a 12-year media rights extension beginning in 2020-21. ESPN has been the conference's principal media rights holder for football, men's and women's basketball and Olympic sports since the league's reconstitution in 2013-14. Kelly said the agreement validates the Power 6 brand and puts USF in "better elite company." With the new agreement, The American will have a stronger and more extensive presence on ESPN's primary TV networks – ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. At least 1,000 American events will be featured on the ESPN+ streaming platform beginning in 2022-23 and in each subsequent year of the contract. In the first two years, 1,250 events (500 in 2020-21 and 750 in 2021-22) will be distributed on ESPN+. Learn more HERE.
WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR COMES TO TAMPA: Kelly looks ahead to the Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena this week. Game action begins Friday night before the national champion is crowned in Tampa on Sunday. Kelly shares his excitement about all the fun events for fans surrounding the games. Tourney Town presented by Capital One takes place Friday through Sunday at the Tampa Convention Center. Tourney Town is a free festival packed with special appearances, autograph signings, interactive games, giveaways, basketball contests, a professional development series and more. Super Saturday is another free event that takes place at Curtis Hixon Park from 5:30–11 p.m. and it includes live performances featuring multi-platinum recording artist Gavin DeGraw and a fireworks finale. Curtis Hixon Park also will be the location for NCAA Bounce presented by Buick, which will feature thousands of fans dribbling their way along the Tampa Riverwalk and into Tourney Town. USF student-athletes will be airing up 2,100 basketballs on campus throughout the week and the USF football equipment truck will deliver them for the event that begins Sunday at 1 p.m. View the complete schedule of Women's Final Four events HERE. Kelly also talks about his love of the Women's Final Four community service events, including the Dream Court Project. Kelly, head coach Jose Fernandez and his USF women's basketball staff will be at the unveiling of the renovated outdoor playing court at Dowdell Middle School on Wednesday, which is a Women's Final Four tradition in every city it takes place. Learn more about the community initiatives HERE.
'A DAY IN GREEN AND GOLD' SET FOR WEDNESDAY: Kelly previews USF's fourth annual "A Day in Green and Gold," which will take place Wednesday afternoon on campus. USF's action-packed community service event welcomes kids from Boys & Girls Clubs all over the Bay Area who get to experience a day in the life of a student-athlete while they tour the Bulls' athletic district.
WATCH USF FOOTBALL ON SATURDAY: Fans are welcome to watch head coach Charlie Strong's USF football team wrap up its third week of spring practice Saturday at Clearwater Central Catholic High School. Action at the open practice takes place from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Clearwater Central Catholic High School is located at 2750 Haines Bayshore Road in Clearwater.
USF FOOTBALL SPRING GAME SET FOR APRIL 13: Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 13 when the USF Spring Game presented by USF Federal Credit Union takes place on campus at Corbett Stadium. Prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff, attendees at the free event can participate in Fan Pro Day. Fans of all ages can showcase their skills at eight testing stations and five display areas that will be part of Fan Pro Day starting at 11 a.m. on Elm Drive outside Corbett Stadium. Fans can be timed in 40-yard dash, test their vertical and broad jumps, do the shuttle run and show off their throwing accuracy on top of enjoying other fun events. Food trucks, a kids zone with inflatables, DJ music, a pre-game beer garden for fans 21 years and older, photo zones and numerous sponsor activations will also make pre-game activities outside Corbett Stadium fun for all ages. Learn more HERE.
SOFTBALL ON A ROLL: Kelly proudly talks about head coach Ken Eriksen's softball team that's 26-14 and 4-2 in AAC play after completing a three-game sweep at Houston over the weekend. Star sophomore right-hander Georgina Corrick was named AAC Pitcher of the Week for the third time this year after a 2-0 weekend in the circle. Corrick has won 14 of her past 15 games and leads The American with 141 total strikeouts after fanning 21 batters over the weekend. Watch the Bulls play a three-game conference series at home against East Carolina this weekend. Action begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. View the season schedule HERE.
KELLY INTERVIEWS PRADO: Kelly spends the final portion of his podcast interviewing Deputy Director of Athletics/Development Lelo Prado, who rejoined USF Athletics after a successful eight-year tenure as the head coach of the Bulls' baseball program (2007-14) and a previous stint serving as USF Associate Director of Athletics for Administration and External Services (2014-17). Prado tells listeners about his Bay area background, his love for USF Athletics and his excitement about his newest role with the Bulls. Prado also fills in supporters on the progress USF Athletics is making in fundraising for the USF Football Center, which will have a great impact on all USF sports teams on campus and the program itself. Other big opportunities to support the program are joining the Bulls Club, donating on USF Giving Day 2019 this Thursday and participating in BullsFest presented by R.R. Simmons on Saturday, May 18 in the West Club at Raymond James Stadium. All proceeds from the premier auction event will benefit USF Athletics' Selmon Mentoring Institute.
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.
