Bull Speed Ahead Podcast: Episode 25 - COVID-19 Crisis Update 4
TAMPA, APRIL 10, 2020 – USF Vice President of AthleticsÂ
Michael Kelly and USF radio hostÂ
Darek Sharp cover USF Athletics topics surrounding the COVID-19 virus pandemic and more. Via his podcast, Kelly will keep updating fans every Friday on the latest information regarding athletics.
- TEAM TAMPA BAY: Kelly proudly talks about how #TeamTampaBay is coming together as a community and how the university is contributing as #ONEUSF. While people are staying safe at home, social media has been a perfect platform for Bay area citizens to strengthen their bond and honor the men and women courageously performing essential tasks. One "heartwarming" example was a recent video post showing local law enforcement holding signs of support and applauding dedicated Tampa General Hospital staff members heading to work.
- BULLS STAYING ENGAGED: Kelly gets a kick out of seeing several USF student-athletes from various sports checking in on social media through videos featuring fun activities, their routines away from campus and words of encouragement for Bulls Nation. Through the Bulls Club, USF coaches also are staying in touch with donors through numerous virtual meeting events, including Jeff Scott's session with more than 40 supporters from the New York City area this week.
FOOTBALL UPDATE: Kelly tells listeners how university athletic administrations are continuing to gather information, optimistically prepare and discuss plans for the start of football season – whether that's on time or delayed. Discussions will ramp up when conference meeting season begins in May.
KELLY HONORS DUNCAN: Kelly congratulates former San Antonio Spurs superstar Tim Duncan, who recently was announced as a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 headliner. The two worked together at Wake Forest in the 1990s, when Kelly served as director of athletic operations and facilities while Duncan led the basketball team to back-to-back ACC tournament championships (1995-96).
KELLY INTERVIEWS ARMITAGE: In the final portion of his podcast, Kelly gets timely updates on college athletics eligibility, recruiting rules, regulations and more during his interview with fellow Maryland area native Brendan Armitage. USF's third-year Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance covers his path to the Bulls and lets listeners know all about the program's customer service-oriented compliance staff that's dedicated to being friendly advisors for coaches and student-athletes.
Important Compliance Issues Being Handled During COVID-19 Crisis
- Armitage runs through new recruiting and commitment rules coming from the NCAA, which instituted a recruiting "Dead Period" that has been extended through the end of May. Coaches can still communicate, but they're limited to no on-campus visits or home visits.
- The process for getting answers to new questions presented by the current pandemic. USF is working closely with the conference office to answer tough questions. The conference vets those questions up through the NCAA, which is handling a large influx of questions from member schools.
- Keeping everyone on the same page through weekly conference meetings in a group forum.
- Addressing some of the next big questions that will be presented during the pandemic, such as "e-official visits," which constitute all campus entities meeting with prospective student-athletes virtually instead of in-person. Will this become the new norm?
- Armitage gives an update on the implementation of a one-time transfer opportunity that has gotten a lot of national discussion recently.
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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 began in 1965 and is in its 54th season in 2019-20. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. Eleven USF programs reached national postseason competition in the 2018-19 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fourth straight year in 2018-19 and have posted a program record 10 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had 309 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.
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@USFAthletics) andÂ
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- #GoBulls -
