USF Athletics

Former Bull Barrington Helping Build Campus and Bay area

January 19, 2021

By TOM ZEBOLD, USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JAN. 19, 2021 – Whether it's wearing a helmet or hardhat, former standout Bulls linebacker Sam Barrington was destined for great things as a proud pillar of a USF community he was drawn to for special reasons.

"I had (scholarship) offers from everybody, but I came to USF because I knew that the school was going in a wonderful direction," Barrington said. "Here it is 12 years later, and the university is building and I'm involved in it."

After serving as a staple of his alma mater's defense from 2009-12, Barrington recently played another important role for the Bulls by successfully contributing to a key construction project in the USF Research Park.

Sky Limit Equipment LLC, a minority owned business managed by Barrington, used one of its cranes, capable of lifting a maximum of 250 tons, to hoist the final beam on USF's grand, new structure on Jan. 12. Prior to the "topping off" ceremony, Sky Limit was setting more than 60 pieces of steel per day since beginning work before the Thanksgiving holiday, ensuring a strong structural foundation for the 120,000-square-foot building located at the corner of Fowler Avenue and Spectrum Drive.

"We understood the significance of time in terms of performance and what we had to it get done, so we could stay on schedule," Barrington said. "Fortunately, we were able to exceed those expectations."

Barrington, COO of Orlando-based Sky Limit Equipment LLC, oversaw the massive task from start to finish while visiting the jobsite at least twice each week. He does the same for many other company projects, constantly checking in with operating engineers and making sure the customer remains happy, especially one near and dear to his heart like USF.

"It's just amazing," said Barrington of the Bulls' most recent building development. "A lot of hard work goes into it and you want to make sure you do a good job because it's your alma mater."

Tireless efforts started right away, with 14 trucks hauling the Manitowoc 888 crane to USF before six Sky Limit representatives assembled it in one day. It required another six people to complete the crane disassembly after an immense amount of steel filled the significant three-story structure.

USF Research Park's new building, located at the gateway to the USF Tampa Campus, will feature a state-of-the-art, mixed-use lab and offices, with space for retail and dining options on the first floor. Thanks in part to Sky Limit Equipment LLC's steady progress, the $42 million building remains on track to be finished by late 2021.

"I'll be able to walk the halls of that building, not only as an alum who is proud that we have these types of facilities but knowing that my company was able to build here," Barrington said. "It shows USF's commitment to alumni as well."

Although he received numerous All-Big East individual accolades with USF football, Barrington always remained a team-first Bull who praised his peers. Naturally, he credits numerous others for making the USF Research Park project possible.

One person Barrington made sure to mention by name is Terrie Daniel, USF's assistant vice president of supplier diversity.

"It's an amazing opportunity and there's so many people to thank for helping us along the way," he said.

Developing great working relationships previously paved the way for Sky Limit Equipment LLC to work on the Morsani College of Medicine building on Water Street in downtown Tampa.

Different Field, Same Work Ethic for Barrington
Much like his playing style at USF and as a five-year NFL veteran, Barrington relentlessly pursues success as a versatile professional.

In the midst of major work projects, USF's 10^th all-time leading tackler (258 stops) has been an analyst on Bulls football radio broadcast for three seasons and still finds time to reach new heights in the classroom.

This May, the Renaissance man is scheduled to graduate from USF with an Executive Master of Business Administration, which will add another shining chapter to the family book of Barrington brilliance. In earlier chapters, his father, Sam Sr., used his longtime construction experience and personal initiative to become founder of Sky Limit Structure Builders, LTD in Ghana along with Sky Limit Foundation, LLC in the U.S.

"My dad has always been a hardworking man and my mother has always been a hardworking woman," Barrington said. "That's the legacy of our family – hard workers."
Once Barrington's pro football career came to a close in 2017, he joined the family business and eventually earned his way up to acting president of Sky Limit Equipment LLC.
"I think it's just about finding a purpose and finding things you enjoy and having meaning to them and including those in your purpose," he said.

Now instead of tackling ball carriers, Barrington runs a business that steel erectors regularly lean on in addition to Sky Limit's featuring fleet capabilities, like crane rental, rigging and hauling.

Construction is a different arena than football, but all the elements of achieving gridiron greatness translate well outside the lines, according to the Green Bay Packers' seventh-round pick in 2013. Perseverance, teamwork, and precision can apply well to other professional platforms and Barrington certainly practices what he preaches.

"I think an important takeaway is former players have to understand they have everything it takes to do well as an entrepreneur or business leader," he said. "They just have to employ the same character traits and skills they used to make them successful on the field in their new professions."

Soon enough, USF football players of the past and present will be able to look to the new building at USF Research Park as pure inspiration. Other motivational monuments come in the form of rollercoasters at Disney, buildings at Tampa International Airport, and the JW Marriott Tampa on Water Street.

Stay tuned to see what Barrington's Sky Limit venture accomplishes next.

"We're a small business, but we're growing," he said. "We value new customers because we understand they could have gone anywhere in the world, but they're right here with us."