USF football has all sorts of fans — casual, serious and passionate.
Then there's Suzanne Ward.
She's in a special category by herself — obsessed, loyal, supportive and willing to do whatever it takes to cheer on her Bulls in person. It's her school and her team — no matter what.
When the Bulls (3-4) travel to the Connecticut Huskies (1-5) for Saturday afternoon's non-conference game, they can count on Ward to be there at Rentschler Field, as always.
Through 27 seasons — from the inaugural 80-3 victory against Kentucky Wesleyan on Sept. 6, 1997 to last Saturday's homecoming game against Florida Atlantic — Ward has attended every game except one.
It almost seems unfair to count that against her because the lone absence was the opener of the 2020 COVID season, when health restrictions kept the official Raymond James Stadium attendance at zero. She reluctantly watched on television.
She should be 316-for-316 in USF football game attendance, but her 315 are unmatched by any Bulls fan.
"We have many passionate fans and there are passionate fans of sports teams and athletic programs all over the world,'' USF vice president of athletics Michael Kelly said. "But I can't think of anyone more passionate than Suzanne Ward. It's not like she's driving down the street to attend these games.''
Quite the opposite.
Since 2003, Ward has lived in Portland, Oregon, where she works as a project manager for Intel. She has become an expert in the intricacies of air travel, usually connecting through Dallas or Atlanta to Tampa or to the USF road site. Usually, she's at the hotel on Friday night before a Saturday game, then headed back to the West Coast on Sunday.
"I'm amazed that Suzanne has been able to attend every USF football game, home and away,'' said USF vice president Bill McCausland, executive director of the school's Alumni Association. "She lives in Portland, Oregon. Every game is an away game for her!''
"Suzanne is the queen of fans, in my opinion,'' said USF booster Nancy Carrow, a former Bulls cheerleader. "She not only attends football games, but also many other sports. She donates money along with giving her time to various USF athletics and academic causes. The amazing thing is she doesn't even live in Tampa. She flies from Oregon for all of these USF events. What more could be asked of a fan? That's why she's the queen!''
Twice, she has traveled to USF games after 24-hour journeys from work-related commitments in Singapore. Once, during a mass weather-related flight cancellation, she thought her streak was in danger but she finally made it out before arriving at the USF game shortly after halftime. In 2014, following a fire at the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center that grounded nearly 2,000 flights, Ward scrambled to reach USF playing at Wisconsin. She found a flight to Minneapolis and made the five-hour, 270-mile drive to Madison.
"I don't call it an obsession,'' Ward said. "USF football is my hobby.''
Rolling With The Changes
This particular hobby wasn't on Ward's radar when she grew up in Riverview and went to East Bay High School, then accepted a series of scholarships to USF. Where she graduated in 1986 as an economics major, becoming the first member of her family to earn a college degree, USF didn't even have a football program.
During her career, she also earned graduate degrees from Florida State University and Drake University, where she worked in the office of the provost.
When USF began football, Ward lived and worked in Tampa, so she had season tickets from Day One, beginning at the 25-yard line and methodically advancing to a 50-yard perch. In 2003, the Tampa-based company where she worked was purchased and shut down. Her career job search took her to Intel's Portland offices.
"But I wasn't going to give up my USF football tickets,'' Ward said. "It didn't start this intending to go to every single game, but that's the way it turned out.
"I love supporting my school and USF Athletics. The football is fun because it's usually on the weekends and I can get there. I needed a good hobby. What else am I going to do? Stare at my cats (Shanty and Phoebe)? I have my work, which is a lot. I read lots of books and watch lots of movies. And football season is football season.''
Ward also supports other USF sports. She has women's basketball season tickets and plans to attend the Oct. 28 public scrimmage for USF's start-up lacrosse program, another team she might look to follow from Day One. She already attended a practice with head coach Mindy McCord's team earlier this fall.
"USF has changed so much since I was a student and I'm very proud of all the progress,'' Ward said. "Sometimes, I marvel at what the current students have available to them and just think, 'Wow, I wish I would've had that.' I marvel at all the changes.''
Ward is an Iron Bull and a member of the USF Twitter Herd. When she makes her rounds through the tailgating scene, saying hello to the legions of her USF friends, sometimes she is stopped and asked to pose for a photograph. She is generally thanked for her long-standing dedication.
"My mother (Mary) is 84 and living in Plant City and she still doesn't understand why I want to go to all these games,'' Ward said. "It has just become part of my life, a special part of my life, and I intend to keep doing it as long as I can. I'm hoping to retire to Florida and maybe I'll live just down the road. That will make the travel a bit easier.
"But as far away from USF as I've been, I think I've been able to spread the word. When I had all my football paraphernalia in my office, somebody said, 'Oh, you're from Florida. You must be a Gators fan.' I said, 'DEFINITELY not! USF Bulls all the way.' Then when we beat West Virginia on that Friday night (in 2007), so many people in Oregon said, 'Oh, that's your team? Now I understand. Now I know who your team is.' ''
The Streak Rolls On
Ward was understandably disappointed in 2020, when COVID prevented her from attending USF's opener with The Citadel. It was played before an empty stadium.
But even though there were other empty stadiums during that season — and crowds limited to sparse gatherings — Ward witnessed all of the other Bulls' games. Somehow, some way.
"They weren't letting anybody in for some of those road games, but Suzanne would be the only one in the suite with me,'' Kelly said. "She was part of the visiting institution traveling party. We had to find ways to get her into the games. So, after a brief interruption, her streak has continued.''
Ward was typically unruffled by the inconveniences. She's generally ready to adjust, whether it's with her travel schedule or ancillary events that emerge.
"I have a base set of clothes in my suitcase year-round,'' Ward said. "So, if somebody says, 'Suzanne, would you like to go out to dinner tonight at this fancy restaurant, I have the right shoes and dress.' If somebody invites me to a pool party, I have a bathing suit.
"I've watched a lot of movies on planes. I do some reading. I'm able to sleep on planes and I prefer the red-eye flights if I can get them, so I don't have to waste an entire day with air travel. I'm pretty much ready to go, whatever the circumstances.''
Even after unprecedented dedication to USF football, Ward said she doesn't live and die with the game's result. Years ago, she was a fan of the NFL's Denver Broncos, who lost 55-10 against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 24.
"I was so depressed,'' Ward said. "I didn't want to leave my house for weeks. Finally, I said, 'This is just stupid. Why am I letting a game affect my life in this manner?'
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I always want USF to win. And I'm not there to socialize. I lock in and pay attention. I stay until after the Alma Mater, no matter what. But a lot of times, I can't tell you what the score was or remember all the big plays that other fans can. I'm just a realist about it. I might complain here and there, but I try to be realistic. I definitely enjoy the victories. And if it's out of hand, I just want everybody to play and of course I don't want anybody to get hurt.''
Ward stops short of proclaiming her favorite USF game of all time, although she said the 17-7 win at Florida State in 2009 was "really good and really fun.'' And the 2007 home win against West Virginia was "certainly USF's night and one that stands out.''
Saturday afternoon, Ward will witness her 18th USF-UConn football game. She's hoping for a victory, of course, so she can properly celebrate on her day-after trip home.
Sunday is her 60th birthday.
"I'm hoping for a win … and it would be nice to score 60 points,'' Ward said with a laugh.
Through 315 (almost 316) previous games, through games in 29 states (and Canada) and in 76 different stadiums, Suzanne Ward has represented one of the constants in USF football.
"Suzanne is so special to USF,'' McCausland said. "Her unwavering commitment to her alma mater transcends even her unbelievable football game attendance record as she is so supportive of many aspects, especially initiatives that positively impact students.
"Suzanne Ward is more than a super fan. She is a delightfully dedicated alumna who loves her university and does all she can to assist in its success.''
–#GoBulls–
