Energy & Enthusiasm Evident At Bulls Fest
August 26, 2026 | Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
It was BullsFest last Saturday afternoon at the Yuengling Center — and Bulls Nation showed up in a VERY BIG way.
With more than 10,000 advance requests for free tickets signaling a historic appetite for the new University of South Florida athletic year, it quickly became a scene of wall-to-wall green and gold.
Hard-core fans heard from coaches and student-athletes as Jim Lighthall, the new football radio Voice of the Bulls, conducted on-stage interviews. There were giveaways galore. Parents and kids delighted in the inflatable entertainment options. Rocky, of course, was the omnipresent mascot. Everyone had opportunities for autographs and photographs.
"What a turnout and what a great time,'' said Tampa's Taylor Riesenberger, who received an education degree from South Florida. "I really liked being here to see everyone's energy and enthusiasm. It felt like home.''
As a bonus, Riesenberger's husband, Scott, caught a signed football that was tossed from the stage by Bulls head coach Brian Hartline.
"We're loving it because we signed up to be season-ticket holders so we could get our foot in the door for that new (on-campus) stadium,'' Scott Riesenberger said. "I think this whole athletic program is on the way up and it has never been a better time to be part of it. We can't wait for football season. I'm thinking conference championship. Why not?''
To have that level of success, Hartline said South Florida fans must fill an important role.
"We need to make sure we have a home-field advantage,'' Hartline said as he addressed the crowd. "Do not minimize the role of the fan base during our home games. We need you to make an impact, to impact the atmosphere, to impact the crowd, to impact our team. We need your emotion and noise to help us keep drives going and help us get stops on defense. Our (on-campus) stadium is coming in a year's time, but this year, right now, let's go chase the competition together. We need your spirit.''
Rob Higgins, South Florida's CEO of Athletics, was in his typically spirited mood. During a break in coach/athlete appearances, Higgins gathered with some members of the SoFlo Rodeo student group to make a video together.
They chanted in unison:
S-O-U-T-H! F-L-O-R-I-D-A! South! Florida! South! Florida! Gooooo, Bulls!
"This is an unbelievable turnout and it's still growing,'' Higgins said. "When we had the concept to bring back a fan festival, we looked at the records and the high-water mark for this event was about 2,000. Then you look at what Bulls Nation has done with more than 10,000 people claiming tickets. I think it's really a great testament to how excited everybody is for what's going on here between Fowler and Fletcher.
"You name the emotion and I think it's here … except for sadness and anger. I think it's just anticipation and excitement. You look at how people are rallying around Coach Hartline and the whole program, but it's not only football. It's across all 21 sports. I think the momentum and energy is palpable around Bulls Nation right now.''
South Florida alumnus Joe Dunn, who has an insurance business in Sarasota, said he believes he has an excellent historical perspective on USF athletics. He was there for the opening of the Sun Dome in 1980. He attended the first Bulls' football game in 1997.
"Seems to me like the enthusiasm and interest is at an all-time high,'' Dunn said. "The opening of the (on-campus) stadium has a lot to do with it, but it seems like the fan base is coming together. We might be living in the best of times for USF athletics. I think the best days are ahead.''
Phillip and Karla Black believe that. They are South Florida alums who are active in the USF Alumni Association's Orlando chapter. Saturday, they carried a large cardboard cutout of the USF Water Tower, upon which they collected autographs of South Florida athletes and coaches. They had a few hundred of them and they plan on a display for their watch parties.
"We're over there in UCF territory and we saw how their stadium changed the atmosphere of that campus by 180 degrees,'' Phillip Black said. "We don't have just any stadium we're slapping up here. This will be one of the nation's premier stadiums, an elite stadium. Everybody will rally around that. Our time is now.
"You know, this event was originally scheduled for the indoor facility. When they had to move it to the Yuengling Center, that told me a whole lot. You see what's going on with our teams. You see the fan excitement. But a day like this really puts it into perspective. We couldn't be prouder to be part of Bulls Nation.''
That festive spirit was felt by two of South Florida's newest head coaches.
"Just a chance to see this environment was incredible,'' women's basketball coach Kristy Curry said. "We're so thankful. We just wanted to spend a little time, shake some hands and hug some necks because these fans are truly our sixth man. They impact how we play and how we represent the program every day.''
"To engage with the fans and see how many people turned out here because they love the South Florida Bulls, it was awesome,'' men's basketball coach Chris Mack said. "For me, it's just a confirmation of many of the reasons I came here. This has been a great day.''
–#GoBulls–
Joey Johnston
Athletics Senior Writer
