Monday, September 7, 2009

Lack of team does not hinder spirit & love for the game!


If you walk around UT’s campus on weekends you will notice many students wearing a variety of football jerseys or t-shirts. Generally, students can be seen supporting their favorite football teams during on and off-season. Since UT lacks a football team, students find different avenues to enjoy the game. Contrary to popular belief amongst a majority of UT students, the university did have a football team back in 1933. Granted it did not last that long, however they did have an excellent stretch and boasted of “some great players and well known coaches from the days of UT football that produced an all-time record of 201-160-12.”
    The University of Tampa “played its first football game in LaGrange, Georgia on October 12, 1933.”  When the team first started out they generally played other small college teams. They did lose quite a number of times to a variety of teams; however, they did win a quite a few games too. “While it was not known at the time, the University of Tampa played its last game on November 30, 1974.” Since 1975, many football fans around the Tampa Bay area especially at the university enjoyed games at The University of South Florida. A major reason for the close of the football program at UT was the fact that they were facing extreme financial difficulties. “In 1975, University President B.D. Owens reported that over the last three years $755,000 was taken out the endowment fund to support the football program.” President Owens also stated, “The elimination of football was "Vital to the institution's fiscal health."   
    For a majority of college students the decision to attend a university is usually based upon how high the athletics department is rated, more specifically how well known the football team is. A lack of a football team does put UT at a disadvantage; however, students still enjoy participating in all activities that coincide with the game. As senior, Dwayne Duke states, “Like another red blooded American, I pick up an 18 pack of my favorite beer and start drinking regardless of whose playing every Saturday or Sunday, it’s a tradition.” 
    For some students it is more about the game and the teams. As senior Jessica Whitney states, “I grew up in Gainesville so football is in my blood. I do not miss any Gator games; I get really passionate during some of the games.”  Whitney along with other avid football fans generally enjoys games at different sports bars to catch some of the games that are not easily accessible on the ESPN or NFL network. As senior, Courtney Perazzo states, “There are times when I cannot find an Auburn game on the television as the Gators are playing or the game is not available in our area, that’s when I go to the Pressbox.”  
    Many students take advantage of the fact that UT is near The University of South Florida, and the games are easily accessible. As senior George Allendorf states, “I enjoy going to the Bulls games as they are a lot of fun and I get to see friends from USF that I haven’t seen in awhile.” Allendorf and his friends take advantage of the cheap tickets that offered to students from time to time. Many students spend their Saturdays enjoying the Bulls game at USF. As Allendorf states “I like that it is so close by and I get my football fix since I clearly cannot afford to go to the Bucs game even though I would like to at some point.” Even though UT students lack the luxury of enjoying home games, they find alternate ways of enjoying football and maintaining their own tradition.

Source:

University of Tampa Football History. Retrieved September 7, 2009, from Tampa Bay Football History Network Web site: http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/pressbox/8121/dabucsdb/ut_hist.htm

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