UT Mystery Football

Tampa football is always a controversial subject and a very popular topic for die-hard fans. However, the University of Tampa does not have a football team. So how do UT students get their college football fix?


Some might say they transfer to a bigger school to have that football experience. Yet, the answer could be just as simple as gathering a bunch of friends and playing a game of touch football around campus.

Although this may be a factor, UT students find ways to college football through University of South Florida games. Lauren Gangemi, a UT sophomore, said “I love college football and since UT doesn’t have a team, USF is the next best thing!” Last year, Gangemi went to a USF game versus Syracuse and tailgated with her friends. “It’s good because USF is still close to UT and by being there, I feel the college football rush.”

Not only are USF games the fix but students also go to Frankie’s, a small restaurant right next door to UT. Frankie’s has all the food football games have and with the sports bar atmosphere, students watch college football on their TV screens and feel a part of the game.

It seems like sports bars are the most popular way for UT students to get their college football fix. Kimberly Assalone and Dominque Ciaffone both go to Hatrick’s to watch the games on TV. Assalone said, “I wear my jersey at Hatrick’s while watching the game and get really into it!” Aslo, Ciaffone is a Hatrick’s employee and said that many UT students come there to watch college football games with their friends.

Many people wondered what happened to the University of Tampa football team. When UT did have a team, it was very successful. The football team was established in 1933, but was discontinued in 1974. John Lagrace, a UT sophomore who is part of student athletics said, “The football team was sold to USF for many reasons but I think it’s because not only was it becoming unaffordable, but there were not enough division one teams around for competition.”

To some, it may seem like the end of the world to not have a football team, but University of Tampa students find their way around it and have more fun doing so!