UT's Love For The Game

It is very common for colleges and universities to cheer their own football teams onto victory, but at The University of Tampa, this is not the case. Although many students experience the excitement and enthusiasm of college football at their very own school every weekend, The University of Tampa lacks that luxury. Today, instead of students watching the Tampa Spartans run up and down Pepin Stadium, many students travel to the nearby university, The University of South Florida to get their college football fix.


Since 1975 The University of South Florida has become UT’s source of entertainment for college football for many students at UT. It was on February 12, 1975 that the UT football team was banned due to financial problems. When UT students and local fans heard the news they were devastated and could not believe the team that held the all time record of 201-160-12 was coming to an end to their career so abruptly.

The end of UT’s football program came as a shock to many, and made it difficult for many to cope with. The board of trustees at the university were the ones who made the final decision to shut down the program. Fans got so heated by President Owens and his boards decision to stop the football program that he had to carry a weapon around for protection.

It was not until the late 80’s that Tampa contemplated bringing football back to UT due to safety Rick Thomas. Thomas stated that, “Dropping football was one of the worst business decisions UT ever made. It was a hasty, poor decision based on miscalculated facts. We could have remained successful then, and we can be successful now. The most successful sport in Tampa Bay area is football.” After hearing this statement, many UT students and local fans felt more than confident that UT could make a comeback to what the football program at UT once was. However, after many hours of discussion it was decided that UT’s football team was no longer. Instead the University of South Florida developed their own football program shortly after, which became the entertainment source for many UT students.

Although many students still wish that UT had a football team to call their own. Many UT students today get together every Saturday and Sunday to watch and support local and NFL teams play the game that they love. After speaking with UT senior Colin Bates about what college football meant to him. Bates expressed to me that, “Even though UT no longer has a football team to call their own, it is nice to know my buddies and I have a college football team close by to route for every week.” Whether it is a local school like USF or a NFL team from back home, UT students are finding other ways to satisfy their love for the game they call football.

Sources:

Bates, Colin P. "Students Thoughts about UT Football." Telephone interview. 6 Sept. 2009.


"Student Center and New Stadium Formerly Dedicated." The University of Tampa - Tampa, Florida - News Archives. 1 Dec. 2002. Web. 7 Sept. 2009.

"University of Tampa Football History." Tampa Bay Football History Network. 2 Feb. 1994. Web. 7 Sept. 2009.