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Tag: Spectrum Sports Staff

  • ReliaQuest Bowl kicks off Dec. 31 games on ESPN; Gasparilla Bowl is Dec. 20

    ReliaQuest Bowl kicks off Dec. 31 games on ESPN; Gasparilla Bowl is Dec. 20

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The ReliaQuest Bowl will kick off the Dec. 31 games at noon on ESPN, and the Gasparilla Bowl is set for Dec. 20, the Tampa Bay Bowl Association and ESPN announced as part of ESPN’s 2024-25 football bowl schedule release Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The ReliaQuest Bowl will be played at noon Dec. 31 at Raymond James Stadium

    • The Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., also at Raymond James Stadium

    • Both games will be broadcast on ESPN

    • The announcements were made as part of ESPN’s 2024-25 football bowl schedule release Thursday

    The game, which is played at Raymond James Stadium, matches teams from the Southeastern and the Big Ten conferences. 

    “We are thrilled to kick off an exciting day of games leading into the New Year’s holiday,” ReliaQuest Bowl Chairman Greg Orchard said.  

    Tickets will go on sale to the public in the fall through Ticketmaster, with details to come. Premium ticket packages are available now through the bowl office by calling 813-874-BOWL. 

    The Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl is set to take place at Raymond James Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, at 3:30 pm ET and will air on ESPN.

    The teams for that game are selected from a group that includes the SEC, Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference.

    Along with announcing the game date, the Gasparilla Bowl said it extended its partnership with Union Home Mortgage as the title sponsor for another two years, making the company the longest-tenured title sponsor in the bowl’s history.

    Ticket information for the Gasparilla Bowl will be announced later this fall. 

    The dates and times for Orlando’s two bowl games also were revealed Thursday.

    The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will move to New Year’s Eve this year, and the Pop-Tarts Bowl shifts to a Saturday, Dec. 28.

    The Citrus Bowl, played at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, features the top teams from the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences. The 2024 game will be the 79th and will kick off at 3 p.m. on ABC.

    The Pop-Tarts Bowl, which last year became a national sensation for its mascot and production, will start at 3:30 p.m. and also will air on ABC. Top teams from the ACC and Big 12 compete in the game at Camping World Stadium.

    Tickets to both of this year’s games can be purchased now through Florida Citrus Sports. They won’t go on sale to the general public until the day after this year’s teams are selected Dec. 8.

    This year’s bowl season will include the expanded 12-team College Football Playoffs for the first time. First-round games will be Dec. 20 and 21 at campus sites. The quarterfinals are Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2025, with the semifinals set for Jan. 9 and 10 and the championship game on Jan. 20.

     

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  • Florida, Florida State softball advance to NCAA Super Regionals

    Florida, Florida State softball advance to NCAA Super Regionals

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    FLORIDA — Florida State and Florida are headed to the NCAA Super Regionals later this week after winning their Regional tournaments over the weekend.

    FSU, seeded No. 15, will head to the Norman (Okla.) Super Regional, where it will take on No. 2 Oklahoma at 7 p.m. Thursday in a best-of-three rematch of last year’s national championship. Fourth-ranked Florida will face Baylor at noon Friday to start the best-of-three Gainesville Super Regional.

    The Seminoles advanced to their 10th super regional round in 11 years by going 3-0 at the Tallahassee Regional. To wrap up the Tallahassee title, they pounded Auburn 10-4 at the Seminole Softball Complex. Earlier in the tournament, FSU edged Chattanooga 3-2 on Friday and then outslugged UCF 5-1 on Saturday.

    The Gators pounded South Alabama 9-1 on Sunday to wrap up its undefeated run in the Gainesville Regional. Florida also had defeated South Alabama 9-1 on Saturday and shut out Florida Gulf Coast 6-0 on Friday.

    Florida universities were well-represented at the Regionals, with UCF, Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast University also competing. But they all were in the same two regionals, and only one team could advance out of each. 

    UCF rallied past Auburn 11-6 in Game 1 but then fell to Auburn 2-1 Saturday night after its loss to FSU earlier in the day. FAU lost to South Alabama 1-0 on Friday and to FGCU 3-2 on Saturday. FGCU fell to South Alabama 5-1 later Saturday.

     

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  • Florida joins antitrust lawsuit challenging NCAA’s NIL rules

    Florida joins antitrust lawsuit challenging NCAA’s NIL rules

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida on Wednesday joined an antitrust lawsuit filed by the states of Tennessee and New York, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia that challenges the NCAA’s rules restricting how athletes can commercially use their name, image, and likeness and prohibiting compensation for recruits.

    What You Need To Know

    • The state of Florida on Wednesday joined an antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA

    • The lawsuit challenges the name, image and likeness restrictions of the college sports governing body

    • The original lawsuit was filed Jan. 31 by Tennessee, New York, Virginia and the District of Columbia

    • The legal case said the rules hurts the states’ economies and the welfare of their athletes

    The lawsuit says the restrictions are anticompetitive and violate the Sherman Act. It says enforcement of the rules harms “the states’ economies and the welfare of their athletes, and should be declared unlawful and enjoined.”

    Florida is joining the lawsuit, originally filed on Jan. 31, after reports in January that the NCAA was investigating Florida over its recruitment of class of 2023 quarterback Jaden Rashada, who signed with Florida in December 2022 but never enrolled and later enrolled at Arizona State. The NCAA also announced Level II sanctions against Florida State during the same month, accusing its athletic program of using NIL payments to entice recruits. The NCAA said it sanctioned Seminoles assistant coach Alex Atkins and an unnamed booster for impermissible recruiting activity and facilitating impermissible contact with a NIL-related booster.

    The lawsuit says the NCAA changed its rules to permit college athletes to earn certain types of compensation from their NIL. “But, after allowing NIL licensing to emerge nationwide, the NCAA tried to stop that market from functioning” by allowing NIL compensation for current athletes but enforcing its rules for prospective athletes, including those in the transfer portal.

    In a statement, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “It appears no one could ever comply with these ever-changing and unfair regulations that limit the ability of student athletes to negotiate in good faith. I am taking legal action to reverse the unlawful restrictions the NCAA has placed on Florida universities and our collegiate athletes.”

    The NCAA restrictions prohibit prospective student-athletes from discussing NIL opportunities with schools and collectives prior to enrollment, including: 

    • Negotiating with collectives, 
    • Reviewing NIL offers prior to making enrollment decisions,
    • Learning about the full scope of NIL-related services schools might offer upon enrollment. 

    In late February, U.S. District Judge Clifton Corker in the Eastern District of Tennessee issued a preliminary injunction that bars the organization from enforcing its rules prohibiting NIL compensation for recruits, but that ruling covered one district. If the NCAA appeals, the case would go to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overseeing Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. Florida is part of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

    Corker’s ruling undercut what has been a fundamental principle of the NCAA’s model of amateurism for decades: Third parties cannot pay recruits to attend a particular school.

    The judge wrote the NCAA’s stance likely violates antitrust law because Congress so far has been unwilling to give the association an antitrust exemption. The judge said athletes with a limited recruiting window are hurt by not being able to know their true value before committing to a school.

    The NCAA said it would review the ruling and talk with its member schools about possible policy changes. But the NCAA said turning rules supported by its members “upside down” will only make an already chaotic situation worse and lessen protections keeping athletes from being exploited.

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    Associated Press

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  • Rays place closer Pete Fairbanks on injured list with nerve-related issues

    Rays place closer Pete Fairbanks on injured list with nerve-related issues

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  — The Tampa Bay Rays placed struggling closer Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list with nerve-related issues before Monday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks has periodically been experiencing numbness in his fingers

    • The Rays have added him to their 15-day injured list

    • Fairbanks has gone 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in eight games

    • Tampa Bay recalled reliever Kevin Kelly from Class AAA Durham to fill Fairbanks’ spot

    Fairbanks has experienced numbness in his fingers at times over the past few years, and the problem flared up again on Saturday and Sunday.

    “Felt like he had a little bit of a zinger in his hand just playing catch,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “Got treatment the entire day on Saturday. We were still optimistic that he was going to be good to go on Sunday, but it repeated itself Sunday before the game.”

    Fairbanks has had tests on his shoulder and arm, with additional testing to be done.

    “We’ll continue to kind of check boxes to see if we can narrow it down,” Cash said. “Not sure where it’s going to go, but felt like it was time to rest and run some imaging from his neck to shoulder all the way down to the fingers to see if we can see anything.”

    Fairbanks has had a frustrating season, going 0-2 with a 9.00 earned run average in eight games. The right-hander has allowed eight runs — seven earned — over seven innings.

    The Rays recalled reliever Kevin Kelly from Class AAA Durham to take Fairbanks’ spot on the roster.

    Cash plans to fill the closer role by looking at matchups, with Colin Poche, Jason Adam, Shawn Armstrong and Garrett Cleavinger all expected to get chances.

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  • Stetson taps experienced leader Ricky Ray as athletics director

    Stetson taps experienced leader Ricky Ray as athletics director

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    DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson has hired Ricky Ray, an experienced leader in intercollegiate athletics at William & Mary, as the Hatters’ new director of athletics, the university announced.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ricky Ray will be the new Stetson athletics director as of May 6

    • Jeff Altier is retiring after holding the position for 27 years

    • Ray has been executive associate athletics director for external operations at William & Mary

    • Stetson will welcome him to campus at 2 p.m. Friday in an event open to the public

    Ray, who has been the executive associate athletics director for external operations at the historic college in Williamsburg, Va., will start May 6.

    He replaces Jeff Altier, who is retiring after 27 years as the Hatters’ AD.

    Ray will be introduced to the campus community at 2 p.m. Friday at the Lynn Presentation Room in the Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center. The public is invited to attend.

    Stetson conducted a national search to select the person to lead its department of about 85 coaches and staff and more than 440 student-athletes on 18 teams, including its men’s basketball program that recently played in its first NCAA Tournament.

    “Obviously, the entire community saw what that kind of success can do for the institution as a whole,” Ray said. “Now is the time to build on that.”

    Ray has more than 20 years of experience in intercollegiate and professional sports and a doctorate of education degree from Marshall University in West Virginia.

    At William & Mary, Ray oversaw marketing, ticketing, creative services, communications and licensing for the college’s 23 NCAA Division I sports. He has set revenue records during his two years there and served as its interim chief financial officer.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Ricky Ray as Stetson’s athletics director,” Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke said in a statement. “An excellent fundraiser with considerable financial acumen, Ricky has accomplished so much in promoting student-athlete well-being, the fan experience and community engagement through athletics. I and the entire senior leadership team are looking forward to working with Ricky for years to come.”

     

     

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  • USF fends off 2nd-half UCF rally to advance to the 2nd round of the NIT

    USF fends off 2nd-half UCF rally to advance to the 2nd round of the NIT

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — The latest victory in the War on I-4 went to USF on Tuesday night.

    Selton Miguel scored 19 points off the bench to help the Bulls defeat the UCF Knights 83-77 in the first round of the NIT.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF hit a record 13 3-pointers to defeat UCF 83-77 in the first round of the NIT

    • The Bulls will face the winner of Villanova and VCU in the second round

    • The victory set a USF season record for wins with 25

    • Selton Miguel led the Bulls with 19 points, and Jaylin Sellers scored 24 for the Knights

    USF advanced to the second round and will next face the winner of Wednesday night’s Villanova vs. VCU matchup. The time, date and location of the next game will be announced after that game. The loss ended UCF’s season.

    “Really cool game to see two teams that compete at a high level with two passionate fan bases behind them,” USF coach Amir Abdur-Rahim said. “I’m just thankful that we came out victorious. Really proud of our group because coming on the road in a Big 12 environment and getting a win like this just continues to establish the things we want to do and who we want to be as a program.”

    The victory marked USF’s first in the NIT since a 75-59 victory against Coppin State in 1995 and its fifth all-time in the event. It also set a team record for wins in a season with 25.

    The Bulls unleashed a barrage of 3-pointers early and took a 49-35 lead heading into halftime. They finished with a program-record 13 3-pointers.

    “Seeing a team make nine 3s in the first half, they did a good job of moving the ball and sharing it, and playing off each other,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “They made us pay when they got their looks.”

    The game got chippy in the second half, and the Knights fought back to close the Bulls’ lead to 57-55 with 12 minutes, 45 seconds remaining. But USF answered every UCF run. The Knights saw Ibrahima Diallo and guard Darius Johnson pick up their fourth fouls, and they could not get any closer.

    Miguel shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 4 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 6 from the line for the Bulls (25-7).

    Kasean Pryor scored 17 points while going 5 of 12 from the floor, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and 4 for 4 from the line and added eight rebounds. Jose Placer shot 5 for 6, including 3 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points.

    Jaylin Sellers finished with 24 points, six rebounds and two steals for the Knights (17-16). Marchelus Avery added 19 points, nine rebounds and four steals for UCF. Johnson finished the game with 14 points and four assists after sitting out a chunk of the second half with the four fouls.

    Placer scored 12 points in the first half for USF, who led 49-35 at the break. Pryor led Bulls with 10 points in the second half.

    Abdur-Rahim said after the game that he thought it would be good for both teams and basketball in the state of Florida if the teams could continue to play and keep the in-state rivalry alive. But for now, he said he was happy for the team and its fans that the Bulls have bragging rights until they meet again.

    He added that the Bulls need to put their excitement over winning Tuesday night’s game behind them, however, and to refocus on preparation for their next NIT game.

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  • UCF, USF take War on I-4 into NIT on Tuesday night

    UCF, USF take War on I-4 into NIT on Tuesday night

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — While the First Four games tip off the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday night, UCF and USF are beginning their postseason with a War on I-4 matchup in the opening round of the NIT at 9 p.m. in Orlando.

    What You Need To Know

    • USF and UCF will meet in the first round of the NIT at 9 p.m. Tuesday

    • The Knights just completed their first Big 12 season

    • The Bulls won the AAC regular season

    • USF has won the past two meetings, but UCF has won eight of the past nine in Orlando

    The regular season was big for both teams this season — for completely different reasons. 

    The Bulls saw a major turnaround. After going 14-18 overall and 7-11 in the 2022-23 season, USF finished 24-7 and won the American Athletic Conference regular season 16-1 before falling to UAB 93-83 in the league tournament’s championship game. The Bulls even were ranked in the Top 25 for a time, and they had hoped to get an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.

    “Basketball in March is not an easy thing to do, not an easy thing to accomplish, so the message to the group was we’re going to be grateful for the opportunity,” USF coach Amir Abdur-Rahim said. “Yeah, it’s not what we, in our opinion, what we earned or feel like we deserved, but instead of complaining about it, let’s be grateful for the opportunity to continue to go to battle with one another, to continue to grow, continue to get better.”

    The Knights played their first season in the Big 12, going 17-15 overall and 7-11 in one of the nation’s top college basketball conferences.

    UCF is no stranger to the NIT. The Knights are making their second appearance in a row in the NIT and their third overall under coach Johnny Dawkins, who won the event twice while coaching at Stanford.

    The teams have not played a non-conference game since 2013. The Knights have won eight of their past nine games against the Bulls in Orlando, although USF has won their past two meetings overall.

    But Dawkins is more focused on what the game means for the future of his program.

    “To be the first year in the Big 12 and to go to a postseason tournament, especially you couldn’t make the NCAA but you go to the NIT, it’s a really good first step for the group that we have in establishing the culture of playing beyond the regular season. It’s something that’s very important for us to establish here at UCF,” Dawkins said.

    Knights guard Darius Johnson sees the game as a chance to improve the way they end the season at home.

    “All eyes are on us now. We have another opportunity to play at home, in front of our fans,” Johnson said. “Last time, we went out we didn’t go out the way we wanted to, especially for our seniors, so I feel like we have another chance to prove our fans the right way. To continue on with the rivalry is huge. We have a lot of new guys on the team, so some of them don’t realize how big the rivalry is. So, I just try to relate to them about their high school rivalries, or their AAU rivalries that they had and translate it over to college.”

     

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  • Florida, Stetson prepare to go dancing this week at NCAA Tournament

    Florida, Stetson prepare to go dancing this week at NCAA Tournament

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    The field is set for the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, which gets underway Tuesday.

    It begins with a play-in game Tuesday night between Wagner and Howard up until the national championship game in Glendale, Ariz., on April 8.

    The state of Florida will be well-represented.

    What You Need To Know

    • Two teams will represent Florida college basketball at the NCAA Tournament starting this week

    • Seventh-seeded Florida will play Friday against the winner of the Boise State-Colorado play-in game

    • The Gators will have to play without center Micah Handlogten, who broke his left leg in the SEC championship game 

    • Stetson, which advanced to its first NCAA Tournament, will take on No. 1 overall-seeded UConn Friday 

    The seventh-seeded Florida Gators will open NCAA Tournament play at about 4:30 p.m. Friday in the first round of the South Regional in Indianapolis against the winner of the play-in game between Boise State and Colorado.

    The Gators made a run all the way to the Southeastern Conference championship game before falling to Auburn 86-67 on Sunday.

    Florida will have to move forward without starting center Micah Handlogten, who went down early in the first half with what later was described by Florida officials as a left leg injury. He was trying to come down with a third rebound when he landed awkwardly on his left foot. He immediately went down in pain and rolled onto his side, putting his hands to his face. The sound of bone apparently breaking could be heard on TV, with blood immediately visible on the back of his calf.

    Play was stopped for several minutes before Handlogten was lifted onto a stretcher after medical staff stabilized his lower leg, and he was carried off the court. He then was transported to the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville for further evaluation and treatment.

    Danielle and Benjamin Handlogten look on as medical personnel tend to their son, Florida center Micah Handlogten, after he broke his left leg during the Southeastern Conference championship game Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Handlogten was taken off the court on a stretcher. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

    Gators coach Todd Golden later confirmed that Handlogten broke his lower left leg.

    “You just hate to see it for him because he does everything the right way and works hard,” said Golden as he fought to control his emotions postgame. “That’s a super fluky injury, you know, that you don’t see very often in this game. Playing a big-time game like this, to go out that way, I just feel for him.”

    Handlogten came into this game ranked fourth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage. Forward Tyrese Samuel said Handlogten is so valuable to the Gators, and they tried to focus with a SEC title on the line.

    “Losing him really kind of affected us,” Samuel said. ”We’re going to go out there next week and keep on playing for him.”

    Walter Clayton Jr., out of Lake Wales and Bartow high schools, led the Gators with 23 points, Zyon Pullen added 15 points and Samuel had 12.

    Meanwhile, the 16th-seeded Stetson Hatters, who qualified for their first berth in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Atlantic Sun Tournament, are headed to Brooklyn at 2:45 p.m. Friday, when they will play defending champion and top overall seed UConn in the first round of the East Region.

    What a scene it was in DeLand on Sunday as cheerleaders, school officials, fans, the players and the coaching staff celebrated together at a watch party when the Hatters found out that they were playing Connecticut.

    “The excitement is incredible,” Stetson coach Donnie Jones said. “They said it couldn’t happen in DeLand. Why not Stetson?” Jones told the crowd who gathered Sunday to learn who the Hatters would face in the first round.

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  • Florida’s college basketball teams to tip off conference tournament play

    Florida’s college basketball teams to tip off conference tournament play

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    FLORIDA — UCF begins play in its first Big 12 Tournament at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, needing to win the conference tourney championship to secure a spot in the men’s NCAA Tournament. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Most of Florida’s college basketball teams launch conference tournament action this week

    • Stetson already captured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Atlantic Sun tourney

    • UCF will play Oklahoma State at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Big 12 tourney

    • Florida State faces Virginia Tech at noon Wednesday in the ACC Tournament

    • Florida has to wait to find out its opponent in the SEC tourney at 9:30 p.m. Thursday 

    • AAC regular-season winner USF doesn’t play until 1 p.m. Friday

    The 12th-seeded Knights (16-14 overall, 7-11 Big 12) will face 13th-seeded Oklahoma State (12-19, 4-14) in the first round at Kansas City, Mo. 

    Darius Johnson will lead UCF, averaging 14.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals, and Jaylin Sellers is averaging 16 points over the past 10 games.

    The Knights rank third in the Big 12 at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 67 points, while holding opponents to 40.9% shooting.

    UCF’s average 6.6 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.1 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma State allows. Oklahoma State averages 8.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 more made shots on average than the 6.9 per game UCF allows.

    Oklahoma State averages 12.4 turnovers per game and is 6-5 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.

    The Knights defeated the Cowboys 77-71 on Feb. 28 in Stillwater.

    One Central Florida team already has punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Stetson defeated Austin Peay 94-91 on Sunday to win the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament and its auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament. It marks the first time the Hatters are headed to college basketball’s championship tournament.

    Jalen Blackmon scored a career-high 43 points, making 14 of 17 free throws for the Hatters (22-12). 

    Blackmon’s and-1 after a tough driving layup gave Stetson an 87-84 lead with 1:11 remaining. After a dunk by Austin Peay’s Sai Witt, Stetson went back ahead by three when Aubin Gateretse made two free throws.

    Dezi Jones missed a 3-pointer for the Governors and Austin Peay had to foul with 34 seconds left. Blackmon made both free throws and Witt answered with a three-point play to make it 91-89. Blackmon made 3 of 4 from the line in the final 13 seconds to send Stetson to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

    Gateretse made 11 of 15 free throws and finished with 13 points along with seven rebounds. Stephan Swenson had 13 points and Alec Oglesby added 10 for the second-seeded Hatters.

    Witt had 28 points and 10 rebounds and Jones had 17 and 11 for the fourth-seeded Govs (19-15). DeMarcus Sharp scored 16 off the bench, Isaac Haney had 13 and Ja’Monta Black 11.

    At the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., 14th-seeded Miami (15-16 overall, 6-14) takes on No. 11-seeded Boston College (17-14, 8-12) at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

    Ninth-seeded Florida State (16-14, 10-10) doesn’t make its debut in this year’s ACC tourney until noon Wednesday, when it will face No. 8-seeded Virginia Tech (18-13, 10-10). 

    The Wednesday winners will advance to play the tournament’s top four seeded teams on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

    In the Southeastern Conference Tournament, sixth-seeded Florida (21-10, 11-7 SEC) doesn’t begin competition in Nashville, Tenn., until the second round at 9:30 p.m. Thursday. The Gators will face the winner between 11th-seeded Georgia (16-15, 6-12) and 14th-seeded Missouri (8-23, 0-18), which will be played Wednesday.

    At the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, USF (23-6, 16-2 AAC) is seeded No. 1 and can spend its time preparing because it doesn’t have to play until 1 p.m. Friday. The Bulls will face the winner of eighth-seeded East Carolina (11-9, 7-11) and No. 9-seeded Tulsa (14-4, 7-11). 

    The winners of the conference tournaments receive automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, which begins March 19.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  • Orlando City moves on to Champions Cup round of 16

    Orlando City moves on to Champions Cup round of 16

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Midfielder Nico Lodeiro got the scoring started for Orlando City and added an assist as the Lions defeated Calgary FC 3-1 Tuesday night to advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16.

    The aggregate score in the round was 6-1.

    “We achieved a lot today with rotating different players,” Lions coach Oscar Pareja said. “Trying to time our week that is, as you know, difficult with the game coming, and we just played last Saturday here. So, I’m happy with the group. I think we all refreshed today with the group playing and those who have not played and the ones who have been resting. I’m happy now just thinking about the next game, and we’ll think about the next steps in CONCACAF next week.”

    Mexican soccer power Tigres UANL will travel to Orlando on March 5 for the first leg of the next series, and the second leg will be played March 12 in Monterrey, Mexico. The series will be a rematch from last year, when the Tigres advanced to the quarterfinals.

    Ramiro Enrique scored on Lodeiro’s assist in the 71st minute, and Kyle Smith finished the scoring on an assist by Facundo Torres in the 88th minute to complete the Lions’ scoring. Lodeiro, who signed with Orlando City in the offseason, got his goal on an assist by newly acquired designated player Luis Muriel in the 48th minute.

    Season-ticket members and recognized supporter groups can buy tickets to the March 5 match now. The general public can purchase tickets online starting Thursday.

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  • UCF Athletics receives $5.5 million pledge from alumnus

    UCF Athletics receives $5.5 million pledge from alumnus

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A UCF alumnus has pledged $5.5 million to UCF Athletics for construction of a football center and a sports facilities endowment fund, the university announced Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • UCF Athletics received a $5.5 million pledge from alumnus Taylor A. Gerring

    • The funds will go toward a new football center and an athletics facilities endowment

    • The commitment is the largest single cash pledge by an individual for UCF Athletics

    • The facility will be part of the Hagle Football Gateway project

    The commitment by 2005 graduate Taylor A. Gerring is the largest single cash pledge by an individual for UCF Athletics.

    The funds will help pay for construction of a new football administration and coaches building that will be part of the Hagle Football Gateway project.   

    “I’m happy to give back to the university to show my appreciation for everything that’s been provided to me,” said Gerring, who majored in business administration at UCF and is now a blockchain pioneer and co-founder of Ethereum Foundation. “My hope is that it inspires other students to achieve great things.”

    The new facility, which the UCF Board of Trustees voted to name the Taylor A. Gerring Football Center, will receive $5 million of the funds pledged, and $500,000 will be invested in the Taylor A. Gerring Athletics Facilities Endowment Fund, according to UCF.

    UCF is engaged in a fundraising campaign to have a successful transition into the Big 12 Conference, and the football campus is part of a larger plan to improve game and practice facilities for all the Knights’ teams throughout the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village. 

    “This is my way to do what I can in this moment of time as we enter the Big 12 Conference,” Gerring said. “There’s a lot of momentum and excitement behind that, and I hope to inspire other donors to jump in and help us reach the end goals we’re looking for.”

    The football center will be part of the Hagle Football Gateway project. The facility also will feature Nicholson Plaza; McNamara Cove, which will offer a recovery river and hydrotherapy area for student-athletes; a renovated Wayne Densch Sports Center that will include an expanded football team locker room known as the Thow Family Locker Room; enhancements to UCF’s football practice complex; a new VIP parking lot; and a pedestrian promenade. Construction will be completed in phases and is scheduled to start this spring.

    Gerring, who is from Stuart, said his excitement about UCF’s football program kept growing while he was a student and through his involvement in the Chicago UCF alumni community. It really picked up for the 2014 St. Petersburg Bitcoin Bowl.

    “I was living in Europe and traveled back, very excited to see the culmination of this whole Bitcoin/Ethereum world come together with my UCF Knights in St. Petersburg, and it’s literally the Bitcoin Bowl,” Gerring said. “…I was like, ‘is this event made for me?’”

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  • Rattlers names Colzie III as new football coach

    Rattlers names Colzie III as new football coach

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M has introduced James Colzie II as its 19th football coach.

    What You Need To Know

    • James Colzie III is the new football coach at Florida A&M

    • Former coach Willie Simmons took a job as running backs coach at Duke

    • Colzie was the assistant head coach at FAMU last season

    • The goal is to win the Florida Classic, SWAC championship and the Celebration Bowl

    Colzie replaces Willie Simmons, who took a job as an assistant coach for running backs at Duke earlier this month after leading the Rattlers to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities national championship.

    “Today begins a new era in FAMU football. Today, we will add a new name to the legacy of FAMU football coaching greats,” Vice President/Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said. “…At the end of this process, James Colzie III emerged as the right person at this time to lead FAMU football.

    “Our priority was identifying a coach who, first and foremost, had a commitment to academic excellence and has a comprehensive understanding of APR (Academic Progress Rate). Coach Colzie is currently a doctoral student at Capella University, studying leadership and higher education. It is clear he understands and appreciates the importance of higher education.”

    Colzie joined the FAMU coaching staff in 2022 as cornerbacks coach. At the end of that campaign, Simmons promoted him to assistant head coach. Before he came to FAMU, Colzie was head coach at Saint Mary’s University in Canada, where he had an overall record of 23-19.

    The former Florida State football and baseball player also held a variety of coaching jobs at the University of British Columbia, at Simon Fraser University, Southern Arkansas, West Georgia and Valdosta State.

    Colzie said he wants the team to win the Florida Classic, which has been played in Orlando against Bethune-Cookman University for many years, as well as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and the Celebration Bowl, the postseason college football game between the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the SWAC.

    “I want to make sure we do it with class,” Colzie said. “The FAMU standard is going to be about winning, but also about the right culture. We already have a contagious culture. I can’t wait to add to that.”

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  • UCF’s 2024 football schedule features all 4 new Big 12 members

    UCF’s 2024 football schedule features all 4 new Big 12 members

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — UCF football will take on the four new teams joining the Big 12 for the 2024 season and will head to Gainesville to play the Gators, according to the schedule released by the program on Tuesday.

    Colorado, coached by Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, will pay a visit to Orlando on Sept. 28, and Arizona, which finished last season ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25 rankings, will be the Space Game opponent on Nov. 2.

    The Black Friday game is back, and the opponent this year will be Utah on Nov. 29. The Knights will travel to Arizona State on Nov. 9.

    The Knights’ matchup with the Gators will come Oct. 5 in Gainesville as five of their first six games will be played in the state of Florida. It will mark the first matchup of the teams since UCF defeated Florida for the first time, 29-17, on Dec. 23, 2021, at the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. The Gators lead the all-time series 2-1.

    The home schedule will feature seven games again this season. Most of those opponents will be making their first appearance at UCF, starting with New Hampshire on Thursday, Aug. 29 and followed by Sam Houston on Sept. 7. The two remaining games at FBC Mortgage Stadium will feature Cincinnati on Oct. 12 and BYU for Homecoming on Oct. 26, both teams that joined the Big 12 along with the Knights last season.

    The Knights will head to TCU on Sept. 14, to Iowa State on Oct. 19, to Arizona State on Nov. 9 and to West Virginia on Nov. 23 to wrap up their road schedule. Arizona State is the fourth new member of the Big 12.

    The schedule also includes bye weeks on Sept. 21 and Nov. 16.

    The Knights also announced that their Spring Game will be played at 7 p.m. April 12.

    UCF 2024 football schedule

    • Aug. 29 vs. New Hampshire
    • Sept. 7 vs. Sam Houston
    • Sept. 14 at TCU
    • Sept. 28 vs. Colorado
    • Oct. 5 at Florida
    • Oct. 12 vs. Cincinnati
    • Oct. 19 at Iowa State
    • Oct. 26 vs. BYU
    • Nov. 2 vs. Arizona 
    • Nov. 9 at Arizona State
    • Nov. 23 at West Virginia
    • Nov. 29 vs. BYU

    Kickoff times will be released at a later date.

    The past week has been a busy one for UCF. Coach Gus Malzahn announced major changes to his coaching staff.

    He brought back Tim Harris Jr. as offensive coordinator/running backs coach and shifted last year’s sole offensive coordinator, former UCF quarterback Darin Hinshaw, to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Harris had been on UCF’s 2021-22 football staffs and spent last season with the Miami Hurricanes.

    He also brought in Trevon Reed to coach cornerbacks and Morris Henry Jr. as associate director of athletic performance for football. Reed played cornerback on Auburn’s 2010 national championship team and in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers. Reed came to UCF from Auburn, where he spent the past three seasons as director of football and recruiting relations. Henry is a native of Orlando and previously was a strength and conditioning coach at Auburn.

    Malzahn previously had brought in former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who he worked with on Auburn’s national championship team, to the same role at UCF and moved last year’s DC, Addison Williams, to co-associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.

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  • UCF football hires Roof as new defensive coordinator

    UCF football hires Roof as new defensive coordinator

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof has been named to the same position at the University of Central Florida, Knights coach Gus Malzahn announced Wednesday.

    The Knights’ defensive coordinator last season was Addison Williams. His title has shifted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator, UCF said in an announcement.

    “I’m looking forward to working with Ted again after winning a national championship together at Auburn,” Malzahn said in a statement released by UCF. “He’s a three-time Broyles Award nominee and has had the No. 1 ranked rush defense in the conference at three different schools.”

    Malzahn was offensive coordinator and Roof was defensive coordinator at Auburn when the Tigers won the 2010 college football national championship.

    Oklahoma dismissed Roof as defensive coordinator earlier this month, and Sooners coach Brett Venables said in a statement released by the university that Roof declined to remain on the staff in another role. Roof also had coached the linebackers at Oklahoma. 

    This season, Roof’s second as the Sooners’ defensive coordinator, Oklahoma ranked second nationally with 20 interceptions and sixth in takeaways with 26. Oklahoma limited its first five opponents in 2023 to 20 or fewer points before it defeated Texas 34-30.

    After edging UCF 30-29 on Oct. 21, Oklahoma lost to Kansas and Oklahoma State, and the Sooners gave up 520 yards in a 69-45 win over TCU in the regular-season finale.

    Roof’s final game was a 38-24 loss to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, Roof’s defense at Oklahoma ranked sixth in the Big 12, giving up an average of 389.4 yards of total offense per game. It was third in rushing defense, giving up an average of 138.6 yards per game and 10th in passing offense at 250.8 yards per game.

    In contrast, UCF ranked eighth in total defense in the Big 12, giving up an average of 391 yards per game. The Knights were last in the conference, 14th, in rushing defense — allowing an average of 194.3 yards per game but first in pass defense with an average of 196.7 yards.

    Roof has more than 30 years of coaching experience in Power 5 programs. During his career, his teams have had the best conference record in rushing defense in three programs, were first in the NCAA in defensive touchdowns in 2019, led the NCAA in red-zone defense in 2012 and set an NCAA record for takeaways per possession (26.8%) in 2014.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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  • Florida State, Norvell reach agreement on ‘enhanced contract’

    Florida State, Norvell reach agreement on ‘enhanced contract’

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State and football coach Mike Norvell have agreed to terms on what the university called an “enhanced contract,” the school announced Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • FSU and football coach Mike Norvell have reached terms on an “enhanced contract,” the program announced

    • Terms were not revealed, but AP and Yahoo reported the deal is worth over $10 million per year for eight years

    • Norvell’s name had come up in speculation as a replacement for recently retired Nick Saban at Alabama

    • The Seminoles have gone 31-17 in Norvell’s four seasons and 23-4 the past two seasons. 

    The Seminoles did not release the terms of the deal, but the Associated Press, citing a source with direct knowledge of the deal, confirmed initial reports by Yahoo that the deal is for eight years and more than $10 million per year.

    The agreement came as Norvell’s name had been mentioned in media reports as a possible replacement at Alabama for Nick Saban, who announced his retirement as the Crimson Tide’s coach on Thursday. The Associated Press and ESPN reported Friday night that Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, whose team was the runner-up to Michigan in the national championship game, has signed a deal to take Alabama’s job. AP cited a source who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither school had announced DeBoer’s decision. 

    “We came to Tallahassee four years ago, and it was a life-changing experience,” Norvell said in a statement on seminoles.com. “Knowing the great history, tradition and expectation has guided our staff on a daily basis. It has been an incredible journey these last four years, and I have fallen in love with this program, the university and the people who I get to represent. I am so excited to continue our climb to push Florida State back to the top of college football. We are committed to being our best on and off the field while helping develop our players to be their best in every area of their lives. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing commitment into our student-athletes and staff from President McCullough, AD Alford and the Board of Trustees.”

    Norvell led the Seminoles (13-1) to an unbeaten regular season in 2023 before they were the first undefeated Power Five conference champion left out of the College Football Playoff, following a season-ending injury to quarterback Jordan Travis.

    Since they were not selected for the College Football Playoffs, the Seminoles have faced some adversity. Norvell stood up for his program and expressed how angry he was that the program was left out after becoming the first undefeated team in CFP history to be left out. The program has filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging the league’s grant of rights that ties the program to the ACC.

    The Seminoles, who subsequently lost many of their key players to injuries or the NFL Draft before the bowl game, then got crushed by Georgia in the Orange Bowl 63-3. On Thursday, the NCAA announced that a Florida State assistant coach has been suspended for the first three games of the 2024 season for violating recruiting rules by connecting a potential transfer with a representative from a name, image and likeness collective during an official visit. FSU agreed to two years of probation, the loss of a total of five football scholarships over the next two seasons and other restrictions on recruiting, including a reduction of official visits. The school was also fined $5,000.

    In four seasons at Florida State, the 42-year-old Norvell has dramatically improved the program and is 31-17, including 23-4 the past two seasons. The Seminoles went 3-6 in his first season as coach, but Norvell worked patiently through the COVID-19 pandemic to steadily rebuild the program.

    Despite the lopsided Orange Bowl loss, the Seminoles place sixth in the final Top 25 rankings. Norvell was voted the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year. He was one of five finalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club and one of 12 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.

     

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  • Harvey delivers early gift to UCF, says he’ll be back in 2024

    Harvey delivers early gift to UCF, says he’ll be back in 2024

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Merry Christmas, Knights fans. Running back RJ Harvey announced Thursday night that he will be back for a fourth season with the Knights.

    Harvey made the announcement on his X account, formerly known as Twitter.

    “All good things come to an end,” Harvey said. “But I got some unfinished business. Let’s run it back.”

    The announcement came while UCF was in Tampa preparing for its Gasparilla Bowl matchup with Georgia Tech on Friday night.

    Harvey ranks 12th in the nation in rushing yards among players on Football Bowl Subdivision teams and third in the Big 12. He ran for 1,296 yards with 16 touchdowns on 211 carries and caught 17 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown in 12 games this season. He was the first Knight to run for at least 1,000 yards since Greg McCrae in 2018 and the first UCF player since Kevin Smith in 2007 to record five consecutive 100-yard plus rushing games. He was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top college running back.

    In UCF’s 45-3 Space Game victory against then-No. 15 Oklahoma State on Nov. 11, Harvey rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns. His performance prompted UCF fans to break into “RJ Harvey” chants.

    Harvey, a former quarterback at Orlando’s Edgewater High who transferred to UCF after redshirting his freshman season at Virginia, is a senior who already has a degree and is working on a second one. But he has a year of eligibility left because he missed the 2021 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in preseason practice. He played in all of UCF’s games the past two seasons, and many football analysts thought he might make himself available for the NFL Draft.

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  • FSU board backs lawsuit challenging contract that binds school to ACC

    FSU board backs lawsuit challenging contract that binds school to ACC

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida State Board of Trustees on Friday cleared the way for a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging a contract that binds the school to the league for the next 12 years and creating a potential path to leave without paying more than $500 million in penalties.

    What You Need To Know

    • FSU trustees Friday approved a legal challenge to the contract that ties the Seminoles to the ACC

    • The university seeks a way to potentially leave the conference without paying over $500 million in penalties

    • The lawsuit says the ACC’s grant of rights violates antitrust law and its penalties are unenforceable

    • The ACC said the move violates FSU’s commitments to the ACC and its members and that the program re-signed the deal in 2016

    “I believe this board has been left no choice but to challenge the legitimacy of the ACC grant of rights and its severe withdrawal penalties,” Florida State Board of Trustees chairman Peter Collins said during a trustees meeting.

    The lawsuit was filed soon after in Leon County Circuit Court, claiming the ACC has mismanaged its media rights and is imposing “draconian” exit fees

    Florida State outside counsel David Ashburn said a lawsuit was ready to be filed that claims the ACC’s grant of rights violates antitrust law and has unenforceable withdrawal penalties. Ashburn said it would cost a school $572 million to withdraw from the conference. The lawsuit also accuses the ACC of breach of contract and violation of public policy.

    ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and Virginia President Jim Ryan, chairman of the conference’s board of directors, posted a response to the lawsuit on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

    “Florida State’s decision to file action against the Conference is in direct conflict with their longstanding obligations and is a clear violation of their legal commitments to the other members of the Conference,” the ACC said in the post. “All ACC members, including Florida State, willingly and knowingly re-signed the current Grant of Rights in 2016, which is wholly enforceable and binding through 2036.”

    Florida State is looking for a way out of the conference it has been a member of since 1992 because it believes the ACC is locked into an undervalued and unusually lengthy media rights deal with ESPN that runs through 2036. The school leaders also say the league refuses to change its revenue distribution model to match FSU’s value.

    “It is a simple math problem,” Florida State athletic director Michael Alford said. “A very clear math problem.”

    FSU leaders have been pushing for unequal distribution of revenue for more than a year. The ACC has agreed to create a bonus system that would direct more revenue to schools that have postseason success in football and basketball, but that has not solved the frustration at FSU.

    “It’s time for us to try to do something about it,” Florida State President Richard McCullough said.

    McCullough said the trustees’ approval of the legal challenge was not a direct reaction to FSU recently being left out of the College Football Playoff, despite having an undefeated record. Florida State will play Georgia at 4 p.m. Dec. 30 in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

    “This is not a reaction, but something we’ve done a lot of due diligence on,” he said.

    Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said on X, “Proud of Florida State, Pres McCullough and the FSU BOT for their bold action today to take a stand against an untenable situation. Unfortunate that it came to this, but college athletics is changing by the second and Florida must once again lead the way.”

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  • Knights to begin preparation for Gasparilla Bowl on Friday

    Knights to begin preparation for Gasparilla Bowl on Friday

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — UCF will practice for the Gasparilla Bowl starting Friday, one of 11 that coach Gus Malzahn said the team will hold.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Knights are gearing up for the Gasparilla Bowl and will start practices Friday

    • UCF will play Georgia Tech in that game at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22 in Tampa

    • O’Leary said the game is important to the players and to continue momentum

    • The Yellow Jackets’ coach is Brent Key, who was on George O’Leary’s UCF coaching staff for 11 years

    “That’s exactly what we did two years ago,” Malzahn said. “It worked out really well.”

    The Knights (6-6) will line up against Georgia Tech (6-6) at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22 in the bowl game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

    Originally, their opponent was revealed as Duke on ESPN’s bowl selection show on Sunday, but the matchup was switched because those teams played in the Military Bowl last year.

    In the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl, UCF defeated Florida 29-17, thanks to strong play by Isaiah Bowser, Mikey Keene and Ryan O’Keefe — who have all moved on since then. They also beat Marshall in the 2019 Gasparilla Bowl.

    “We’re excited to go back to the Gasparilla Bowl,” Malzahn said. “We had a great experience there two years ago. … I know our players are excited to play this game.”

    Playing in Tampa is a good spot for the Knights because the stadium is only about two hours away from UCF, so friends and family will have an easy time getting there. The proximity also will limit the amount of travel the team needs to do after completing a season in which it hit the road for 7,485 miles, the third-most among Florida Bowl Subdivision teams according to an analysis by Reddit.

    Plus, Malzahn said, they have had success at the Gasparilla Bowl in the past and feel comfortable there because they have played in the stadium.

    The opponent will be somewhat familiar to UCF and Georgia Tech.

    Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key was an assistant coach, including assistant head coach, for George O’Leary during his 11 seasons as the Knights’ coach. 

    “It’s cool to go back down there,” Key said.

    The teams also played each other in the 2022 regular season, and UCF won that matchup 27-10. But Key was not hired as head coach of Georgia Tech until two days after that game, and they have a new quarterback — Haynes King.

    During the regular season, the Yellow Jackets defeated two teams that were nationally ranked at the time — North Carolina and Miami — but neither of those teams finished among the Top 25. King threw for 2,755 yards with a 61.9% completion percentage, and Jamal Hayes ran for 931 yards.

    “It’s a great opportunity for these guys to play in a bowl game, no matter where it’s at,” Key said. “It’s the experience of getting to play another opponent and extend your season. People have this crazy notion that there are too many bowl games and too many things. I think that’s ludicrous.”

    Malzahn said he expects to come to the game with his regular-season roster mostly intact. Malzahn said no player who had not entered the transfer portal had told him that he planned to skip the game.

    “It’s important for our seniors, real important to our players to finish on the right track,” Malzahn said “…. I really think our guys will be extremely motivated to play this game.”

    The 30-day window for the transfer portal began on Monday, and fourth-year cornerback Corey Thornton was the most experienced player who has declared his plans to transfer as of Wednesday afternoon.

    While preparing for the bowl game, Malzahn and his staff also must keep up with players going in and out of the transfer portal and recruiting. The college football early signing period, when new incoming players can sign their national letters of intent for the 2024 season, opens Dec. 20 and continues through Dec. 22.

    “This bowl game is really important to keep that momentum,” Malzahn said. “Going in two years ago, we saw it end on a positive end. Last year, it was kind of a tough deal (loss to Duke in Military Bowl). So, we need to play well and gear up and do everything we can to get a victory.”

    The Knights were the only new addition to the Big 12 this season to become eligible for a bowl game this season. They won three of their last four games after struggling midseason, partially because of injuries.

    UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee missed three games with a leg injury but finished the regular season with 2,073 passing yards and a 63.9 pass completion percentage; he also rushed for 473 yards. Senior running back RJ Harvey ran for 1,296 yards, 10th among FBS players. 

    Malzahn said he hopes to see a sellout for the game, with a strong turnout by Knights fans. UCF has already sold out its initial allotment of tickets, he said.

    But Key said he could have the biggest name on his side of the stands.

    “No one asked the real question,” Key said at the end of his press conference.

    He said that question is which side of the stadium O’Leary would sit on.

    A reporter responded, “He’s your guy.”

    Key, who also played for O’Leary when he coached Georgia Tech, chuckled and replied, “You’re darned right.”

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  • USF releases 1st renderings of its new on-campus stadium

    USF releases 1st renderings of its new on-campus stadium

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    TAMPA, Fla. — With “genuine excitement,” the University of South Florida on Tuesday released the first three renderings of its planned on-campus stadium.

    The Board of Trustees met Tuesday morning to receive an update on the plans after the university terminated a design-build agreement, and it opted for a more traditional construction management model.

    What You Need To Know

    •  USF released renderings of its planned on-campus football stadium

    •  Groundbreaking for the stadium is expected in fall 2024

    •  The first game played at the new stadium is set for August 2027

    So far, the school has raised more than $43 million of its $50 million goal for the stadium project. That includes a $6 million gift from the USF Federal Credit Union to name the walkway that will lead into the main entrance of the stadium, where the football team’s traditional pregame Bulls Stampede will take place.

    “To me, it’s just the next step in the evolution of the whole university, quite frankly, as an important engagement tool that will bring us together as one USF better than ever before,” said Michael Kelly, vice president of athletics.

    The stadium, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027, will include:

    • An east-west build to help maximize shade for daytime events.

    • A dedicated section for students in the west end of the stadium that includes a design featuring Bull horns and amenities that will cater to the student experience.

    • An open concourse around a majority of the stadium that provides views of the field, even as fans are walking to concession or restroom areas.

    • A large tailgating space on the north side of the stadium.  

    • A variety of premium seating options, including suites, loge boxes and club areas.

    The University of South Florida on Tuesday released the first three renderings of its new on-campus stadium.

     

    USF officials said the initial renderings are conceptual and will develop as the design process continues and more elements are finalized. The design process included feedback from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

    “Since we first announced plans to build an on-campus stadium at the University of South Florida, it has become the topic I hear about most often from our passionate supporters. There is a genuine excitement within our community,” USF President Rhea Law said. “We’re thrilled to offer the first images of the stadium that will activate our campus in ways we never have before and will make a positive impact on our university for generations to come.”

    Students at USF are excited about the new stadium, and one pointed out that even if they won’t still be attending USF by the time the stadium is built, it will give them a reason to come back.

    “My dad graduated in ’96 so I’ve been coming to games. I went to my first game when I was 3 years old and ever since then I’ve been coming back,” Alisha Kurian said.

    In a picture her dad took at her first game, you see Kurian sound asleep in her seat. She said being a Bull is a family affair.

    “I think that giving students their own stadium, and student-athletes a space to call their own to play in, not only is that a great thing, but also alumni having a reason to come back to campus for games and for that environment really elevates the whole USF experience,” she said.

    Kurian said even though she won’t be a USF student when the stadium is built, it will give her and her dad a reason to keep coming back, and keep their tradition alive.

    “He absolutely cannot wait,” Kurian said. “He’s probably more excited than anyone else. I know and he’s hoping I have three younger siblings, so maybe one of them will be here when the stadium is built.”

    Signature signage will showcase the newly named USF Federal Credit Union Champions Way, located off USF Genshaft Drive.

    The University of South Florida on Tuesday released the first three renderings of its new on-campus stadium.

    The University of South Florida on Tuesday released the first three renderings of its new on-campus stadium.

    “Our university will proudly feature one of the nation’s most beautiful and community-centered stadium entranceways,” USF Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jay Stroman said.

    Stadium planning committee co-chairs Stroman and Kelly said the next major steps are to release more detailed stadium renderings in spring 2024 and to hold a groundbreaking ceremony in fall 2024.

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  • From coach to U.S. senator, FSU supporters condemn CFP selection panel

    From coach to U.S. senator, FSU supporters condemn CFP selection panel

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    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —  The Seminoles and their backers are not going quietly after Florida State became the first undefeated Power 5 team in the 10-year history of the College Football Playoff to be excluded from a chance to play for a national championship.

    All the way to the U.S. Senate.

    Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) on Monday sent a letter to CFP Selection Committee Chairman Boo Corrigan demanding full transparency from the committee regarding how the decision was reached to choose Alabama, Michigan, Washington and Texas for the playoff this postseason and the factors at play in reaching that outcome.

    “Beyond the fury and heartbreak caused by the Committee’s decision, there are also financial implications that must be discussed,” Scott said in his letter to Corrigan. “The ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and FSU have been denied $2 million of revenue distribution from the CFP due to the Committee’s decision to remove the Seminoles from playoff contention. While this is a significant amount of money, it is just a fraction of the total economic impact that playoff contention would have created for FSU. Beyond the benefit to the university and its athletic program, the Committee’s decision will also likely have profound impacts on the future earnings and opportunities for the players.”

    Scott, a former Florida governor who lived in Tallahassee both of his terms, requested that the committee respond by sending to his office “the ‘listing step’ and ‘ranking step’ votes of each member of the Selection Committee for the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023; any notes, recordings or reports detailing the deliberations of the CFP Selection Committee in deciding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023 and any emails, text messages or other written communication exchanged between the members of the Selection Committee regarding the CFP rankings released on Sunday, December 3, 2023” and other documentation. He also requested a copy of the CFP ethical and conflict of interest standards.

    Current Florida govenor Ron DeSantis, who is running for U.S. president, spoke out on Twitter.

    Former President Donald J. Trump, who is running for president again in 2024, took a jab at DeSantis, too, on his Truth Social media site. “Florida State was treated very badly by the ‘Committee’. They become the first Power Five team to be left out of the College Football Playoffs. Really bad lobbying effort…Let’s blame DeSanctimonious.”

    The Seminoles aren’t the first Power Five team to be left out of the College Football Playoff, just the first undefeated one.

    FSU went 12-0 in the regular season and defeated Louisville in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday. The Seminoles overcame a season-ending left leg injury to starting quarterback Jordan Travis on Nov. 18 in a 58-13 victory against North Alabama, and they had to go to third-string quarterback Brock Glenn in the ACC title game after backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker sustained a concussion in their regular-season finale against Florida, a 24-15 victory. 

    In contrast, Texas lost to Big 12 rival Oklahoma 34-30 on Oct. 7, and Alabama lost to future Southeastern Conference rival Texas 34-24 on Sept. 9, but both made the CFP with one loss. Alabama defeated then-No. 1 Georgia 27-24 in the SEC Championship Game, and Texas won the Big 12 Championship Game by defeating Oklahoma State 49-21.

    The Atlantic Coast Conference and officials at FSU had plenty to say, too.

    In a statement released after the CFP Selection Committee made its decision, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said, “It’s unfathomable that Florida State, an undefeated Power Five conference champion, was left out of the College Football Playoff. Their exclusion calls into question the selection process and whether the Committee’s own guidelines were followed, including the significant importance of being an undefeated Power Five conference champion. My heart breaks for the talented FSU student-athletes and coaches and their passionate and loyal fans. Florida State deserved better. College football deserved better.”

    Seminoles coach Mike Norvell expressed his outrage, too.

    “I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision today to have what was earned on the field taken away because a small group of people decided they knew better than the results of the games,” Norvell said. “What is the point of playing games? Do you tell players it is OK to quit if someone goes down? Do you not play a senior on Senior Day for fear of injury?”

    Corrigan defended the committee’s decision to elevate Alabama to the No. 4 spot rather than selecting FSU.

    “Florida State is a different team than it was the first 11 weeks,” Corrigan told ESPN. “As you look at who they are as a team right now, without Jordan Travis, without the offensive dynamic he brings, they are a different team, and the committee voted Alabama four and Florida State five.”

    Travis, who has continued to be around the Seminoles after his injury to show his support, took to Twitter — going so far as to say he wished he had been injured earlier in the season, so the CFP could see that the Seminoles were a strong contender, even without him.

    The Seminoles’ defense ranked No. 14 in the nation through the championship games, ahead of every CFP team except No. 1 Michigan — including No. 8 against the pass. FSU held its opponents to 21 points combined after Travis’ injury.

    In addition, Rodemaker, who led FSU past Florida in the regular-season finale, is expected to be out of concussion protocol by the time the bowl games are played.

    The two teams knocked out of the CFP, FSU and two-time defending champion Georgia, will meet in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.

    Although the players are very disappointed and angry, the Seminoles still have the opportunity to play for the third perfect season in school history. FSU went 14-0 in 2013 and 12-0 in 1999, both of those seasons ending with national titles.

    Content from The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this report.

     

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    Spectrum Sports Staff

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