USF's athletic department has entered into a partnership with Apple Inc. to provide MacBook laptop computers to all 461 student-athletes, athletic director Doug Woolard announced Thursday.

The partnership, believed to be the first of its kind, was hailed as "phenomenal" by USF President Judy Genshaft, and will allow USF's athletes to be online and working on classwork wherever they are. Woolard announced the partnership during a meeting of USF's Board of Trustees.

For a school that is geographically isolated from the rest of the Big East conference, the partnership will make it easier for USF's athletes to spend time on classwork while on the road for games and equip them to better balance their academic and athletic schedules.

USF's fall semester ends with final exams next week, and the Bulls' athletes will have their laptops in time for those, with a photo shoot set up for Monday with all 461 student-athletes with their new computers.

We'll update with more details from USF's new partnership later this afternoon.

USF had teased to "big news" this afternoon, but that does not having anything to do with USF's football team and what bowl the Bulls will play in. The news today, in addition to this announcement, is that the Board of Trustees will shortly vote on approving a financing proposal for USF's athletic facilities upgrade, which include a new basketball practice facility, new stadiums for baseball and softball and football practice fields.