USF explores option of on-campus stadium

TAMPA — Neither a task force nor a capital campaign exists. Promotional drive? Pipe dream for now. If anything, an on-campus football stadium at USF is at the dawn of the dialogue stage.But at least the conversations have commenced. Attending his first American Athletic Conference game Saturday at Raymond James Stadium, conference commissioner Mike Aresco said USF president Judy Genshaft told him the idea is being explored."I've spoken to Judy about it … and she said they're absolutely looking at it," Aresco said. "And I don't want to put words in her mouth, but she said that's something they've thought about."USF football spokesman Brian Siegrist said recent reports about headway being made in the school's pursuit of an on-campus site are premature, but acknowledged new athletic director Mark Harlan has begun exploring the possibility."Mark is new, he obviously wants to look at all the options, but it's nothing like where they're sitting down and starting to move in a direction or anything like that," Siegrist said. "It's information seeking, getting a feel for alumni donors, fans and everybody, (seeing) what works, what doesn't."At any rate, Aresco sounds warm to the idea."An on-campus stadium does engage the students more," he said. "I was at the (BYU-UCF) Thursday game … what an atmosphere, and the students were there in force. … Tulane, which couldn't draw at all at the (Superdome) now has a 30,000-seat on-campus stadium. I went there for their opener, and what a difference. … It just creates a certain atmosphere." Record-setting return: Shaking off his bruised sternum, senior WR Andre Davis (six catches, 124 yards, one touchdown) became the school's career receiving yardage leader Saturday, and then some.The Jefferson High alumnus eclipsed Carlton Mitchell 's 5-year-old mark (1,648 yards) on his second catch, a 25-yarder from Mike White . His first catch was a 51-yard touchdown on a play-action post route from White.The 100-yard effort was the fifth of his career, tying Mitchell's all-time school mark. He'll enter next week's Tulsa game with 1,710 career yards. Go for it … not: The fan rumblings from cyberspace — and the seats — were profound when coach Willie Taggart opted to punt from the East Carolina 49 with roughly six minutes to play and the Bulls down by 11."I thought about going for it, and then I wanted to punt," Taggart said. "I wanted our defense to stop them and go with six minutes in there and I thought we would have some time." Commish confirms: USF hasn't confirmed published reports the Bulls have agreed to a two-for-one football series with Texas (with the Longhorns coming to Tampa in 2022), but Aresco essentially did while conversing with reporters before the game.Speaking about how the conference is trying to establish itself by scheduling strong non-conference opposition, Aresco said, "USF is going to play Syracuse in the future. They've got a two-and-one with Texas coming back. … Those are the kind of games where we can build our brand." Injury update: Sophomore S Nate Godwin needed roughly half a dozen stitches after getting "gashed" on a collision with an ECU tailback, but returned to action. … CB Chris Dunkley and LB Reshard Cliett sustained shoulder injuries, Taggart confirmed. Dunkley had an X-ray but results weren't immediately available.

USF explores option of on-campus stadium

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