/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QRBHK665L5GFNPPZKH2EDUTDPM.jpg "This USF football shirt from Tampa's Smack Apparel has been making the rounds on social media heading into the Bulls' game against Alabama.")
The employees at Tampa T-shirt company Smack Apparel were talking recently about their weekly pick’em contest when Saturday’s USF-Alabama game came up. One of the USF alumni said he’d be happy if the Bulls simply covered the spread.
A viral T-shirt was born.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QOMKVLOOBFFKXG2S6WR7LDZELE.jpg "Smack Apparel is selling this T-shirt leading into Saturday's USF-Alabama game at Raymond James Stadium.")
The company played off the common refrain among college football fans — We want Bama — but crossed out Bama in gold and replaced it with “to cover the spread!”
The spread, as of Wednesday afternoon, was 32½ points, according to BetMGM.
“I do not gamble,” Smack Apparel founder Wayne Curtiss said, “but if I did, I would take USF and the points.”
Even if you don’t know the longtime Tampa resident’s name, you probably have seen his company’s work. The garnet and gold “Sucks To Be U” tees with the Miami logo as the U? Smack Apparel started selling them after the 2011 Nevin Shapiro booster scandal.
The 2021 Stanley Cup celebratory shirts that said “Number One Bulls--t” and featured Lightning star Nikita Kucherov drinking a beer? That was them, too.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ISYXF7UZ3JF4DLZNGDSY553O2I.jpg "A box of white \"Number One Bulls--t\" T-shirts in Smack Apparel's warehouse.")
Curtiss wasn’t sure what to think of the latest USF idea. He didn’t want to seem too mean-spirited toward the Bulls. But the four USF alumni at the company were onboard with the idea. That included Robbie Longworth, whose family has had Bulls season tickets since Year 1.
If we did that shirt, Longworth told the group, I’d wear it to the game.
“We thought, ‘That’s good enough for us,’” Curtiss said.
The image spread on social media. One post by The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy has been seen more than a quarter of a million times.
Curtiss said the company sold a few dozen of them in the first few days and expected sales to pick up this week. He’s hoping to sell a couple hundred — not a lot of shirts, he said, but fine for a fun, local idea that also generates some publicity.
Lest fans think Smack Apparel is anti-USF, they have partnered with the Bulls’ Fowler Ave Collective for Golesh Gang shirts in honor of new coach Alex Golesh.
“I think the coach is the right coach,” Curtiss said. “I think he’s doing the right things, certainly says the right things. …
“Even though I’m an FSU graduate, they’re the local team. I’ve always got a soft part in my heart for them and pull for them to win.”
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3KMXMNZYE5ATTCL2AYP224QPHU.png "Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene")
Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your optionsThough Curtiss isn’t counting on a USF victory Saturday, he is encouraged by the well-known sports cliché that might resonate this weekend: Good teams win. Great teams cover.
“So they’re progressing up the ladder,” Curtiss said.
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Twitter and Facebook.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/7cebc9de-b4ff-4812-8b4d-68882cb41e3e.png "Matt Baker - Colleges and Recruiting Reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Lv1QsCSnzLk9CVZ9SImxfGc-YkE=/1200x675/filters:focal(2285x1395:2295x1385)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZZCXPQNRRFDLHHKVQAU7EI22KQ.JPG "USF routs Charlotte, earns bowl eligibility for first time in 5 years")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/nYkePnu8rO40atTp0x0EkmCXF44=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/W2SJG4VCE5HNXC3CZWTQIERY3M.jpg "USF seniors seek to finish journey from basement to bowl eligibility")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/6_Thxqkq34f0VRKP_Cc1-D6MR4Q=/1200x675/filters:focal(1285x565:1295x555)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XOE6NHXFIJERRNQRYYA3M4XJ6Q.JPG "Tampa, Thanksgiving Day football have a heritage")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/EqAN8dyPcjA0EuluJ53Saczy3jk=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UFQOTX5F5BBMNFPQK3XVQMKXYE.jpg "Encore on I-4? The pros and cons of a USF-UCF bowl matchup")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/L-aRIrQawNWAGEDQ-DTesZlQo78=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SZXPVMAJQ5DAJNQR7DWWZU4YBM.JPG "For USF tight end, a future with 2 paths: Teach classes or catch passes?")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/3Rw9VsSnDdRkbdYd3RTosgWdcTU=/1200x675/filters:focal(1805x965:1815x955)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HT52QJ5RFNARLOPFCISRDCE4BQ.jpg "Defensive rebuild one USF construction job that will stretch into 2024")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Bo4tcshqPClVpskHvuXZ0UI0RZI=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JLHNM2RJGBGCDCA3MSWTEQKSEE.JPG "Review: Doja Cat brings blasphemous bops to Tampa on the Scarlet Tour")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/LSwwbGU-cY_QLlS9dK9dCYrYkzs=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NEOWNWYHUBH3DASHWRKQQUMRPA.jpg "The deep family ties between FSU’s Tate Rodemaker and Gators’ Napier")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/pzMc5iYvHno6IBczoIWApQHstIk=/1200x675/filters:focal(1975x1115:1985x1105)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/67M3YAX2FZFVTIOQV5JCPTFDTQ.jpg "College football Week 13: Florida vs. FSU and bowl hopes for USF, UCF")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/jj7UgIEZchJdWYxCoceGmUz8K7I=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JOG2BT5VYVFRLDO4DBFUQKDBXI.JPG "USF pro-Palestine student group sues Florida leaders over free speech")