South Florida Bulls
| South Florida Bulls | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| University | University of South Florida |
| Conference | The American |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletic director | Mark Harlan (2014) |
| Location | Tampa, Florida |
| Varsity teams | 17 |
| Football stadium | Raymond James Stadium |
| Basketball arena | USF Sun Dome |
| Baseball stadium | USF Baseball Stadium |
| Soccer stadium | Corbett Soccer Stadium |
| Mascot | Rocky the Bull |
| Nickname | Bulls |
| Colors | Green and Gold |
| Website | www |
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I of the NCAA, and as a member of the American Athletic Conference (The American). The university currently sponsors varsity sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, football, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track, volleyball, sailing.
Men's athletic teams
Women's athletic teams
Under Jim Leavitt, USF began college football play as a Division 1-AA independent in 1997, after having their first team meetings under a tree on campus. The team grew rapidly and moved to Division 1-A in 2001, where they remained an independent. In 2003, the Bulls moved to Conference USA, but they would leave for the Big East Conference in 2005. The Big East eventually became the American Athletic Conference in 2013 as part of the major college football realignment. The football team plays its home games in Raymond James Stadium, also the home field of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On September 24, 2005, USF surprised #9 ranked Louisville for its first victory over a Big East conference foe, as well as its first victory over a ranked opponent. As a result, USF received its first-ever votes in the AP college football poll. South Florida received increased press coverage for their upsets of Top 25 ranked teams such as West Virginia (2006, 2007, 2009), Auburn (2007), Kansas (2008) and Florida State (2009).
On September 16, 2007, a week after defeating Auburn, USF was nationally ranked for the first time in the young program's history. The AP poll listed USF at #23, while the USA Today Coaches Poll had the Bulls at #24. This was an NCAA record, as USF achieved its first Top 25 ranking faster than any other Division I-A school in the modern era. Since becoming a bowl-eligible Division I-A member in 2001, the Bulls were ranked after 104 AP Polls during the 4th week of their seventh season. Boise State had the previous record, getting ranked after 115 AP Polls during the 13th week of its seventh year as a bowl-eligible Division I-A member. On October 14, 2007, after the AP, Coaches', and BCS rankings were released, the Bulls were ranked #2, #3, and #2 respectively, the highest ranked the school's football program has ever been. However, on Thursday, October 18, the Bulls lost to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a 30-27 upset in Piscataway, New Jersey. Two more losses followed, knocking the Bulls out of the college rankings. The Bulls rebounded to finish the 2007 season 9–3, ranked #21 in the BCS standings, and earning a spot in the Brut Sun Bowl. The Bulls, however, lost to the Oregon Ducks by a score of 56–21 in that contest.
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Wikipedia