Student Government (SG) is considering changing a stat-ute that allows students to be charged for tickets to concerts such as Homecoming, USF Week and Bull Stock.

Current statutes allow SG to charge students for events paid for with Activity and Service (A&S) fees paid along-side tuition.

The Senate Rules Committee, however, decided the wording is unclear on what events SG

may charge for.SG Senate President Pro-

Tempore Abdool Aziz said the rationale behind reserving this power is to help subsidize the budget for concerts.

“Say we only have $100,000 and Maroon 5 costs $200,000,” he said. “Students may rather pay — like at FIU — $5 for floor tickets or club tickets.”

SG hasn’t charged for con-certs in the past, Aziz said, but the ability is there.

“That’s not the road we want to go down,” he said. “Although it could be a pos-sibility.”

The rules on what SG can charge students came up when the Senate Rules Committee reviewed Title VIII and noticed it conflicted with Florida state law, which states SG may only charge for concerts hosted by A&S-funded entities, such

as the Center for Student Involvement.

Aziz said the Florida law allowing SG to charge for con-cert tickets is to give them more flexibility with spon-sored activities.

SG Senator Michael Malagon, who sits on the committee, said the change should make students less concerned with abuse.

“The way it’s worded right now is very vague,” he said.

Any organizations that want to subsidize a concert would have to receive authorization from the student body presi-dent or a majority vote from SG Senate.

“If they come before stu-dents, they’re going to need a very, very good reason,” Malagon said. “I know most senators wouldn’t vote for it.”

Recent years have seen a num-ber of victories for the LGBT com-munity that will be the subject of a lecture titled “Gay Landslide! Victories for Human Rights: Four Decades of Progress.”

USF alumnus Mitchell Katine, who served as the attorney in the Supreme Court case of Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, will be at the USF Alumni Center today to discuss the progression of LGBT civil rights, along with Commissioner Kevin Beckner and USF associate profes-sor Sara Crawley.

The 2003 case struck down sod-omy laws in Texas and invalidated them in 13 other states. Katine served as the lawyer for John Lawrence and Tyler Garner, who were charged with having “deviate sex” by a jealous ex-partner.

The anti-sodomy laws were ruled unconstitutional as a viola-tion of privacy.

Katine has created numerous LGBT organizations in Houston and Texas, and voices issues on same-sex marriage, gay adoption, HIV/AIDS and civil rights on nation-al news programs. He received his bachelor’s degree at USF in mass communications and pub-lic relations and was also a USF Ambassador.

Katine, who hasn’t been on campus since he graduated, will talk about the new issues since events like Lawrence v. Texas that have plagued the LGBT commu-nity, and how it brought about change and talk of legal marriage. Crawley and Beckner will follow Katine’s lecture with a panel dis-cussion on issues of gender and sexuality.

“It’ll be a lively discussion,” said William Garrison, dean of the USF Libraries.

Garrison also said an LGBT col-

The Oraclew w w . u s f o r a c l e . c o m U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D AT H U R S D A Y , O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 I V O L . 5 2 N O . 3 9

InsIde thIs Issue

Montage

SPORTSHouston’s QB presents challenge for Bulls. BACK

LIFESTYLEMeet the ghost of USF. Page 6

Opinion.......................................................4 Lifestyle......................................................5

Classifieds..............................................8 Crossword......................................10

The Index

USF Library hosts

‘gay landslide’By Nataly Capote A S S T . N E W S E D I T O R

n See LGBT on PAGE 2

Paying twice for a concert?

By Wesley HigginsN E W S E D I T O R

n See CONCERT on PAGE 3

Greek Village hosted the annual “Trick or Treat with the Greeks” on Wednesday for the local community. ORACLE PHOTO / SEBASTIAN CONTENTO

Happy Halloween

sports.........................................................12

n SG discusses possibly charging students for A&S-funded concerts.

Sky Athletix, a new state-of-the-art fitness center in Lutz, is the culmination of a lifelong dream for USF alumnus Nick Schuyler.

Schuyler, who graduated from the university in 2008 with a degree in communica-tions, has always been passion-ate about fitness.

While opening his own fit-ness center was always part of the plan, Schuyler now sees Sky Athletix as an opportunity to take advantage of the second chance he said God gave him.

In February of 2009, Schuyler was found sitting on the hull of his overturned boat by the U.S. Coast Guard after a fishing trip with four friends off the Florida Gulf coast went terribly wrong.

T H U R S DAY, O C TO B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E 2

Alumnus opens fitness center with second chanceBy McKenna SkopeC O R R E S P O N D E N T

Schuyler was the only survi-vor of the trip that took three of his friends, including two NFL players.

“I’ve learned to kind of accept it at this point,” he said about the accident. “It won’t ever make sense.”

Moving forward, Schuyler has decided to enjoy the jour-ney of life, noting his success with his career as especially rewarding. He also said he has become more patient and laid back in dealing with everyday life.

“It’s always been a dream ever since I was a teenager, and I wanted to make it realis-tic. I love fitness. It feels free,” Schuyler said.

This gym is a far cry from the traditional fitness chains most people are used to. From its opening in mid-September, Schuyler has strived to provide a clean, fun and effective expe-rience for clients. He called it a place for the community to come together.

A former USF football player, Schuyler caters to a wide vari-ety of fitness goals. Sky Athletix offers sport-specific training, including a swath of turf, cross training, group training, car-dio training, and a number of weights, including bumper weights, something hard to find outside of a CrossFit gym. Members have 24/7 access to the facility.

Nick’s mother, Marcia Schuyler, whom he called a huge help in realizing his dream, has watched the growth of her son in recent years.

“He’s really grown as a young man,” she said. “He takes life more seriously, and he is much closer to his family and friends.”

Nick is branching out in other directions as well. About a year after the accident, he wrote and published “Not Without Hope” to clear up the negativity surrounding his story. He said it was therapeutic to put his expe-rience into words.

Now the book is being adapt-ed into a major motion picture starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Schuyler has met with the production team and will serve as technical consultant on the film, with significant say over how events are portrayed, making corrections when nec-essary.

Sky Athletix is still in its infancy and Schuyler is excited to provide the push needed for current and future clients to progress in their personal fit-ness. Having the ability to help others is a gift he is grateful for.

“You have to live every day as your last,” Schuyler said. “It sounds cliche, but it makes sense when you go through something like this.”

USF alumnus Nick Schuyler (left) survived a boating accident in 2009 to go on and open a fitness center in Lutz. Special to the Oracle

lection in the library has been accumulating for two years now, and has grown through purchases and item donations.

“We are home to the Equality Florida archives,” Garrison said. “We will be the home to the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival archives. We’re happy to preserve materials and make sure that they’re used by students and faculty on campus.”

The library’s initiative docu-ments profound social changes throughout history and archives works and art to provide to the public.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. and a reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. during which those in attendance can speak with Katine, Beckner and Crawley.

LGBT Continued from PAGE 1

T H U R S DAY, O C TO B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E 3

Student body president Jean Cocco said he believes all A&S-funded events should be open to students, free of charge.

Mitch Marinack, a senior majoring in health sciences, said the university should let students attend concerts for free, but charge the rest of the Tampa community.

Christian Grubb, a Physical Plant employee, said free con-certs are a nice bonus for the staff that works on campus.

“It’s cool to go and relax, actually enjoy being on cam-pus instead of just working,” he said.

Melanie Corbett, a freshman majoring in international busi-ness, said school events are supposed to be open for every-one to relax and not stress about money and debt.

“When I think of school functions, I think of free,” she said. “Unless you’re going to get a big artist, it’s point-less to throw more money at

concerts.”Cheyenne Ram, a sopho-

more majoring in behavioral sciences, said tickets would reduce turnout and that less-famous bands could be a benefit.

“Even if you’re not a fan, you just go and maybe end up liking them,” she said. “For me, that’s what happened with The All-American Rejects.”

Under the statute changes, ticket sales would subsidize the event. Any funds collected over that amount would be sent to an unallocated cash account that SG Senate later distributes.

“It could go to another con-cert, in theory,” Malagon said. “It could go to Homecoming, or wind up in a student orga-nization or another concert.”

Aziz said ticket sales could also deter those outside the USF community from show-ing up for a free concert. In previous concerts, Aziz said there have been problems with high school students and resi-dents from the surrounding area attending events.

CONCERTContinued from PAGE 1

U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T H U R S D A Y, O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E

Opinion4

Editor in Chief: Alex Rosenthal ............................ oracleeditor@gmail.com

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Copy Editor: Grace Hoyte

Assistant Editor: Nataly Capote, Sebastian Contento, Jacob Hoag, Brandon Shaik

Multimedia Editor: Adam Mathieu

Graphic Arts Manager: Chelsea Stulen

the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966

The Oracle is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and twice weekly, Monday and Thursday, during the summer.

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CORRECTIONSThe Oracle will correct or clarify factual errors. Contact Editor in Chief Alex Rosenthal at 974-5190.

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BY PHONE

What you said Multimedia editor Adam Mathieu asked students how they

would feel having to buy tickets to concerts already funded by student fees.

“I’m more inclined to go to something if it’s free.”

— Carlina Bolanos, a junior majoring in foreign language education

“It should be one or the other. Either students

are charged with fees for concerts or they buy the

ticket.”

— Melinda Bailey, a junior majoring in mechanical

engineering

“I don’t like it. It’s not fair to be charged twice. “

— Harrison Hethershaw, a senior majoring in

biomedical science

“They shouldn’t do that because we are already paying for the concerts

with our fees. If they had concerts more frequently then I’d be OK with it.”

— Ziyad Arshad, a junior majoring in mechanical

engineering

Prisons should rehabilitate not humiliate

Empathy is one of the most essential components to the healing of someone who is ail-ing, according to a humanistic approach to psychology. Therefore, it’s unfortunate that the minds behind the U.S. prison system don’t consider empathy a crucial aspect of rehabilitation.

Today, U.S. prisons better resemble scenes from modern horror flicks than institutions designed to transform the unruly into productive members of soci-ety. But perhaps it would be in bad faith to assume that this is actual-ity unintentional.

American culture’s obsessions with justice and harshly punishing those who violate the law over-power any consequentialists and results-orientated approaches that promote peaceful rehabilitation and therapy for those who falter.

It would be in society’s best

interest to cease viewing criminals as barbarians who deserve pen-alty and adopt a perspective that regards criminals as misguided and troubled individuals who need help, not punishment.

Sadly, such noble principles as rehabilitation and healing are impossible idealities in our current prison system.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, about 217,000 inmates are raped in prison every year. How could people from such an abhorrent environment be dis-charged and expected to have improved and abandoned their path of crime?

If anything, we should antici-pate regression, or at the least no improvement in behavior. Perhaps this standard explains the coun-try’s embarrassing and inexcus-able 60 percent repeat offense rate, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

To endorse a prison system that emphasizes punishment and constructs a climate of violence is actually counterproductive to the welfare of law-abiding citizens and criminals alike. If violence begets violence, is it wise to release back into society prisoners who have just suffered through what may have been years of maltreatment in a breeding ground of disorder?

Instead of getting overly entan-

gled in the principles of justice, consequences and results should serve as the primary criteria for formulating a blueprint on how to deal with the dilemma of crime and those who disregard the law.

Norway has taken such an approach by embracing a much more humanitarian and rational method to solving this issue.

In Halden Prison in Norway, guards do not carry guns, prison-ers are offered classes and cells contain living rooms and kitchens. Critics often claim violent crimi-nals don’t deserve to be treated so humanely, but one must consider the actual results of this mentality.

According to the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy, Norway’s rate of repeated offense is a respectable and com-mendable 20 percent. If less crime is equated with a better quality of life for all, isn’t Norway’s approach the most beneficial?

The question one must ask is whether Americans are ready to forgo their aversion to criminals and undertake a more sensible approach to prison or whether Americans are going to stubbornly cling to the counterproductive ide-als of justice as punishment.

Matthew Brotz is a freshman majoring in philosophy.

C O L U M N I S T

Matthew Brotz

LifestyLeU N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T H U R S D A Y, O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E 5

It’s nearing midnight. The Library looms over the nearly empty campus, palm trees rustling in the wind above the benches out front, the windows glowing in the dark. If the rumors are true, the Library is just as eerie as it looks.

Research and rumors — the two go hand in hand with the story of Gottlieb. In 1976, a mysterious girl, whose name is whispered through USF’s halls, died — or so the story goes. Rumor has it she killed herself by hanging from a tree at her apartment complex and allegedly haunts the fourth floor of USF’s Library, roaming the aisles with a green backpack.

As spooky as it sounds, there is no known evidence confirming her death, or even her existence.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t something there. Joe Bono, who works with the nonprofit Ghost Hunters of South Tampa, explained that ghost stories are merely what many use to confirm or make light of what they experience.

Curious and eager to investigate the legend of Gottlieb, Ana Maria Bohorquez, a freshman majoring in health science, decided to stake out the Special Collections room on the fourth floor of the library, where the majority of the stories are rooted.

“I felt the movement of someone almost bending down very close to me and

mumble something in my left ear,” Bohorquez said. “Almost like someone whispering a secret.”

She spent two hours studying in one of the aisles on the fourth floor that night. However her experience was more spooky, than studious.

“It felt so real that I had honestly thought it was someone trying to tell me something, until I realized that no one else was around except for me,” Bohorquez said.

When it comes to ghosts, not everything is black and white. According to Bono, a ghost is a disembodied human spirit, someone no longer attached to his or her body, but still fully conscious and aware. Bono said that can mean anything from an orb to a full transparent figure.

“It depends on what the spirit can manifest,” Bono said. “If they have a lot of energy to pull off of, you’ll most likely see them as full body apparitions. They look like you or I, it’s just you can

tell there’s a little something off.”

Will Jackson, a music studies major, was another freshmen who staked out the Library. While he didn’t experience anything directly, after being left alone on the floor, he said he could definitely see why the rumor of Gottlieb floats around.

“You just kind of feel like someone is watching you,” Jackson said.

And according to Bono, that’s probably more than a feeling; the ghost hunter explained that human vision is actually fairly trustworthy, but our minds convince us otherwise.

“As soon as you look at something, your brain tries to rationalize,” Bono said.

Bono said if you hear a creak, once you glance at the source, your brain needs an explanation right away. So, it becomes second nature to just brush off any mild disturbance as “the air conditioner” or “the door.” A new employee at the Library, Angela Crain, has just started working evening shifts, occasionally stopping by the fourth floor for restocking. And while nothing has happened yet, she said it doesn’t stop her suspicions.

“I grew up believing that stuff,” Crain said. “But from most reports I’ve heard, ghosts hang around where they died, not where they hung around most (in life).”

If that were the case, Gottlieb would not be at the Library, rather her apartment complex, Oak Ramble, where it is rumored she hanged

herself.There doesn’t seem to be

any concrete evidence to confirm the rumor, and that’s not the only problem with the story.

Drew Smith, an assistant librarian at USF, was an undergraduate at Clemson University between 1974 and 1978, and said backpacks, even green ones, weren’t commonly used then. Smith recalled that the trend didn’t catch on at East Coast campuses until the 1980s.

Andy Huse, who works in Special Collections, spoke of doing his own research on the ghost story and came

to the conclusion it was just that: a story. “No one bothers to do any research, so we never learn anything new,” Huse said.

The librarian said if there was more to go off of, there would be more to tell, but the dots simply don’t connect. Huse, who did research for the 50th anniversary of USF Homecoming, pointed out that, at the end of the day, people just like ghost stories, which Smith agreed with.

“As a lifelong skeptic, I find ghost stories amusing and entertaining, but no more believable than a Stephen King novel,” Smith said.

By Katie LamontC O R R E S P O N D E N T

Ghost of student haunts USF library

ORACLE PHOTO / KATIE LAMONT

“I felt the movement of someone almost

bending down very close to me

and mumble something in my left ear. Almost like someone

whispering a secret.”Ana Maria Bohorquez

Freshman majoring in heath science

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T H U R S DAY, O C TO B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E 7

Ward’s ability to make defend-ers miss with his feet.

“He’s an explosive guy,” Cliett said. “I haven’t seen a guy like this. We have to keep him contained on the outside.”

Bresnahan has stressed put-ting pressure on quarterbacks, but he said the defense will have to alter its strategy against Ward.

“He’s got big play ability so you’ve got to control him,” Bresnahan said. “You have to be intelligent and patient in your pass rush against him.”

But Bresnahan said the Bulls are less concerned with Ward than they are about rediscover-ing how to play with passion, which he said the team did not have against Cincinnati.

“I look at myself first in the mirror,” Bresnahan said. “Did we put them in position; did we make the calls to let them be aggressive? I think once we miss a run fit here or a run fit there, we kind of go back on our heels rather than attacking it and we have to help them do that. I’ll take full responsibility for that. We’ve got to let our guys build that fire up.”

But while the Bulls’ defense will be focused on containing the evasive Ward, the offense heads into Saturday’s game with uncertainty at the helm.

Following the Bulls’ loss to Cincinnati on Friday, coach

Willie Taggart said sophomore quarterback Mike White was still the starter. But on Monday, Taggart told the media he had changed his mind and opened up competition for the position.

“It’s pretty tough right after a game to give a fair assess-ment that just went on in the game,” Offensive Coordinator Paul Wulff said. “I know media people want to get an answer, but sometimes you have to take some time to let it marinate, and watch film and get a feel for what goes on. Sometimes you have to alter what you thought.”

Wulff said White’s ball secu-rity problems stemmed from issues with concentration, and the offense has been focused on fixing this in practice.

Regardless of who Taggart names as starter, that quarter-back will be without top receiv-er Andre Davis, who has been suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game because of a fight he was involved in against Cincinnati.

Sophomore receiver Rodney Adams said the other receivers will have to elevate their play to make up for Davis’ absence.

“We have to play to a higher level, so when Andre does get back, we’ll just stay on a roll,” Adams said. “We have to step up and stay focused.”

USF will host Houston at 4 p.m. in Raymond James Stadium. The game will be broadcast on EPSNews.

Senior Reshard Cliett leads USF with four sacks and will have his hands full containing Greg Ward Jr. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ ADAM MATHIEU

DUALContinued from PAGE 12

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Classifieds Crossword To place a classified ad go to http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds

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T H U R S DAY, O C TO B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E 9

U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T H U R S D A Y, O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E10Volleyball

Bulls’ comeback falls short

After losing the first two sets 25-19 to UCF, the Bulls rallied to tie the match at two sets apiece before falling in the final set 15-8 at the Venue.

The loss is the Bulls’ seventh in the past eight matches, all of which have been conference matches.

USF (9-14, 3-8) was able to win the third and fourth sets by a combined six points, in which there were seven lead changes. With the win, UCF (18-5, 11-0) has swept USF on the season.

Junior outside hitter Erin Fairs recorded another double-double and led the Bulls in kills with 27.

Sophomore outside hitter Dakota Hampton also recorded

a double-double, posting 10 kills and 10 digs.

USF will play East Carolina

at noon on Sunday in the Corral.

By Vinnie PortellS P O R T S E D I T O R

Junior outside hitter Erin Fairs recorded 27 kills against the Knights in a losing effort. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/SEBASTIAN CONTENTO

T H U R S DAY, O C TO B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E 11

important and rep their city. A lot of these guys grew up want-ing to go to South Florida and I think that gets overlooked. We build the relationship with them and they see the opportunity to come here and that helps. The kids want to be around here with the team, school and coaches.”

Taggart’s recruiting has started to pay off with young players earning starting roles and mak-ing a difference, which is a good sign in Taggart’s eyes.

“It shows that we’re doing a good job evaluating kids and developing and competing,” Taggart said. “You try to recruit guys that are winners and com-petitors and what’s exciting about it is telling when you’re recruiting them to go take some-body’s job … and you see some guys doing that and being excit-ed about it.”

One of these young play-makers is sophomore line-backer Nigel Harris who leads the nation in forced fumbles. Harris played his high school football at Hillsborough and was teammates with junior

punter Matias Ciabatti.“We all knew he was a ris-

ing star when I was a senior,” Ciabatti said. “He was playing fullback, breaking 50-yard runs all the time, and linebacker, shut-ting those running backs down.”

The two rekindled their friend-ship when Harris was recruit-ed to USF. Ciabatti said he has remained close with not only Harris, but his father as well. The two Bulls make a point to go and see him after games.

“It’s great when times get tough,” Harris said. “At times when I need that extra support, I have those guys right there to fall back on.”

Godwin calls it a brotherhood, where the Tampa players have each other’s back, especially when arguments break out.

“We know who the Tampa guys are and sometimes there are arguments about whether Tampa is better than this city or that state, so we stick together,” Godwin said.

None of Godwin’s high school teammates play for USF, but he did play on the Tampa 7-on-7 team with Harris and freshman cornerback Devin Abraham.

One of the most notable Bay Area talents at USF is senior

receiver Andre Davis, who wasn’t recruited by Taggart but maintains his Tampa roots.

“The people drew me here,” Davis said. “Even though I was recruited by coach Holtz, it had a great family atmosphere and that drew me to come (to USF). That’s really why I came to USF, to be around my family and so my family can come see me perform without worrying about traveling.”

In his four years at USF, Davis has accumulated 12 receiving records and has become one of the faces of USF Athletics.

“It’s a blessing to be the face of a university like that because not many people get that oppor-tunity,” Davis said. “Seeing those billboards and having my fam-ily seeing them and texting me about it, it’s real nice.”

Davis knows the importance of his community and the role it played in his development. Over the past two summers, Davis has returned to the Loretta Ingraham Recreation Center — a place he frequented as a boy — to mentor kids and give back to his com-munity.

“The kids grew up the same way I did, in the same place,” Davis said. “A lot of them play

sports as well, so just to be that mentor to them — boys and girls — it’s awesome to go back and see them. They love seeing ‘coach Dre’ and I love giving back.”

Taggart said USF remains a prominent part of the Bay Area community and will continue to

draw the local talent.“It’s all about getting pas-

sionate people in here that care about winning and care about South Florida and their families,” he said. “There are a lot of places you can go, but I don’t think there are any schools in their hometown Bay Area that they can go to.”

HOMEContinued from PAGE 12

Junior Mattias Ciabatti (Left) has become one of the best punters in the nation. Sophomore Rodney Adams stepped in as the leading receiver when Andre Davis was hurt. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

SportsU N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A ● T H U R S D A Y, O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 ● T H E O R AC L E12

Dual threat QB poses threat for Bulls

Football

Trailing UCF 17-6 in the third quarter of the Cougars’ fifth game of the season, coach Tony Levine decided to bench starting quarterback John O’ Korn in favor of speedy sec-ond year Greg Ward Jr.

The sophomore finished the game with 116 yards passing and no turnovers.

The Cougars fell short in the comeback, but Ward has since led the team to two straight wins over Memphis and Temple.

Houston (4-3, 2-1) has uti-lized Ward’s skills in several facets of the game, playing him at wide receiver and punt returner as well as quarter-back.

USF Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said Ward’s unique speed presents a chal-lenge the Bulls will have to face in Saturday’s game against the Cougars.

“(Levine) brings the added dimension of having a punt returner at quarterback,” Bresnahan said. “That adds a dimension in the scramble game, extending pass play with his feet, whether it’s to run the ball or throw the ball.”

USF (3-5, 2-2) has struggled against rushing attacks in the past four games, allowing an average of 243 rushing yards.

“We’ve been working on stopping the run and stop-ping the quarterback, because that’s where a lot of their explosive plays come from,” senior linebacker Reshard Cliett said.

The Bulls have been prac-ticing swarming to the ball and gang tackling in practice because they are aware of

Home grown talent

Houston (4-3, 2-1) at USF (3-5, 2-2)When: Saturday, 4 p.m.Where: Raymond James StadiumTV/Radio: ESPNNews, IMG/USF Radio Network

TheRundown

Outside USFAfter opting out of the last

year of his contract with the Rays, Joe Maddon is close to a deal with the Chicago Cubs, according to CBSSports.com. Team sources said there is no deal in place as of yet, but one is expected soon. Maddon had a 754-705 record in his nine-year tenure with the Rays.

Quick facts

Conference update

The top basketball players and coaches from around the conference made their way to New York City on Wednesday for the conference media day.

The preseason conference poll chose defending National Champion UConn as the favorite to win the conference, with SMU and Memphis close behind.

FOOTBALL

Hundreds of student-athletes pour out of Tampa Bay area high schools each year, leaving home in search of success at the colle-giate level. Coach Willie Taggart, who was a standout at Manatee High School in Bradenton, makes it a priority to ensure that this tal-ent stays close to home.

“Our coaches work on it every day,” Taggart said. “If we don’t work on it every day, we aren’t going to get those local guys that we are getting. We just have to keep grinding and getting not only the guys around here, but also the best guys for our football team that want to be here and want to be a part of turning this around.”

According to Rivals.com, Taggart was able to bring in the AAC’s top recruiting class last year, which included 12 signees from the Tampa Bay area out of the overall 28 members.

“(USF is) the only school in the bay area where you can literally

say ‘I’m back home,’” Taggart said. “Other than the conference title, you still get to play on TV, we have guys going to the NFL, and you can get a great educa-tion. We have it all here.”

The players at USF share that mentality and enjoy the close proximity to home.

Sophomore receiver Rodney Adams, who has racked up 316 yards so far this season, made the decision to leave his home in St. Petersburg for Toledo before making the trip back to where his family and friends could see him play.

“It feels great knowing that I have family members in the stands and people that actually know me here,” Adams said. “I can go see them after the game and they can come watch me play and I can go home anytime I want.”

Other players, like sophomore safety and Freedom High School alumnus Nate Godwin, never left.

“(Playing for my hometown) was very important and played a big role in my commitment

here,” Godwin said. “It’s an easy transition when you’re playing in front of people you know, instead of playing out of state and have to build a new name for yourself.”

Godwin was originally com-mitted to Minnesota, but switched his commitment after Taggart was hired.

“Coach Taggart didn’t have to say much,” Godwin said. “When he was hired, I looked up his background and saw what he did at Western Kentucky. I was always interested in South Florida, so when coach Taggart and (linebackers coach Raymond Woodie) recruited me, I just thought about my family and thought, ‘why leave if you don’t have to.’”

Taggart knows how important the coach-to-player relationship is and strives to make that a focal point of his pitch to recruits.

“I think a lot of these kids around here want to stay home,” Taggart said. “They want to feel

By Vinnie PortellS P O R T S E D I T O R

By Jacob HoagA S S T . S P O R T S E D I T O R

• USF Athletics announced USF athletes had a graduation rate of 83 percent, a six point jump from last year’s mark.

• Women’s soccer hosts Cincinnati in the first round of the AAC tournament Sunday.

• Sophomore forward Chris Perry and redshirt junior point guard Anthony Collins were named to the AAC preseason 2nd team All-Conference.

n See HOME on PAGE 11

n Taggart makes Tampa Bay area recruiting point of emphasis

Senior Andre Davis (Left) and sophomore Nate Godwin have both become key players on each side of the ball. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU

n See DUAL on PAGE 7

Football