By Katie Murray, Patel College of Global Sustainability
Following a memorable season capped by a bowl game victory, USF football fans packed Raymond James Stadium for the season opener where the Bulls .
Long-time season ticket-holders, students and the community rallied around the Bulls for the start of what's expected to be another electrifying season led by head coach Alex Golesh.
Nearly 6,000 fans filled the USF student section. With their torsos lacquered in green and gold body paint, the Beef Studs and Babes strive to be bold when it comes to their USF pride.
Marc Ostroff has been a season ticket-holder for 24 years and says he鈥檚 excited about plans for the new on-campus stadium. The groundbreaking is scheduled for Homecoming week in October.
鈥淣othing can beat atmosphere, and you can鈥檛 create a better atmosphere than at home,鈥� Ostroff said.
Herd of Thunder alum Devon Ingandela said he is 鈥渟uper-stoked about the new stadium.鈥� He and his mother, Kathy, have been following USF football since 1999. They know a thing or two about building tradition around their favorite team and say they鈥檙e excited to see what new traditions will be created from this 鈥渂eginning of a new era.鈥�
Ingandela family
When asked what advice she has for someone new to the USF football scene, veteran fan and season ticket-holder Suzanne Ward said, 鈥淏e there. Participate. Show up for USF and for the team and bring someone with you. You have to not just wear the colors 鈥� you need to be the colors.鈥�
Wearing the colors at a conference championship game is specifically on Lauren Pickrel鈥檚 wish list. The alumna and season ticket-holder has (pig)skin in the game. Pickrel met her now fianc茅 in 2018 at the Pirate Ship inside Raymond James Stadium during USF鈥檚 "War on I-4" matchup against the University of Central Florida.
鈥淲e joked that we could only ever get married after USF football won a championship, so that would be great if they could win,鈥� Pickrel said. 鈥淚 really love Jake and would like to marry him.鈥�
The AAC Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 6th.