October 6, 2009

USF buys billboard to announce status as 'Big Four'

A new billboard put up in Tampa by University of South Florida Executive Associate Athletic Director Bill McGillis announces that USF is now one of Florida's "Big Four", in the wake of USF's victory over Florida State.

The billboard, located on northbound Interstate 275 just before the I-4 interchange, has the words "BIG 3'' with the "3'' crossed out and replaced by a "4.''

USF's logo is placed next to logos from the Seminoles, Gators and Hurricanes with these words underneath:

"Welcome to the Club Bulls Fans!''

But not everyone is happy with the message of the sign, including USF coach Jim Leavitt.

"We have not won national championships and we have not won conference championships,'' Leavitt said. "What gives us the right to sit there all of a sudden like we've won all these championships and done all this stuff? That's not me. That's never been me.

"I don't want anyone to ever think that here I'm the guy having anything to do with that. That bothers me. … I don't want people to sit there and think I think we're all that – because we're not. We're a program that's trying to get competitive. We're a program trying to build.''

I appreciate Leavitt's humility, however... that's a pretty great billboard for promoting USF football, which is exactly what the marketing department needs to do.

Should they have asked the coach? Sure, but... great billboard.

Comments:

USF buys billboard to announce status as 'Big Four'
A new billboard put up in Tampa by University of South Florida Executive Associate Athletic Director Bill McGillis announces that USF is now one of Florida's "Big Four", in the wake of USF's victory over Florida State.
The billboard, located on northbound Interstate 275 just before the I-4 interchange, has the words "BIG 3'' with the "3'' crossed out and replaced by a "4.'' USF's logo is placed next to logos from the Seminoles, Gators and Hurricanes with these words underneath: "Welcome to the Club Bulls Fans!''
But not everyone is happy with the message of the sign, including USF coach Jim Leavitt.
"We have not won national championships and we have not won conference championships,'' Leavitt said. "What gives us the right to sit there all of a sudden like we've won all these championships and done all this stuff? That's not me. That's never been me.

"I don't want anyone to ever think that here I'm the guy having anything to do with that. That bothers me. … I don't want people to sit there and think I think we're all that – because we're not. We're a program that's trying to get competitive. We're a program trying to build.''
I appreciate Leavitt's humility, however... that's a pretty great billboard for promoting USF football, which is exactly what the marketing department needs to do. Should they have asked the coach? Sure, but... great billboard.