With all the new sporting facilities being built right now, a buzz about a new era in USF history has been brought up.  So why not address that question, Is USF entering a new era?

When USF entered the Big East in 2005 all Bulls students, alumni, and fans thought a new era in USF history was beginning.  I think it was a major step in that direction with new exciting competition, and major exposure nationwide.  Yet, since joining the Big East we have been at best a sub-par team in the conference as Voodoo Five recently posted 10 out of our 15 sports are declared "bad."  It has been a tough transition for the Bulls to say the least.  It is however without question the athletic department was not prepared for the jump to a major conference with the facilities that were used prior to this year. Now coming into the new academic year this fall our sporting facilities will include Baseball, Softball, and Soccer stadiums, basketball and football practice facilities and not to mention a "brand new" Basketball Arena ready to go in December so long the state approves the plan on March 24th.  With the soccer stadium, track now gets one of the best facilities devoted solely to track. Now these facilities will transform the athletic district and make it one of the best in the conference. 

With that said about athletics, USF is still a university, so what attractions are there for students that have gone on since that major jump in 2005? Lets just say USF has been on a construction boom as of late.  Starting this fall a number of new venues will be completed.  To join in my mind the best Student Center in the state along with a beautiful MLK plaza and mall that stretches across the center of campus, USF will have a 92 million dollar science center completed.  It is expected to be the hub for all science majors which if many of you don't know, it is the most popular major at the school.  Schools of Music and Art just recently opened their new venues that are breathtaking. Juniper-Poplar may be old news but still is the biggest attraction among incoming freshman prospects. Renovations to the old but very busy student services and Cooper Hall will both be completed by this fall. Then maybe the newest attraction that is getting the most buzz right now, the expansion/complete renovation of the rec center and new nutrition/cafeteria.  After sitting in on a recent meeting about the renovated/expanding rec center I was blown away. A new video is up on the rec center website that shows a walk through of the new renovation/expansion rec center with a few renderings if anyone is interested. A Student center, rec center, and great new dorms seem to be a great step in the right direction of showing USF's focus to make student experience a priority. 

The final piece that could signify a new phase or era for USF is their plans with the water tower. The iconic water tower that has been one of the most popular landmarks on the campus is also getting a facelift.  The new water tower look will give the tower a great pop and show off the true colors of USF even more. It just might be a new phase in USF's history.  Maybe a new era maybe not, but what incoming freshman or alumni couldn't be excited about the coming academic year and beyond. Just amazing in my eyes. would love to hear feedback from what any of you think good or bad on this post.  Just felt I needed to get these thoughts off my chest.  Really think USF is transforming in a big way. Go Bulls!

Maybe the next step is our own football stadium as many think it is, or it's just how competitive our Athletics will be in conference and in the country in years to follow. Only time will tell, but for now I think it's no question that USF has made a major transition in the last few years.

           According to sources within the USF athletic department, new completion dates for the construction of USF athletic projects have been revealed.  It looks like USF football will be spending the season on the present football fields and won't move to their new location until Spring 2011.  The completion date of the new practice complex is set for early December.  As for the new Muma Basketball practice facilities, Stan Heath doesn't expect the completion to be done until next July, a full year from now.  The baseball and softball stadiums however do remain on schedule and are set for completion in late January 2011 according to USF baseball.  The new soccer stadium will not be set for construction until spring 2011, after baseball, and football facilities have been fully completed. Also Greg Auman is reporting that a possible renovation of the Sun Dome could be the last big Athletic Project to wrap up this massive landscape change of South Florida's athletic facilities. (This is the number one project that most excites me) Also, if anyone is interested in the new "Beat Florida" shirts that USF athletics provided a voting for best design, the Athletics department has almost completed them now. They will be out for sale at the end of July, so get ready. If anyone has any more questions on my recent findings feel free to tweet me at wajackson35.  Also follow me after you have followed SBNVoodooFive, as I will be bringing to you the latest USF sporting news and player reaction along with updates on the new facilities as they come in. Thanks again Voodoo Five, my favorite USF blog by far, keep up the good work guys.

Hey Bulls Fans,

With so many predictions of conference realignments and talk of these mega conferences, I want to hear Bulls fans' predictions. Who does the Big Ten pick up? Who does the SEC or ACC go after?  What will the landscape of college conferences on the East Coast look like in 2, 5, or 10 years from now? Will South Florida become a member of a mega conference, stay in a less powered Big East, or move to a improved Conference USA? Want to hear what everyone thinks. I think ACC is the most likely, but what about you?

Where does USF end up, ACC, Conference USA, Big East, SEC? What teams come with or leave USF behind? Predict away.... 

Feel free to give lists of new mega conferences.