Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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At USF Lakeland, two Buckeyes run with the Bulls
LAKELAND,
FL (October 16, 2007) - If the college football season were to end today, the USF Bulls would play the Ohio State Buckeyes for the national championship. At USF Lakeland, two prominent staff members find themselves in a "can't lose" situation.
VP and CEO Marshall Goodman taught at and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. He also met his wife when both were students at Ohio State. When first asked who he’d root for in a battle of the Bulls and Buckeyes, Goodman claimed he felt strongly both ways.
“I love them both. It seems wrong to choose,” he said. “It’s like what the father of the Williams sisters must go through when they play each other in tennis.
“For most of my life I’ve been a Buckeye, and I have strong loyalties. On the other hand, this is a tremendous time for USF, as it brings national awareness to how strong we are, both athletically and academically.”
Another USF Lakeland staff member, Tom Hagerty, earned a master’s degree from Ohio State. A Detroit native, USF Lakeland's media relations coordinator lived in Columbus, Ohio, for six years. “If the Bulls should play the Buckeyes, I would certainly have mixed emotions,” he said. “Seeing Ohio State ranked No. 1 is somewhat of a surprise, given how many offensive standouts are gone from last year’s team. Having the Bulls ranked No. 2, though, is absolutely amazing. I thought they’d have a good team this season, but I never imagined they’d contend for the national championship. It’s a great story: You have Ohio State, the perennial powerhouse from the Big Ten, versus USF, the fast-rising upstart from the Big East. Talk about David and Goliath.”
While Ohio State football fans expect to contend for a national championship every year, said Hagerty, for USF fans, it’s literally a whole different ballgame. Football is in only its 11th year at USF. The Buckeyes have won seven national championships, most recently in 2003. Last year, Ohio State was ranked No. 1 all season until losing the championship game to Florida. The Buckeyes have had six Heisman Trophy winners, including the only two-time winner, Archie Griffin, and last year’s winner, Troy Smith.
This moment in history reminds Goodman of his time at Georgetown University, when the Washington D.C. school signed Patrick Ewing to play basketball and “went from being another good Jesuit school to a nationally known brand name. Now USF has that same opportunity to go through a similar transformation in people’s psyches.”
But when pressed about who he’d want to win, Goodman admitted, “In all honesty I’d root for the Bulls. Ohio State has been there before and has had its time to shine. Now it’s our turn. It’s time for the work being done at USF to get recognition. This success is not an accident. Our president and the Board of Trustees have made a commitment, and their hard work is paying off.”
Being familiar with big-time football at Ohio State, Goodman sees this season’s gridiron glories translating into big benefits for USF. “In the long run, it could increase enrollment. People who are not from this region will now take a second look at USF. And they’ll see we’re the 9th largest university in the country, with some wonderful regional campuses.”
The sense of history-in-the-making is palpable. According to Hagerty, “The Buckeyes have a great tradition, but everybody has to start somewhere. To see what the Bulls are doing this year is fantastic. It’s great for the school, for the region and for college football fans everywhere. Go Bucks! Go Bulls!”
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