For those who give a tinker, those who care passionately or just like to know about such things, the first big deal presentation of the new head coach of the Bucs to a big hunk of his constituency will be held today at noon at the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Convention Center. Fine occasion for Raheem Morris to debut as the biggest deal among the football playing Buckos. I remember when Jim Leavitt sat down before he was presented to the group as the new head football coach of the University of South Florida Bulls where he opened a note on his head table plate that read: “Don’t screw up.’’

He smiled, said it relaxed him. Maybe somebody needs to slip him another. Been rather easily riled to/by some lately. He’ll get over it after a good season that appears to be ahead.

Not sure about Coach Morris and the Bucs, yet. Checked with the Buckos and with the Tampa Sports Authority who said there can be no Super Bowls here again—just had a great one with Pittsburgh beating Arizona—until 2014. They are all taken until then and the competition for the games has gotten tougher with Dallas and Indianapolis in the mix. Both have now had one and Dallas is building a super-duper dome and has the Super Bowl in 2011. For the record, 2010 is in Miami, then 2011 at Dallas, 2012 at Indianapolis and 2013 back at New Orleans, nice gesture after the weather slam of that great city.
 
So, said Paul Catoe, who chairs such pursuits now, “with our Super Bowl just held here absolutely without a hitch, under perfect weather and controlled conditions, we cannot apply for another Super Bowl until for the 2014 game.’’  And so many around who worked so hard and successfully on those held here since 1984, during Desert Storm, and twice more, know, this is about as big a pursuit as there is out there and Tampa Bay has done it well each time.

Maybe none better than this past time with Dick Beard, Catoe, Dottie Berger, Mayor Pam Iorio and scores of others, including the paid folks and scores of volunteers, with Beard the no-pay boss and Reid Sigmon the paid boss.

It was even fun, not just a great success, but flat fun, proud fun.
 
So, here we are, knowing how to land the next Super Bowl for Raymond James, clearly a perfect venue, fine and photogenic, with the playing turf voted the best in the NFL, and a stadium unrivaled for all of its amenities, including wide tunnels and enough restrooms. It is early but it is time to crank it up and start scratching around for 2014, whether or not you will be here.

The first step is for the NFL to announce it is accepting bids for the game. Has not yet. Can’t bid yet. Then, the Buc owners, the Malcolm Glazers will have to say, let’s go. 

It’s not as easy as it sounds. The ticket demands alone are boggling. Can’t please everyone. It is prideful for an owner to host a Super Bowl, but not a piece of cake.
 
When the NFL says bid, and the Glazers nod in assent, Beard and Catoe, or their successors, along with ours and those of Henry Savedra, Barbara Casey, Mickey, Iorio, and the chambers of those days can assemble, pledge, dedicate, raise money (first, raise the money), then influence the league, the other owners, the media, the reluctants and win another Super Bowl for this great place in which we live.
 
Now, be honest, in 1980, how many out there thought at this time we’d have the Rays, the Lightning, the Bulls, the Gators repeating national football champs, the New York Yankees in the spring, the Outback Bowl, the Outback Seniors, the tour at Innisbrook, the Rowdies resurrecting, the Dome, RJS, the Airport. . . and now the Bucs of new hope. Ain’t it a blessin’?