USF Coach Holtz talks Sling and Shoot and campus stadium

Posted Jul 24, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Jul 25, 2011 at 03:11 AM

Pasco wasn’t the only winner of the University of South Florida Sling and Shoot 2 football tournament. USF emerged as a winner too, thanks to the exposure the 7-on-7 event provided.

With 51 teams from across the state and Georgia, more than 1,000 prep football players got an up close view of the Bulls athletic facilities during the two-day tournament.

“I think this is a great weekend for a number of reasons,” said USF head coach Skip Holtz, who was very visible during the event, making the rounds to watch various games.  “The high school coaches and their teams get an opportunity to come out here with 51 teams, playing all day yesterday, all day today and they get an opportunity to develop some depth on their football team. I think it’s great for the high schools.

“But it’s a win-win situation. It’s great for South Florida. We’ve got something here that I think is pretty special.”

Surrounded by all the new athletic facilities, including the recent renovations to the Sun Dome, the two-day event was spread out on the intramural and practice fields. Participants in the linemen challenge got to workout on the Bulls turf practice field.

“I just think this program is growing leaps and bounds,” Holtz said.

What would make it even better? The one thing lacking is the Bulls own stadium. Currently they share Raymond James Stadium with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but a campus stadium would be ideal.

“We’ve got to keep working on that,” Holtz said. “One step at a time. All these new facilities that have been put in place really give South Florida the opportunity to compete on a Big East level and a national level, which is what we’re trying to do – not just in football, but in all the sports. These were badly needed, the ones that were put in place right now and we’ll just continue to build this program and grow this program.

“I would love to have a stadium on campus and continue to build on the great school pride that this university has established over the last 60 years.”

The Bulls open the season on the road against Notre Dame, but then host three-consecutive games at Raymond James Stadium.

“I also have a hard time complaining about playing at Raymond James Stadium when it’s one of the top five nicest stadiums in the country,” Holtz said. “Until we have the opportunity to put that stadium on our own campus, we’re really comfortable playing where we do now.”

To watch a video of Holtz discussing these issues, please follow this link: http://www2.tbo.com/sports/prep-sports/2011/jul/25/skip-holtz-talks-prep-football-and-a-cam-76912-vi-23452/

For a photo gallery from Sunday’s final rounds of action, please follow this link: http://www2.tbo.com/photoalbum/2011/jul/25/usf-sling-and-shoot-2/