USF Postpones Raising of WNIT Championship Banner Until Fernandez Recovers

Posted Nov 11, 2009 by Scott Carter

Updated Nov 11, 2009 at 03:13 PM

At USF’s weekly media luncheon on Monday, women’s assistant basketball coach Jeff Osterman said that head coach Jose Fernandez wasn’t feeling well after a weekend trip to Miami to visit his family.

Osterman said Fernandez went to the hospital Monday morning to have some emergency tests done on his abdomen. By Monday evening, Fernandez was at home resting. However, Fernandez still isn’t feeling his usual self and remains out of work, prompting USF on Wednesday to postpone Friday night’s raising of the WNIT championship banner the Bulls won last season.

The Bulls open the season Friday against Florida A&M at 7 p.m. The school plans to reschedule the banner raising ceremony once Fernandez returns to work. It remains uncertain when Fernandez will return to the team.

“It’s extremely unfortunate that Coach Fernandez is not feeling well,” said Ayo Taylor-Dixon, USF’s assistant director of athletics for marketing. “Our primary concern is that he get better and back with his program as soon as he can. We will re-schedule the banner unveiling at that time.”

USF finished 27-10 last season and defeated Kansas at Phog Allen Fieldhouse to win the WNIT championship.