- 1971
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First NCAA Game for South Florida
The University of South Florida’s basketball team first tipped off as the Golden Brahmans on December 1, 1971, with a 74-73 win at Stetson University. Their first home game was marked by a 98-77 loss to Florida at Curtis Hixon Hall in downtown Tampa, which would serve as USF’s primary arena of the seven courts the team would call home ...
History of the Bulls
The South Florida Bulls (also known as the USF Bulls) are the athletic teams that represent the University of South Florida. USF competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the American Athletic Conference for all sports besides sailing, which competes in the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association within the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.
The university currently sponsors 19 varsity sports, nine for men and ten for women. The sports sponsored are baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, women's sailing, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field (outdoor and indoor for both), and women's volleyball. In addition, USF will add a women's lacrosse team in the 2023–24 school year and a women's beach volleyball team in the 2024–25 school year. USF also offers 40 club teams including cricket, flag football, ice hockey, and rugby. Michael Kelly has served as the athletic director since 2018. The school colors are green and gold and the mascot is Rocky D. Bull.
The night following a victory by any of the Bulls sports teams, the school shines green lights on its iconic water tower to let the campus know of the win. The school also lights up the water tower for events such as homecoming and commencement ceremonies.
USF's fight song is the Golden Brahman March, named after the original mascot.
USF's hand sign is "Horns Up", similar to Texas's "Hook 'em Horns". The signal is used as good luck during field goals, extra points, free throws, and as general school spirit.
College Sports Established
1965
Location
Tampa, Florida
College Name
University of South Florida
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1965 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2013 - Present / American Athletic Conference
2005 - 2013 / Big East Conference
2003 - 2005 / Conference USA
2001 - 2003 / Independent
Nickname
Bulls - With many different early name suggestions, the “Golden Brahman” was selected as the official mascot of USF in November 1962. Students reasoned that, since Florida was a cattle-raising state like Texas, USF needed a mascot comparable to the Texas Longhorns mascot. In the late 1980s, the mascot evolved into the “Bulls.”
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.