TAMPA, FL. – Ceremonial shovels and hard hats at a groundbreaking event Wednesday morning for the University of South Florida’s indoor performance facility yielded a vision for something much larger: an on-campus football stadium.
That vision may become a reality sooner than later. At least that was the picture painted by the university’s board of trustees chairperson, Will Weatherford.
“The great enthusiasm for this (indoor facility) project has shown us that the time is right for an even greater commitment at USF athletics,” said the former (2012-14) speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, to a crowd of boosters, alumni and the football team, which wrapped up practice beforehand. “I for one think Bulls Nation deserves a stadium on this campus.”
Weatherford, managing partner of Tampa-based Weatherford Capital and brother of former Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford, spoke with the media following the ceremony and reinforced what he feels is a project that can be tackled given the current trajectory of the university and the athletic program.
“USF is a university that is progressing in every metric academically,” said the 41-year-old. “It has an athletic program that is ready to take on the challenge. Frankly, this community, the students and the athletes deserve a stadium on their campus. We can do it and we are going to do it.”
There has been plenty of talk about such an on-campus venue in recent years, but nothing on the order of what took place Wednesday when it appeared the university is ready to move forward with a plan. Not that any renderings or details are ready to be shared. It is not at that stage. However, in listening to Weatherford, something may be revealed before too long.
“We are not here to talk about all the details, but those are coming,” he said while reinforcing that the stadium will be on campus and not elsewhere in the campus community. “You will see some rollouts of details and a lot of articulation of what this dream could be like in formation. We are not sharing it just yet. Stay tuned. It’s coming.”
That is music to Jeff Scott’s ears. On several occasions since he was hired in December 2019, the second-year coach has spoken about the vision laid out by athletic director Michael Kelly and former university president Steven Currall when he was being courted to take over the football program.
“They are very serious about it,” said Scott, in referring to the vision shared by Kelly, Weatherford, and others about continuing to move the needle of USF athletics. “I feel very fortunate to be here at a time when this thing is about to really take off. It is not just talk. There is action and the right people are in place for this next chapter that we are going into.”
As for Wednesday’s groundbreaking, the $22-million indoor facility represents the second phase of privately-funded athletic enhancements. Renovations to the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center totaling $3.3 million, which included a new locker room that was ready in time for preseason camp, represented the initial phase.
A third phase, of which details are few at this time, will be a football center that will serve as the program’s home and consist of a weight room, coaches offices, locker room and meeting spaces.
The indoor facility, which Kelly said will take 10 to 12 months to complete, will consist of 88,000 climate-controlled square feet and include a 100-yard turf field. The building will benefit all athletic programs as well as host non-athletic university events.
“This is one more step in terms of our journey and the best is yet to come,” said Kelly.
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