Less confusion nationally, but more at home

The response was vehement.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS??" read a post on a Facebook group page titled "Do NOT Change University of South Florida's name," the day University officials announced the school would be adopting the addition of "Tampa Bay" for branding.

"SERIOUSLY!" the group posted a few minutes later with unofficial logos depicting the new tag. "Are they serious?! SAY NO!" 

University Spokesman Michael Hoad, who announced the addition of the tagline Nov. 30 in hopes of helping the University achieve national name recognition, said he had no problem with the group.

"(The group) made me feel good," he said. "This place has come so far so fast that people don't want anybody to change the name because they are proud of it. I think that's fantastic. Can you imagine the alternative — if students popped up and said, ‘Who cares?'"

However, he said, USF's name is not changing, much to the misunderstanding of many. 

After articles ran in The Oracle and the Tampa Bay Times about the added tagline, Hoad said he received a call from Bay News 9 requesting permission to film when University signs were being replaced with the new name.