Last Monday, it became official — USF made the transition into the American Athletic Conference, or “The American” for short.

The day marked the eight-year anniversary of the Bulls transitioning from Conference USA to the Big East, and thus a new chapter in USF history began.

Unlike the Big East’s arrival at USF, however, there was no music, cameras or giant flags that said “American Athletic Conference” on them. It was just another day for the Bulls.

The transition looks pretty simple on the surface.

But USF will be spending big money on the transition out of the Big East, including 65,000 new business cards, which will cost near $4,000 and 1,000 new envelopes for each sport and embroidery on every athlete’s apparel that has to be changed to the new logo, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Other teams making the change include Cincinnati, Connecticut, Memphis, Houston, SMU and UCF. East Carolina, Tulsa and Tulane won’t have to make the transition until their arrival in 2014, a year before Navy enters the conference.

American Athletic Conference tournament site found for Baseball

Not long after The American chose its site for the conference’s basketball tournament in Memphis, the American Athletic Conference selected a location for its baseball tournament — Clearwater’s Bright House Field. The event will be held May 21-25 next spring.

With stiff competition in Notre Dame, Seton Hall and Pitt — the top three teams last in the Big East last season — gone, USF could have a better shot this season despite the competition of defending Big East champ UConn.

If the Bulls want to participate in Clearwater, they must avoid
finishing in last place in the conference, which will have nine baseball teams. Only the top eight will get a shot at the conference’s first-ever baseball title.

In addition to the baseball tournament being held in Clearwater, USF will host the conference’s outdoor track and women’s tennis tournaments. The only tournament that does not have a site is men’s soccer, though USF’s recently built Corbett Soccer Stadium could be a possible site.

Freshman earns All-America honors

USF freshman pitcher Jimmy Herget has earned a spot on the 2013 Baseball America Freshman All-America Second Team after a standout season.

In his first year at USF, the school’s last year in the Big East, the right-hander won Big East Rookie of the Year after striking out 60 batters in a team-high 94 innings this season. Herget also earned Louisville
Slugger Freshman All-America honors.

The Tampa native finished his first year on the mound at USF ranked second in the Big East and No. 25 in the nation with a 1.72 ERA.