Homecoming football game fiasco: When green and gold went out of style
During Homecoming Week, it’s a tradition that students wear school-colored outfits to display their USF spirit.
The 2014 Homecoming football game was no exception — with one twist.
The shirts distributed ahead of the game were purple – the main school color of the Bulls’ opponent, the East Carolina Pirates.
The USF Campus Tradition Board printed 1,200 purple shirts used to honor the “Once Upon a Homecoming” theme that year. Purple was chosen because it was an approved accent university color at the time.
Out of the 1,200 t-shirts that were ordered, 200 were given away until the oversight was brought up by a student. The Board discontinued the 1,000 remaining t-shirts.
The shirts were purchased with $5,600 from student Activity and Service (A&S) fees.
“It’s a student committee,” Center for Student Involvement Monica Miranda said to the Oracle at the time. “They didn’t realize purple was the color of the opposing school.”
The situation was covered nationally by outlets such as Sports Illustrated.
USF football would end up losing the game 28-17 to East Carolina – an outcome fitting to the situation.
Here is a look at The Oracle’s coverage of the purple shirt fiasco.
– Aaron Mammah, Sports editor
Blurb
More Stories
USF students’ plans over break, events in Tampa Bay and more – Holiday Edition 2024
Oracle EditorProfile
How USF’s Maria Clara Andrade became AAC Player of the Year
When Maria Clara Andrade first picked up a volleyball in Taubaté, Brazil, she didn’t imagine the journey that would unfold. At the age of 12, she was encouraged by her father, Mauricio, to take up a sport. Volleyball quickly became her passion, propelling her into a breakout junior career at USF and American Athletic Conference […]
USF QB Israel Carter enters transfer portal
USF’s Israel “Izzy” Carter, who was thrust into a months-long quarterback controversy amid calls to see playing time, has entered the transfer portal. Carter began the season as the third-string quarterback. He was elevated to the backup role when starter Byrum Brown suffered an injury against Tulane on Sept. 28. Carter’s profile on USF Athletics’ […]
USF SG Senate resolutions back adding signatures to student IDs for voting, excused menstrual leave for class
Student Government (SG) seniors Julia Habchi and Annabelle Folsom said goodbye to the Senate as they presented resolutions at its final meeting of the semester. All three resolutions presented were passed unanimously Tuesday night. Senator Habchi presented and authored two resolutions – one calling for the university to offer a plant-based main dish at all […]
USF Muma College of Business’ first STEM major merges business, AI
Sophomore Riley England said the Muma College of Business’ new artificial intelligence (AI) and business analytics (AIBA) major offers “the best of both worlds” when it comes to business and technology. Although England has always been interested in technology, she said some STEM majors don’t align with how she envisions using technology in her future […]
Takeaways from the first day of USF football’s early signing period
A quarterback with strong family ties, an Australian punter plus talent from all over the country. Those are some of the highlights from the 25 recruits that announced their intention to play for USF during the first day of early signing period on Wednesday. From those 25 players, 23 are high school recruits and one […]