11-7-16

O

November 7, 2016 Vol. 54 No. 23

Election Preview Page 3

2

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

the Oracle the University of South Florida’s student newspaper since 1966

Editor in Chief Jacob Hoag oracleeditor@gmail.com Managing Editor Miki Shine oraclemeditor@gmail.com News Editor Abby Rinaldi oraclenewsteam@gmail.com Assistant News Editor Chelsea Grosbeck

Multimedia Editor Jackie Benitez oraclemultimediaeditor@gmail.com

Copy Editor Grace Hoyte Graphic Artists Destiny Moore Mark Soree Advertising Sales Alyssa Alexander Jess DiLiello Destiny Moore Dylan Ritchey The Oracle is published Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and once weekly, Wednesday, during the summer.

The Oracle allocates one free issue to each student. Additional copies are $.50 each and available at the Oracle office (SVC 0002).

Opinion Editor Breanne Williams oracleopinion@gmail.com Lifestyle Editor Nicole Cate oraclelifestyleeditor@gmail.com

Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports ................

Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . .

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Website: Facebook: Twitter:

T H E O R AC L E

The Index

News........................................................3 Opinion.................................................6 classifieds..........................................10 Crossword.........................................10 Lifestyle................................................12 sports....................................................14

BY PHONE

Sports Editor Vinnie Portell oraclesportseditor@gmail.com

●

974-6242 974-5190 974-1888 974-2842 974-2620 974-6242

usforacle.com facebook.com/usforacle @USFOracle

CORRECTIONS The Oracle will correct or clarify factual errors.

Contact Editor in Chief Jacob Hoag at 974-5190.

News Briefs

news

Professor to appear on WFLA on election night UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

By Morgan Blauth

FBI rules no criminality in new Clinton emails

After reopening its file on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s private email server during her time as secretary of state, the FBI concluded on Sunday that no criminality existed in the new batch of emails, according to the BBC. The news comes just before Election Day. The email issue was revisited during the FBI’s investigation into Anthony Wiener, a former congressman who allegedly sexted an underage girl. The FBI stuck to its July conclusion that Clinton should not face criminal charges for her email server usage.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has since said the system is rigged for Clinton and that she is protected by it, according to The Washington Post.

S T A F F

W R I T E R

Those who tune in to WFLA on Election Day may see a familiar face: USF professor Edwin Benton.

The government and international affairs professor will appear with Keith Cate, anchor of WFLA, to provide coverage and analysis of the presidential election as it draws to a close.

Benton has covered both midterm and presidential elections on WFLA Radio for the past 20 years, But this will be his first “Election Night” TV appearance since the 1980s.

“I figured it was a good opportunity to do something with a different medium: TV

●

M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

instead of radio,” he said.

Benton said that the main talking topics of the evening will include the presidential election and the congressional race.

“After all, the President will have to work closely with Congress to pass legislation,” Benton said.

He has also paid close attention to the gubernatorial races this election cycle and plans to discuss them during Tuesday’s broadcast. While he said that the results of these elections might not necessarily reflect the incoming results of other elections, they are still an informative look into the way government operates.

Most of the states have Republican governors, which

●

3

T H E O R AC L E

has only worsened the “gridlock” in Washington while a Democratic president is in office, according to Benton.

Additionally, Benton said he would like to focus on amendments to the Florida Constitution on air. He said that there has been a lot of attention paid to them this election because voters are unclear as to what aspects of the constitution would actually be affected by the changes.

“The wording is convoluted, and intentionally so, in order to mislead the voter,” he said.

Benton would also like to discuss the potential aftermath of the election and what the country will look like after things have settled in Washington.

n See BENTON on PAGE 5

Government and international affairs professor Edwin Benton will appear on TV on election night for the first time since the 1980s.

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

Early voting in Hillsborough higher than 2008, 2012

By Abby Rinaldi N E W S

E D I T O R

At 7 p.m. Sunday, the bustle of the polls came to a rest.

South Carolina man Today, workers from the confesses to seven murders Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office and polling A South Carolina man, Todd stations will prepare for the last Kohlhepp, 45, has admitted round of ballots to come in on on Saturday to killing seven Tuesday, and for the long lines and rush of Election Day. people after being arrested There are 849,843 registered when a woman was found voters in Hillsborough County. chained inside a metal shipping Numbers from the Supervisor container on his property, of Elections office show that according to the BBC. 419,203 total ballots have Law enforcement has since already been cast as of Sunday found a body on the estate and evening. Of those, 242,168 were early voting ballots and Kohlhepp has informed them of two other bodies located on 176,505 were vote by mail.

The majority of the ballots the property, as reported by the cast — including early voting, BBC. He has since been charged vote by mail and provisional with four counts of murder — were from registered after he confessed to killing Democrats in Hillsborough four people at a motorcycle County (176,200). Republican votes were close behind, shop in 2003, according to the totaling 147,964. Voters not Associated Press (AP). He has affiliated with the two major been denied bond.

parties constituted 95,039 total votes.

Of the 16 precincts open for early voting, Bloomingdale Regional Public Library had the biggest turnout with 26,681 ballots cast.

Records from the Supervisor of Elections office show that in the 2008 general election, total voter turnout, including absentee ballots, provisional ballots, early voting ballots and ballots cast on Election Day was 73.56 percent. A total of 515,983 ballots were cast. In 2008, Hillsborough County had 701,464 registered voters.

Of those who voted in Hillsborough County that year, 146,558 voted during early voting. Of those, 81,333 were Democrats and 38,775 were Republicans.

In the 2012 general election, Hillsborough County had 747,605 registered voters.

Voter turnout that year was 72.92 percent with 545,134 ballots cast.

Those who early voted in 2012 totaled 167,211, of which 78,947 were Democrats and 56,373 were Republicans.

Currently, voter turnout excluding projections for Election Day is approximately 49.33 percent. Currently, the number of ballots cast is just 96,780 behind the total after Election Day in 2008 and 125,931 behind the total from 2012.

During the last two presidential election years, over 200,000 ballots were cast on each Election Day, 244,414 in 2008 and 208,001 in 2012.

Both years, the numbers for Democrats and Republicans turning out to the polls on Election Day has been almost equal, with Republican turnout just behind Democrat turnout for both general election years.

If nearly the same number of voters come to the polls on Tuesday, the total number of ballots cast would be more than either of the two previous

general elections. That in mind, not all of the ballots cast are completely filled out. Some may have boxes like the presidential race or the senatorial race left blank.

On Election Day, voters must vote in their precinct. Students who live on campus can vote at the Marshall Student Center, according to Gerri Kramer, director of communications for the Supervisor of Elections office. The office encourages voters to know how they plan on voting before they go to the polls in order to reduce lines.

Voters are required to show a photo ID with a signature on it when they go to vote.

Methods of identification that have a photo, like a student ID, are acceptable, but an ID with a signature must be provided as well.

A map of the precincts around Hillsborough County can be found on the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website.

4

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

●

T H E O R AC L E

Tips for first time voters M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

By Breanne Williams S T A F F

W R I T E R

Early voting began on Oct. 24, but numerous voters wait until Election Day to fill out their ballot. For many college students, this is the first election they will have the ability to cast their vote and the details of the process may be unclear.

Because so many citizens vote on the official day, lines at polling locations tend to be quite long on Election Day. Be prepared to wait. Bring a bottle of water and remember to eat prior to showing up.

Many lines wrap around the building so check the weather.

It is unlikely that voters can successfully cast their vote in five minutes.

While a wait will more than likely be unavoidable, going in the early morning will almost guarantee a fast experience.

Doors are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Employers are not legally obliged in Florida to provide employees extra time off from work in Florida to vote.

Consequently, those who work tend to go during lunch breaks.

Going between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., when most voters have returned to their occupations, will most likely help in beating the rush.

BENTON

Continued from PAGE 3

“(There is) extreme polarization in Washington,” he said. “Will that continue? Will that change?”

Benton allowed six students from his Political Behavior, Public Opinion, and Elections class (POS 4204) to volunteer to accompany him to WFLA. The students will be behindthe-scenes, fact-checking and gaining experience in broadcast news.

“It’s going to be a great experience for them,” he said.

Overall, Benton is unsure of the results of this election.

“With all the noise, we’re going to be in for some surprises and controversy like

●

T H E O R AC L E

Upon arrival, have at least one photo ID at the ready.

Voter registration cards are helpful to bring along as well, though one is not required.

Unlike early voting, Election Day requires voters to cast their vote at their designated precinct. This can be found on the Supervisor of Elections website for each county.

Double-checking proper polling stations online can help to avoid driving and waiting in line at the wrong precinct.

Legally, no one is allowed to campaign within the polling location. However, the surrounding area is fair game.

Many of the local candidates or their supporters will be waiting the required 100 feet from the entrance, passing out flyers or trying to strike up a conversation in an attempt to capture undecided voters on their way in.

Separate from the line to fill out a ballot is the line to feed the ballot into a machine, which tallies the votes. The poll workers will not touch the ballots after they have been handled by voters.

As an added incentive, anyone wearing an “I voted” sticker, which can be picked up at the exit to the polling location, will receive a free doughnut from Krispy Kreme on Election Day. we’ve never seen before,” he said.

Benton said he saw this election as a circus and expects nothing less once the results are officially announced. However, he hopes that Americans and the losing candidate are able to accept the results with dignity.

“In all this turmoil, we’re still going to be the same country, the same voters, the same leaders who are willing to say ‘I don’t like the results or the outcome,’” he said. “But in the meantime, we’re going to support our (government) and we’re going to support America and all the freedom that people enjoy. That is going to be perhaps the biggest test (of the election).”

5

Opinion

6

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

●

M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

SNL unifies divided nation with political sketch

Kate McKinnon and Alec Baldwin, posing as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump respectively, ditched divisive political jargon to embrace strangers and bring a dose of levity to the toxic campaign. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

By Breanne Williams C O L U M N I S T

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump chose to forgo their normal bickering and join hands for a night of harmony and celebration in Times Square — Well, their doppelgangers on Saturday Night Live did, three days before results from Election Day. Thankfully, this virulent election season is almost over. In fewer than 48 hours, the country will begin planning for a four years under a new leader. Tensions are high, and the media has been milking the divide for months, with SNL setting the stage for how to properly utilize political satire.

However, the sketch comedy show took a stand Saturday fighting — with copious amounts of humor — for a unified country free of the hate and toxicity that has plagued both the primaries and the general election.

The sketch began with the normal mud slinging between the candidates with Kate McKinnon’s Clinton stating, “Donald Trump has single-handedly ruined so much of what we American’s hold dear: Kindness, decency, Tic Tacs, Skittles, taco bowls, father-daughter dances, bright red heats, the word ‘great,’

the color orange, men.”

And per the usual, Alec Baldwin’s Trump retaliated in kind, examining the corruption and deceitfulness following the democratic nominee.

Suddenly, Baldwin broke character, apologizing to McKinnon for having to lob such vicious comments her way each week and asking the audience if they feel “gross all the time about this?”

Not surprisingly, the response was a unanimous “yes.” A poll by CBS in September found 80 percent of those backing Trump claimed to be scared of Clinton. Likewise, 62 percent of Clinton supporters said they were scared of Trump.

The millions of people flocking to the polls are not doing so out of love for a candidate, like in 2008 during Barack Obama’s run for office.

Instead, people are motivated purely out of fear and hatred for the opposing nominee.

The absence of genuine admiration and devotion has created an atmosphere saturated in trepidation, causing many to long for Nov. 9, which will mark the end of this bizarre election.

SNL once again picked up on the unspoken sentiment and gave the nation what it didn’t even know it needed: a moment of solidarity and joy.

Still fully clad as the nominees, McKinnon and Baldwin linked hands and ran off the stage out into what is notoriously one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. Surrounded by people of every race, religion and age, the actors began hugging strangers wearing the opposing candidate’s campaign shirts, giving each other piggyback rides, sharing pretzels and cotton candy, and practically singing Kumbaya in a circle in Times Square.

It was light-hearted and reminded citizens that regardless of who is elected Tuesday, the world will continue to turn and we will all continue to fight toward achieving the “American dream.”

The fate of our country is in voters’ hands, but realistically no apocalypse will follow either candidate’s reign.

McKinnon closed the sketch with a final piece of advise for voters while locked in an embrace with Baldwin.

“We can’t tell you who to vote for, but on Tuesday, we all get a chance to choose what kind of country we want to live in,” said McKinnon.

Breanne Williams is a senior majoring in mass communications.

●

T H E O R AC L E

EDITORIAL

History has it’s eyes on you Tomorrow will be students’ last chance to make a difference in this election.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and students should make filling out a ballot a priority. Getting involved politically in college is a unique opportunity and no one should be inactive.

Whether or not you are a fan of either presidential candidate or not, this election will have a direct impact on your future. The issues on the ballot will determine what direction our country turns, and many of the politicians will decide how we alter the economy, pay for education and get involved in foreign policy.

Grab your roommates and friends and take a drive to your polling location. Many businesses offer free or discounted services for people sporting the “I voted” sticker, so make a day of being politically active.

However, if you vote blindly, you could easily elect someone who will spend the entirety of their term working against the people they claim to represent.

In the next four years, many of us will be deep within our careers or raising a family. Responsibility will fall heavily on our shoulders and we cannot gamble looking back on Election Day and knowing we chose to watch a few episodes on Netflix rather than go to the polls.

Election Day doesn’t end after you cast your vote.

Watch parties will be held across town, with many taking place in local bars, restaurants and on campus. Thousands of people will come together to watch states go blue or red and wait with bated breath for the announcement of the victor.

Put down the textbook for one night, get a beer with your friends and join the festivities. For one night politics, will receive the same enthusiasm as a football game — don’t risk missing out.

This election is going to be groundbreaking. Either we will elect our first woman president or we will vote in a man who has never served public office, which has only happened four times in U.S. history — the most recent having been Dwight D. Eisenhower.

At the end of the day, voting is the only way to ensure you don’t regret being inactive in college. Elections like this are extremely rare and will undoubtedly be in the history books in years to come.

Don’t throw away your shot to make a difference.

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

T H E O R AC L E

STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THE ISSUES ●

With Election Day just hours away, The Oracle asked students how they felt about the election and coverage of the issues.

What do you think is the most important issue in this election?

Rob Randall (Junior, Political science major): “I think the biggest issue is global relations and how America’s relationship (with other countries) will be affected.”

Casey Carson (Junior, Accounting major): Entitlement spending — the amount of money taken from one’s salary to pay for programs like Social Security.

Ashley Hicks (Junior, Public health major): “One party is ready to end free health care for everyone and one party is actually for keeping it going.”

Josh Ichter (Freshman, Biochemistry): “Health care is probably one of the most pressing ones.”

Is there an issue that has gotten a lot of attention that you feel isn’t so important?

Carson: “I don’t think anything gets too much attention. It’s supply and demand, people want to hear stuff and they talk about it.”

Ichter: Republican candidate Donald Trump’s proposed wall along the U.S.—Mexico border.

Is there an issue you feel hasn’t gotten enough attention?

Randall: Climate change Carson: “One thing that’s really important to me is the drug war … Nobody really talks about how badly drugs have affected our society.”

Ichter: “I’d say probably women’s rights and Planned Parenthood.”

7

8

Election Day cheat sheet

Amendment 1: Solar Energy

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

●

T H E O R AC L E

Amendment 2: Medical Marijuana

• The amendment would put the right to solar energy into the constitution and comes across as pro-solar energy but has been proven to actually restrict its use and future production.

• The amendment would allow for physicians to prescribe marijuana for debilitating diseases or conditions such as HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, cancer, ALS and PTSD.

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

Marco Rubio Senator Democrat

Lisa Montelione

Shawn Harrison

Economy State Representative Democrat

• Wants to cut taxes while bettering schools, infrastructure and a focus on improving the middle class.

Economy State Representative Republican

Kathy Castor Economy • Wants to increase investments and the number of jobs in the Tampa Bay area and along the I-4 corridor.

#OracleVotes

• Believes that low taxes encourage job creation and will stimulate the economy.

Christine Quinn Economy • In a Tampa Bay Times article, Quinn stated being against lifting the Cuban embargo, against increasing assault weapon regulations and as a strong opponent of illegal immigration. She has not released an official stance on issues.

Follow The Oracle’s Election Day coverage on Twitter with the hashtag #OracleVotes.

Economy

• Cut taxes for business and • families in a pro-growth, profamily plan.

• Encourages the use of energy • resources including renewable and natural gas to cut costs.

• Wants to disband the Common Core system and encourages local communities to determine what’s best.

Foreign Policy

T H E O R AC L E

Grow Florida’s middle class for hardworking families to succeed.

Close the gap between the rich and poor as well as closing the wage gap.

Education

• Education is the best way to grow the middle class.

• Eliminate the excessive “teach to the test” technique.

• Invest in community colleges and technical schools.

• Supports debt-free college.

Foreign Policy

• Wants to keep Guantanamo Bay open.

• Promotes providing more • Maintain a strong military funding to the military with a secure homeland and encourages the use of by using our intelligence to intelligence programs to track combat terrorism. terrorism within the U.S. • Believes in continuing to fight Islamic State with the help of American allies.

9

Patrick Murphy Senator Republican

Economy

Education

●

Hillary Clinton President Democrat Economy • Invest in infrastructure, manufacturing, research, technology, clean energy and small business.

• Rewrite the rules so that more companies share profits with employees.

Education

• Plans to make debt-free college available to everyone and take on take on student loan debt.

• Launch a national campaign to modernize and elevate the profession of teaching.

• Rebuild American schools by improving safety.

Foreign Policy

• Provide budgetary certainty to facilitate reforms and enable long-term planning.

• Provide a quality of care for veterans.

• Stick with our allies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia while strengthening NATO.

Donald Trump President Republican Economy • Create a dynamic economy that will create 25 million new jobs over the next decade.

• Reform policies with a progrowth tax plan with an American-first trade policy.

Education

• Add additional federal investment of $20 billion toward school choice.

• Work with Congress to reduce the cost of college and student debt in exchange for federal tax breaks and tax dollars.

Foreign Policy

• Make access to college and vocational schools easier.

• Rebuild the military and improve cyber intelligence.

• Advance America’s core national interests, promote regional stability and ease world tensions.

• Ensure our security and refugee policies take American security into account.

10

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

â—?

T H E   O R AC L E

Crossword

Classifieds To place a classified ad go to

http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds

HELP WANTED Kennel Cleaning Staff The Lodge at New Tampa,an upscale dog boarding and daycare facility located on Morris Bridge Road, approximately 20 minutes from Campus, needs a person who is interested in working with dogs.

Duties include cleaning, exercise and daycare duties. Two shifts, 7am to 2pm and 2pm till 7-8 pm. Great for person interested in a veterinary degree and working with dogs. Apply in person, 15403 Morris Bridge Road Thonotosassa ( 1/2 mile south of the Cross Creek Blvd/Morris Bridge Road intersection.

813-986-2226 Email GritsDVM@aol.com

LIFESTYLE

Election night watch party ideas UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

●

M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

●

By Nicole Cate L I F E S T Y L E

E D I T O R

Finally, it is here: Election Day. For such a big event, students, and fellow Americans, should consider celebrating it with a blowout.

Hosting — and attending — a watch party is the perfect way to end this election season. The goal of this bash should be to bring family and friends together, instead of watching them jump at each other’s throats, and to relieve the tension from this political season.

Playlist As most people who have hosted a party before knows, the atmosphere of the event depends on the music. For election night, anyone entertaining guests should make sure to have their political playlist all lined up. Song selections can range from poppy — “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus — to patriotic — “Proud to be an American”

by Lee Greenwood.

If party hosts don’t have the time to make their own playlists, or even if they simply don’t want to, music streaming services offer mixes for just such an occasion, such as “The Election Mix” on Spotify.

This compilation has songs for everyone and every mood that will be experienced tomorrow night, including David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure” — for anxious partygoers when if the race gets too close — and The Black Eyed Peas’ “Where is the Love?” — for listeners who are ready for the tension between the two parties to be over.

Fav political show theme

Students should consider hosting, or attending, an election watch party. Hanging out with friends and eating politically-themed food can make the night a pleasant experience. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE.

11

T H E O R AC L E

Just because the party is already centered on the election does not mean that hosts can’t have fun with the theme. People can try themes based on popular political shows.

If “House of Cards” is a staple in your friend group, hosts can grill a rack of ribs (even though they probably won’t be as good

as Freddy’s) and make a peachbased dessert, such as a cobbler, in honor of Frank Underwood’s home state.

For fans of “Veep,” order lots of pizza, and hopefully, it makes you as happy as it does Selina Meyer.

Don’t forget the Jamaican Rum frozen yogurt, or ice cream, for dessert.

People hosting a “Scandal” election watch party have the shortest grocery list to shop for: loads of popcorn and red wine (maybe sparkling grape juice for the under21s).

Dress up

To get guests involved in the night before they even step through the door, hosts can suggest a dress code while keeping the night as casual as they wish.

Options can include a red, white and blue color theme and masks or just campaign T-shirts.

If the party is more formal, the women can wear pantsuits or bow blouses, depending on their party affiliation, to accompany the men in suits and American flag ties.

Fill in blank map

When the numbers start rolling in, partygoers can keep occupied by filling in a blank map of the U.S. with red or blue, depending on who won the state. This is a great way for students to stay informed, as well as to have fun over the course of the night. They can also fill in the states with statistics or exact numbers if they want. #hashtag and social media

Let’s be honest, Tuesday night will be huge on social media.

People will be posting statuses on Facebook, snaps of their watch party festivities and even check-ins at their location online. To keep track of specific parties on social media, hosts should come up with their own hashtag. That way, it will be easier to see how much fun everyone’s having and what everyone did when checking Instagram the morning after.

12

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

●

T H E O R AC L E

Watch party snacks for under $15 each Patriotic Popcorn Ingredients: Popcorn Butter Marshmallows Red/Blue sprinkles Red/Blue M&M’s Total: $10

Rice Krispie Treat Pinwheels Instructions: - Melt 3 tablespoons of butter and 3 cups of marshmallows and mix until melted.

- Stir mixture into cooked popcorn Add M&M’s, sprinkles and extra marshmallows.

Chocolate Strawberries Ingredients: Melting chocolate (white and blue) Strawberries Sprinkles Total: $13

Instructions: - Slowly melt chocolate until smooth and creamy.

- Dip strawberries in chocolate.

- Add sprinkles or chocolate drizzle.

Ingredients: Box of Rice Krispies Butter Marshmallows Red, white and blue food dye Melting chocolate Total: $15

Patriotic Jell-O

Ingredients: Whipped cream Red and blue Jell-O

Total: $6

Instructions: - Melt butter and marshmallows then add Rice Krispies.

- Mix in chocolate and food coloring to each.

- Layer each color and roll it together.

Instructions: - Follow instructions on Jell-O pack and let it set.

- Take a glass and layer Jell-O with whipped cream.

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

●

T H E O R AC L E

13

14

Sports From worst to first UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

The Rundown Outside USF

Quote of the day

Men’s Soccer

●

M O N D AY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

●

T H E O R AC L E

Bulls bounce back from worst start in over 15 years, clinch AAC title

“I can’t throw my flag at the ref, but he can throw his all day long ... That was a guaranteed touchdown if I had got my hands on it. That’s where the frustration comes in. It’s a close game and I had kind of been quiet during the game. We Travis Kelce finally get some momentum ... and we don’t even get the call for it. I just lost it.’’ — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after he was ejected for throwing a towel at a referee when he was penalized for an unsportsmanlike penalty. The penalty came when Kelce thought defensive pass interference should have been called on a pass to him in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 19-14 win over Jacksonville.

USF weekend scoreboard Women’s Soccer

USF UConn

0 2

Men’s Soccer

Temple USF

0 1

Volleyball

USF Tulsa

2 3

USF celebrated its win over Temple to end the regular season by hoisting the AAC regular season trophy in the air at Corbett Soccer Stadium. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM

By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S

E D I T O R

Five matches into the 2016 USF men’s soccer season, the Bulls were off to the worst start in coach George Kiefer’s 14-year career at USF. The Bulls’ frustrations culminated with a 2-0 loss at home to Jacksonville, which marked the teams’ third-straight loss and dropped them to 0-3-2.

“When we lost against Jacksonville at home, we were negative with one another,” senior forward Nazeem Bartman said.

“We started pointing fingers at one another, like it’s this one’s fault or this person’s fault, and it

just didn’t help us.”

Senior midfielder Graham Smith, one of the more vocal leaders on the team, called a team meeting after the loss to address the issues going on with the Bulls.

“At that time, everyone was just picking at the negative parts of each person and that wasn’t good,” sophomore defender Prosper Figbe said. “After that (meeting), we just trusted the process and played for each other.”

USF went on to win its next four matches — shutting out opponents in each contest.

Despite that hot streak, the Bulls dropped three of their next four matches, but this time the players didn’t allow the losses to

get in their heads.

“I think (the season turned around) once everyone made a decision they were going to stick together and support each other and look for the positives in each other,” Kiefer said. “That comes about very easy when you’re winning; it’s much more difficult when you’re losing.

“But I felt like they did a good job prior to Gulf Coast and we dropped the Gulf Coast game. But they actually all went around and were shaking each other’s hands and they knew they all fought hard for the match. They stuck together even after a loss, and I don’t think we’ve lost since then.”

Along with the Bulls’ renewed

sense of companionship, the team was also aided by the midseason return of several key players who had dealt with injuries.

“We started getting our confidence back when we had every single one of our players healthy again, we had a lot of injuries throughout the season,” Bartman said. “As soon as those guys started coming back, the team’s been clicking.

“We missed Gonzalo (Rodriguez), who for me is one of the best midfielders in this country. Then it was me, Lindo (Mfeka) and Marcus (Epps) injured, too.

So, that’s a lot of senior players there that didn’t play. For us to

n See FIRST on PAGE 15

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

FIRST

Continued from PAGE 14

be able to do well as a team, we need the whole team and not just certain people.”

Since that 3-2 loss at FGCU on Oct. 11, USF won its remaining four regular season matches, clinching the AAC regular season title with a 1-0 win in double overtime at SMU on Oct. 29.

The Bulls, who merely thought they had won another conference game, erupted in celebration for a second time that night when a fan in the stands told them they won the conference.

“We went out to the SMU game just taking it as another game,” Bartman said. “It was a game that we wanted to win and we needed to win. Last year, we tied with them here and we wanted to change that this year.

“We celebrated when we won, but when we heard we won the conference, we celebrated even more — Outside, in the locker room, we even had the coaches dancing too, it was amazing.”

USF (9-6-2, 6-1) defeated

●

15

T H E O R AC L E

Temple 1-0 on Saturday to end its regular season and will host the upcoming AAC Tournament, beginning with a match against fourth-seeded UCF at 7 p.m. on Friday.

With the Bulls hoping to win the conference tournament for the second time in four seasons and push for an NCAA Tournament berth, the players will look to lean on the communication and chemistry that was their downfall earlier this season.

“It’s trust,” Figbe said. “Last year, everyone was from different backgrounds and nationalities. So last year, let’s say you’re from Spain, you’re going to hang out with guys from Spain. Me, I’m from Nigeria so I would hang out with people from Nigeria.

“It doesn’t work like that this year. Everyone right now, we do things together. Like rather than me hanging out with Nazeem because I’m closer with Nazeem, it doesn’t work like that. That’s been a big change for us this year and going into the tournament, it’s going to be good if we keep doing that.”

USF coach George Kiefer is aiming for his second AAC Tournament title in four seasons.

ORACLE FILE PHOTO/JACKIE BENITEZ

Notebook

Women’s soccer knocked out of AAC tournament

By Vinnie Portell S P O R T S

USF was eliminated from the AAC tournament after losing 2-0 against first-seeded UConn on Friday night.

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS.COM

E D I T O R

After qualifying for the AAC tournament in a win-or-gohome match against Tulsa on Oct. 30 and then defeating Cincinnati 4-3 in penalty kicks in the first round, the USF women’s soccer team ended its chances at a conference title with a 2-0 loss at firstseeded UConn on Friday night.

USF advanced past the Bearcats on a late penalty kick

by Leticia Skeete after holding them scoreless in regulation. But Friday night in Storrs, Connecticut, the Huskies jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first half that proved to be too much for USF. Rachel Hill of UConn opened the scoring with a goal in the 38th minute, which was soon followed up with Stephanie Ribeiro’s nation-leading 20th goal of the season in the 50th minute.

The Bulls, who finish the season with a 12-4-3 record, will find out if their season

will continue in the NCAA Tournament tonight at 7 when the qualifying teams are revealed at the selection show.

Men’s Soccer ends regular season with ninth shutout

With first place in the AAC already secure, the USF men’s soccer team won its fourthstraight match, defeating Temple 1-0 at Corbett Soccer Stadium on Saturday.

With eight seniors to honor for senior night, USF’s defense continued its streak of excellence with its fifth-consecutive shutout in conference play.

Senior goalkeeper Spasoje Stefanovic, who has allowed only one goal in conference play, made three saves to ensure USF’s only goal — a strike from freshman Luis Garza in the 63rd minute — would be all the Bulls needed for the win. “(Stefanovic is) playing some of the best that I’ve seen him down the stretch,” USF coach George Kiefer said in a

release. “It’s difficult to get one past him. Now that the team is better defensively, we’re doing a really good job right now.”

USF (9-6-2, 6-1) will begin postseason play when it hosts fourth-seeded UCF on Friday at 7 p.m. at Corbett Soccer Stadium to kick off the AAC tournament.

Volleyball loses to Memphis in five sets

Despite winning the first set against Memphis in Tennessee on Friday, the USF volleyball team dropped three of the next four sets in a loss to the Tigers.

Backed by a season-high 18 kills from senior outside hitter Denise Belcher, USF played the Tigers close until faltering in the final set (21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 15-8).

The loss gives the Bulls three in a row and four in their last six as they prepare to travel to play Tulsa at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

16

M O N DAY, N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 6

●

T H E O R AC L E