4-20-17

O

April 20, 2017

Vol. 54 No. 55

AWAITING A DECISION Accusations swirl, SG president yet to be confirmed Page 3

Editorial: Election Three USF process taking too long football predictions Page 4

Page 6

Tice gets second chance for USF Page 10

2

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

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

Editor in Chief Jacob Hoag oracleeditor@gmail.com

Associate Editor Breanne Williams oracleopinion@gmail.com Asst. Sports Editor Josh Fiallo

News........................................................3 Opinion.................................................4 Lifestyle................................................6 Classifieds...........................................8 Crossword..........................................8 Sports...................................................10

Advertising Sales Alyssa Alexander Ashley Bazile Destiny Moore Dylan Ritchey

Multimedia Editor Jackie Benitez oraclemultimediaeditor@gmail.com

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).

BY PHONE Main . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

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

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

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

Website: Facebook: Twitter:

T H E O R AC L E

The Index

Graphic Artists Destiny Moore Mark Soree

Managing Editor Miki Shine oraclemeditor@gmail.com 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 Accusations swirl as decision on student body president nears UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

News Briefs Adidas makes careless move after Boston Marathon

●

T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

3

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

A day after the 121st running of the Boston Marathon, which was held Monday, a mass email was sent out to runners from Adidas with a rather thoughtless subject line.

The line read, “Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!” This comes just four years removed from two pressure cooker bombs exploding near the race’s finish line. The attack It has been 48 days since the polls closed and Moneer Kheireddine (right) was elected student body president. After grievances filed by Ryan Soscia (left), Kheireddine was disqualified, but is now appealing. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE killed three and wounded hundreds. The athletic Logan Holland, of misconduct McDonald supporting Kheireddine’s they did call whose testimony was

By Miki Shine throughout their campaign. claim. considered and whose testimony company has since sent out M A N A G I N G E D I T O R In his appeal, Kheireddine In Holland’s rebuttal, he states wasn’t based on employment only an apology calling the word he current Student accuses Chief Justice Milton Llinas that Florida law does not require supported what others said. choice “insensitive.” The Johnson’s letter to the Dean also Government (SG) of bias for not recusing himself Llinas to step down, and that the email has circulated around presidential campaign when his roommate — Student action is left up to the individual included information not regarding social media, causing much has been engulfed in controversy Body Vice President Alec Waid — justice to be involved in hearing the alleged bribe, but rather the more controversy than throughout the election, which has served as Soscia and Holland’s legal a case. Additionally, he states that influence of conservative Super Llinas has sided against Waid in PAC Turning Point USA (TP USA) in only escalated after the votes were counsel.

Adidas intended.

T

MORE COVERAGE ONLINE

Kheireddine officially files appeal Read it at USFOracle.com

counted.

A decision on former Student Body President-elect Moneer Kheireddine’s appeal of his ticket’s disqualification is expected to be released Friday, but new information regarding conduct during the election is still coming to light.

A series of documents submitted in the appeals process accuse Student Body President- and Vice President-elect, Ryan Soscia and

He also argued that the statute his ticket was found in violation of, abuse of position, is vague as it could not be interpreted by the average student.

Finally, he accuses Soscia and Holland of witness tampering by bribery.

Former senator Chris Johnson, who was a volunteer for Soscia and Holland’s ticket for a portion of the campaign, submitted a letter to Dean of Students Danielle

the past.

He argues the appeal isn’t the place to accuse a statute of being vague and that Kheireddine should have gone through proper channels if he felt that way.

Finally, Holland calls the claim of witness tampering “absurd” and that Johnson’s testimony would have been irrelevant during the trial, so he was not called to the stand.

He claims the four witnesses

Soscia and Holland’s campaign.

The political action committee has been making moves into collegiate politics at Ohio State University, University of MarylandWisconsin and the University of Maryland through its “Campus Leadership Project.”

TP USA’s goal at the collegiate level is to influence student government races at universities across the country to elect

n See DECISION on PAGE 7

4

Opinion UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

EDITORIAL

When can we expect a president?

It has been 48 days since results of the Student Government (SG) elections were announced.

Still, no certified president.

A string of grievances and accusations flying from both tickets has caused this election to be dragged out much longer than it should have been.

Yes, the Senate approved a bill that would change the hours the Supreme Court can operate. But has that change made a difference in the timeline? It’s hard to tell.

It’s a broken system that needs renovation sooner rather than later.

The Oracle was originally told it would take four weeks to review the grievances, but it’s been nearly seven, and the winners of the popular vote, Moneer Kheireddine and Shaquille Kent, were disqualified a month and a half after voting closed.

For things to change that late is unacceptable.

And this is far from the first time the students have been left in limbo.

This is the third time in the last five years that it has taken more than three weeks for a student body president to be named following election results.

Part of the problem, specifically this year, is the amount of grievances that the court and Election Rules Committee had to comb through in order to declare a winner.

After Kheireddine was disqualified for violation of a major grievance on April 12, a decision that took 40 days to hand down, runner-up Ryan Soscia became the President-elect. However, an appeal to the Dean of Students is leaving the fate of each candidate up in the air.

Should that decision not be made, SG statutes state a ‘Selection of Last Resort’ would be made 10 days before spring commencement, which is far too close for comfort.

With a decision on Kheireddine’s appeal expected Friday, this is by far the longest students have had to wait to see who will be their voice for the upcoming year.

●

T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

O’Reilly Factor finally meets its end

Fox News ousted Bill O’Reilly after news of multiple sexual harassment complaints led to over 50 advertisers pulling sponsorship from the show. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

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

Bill O’Reilly’s two-decade reign as a misogynistic rabble-rouser on Fox News has finally come to an end.

After the New York Times exposed that Fox News had stood by O’Reilly after series of sexual assault allegations, sponsors began to drop like flies, leaving the station in a difficult predicament.

Drop its protégée or keep him, and gamble with losing all sponsorship.

“After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel,” the parent company of Fox News, 21st Century Fox, said in a statement.

O’Reilly has reached settlements totaling $13 million with five women who have accused him of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior.

Fox wasn’t fazed by the multiple accusations against O’Reilly. The possibility of having a sexual predator on staff was not a cause for concern.

After all, it’s not like this was the company’s first experience with the issue.

Last year, the chairman of the company, Roger E. Ailes, was ousted

after a sexual harassment scandal led to public outrage. This opened the floodgates, leading the company to settle two harassment complaints against O’Reilly, and then extending his contract.

But Fox, like every large corporation, defines its moral code by what earns and loses money. O’Reilly was considered an asset. He raked in funds for Fox with his loyal following, so it was willing to throw $13 million at the victims to get the problem to go away.

Then, when the public became aware of what was happening behind closed doors, Fox had to re-evaluate O’Reilly’s worth.

Over 50 advertisers pulled sponsorship from his show. The public began calling for his contract to be terminated. Women working for the company were furious and called into question the promises made by Fox after the Ailes scandal to maintain an atmosphere of “trust and respect.”

O’Reilly is of course denying the accusations. But the mere quantity of complaints, as well as the fact that Fox had settled so profusely with those involved, indicates there is more than likely truth to the accusations.

We cannot condone sexual harass-

ment. Hiding scandals behind closed doors will only blow up in a company’s face.

Fox should have learned this lesson after Ailes. But clearly it takes multiple punishments for the message to sink in.

Yes, O’Reilly had a dedicated following and replacing him might impact ratings for that segment.

However, Fox should not underestimate the loyalty of its viewers. Does the company really think O’Reilly leaving will cause its subscribers to begin to turn to NBC or CNN instead?

No. The conservative following that turns to Fox for its news will continue to tune in regardless of who is sitting behind that desk. The ratings may briefly dip, but they will not disappear.

Permitting a vile employee to remain under contract, however, will ensure the workplace environment is toxic. Inevitably, someone will talk and the doors will be blown open to the public.

If Fox values its viewers, it needs to start putting them first. That means placing value in the morals its viewers hold dear. When an employee violates those morals, that employee has to go.

Breanne Williams is a senior majoring in mass communications.

Bay Area joins international March for Science

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

By Breanne Williams A S S O C I A T E

E D I T O R

This year, Earth Day will not be celebrated with a typical tree planting or with a platitude from a politician to recycle more.

Instead, thousands will be donning lab coats and hitting the streets in an international demonstration to celebrate the scientific community in the U.S. and defend its role in society.

The main march is taking place in Washington D.C. on Saturday, with over 400 sister marches planned around the globe. One such march is being held in St. Petersburg at Poynter Park.

Students and community members alike are planning to attend to show their solidarity with the scientific community and urge the government to defend organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency and to continue to fight against global warming.

“The march is an opportunity for all people who support

science and scientific research to take a public stand and demand evidence-based policies at the local, state and national levels,” Ashley Souza, one of the march organizers, said. “We do not aim to push a single issue or data point. Rather, the broad message we are trying to convey is that a large majority of people supports scientific research, freedom of information, and evidence-based policies.

“Budget cuts, disappearing data sets, censorship of researchers, and threats to dismantle necessary governmental agencies harm us all, putting our climate, health, food, environment, and jobs at risk.”

The march is drawing more than just scientists.

Those who have concerns for the environment, doctors, teachers, activists, students and children have all pledged to stand up for the scientific community Saturday.

Jessica Thornton, a

sophomore majoring in creative writing and advertising, is the communications manager for the Tampa/St. Petersburg march. She said she hopes the marches will help increase the conversation about the scientific community and lead to issues like global warming being taken seriously.

“I care about the environment,” Thornton said. “There are other lives here besides ourselves and we are the ones doing the most damage to it. I think a lot of us hope to continue being here and to have a healthy environment for future generations and what we’re doing now is going to impact that regardless so I hope that we make that impact a positive one.”

The idea for the March for Science originally began on Reddit, where scientists began to post about the budget cuts to critical funding streams. As federal science data websites began to disappear, many began to voice their concern over the fate of the scientific community in the U.S.,

5

People are gathering across the world to show support for science.

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

according to the U.S. News and World Report.

A few suggested they should take to the streets, and soon an official march was planned.

“The March for Science is the first step of a global movement to defend the vital role science plays in our health, safety, economies, and governments,” organizers said on the march’s website.

The call for a march is quickly becoming routine after the booming success of the Women’s March on Jan. 21, which had between 3 and 4 million in attendance worldwide, according to Fortune.

For Thornton, USF is a great outlet for making change in the local area, which she said could

n See MARCH on PAGE 7

3

USF football predictions

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

Coming off the best season in program history, USF football is finally beginning to attract the attention and expectations it has craved since the Bulls won seven of nine to close the 2015 season.

The Bulls are sure to begin the season nationally ranked, season ticket sales are on the rise and Saturday’s spring game drew what the school estimates to be over 4,000 fans.

While many fans are expecting USF to return to national prominence like it was under former coach Jim Leavitt, most likely don’t know exactly how the Bulls will reach their destination.

With a new coaching staff headed by Charlie Strong in place and two of its most important offensive weapons off to the NFL, the 2017 Bulls are far from predictable.

After witnessing spring practices, scrimmages and the spring game, these are The Oracle’s fall predictions for USF football.

BY Vinnie Portell, Sports Editor VALDES-SCANTLING paced all other USF receivers on both the stat sheet and the highlight BREAKS RECEIVING reel. The senior receiver hauled in seven catches for 123 yards and RECORD(S) two touchdowns.

Playing alongside Rodney Adams last season, caught 22 passes for 415 yards and five touchdowns. Valdes-Scantling served as a dangerous outside weapon that forced defenses to pay attention to both sides of the field.

Adams benefitted with a season in which he tied his own record for the most receiving yards (822) in school history and broke the record for most receptions in a season (67).

Why it will happen: With Adams graduated and primed for the NFL Draft, Valdes-Scantling steps up as the No. 1 option for quarterback Quinton Flowers in 2017.

In the Bulls’ spring game on Saturday, Valdes-Scantling far out-

USF’s receiving corps is deep this season, but Valdes-Scantling represents the best option in what the coaching staff has described as an even faster offense than it was in 2016.

Why it won’t happen: All things considered, 822 yards and 67 receptions aren’t outlandish numbers to shoot for, even if the Bulls are deepest at the receiver position than any other unit.

There are several options for Flowers this season, and if he finds a rhythm early with another receiver such as Deangelo Antoine — the expected slot receiver replacement for Adams — then Valdes-Scantling could struggle to get enough touches to compete with Adams’ records.

MACK AND WATTS WILL BE BEST FRESHMEN

On established teams with veterans littered throughout the roster, it can difficult for freshmen to earn playing time, let alone make an impact.

In 2016, freshmen didn’t play a major role in USF’s record-breaking season, but tight end Mitchell Wilcox and defensive end Kirk Livingstone stood out and contributed all season long.

Mack: Despite depth at running back in 2017, the departure of USF’s other Mack to the NFL opens up opportunity for the redshirt freshman.

While Mack will likely start the season behind seniors D’Ernest Johnson and Darius Tice, it wouldn’t be unlikely to find Mack getting significant snaps at the end of games.

In USF’s annual spring game on Saturday, Mack was the lead back for the winning Green team and had the most touches of any running back. On 14 attempts, he rushed for 60 yards.

With both Johnson and Tice gone after 2017, USF will have to find replacements for both its lead and secondary running backs.

6 It would be smart for the Bulls to have an experienced player waiting in the wings, and after a spring that had coaches raving, all signs point to it being Mack.

Watts: Ranked as a 4-star recruit and the third-best safety in Florida in his recruiting class, Craig Watts redshirted last year, but looks to add some sorely needed athleticism to a Bulls defense that was the team’s Achilles heel in 2016.

Even though he’s yet to see game action, Watts has already made an impression on the practice fields. Coaches tried him as both a safety and defensive back this spring in an attempt to find more ways to get him on the field.

Despite there being several talented veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, expect Watts’ talent to earn him ample playing time this fall.

OFFENSIVE LINE WILL BE BULLS’ WORST POSITION GROUP

It’s tough to knock an offensive line that helped block for two of the best rushers in school history in Quinton Flowers and Marlon Mack,

n See PREDICTIONS on PAGE 9

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

DECISION

Continued from PAGE 3

conservative students, according to a report by The Ohio State Lantern.

“That ‘student leaders’ conference that Ryan and Logan went to in December and bragged about on Facebook? A Turning Point USA event, where they met their future financial contributors,” Johnson wrote. “The ‘family friends’ giving them killer deals on T-shirts and yard signs? Shell companies set up by Turning Point to get around campaign finance regulations.”

Soscia could not be reached for comment.

The conference Johnson mentions refers to a TP USA conference held in Palm Beach, where Soscia and Holland were photographed with Ohio State candidates Mary Honaker and Carla Garcia, who were found to be supported by TP USA, according to The Lantern.

In his rebuttal, Holland says TP USA is a student organization —it does have a chapter at USF that was officially founded this semester, according to a confirmation letter from TP USA’s national headquarters obtained by The Oracle — before bringing up Johnson’s past as a student and as a former senator being driven largely by encouraging divestment on campus.

Regardless, withholding information from the ERC or the Student Government Advising, Training and Operations is a major violation.

Both Holland and Johnson said Johnson’s volunteer work with the ticket ended after hearing its views on divestment.

Paige DePagter, Soscia and Holland’s original campaign

MARCH

Continued from PAGE 5

impact the larger community over time.

“The number one thing, at least for me, is to stay aware of what’s going on,” Thornton said. “Be informed about things that are actually happening. We’re in the era of fake news so make sure you know what’s actually going on to our planet or whatever cause you care about for that matter.”

The march takes place Saturday at 10 a.m. in Poynter Park. The Facebook event page for the Tampa/St. Petersburg march has over 1,700 people pledged to

manager, also submitted evidence against the ticket to the Dean. In her letter, she states that she left her position after the first week of campaigning when she wrote that she “saw a side of Soscia and Holland that I did not want to believe existed.”

DePagter wrote that, prior to departing, she received and was copied on correspondence with Alex Chorak, leadership director at The Campus Leadership Project, which included discussing a budget with the ticket and logo designs.

She provided copies of these emails with her letter to the Dean and to Student Rights and Responsibilities “due to the nature and severity of the crimes.”

When called, Chorak hung up on The Oracle and sent subsequent calls directly to voicemail.

One of the emails from Chorak to Soscia and DePagter states the budget was taking longer to be approved because “it is roughly three times what the majority of schools are.”

“I am trying to explain that it is due to the importance, competition and the relative size of the school,” the email continued.

On Soscia and Holland’s expense report turned into SG, they claim to use a company called Underground Printing for T-shirts, tank tops, yard signs and A-frame vinyls. However, an email submitted into evidence

by DePagter from Underground Printing employee Chris Barkham states the company did not have an order under Soscia or Holland’s name.

With a formal decision expected Friday, the swirling controversy will soon come to an end. Due to the drawn-out process of reviewing evidence, Friday’s inauguration is slated to be moved to either Wednesday or April 28. attend, with another 2,800 saying they are interested in going.

Charlie Crist has announced he will be attending as well. Souza said the march aims to show “in the most public way possible” precisely how many people support science, not just in the U.S., but also across the world.

“We want our local march to give people the opportunity to celebrate the impact of science in our community, to meet local scientists and learn about their work, and to show our politicians exactly how much we care,” Souza said. “Science benefits every single person living on this plant, we cannot move forward as a civilization without it.”

7

8

Classifieds

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

To place a classified ad go to FURNITURE

●

T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SERVICES OFFERED

Swim Instructors: FT/PT multiple Tampa area locations. $12-$15/hr apply at www.sharksandminnows.com (800) 511-7946 or Fax (407)699-8103

Looking for a job, make sure you Stand Out! Looking to get a job while in school?

Graduating soon and wanting to start your career?

HELP WANTED IT HELP NEEDED 813 909 1956

BEAN BAG CHAIRS - FREE NEXT DAY SHIPPING - MADE IN THE USA. FACTORY DIRECT - THE MOST COMFORTABLE PLACE TO SIT ANYWHERE. WWW.COZYSACK.COM Please contact us at cozysack@gmail. com with any questions.

Crossword

Sales Associate / Asst Manager Looking for sales associate/asst manager for retail woman’s clothing store At University Square Mall Email traffic434@yahoo.com

Our Ultimate Career Seminar will give you the tips, techniques, and confidence you need to ensure you gain an advantage over your competition. Presented by seasoned HR Professionals, who put their years of experience to work for you.

Seminar is on Saturday, June 10 at the LeMeridien Hotel in Downtown Tampa.

Sessions at 8am or 2pm.

Coupon code EB10 will save you $10 off registration.

Visit www.UltimateCareerSeminar.com for more information and to register!

Email jjuchnevics@standouthr.com Barbershop 8775 N. 56th St. Temple Terrace All haircuts $10 813-605-4722 Ricardo

●

T H E O R AC L E

SECOND CHANCE Continued from PAGE 10

those boys go out there and win, it made the process a little easier,” Tice said.

“It sucked to not be able to be out there making plays myself, but it was also a blessing in disguise. I was able to look from a different perspective of the game to see what’s going on. Things that you can’t necessarily see while you’re in the game yourself.”

To go along with rehabbing his own injury, Tice was placed in charge of all the players who suffered injuries during the regular season according to coach King.

“He’s turned into one of the leaders, and he’s always in a good mood,” King said.

But now, with no more stress of not knowing if he’d be able to play again, Tice got to work.

Tice excelled in spring practices, as well as in the spring game on Saturday, rushing for 59 yards on seven carries.

To go along with his personal success, Tice has served as a familiar face, and an older mentor to younger running backs Trevon Sands and Elijah Mack in the spring, as the Bulls have an almost entirely new

PREDICTIONS Continued from PAGE 6

but this unit could be a cause for concern for USF. The Bulls lose their starting left guard and center from 2016 in Jeremi Hall and Cameron Ruff, respectively.

Why it will happen: Replacing two seasoned starters is no small task, and if spring practices were any sign, the Bulls will have their hands full. With Mack now gone, the offensive line will have to be better than ever. Countless times, Mack turned what should have been a loss into a first down, and relying on Johnson to replicate that is expecting too much.

Throughout the spring, USF’s offensive line was sluggish and clearly struggled to adjust to offen-

coaching staff.

Known for his power running, Tice will step into a bigger role this season, as the Bulls will look to implement more power running between the tackles, according to offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert.

Playing with fellow running back D’Ernest Johnson, Tice said that the Bulls can maintain their high-power run game from last year that ranked fifth in the NCAA in rush yards per game, despite losing starting running back Marlon Mack to the NFL Draft.

Tice only has one math class left to complete before he graduates in May. Whether it be his efforts on the field, or his veteran presence on the sideline, the Bulls are thankful to have Tice back for another year.

Just seven months ago, Tice dreamed of once again running out through the tunnel at Raymond James Stadium with his teammates.

But on Sept. 2, when USF hosts its home-opener against Stony Brook, those distant dreams will turn into a blissful reality for the fifth-year senior.

“When you get another shot like Tice did, you naturally appreciate everything a bit more,” King said. “You learn to enjoy the moments while you’re here.” sive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert’s even more up-tempo play style.

Learning and adjusting to a new offense always takes some time, but USF’s offensive line can’t afford to struggle while it protects the Bulls’ most valuable commodity.

Why it won’t happen: USF has had significant turnover on the offensive line over the past few seasons, and it hasn’t suffered because of it. With dynamic runners in Flowers and Johnson still in the backfield, the offense will still put up similar numbers as last season.

USF plays an almost embarrassingly easy schedule next year, and so its offensive line won’t face the Power-5 behemoths who have given the Bulls trouble in the past.

9

USF partners with company of Lightning owner Jeff Vinik

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

Athletic director Mark Harlan announced Monday that USF would be partnering with Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

By Josh Fiallo A S S T .

S P O R T S

E D I T O R

Athletic director Mark Harlan announced Monday that USF would be partnering with Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties, LLC (TBEP), to enter into a 10-year multimedia rights partnership starting July 1.

The agreement grants TBEP the right to exclusive naming rights for the USF Sun Dome and all USF owned inventory related to audio, television, print, social media and game entitlements.

USF will make a total of $29 million through the 10-year term, an average of $2.9 million per year.

The rights agreement also states that the only time either party can opt out of the contract is within the six months following the 5th year of the deal.

TBEP is owned by Jeff Vinik, who also owns the Tampa Bay Lightning, which was ranked the No. 1 franchise among the four major professional sports leagues by ESPN in 2016, largely for its fan engagement.

The partnership will also aim

to provide educational opportunities through integration with USF’s Sport and Entertainment Management program that may include shadowing and internship opportunities within TBEP, as well as hosting speaking engagements on campus.

Tampa to host 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First & Second Rounds Amalie Arena will be the host site for first and second round games in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in March of 2020.

USF will be involved in coordinating the event as the “host institution,” and will provide both guidance and resources in everything from event management, and media coordination to marketing and community involvement.

Changes continue for men’s basketball roster Former USF guard Michael Bibby Jr. announced through his personal Twitter account on Sunday night that he is transferring from USF. Bibby joins six other schol-

arship players – Malik Fitts, Ruben Guerrero, Luis Santos, Geno Thorpe, Yito Alvarado and Bo Zeigler - who opted to leave the program following the Bulls 7-23 record last season.

New head coach Brian Gregory now has only four scholarship players on the active roster and one walk on.

Unofficially however, the Bulls should have support coming next season.

Two graduate transfers from Penn State - Payton Banks and Terrence Samuel - are reported to join the team in the fall, as well as Stephan Jiggets, a graduate transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

The trio of graduate transfers will bring Division I experience to a Bulls roster that currently has only two seniors, who neither of which played any minutes in the 2016-2017 season.

Currently, Gregory’s lone non-transfer signing of the 2017 recruiting cycle is Justin Brown, a 6-foot-6 guard who played last season at the Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, where Brown led the Tigers to a 43-2 record.

10

Sports

Tice gets second chance UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

The Rundown Outside USF

People close to Hernandez believe he was murdered

Aaron Hernandez, the former tight end with the New England Patriots, hanged himself in prison on Wednesday, according to authorities. However, Hernandez’s agent, Brian Murphy, isn’t convinced that his death was by his own hands. In a tweet, Murhpy said, “Absolutely no chance he Hernandez took his own life.

(Hernandez) was not a saint, but my family and I loved him and he would never take his own life.” Along with Murphy, Hernandez’s lawyer, Jose Baez, believes that it was an inside job by either another inmate, or prison worker.

Hernandez was serving life in prison for murder prior to his death.

Weekend sports schedule Men’s Tennis AAC Tournament When: Thursday, 9 a.m.

Where: USTA National Campus, Orlando

Baseball

USF (29-7, 5-4) @ Memphis (21-6, 3-6) When: Friday 6:30 p.m.

Where: FedEx Park

●

T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

Fifth-year senior prepares for final season with USF after his collegiate career nearly ended with a broken ankle in 2016

By Josh Fiallo A S S T .

S P O R T S

L

E D I T O R

ast September, Darius Tice’s collegiate career appeared to be all but over.

With USF trailing 45-14 in the third quarter against FSU on September 24, 2016, Tice went to ground to receive a low pass from Quinton Flowers.

In his slide to catch the ball, Tice’s right leg got caught under his body, causing his 210 pounds of body weight to force down on his ankle, fracturing it, and ending Tice’s season.

The senior running back worried if he would ever be able to suit up for USF again.

“I was afraid,” he said. “I didn’t want my college career to end like that. I didn’t really know what was even going to happen at that point. I was laying down on the bed thinking, ‘Dang, this is for real.’”

In the four games Tice played in 2016, the 5-foot-10 power back scored two touchdowns, and rushed for 223 yards on 32 touches, putting him on pace to have his best season as a Bull.

It wasn’t until the next week at practice that Tice was told he could possibly receive a medical redshirt – a waiver that would give him another year of eligibility to play football for USF, if granted.

Tice immediately applied, then played the waiting game.

“I just put it in God’s hands, and told myself I’ll be fine,” Tice said. “I took the mindset of ‘everything will be alright,’ instead of a negative one, and I just kept praying.”

Tice recalled asking athletic trainers Steve Walz and Yuriy Chulskiy every day for weeks if he had qualified for the redshirt yet, finding no luck each time.

On Feb. 15, he received the news he had been dying to hear since September.

“The one time I come in and don’t ask them about it, they look at me and tell me, ‘Congratulations, you got the redshirt,’” Tice said with a laugh.

“I was so happy when they told me; I almost ran home. My Mom, my Dad and everybody in my family were so happy too. Everybody had been praying for it.”

Finally, Tice had what he had been praying for — a second chance.

“At that age, you never really think about the end. You never really think about what happens next,” running backs coach Shaun King said. “When you get injured like that, and you think it could be all over, it gives you a lot of time to be introspective and kind of take a look at the big picture.”

For Tice, just knowing that he hadn’t yet played his final

collegiate game was an indescribable feeling.

“When I got hurt I didn’t think about my college career possibly being over at first,” Tice said. “I was just hurting, and thinking about how I wouldn’t be able to finish the rest of the season to help the team.”

Often heralded as the life of the team for his up-beat and friendly personality, Tice stayed positive even while sidelined for the rest of the year.

“It hurt having to watch from the sideline, but at the same time to see

n See SECOND CHANCE on PAGE 9

Darius Tice

ORACLE FILE PHOTO/JACKIE BENITEZ

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E

11

12

T H U R S DAY, A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

●

T H E O R AC L E