USF Selected to Play in Las Vegas Classic The Bulls will join UNLV, Mississippi State and Santa Clara at the Orleans Arena, Dec. 22-23, 2013

TAMPA, FL (Tom Zebold, USF Staff Writer) – The USF men’s basketball team’s 2013-14 schedule now includes a business trip to Vegas. 

The Bulls will take part in the 2013 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic that takes place at the Orleans Arena Dec. 22-23. The Classic field includes UNLV, Mississippi State and Santa Clara with the bracket being announced at a later date. The Classic also consists of all four teams playing two on-campus games that will be announced at a later date as well. 

USF has never faced UNLV or Santa Clara is program history. The Running Rebels went 25-10 last season and made it to the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive time. Santa Clara (26-12) won its second postseason tournament title in the past three seasons by getting past George Mason in the College Basketball Invitational Championship. 

The Bulls will resume their series against Mississippi State that began on Dec. 10, 1971 with a 90-77 road loss. USF hasn’t faced the Bulldogs since losing, 86-82, in Mississippi on Jan. 10, 1974. Mississippi State went 10-22 last season. 

Tickets for the Bulls’ two games in Las Vegas can be purchased through the USF Ticket Office by calling 1-800-GoBulls. Tickets will be available at the Orleans Arena box office starting at noon on May 3. Tickets also can be accessed online at www.orleansarena.com. Contact the Orleans Arena box office with questions at 702-284-7777 or 888-234-2334.

(via USF Football Press Release) - University of South Florida QB B.J. Daniels was selected 237th overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He becomes the Bulls 11th NFL Draft pick over the last four years, which is the second most of any team in the BIG EAST. Daniels is the third Bull drafted in 2013 after Kayvon Webster was selected in the third round by the Denver Broncos and Sam Barrington went five picks before Daniels in the seventh round.

“What a great day,” Daniels said. “I’ve worked so hard to get to this point and I’m just happy the 49ers felt I could help their team. It’s a great franchise and I’m going to try and contribute in a way that will help them continue winning. I’ve had a lot of support and just want to thank all of the people that stuck with me and had my back through this whole process. It’s a dream come true.”

With the selection, Daniels became the first USF quarterback to be drafted into the NFL and is the first offensive player to be taken since 2010.

Daniels played in 47 games, starting 42, during his career with USF. He completed 649-of-1,132 attempts for 8,433 yards and 52 TDs, while rushing for 2,068 yards and 25 TDs. His 8,433 passing yards rank third on USF’s all-time list and his 52 TD passes are tied for second. Daniels finished third all-time in BIG EAST history with 10,501 total yards and fifth in TDs responsible for with 77.

TAMPA, FL (USF Communications) – University of South Florida head women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez and head men’s soccer coach George Kiefer have signed contract extensions, USF Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Woolard announced on Friday. Fernandez’s contract will now run through the 2017-18 season, while Kiefer’s has been extended through the 2017 season. 

“Jose has taken our women’s basketball program to new heights under his leadership, including last season’s trip to the NCAA Tournament,” Woolard said. “George has built our men’s soccer program into a national power that is competing not only for conference championships, but national championships. We’re excited to see both of them continue to build off of their success in the coming years.” 

Through 13 years as USF’s head coach, Fernandez turned a team that had never been to the postseason into a perennial contender. The Bulls have qualified for postseason play in nine of the last 10 seasons, including USF’s only two NCAA tournament appearances. 

Fernandez, who is the program’s all-time leader in victories, gave USF its first national championship in 2009 when the Bulls topped Kansas for the WNIT title. He topped that in 2012-13 by picking up 22 wins (including his 200th-career victory) and leading USF to the brink of the Sweet 16. USF beat Texas Tech in the first round of the tournament before losing overtime to California, which went on to the Final Four. USF’s win over Texas Tech was the first NCAA Tournament win in USF women’s basketball history. 

Boasting a 211-195 overall record, Fernandez’ Bulls hold a .569 winning percentage over the past five seasons, including a pair of 20-win seasons in 2008-09 and 2012-13. Fernandez is responsible for seven of USF’s 10 winning seasons in the last 35 years, and is the only Bulls’ coach to win at least 19 games, accomplishing the feat six times. 

“I am very grateful for the opportunity that Athletic Director Doug Woolard and President Genshaft have given my staff, players and I,” said Fernandez. “We have unlimited success in front of us here, with incredible facilities in the Muma Center and a brand new arena in the Sun Dome. I look forward to what is ahead for our program and expect to make our University and the city of Tampa proud. My goal is to contend for conference titles, and as a result, position this program to compete for national championships.” 

During Kiefer’s 11 seasons at the helm of USF men’s soccer, the Bulls have reached the NCAA Tournament seven times, including each of the past six seasons. He has also led the program to two of its three Elite Eight appearances in 2008 and ‘11. 

Kiefer led the team to a pair of Big East Red Division Titles in 2005 and ‘11 as well as a Big East Tournament Title in ‘08. 

With a record of 123-62-32, Kiefer ranks second in USF soccer history in terms of career victories behind Dan Holcomb. During his tenure, he has guided the Bulls to seven seasons of 10-or-more wins and five with 13-or-more victories. 

The Bulls have performed their best against some of the nation’s top competition, posting a 28-20-5 record against ranked opponents under Kiefer. 

He also guided the Bulls to the nation's longest home unbeaten streak, a stretch of 30 games without a defeat at the USF Soccer Stadium. Overall, USF has been nearly unbeatable at home with a record of 74-17-15 under Kiefer. 

A total of 43 all-conference selections have been honored under Kiefer as well as 19 NSCAA All-South Region selections, a Big East Offensive Player of the Year, four Freshman All-Americans, three Conference USA Freshmen of the Year and three NSCAA All-Americans. 

In addition, Kiefer’s teams have been stellar in the classroom. The Bulls have received the NSCAA Team Academic Award four times, in 2003-04, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. Two of his student-athletes, Zak Boggs and Francisco Aristeguieta, earned the BIG EAST Conference’s highest academic honor, the BIG EAST Male Scholar Athlete of the Year following the 2008 and ’09 seasons. Kiefer has led four Big East Scholar Athlete Award winners and a COSIDA Academic All-American. 

“This is a credit to the strong staff we have at USF, the student-athletes and the great support of our fans,” said Kiefer. “We’ve had a strong run up to this point and we’re inches away from winning a national championship. We look forward to continuing to build on the success we’ve had and I’m extremely excited for what’s to come for this program.”

TAMPA, FL (USF Communications) – The University of South Florida will play home-and-home football series with the University of Wisconsin and the University of Maryland, USF Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Woolard has announced. USF will visit Wisconsin, who has appeared in three consecutive Rose Bowls, on Sept. 27, 2014 with the Badgers making a return trip to Tampa on Sept. 16, 2017. The Bulls will host Maryland on Sept. 6, 2014 and travel to play the Terps on Sept. 19, 2015. 

“We are pleased to be able to add quality Big Ten opponents in Wisconsin and Maryland to our football schedule,” Woolard said. “They should be outstanding opportunities for our football program as well as attractive games for our fans.” 

The 2014 non-conference schedule consists of home games against Western Carolina (Aug. 30), Maryland (Sept. 6) and N.C. State (Sept. 13) along with the trip to Wisconsin (Sept. 27). 

“This is the type of schedule we want to have here at USF,” said head coach Willie Taggart. “We want to challenge and prove ourselves against top competition. We think it is important to play these types of non-conference games not only for recruiting, but also to excite our fan base and for the continued growth of our program.” 

A member of the Big Ten, Wisconsin has had a tremendous run over the last three seasons, posting a 30-11 record and earning trips to the Rose Bowl in each of those seasons. This will be USF’s first meeting with the Badgers. Maryland  is currently a member of the ACC but will move to the Big Ten for the 2014 season. The Bulls will face a familiar foe as Randy Edsall just finished his second year with the program after spending 12 years as head coach at UConn. The 2014 game will also be USF’s first-ever match-up with the Terps.