(This is continued from an article that appeared in The Minaret on Nov. 30 in reference to USF’s Sun Bowl bid)

This isn’t fair. Seriously. I want a football team. I don’t want to adopt USF or UF as my team.

I want somewhere to go on Saturday afternoons to scream and yell with 65,000 other people.

Volleyball, baseball, basketball and the rest of UT’s sports are great. But they aren’t football. They are highly successful programs and I’m extremely thankful for them.

But come on. Look at USF’s success just a decade after their program started. There is clearly a market for football in Tampa still.

Spartan football used to be a powerhouse in the Southeast. Now, it’s non-existent.

Great athletes like Freddy Solomon and John Matuzak are icons in the Tampa region. They had successful careers at UT and went on to greater things in the NFL. Matuzak was a top pick in the NFL draft.

Thousands of students, staff and community members used to watch games at Philips Field. I have looked through past Moroccans (the UT yearbook) and found countless pictures of the horseshoe-shaped stadium filled with adoring fans.

Cheerleaders, star athletes and booster clubs dominated campus. Today, our South Tampa location is dominated by “whatever” students who aren’t exactly thrilled at the aspect of NCAA tennis. I love tennis. But it’s still not football.

College football is expensive. But what price can you put on school spirit and an atmosphere of passion?

Start a club football team. We have a facility to practice and play. Hire a coach. Register with SAO and SG and the intramural office. Request funds from SG and get it going. Play club teams (there are a ton in St. Pete) and create a legacy that will build a powerful UT football program from the ground up. Be a part of something great.

In 30 years, come back to UT for the homecoming game against defending National Champion USF. You will be able to say, “I started this program. It was a lot of work, but I did it.”

- Peter Arrabal