* Tampa resident Tony Dungy, the esteemed former-NFL-coach-turned-NBC analyst, is back in the news. Earlier this summer he voiced reservations about drafting Michael Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay player. It was because of Sam’s potential to be a distraction, Dungy explained. He was roundly criticized.
Now Dungy says he would not draft FSU’s controversial quarterback Jameis Winston, still the focus of an investigation into FSU’s handling of sexual-assault charges, and make him the “face of a franchise.” He’s not being criticized this time.
* USF’s best effort to date was last Saturday’s competitive loss on the road to nationally ranked Wisconsin. The Bulls weren’t intimidated by playing in front of 78,811 loud UW fans, which was more than the combined attendance of USF’s four home games at Raymond James Stadium.
* The Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics wants school leaders to request an override vote on recent NCAA legislation giving the five power football conferences more autonomy–including paying athletes stipends in addition to scholarships. COIA, which is chaired by USF’s Michael Bowen, contends that the cost of stipends will likely result in cuts to nonrevenue sports. Bowen is an instructor in the Department of Management & Organization in the College of Business.
* It was a disappointing season for the Rays–at the turnstiles as well as in the win-loss column. But while the team finished last (30th) in average attendance (17,858), it did finish first in Major League Baseball affordability–of tickets, parking and concessions–according to the rankings of ESPN The Magazine.
It was the fourth time in eight years, that the Rays have finished first in affordability–an ironic distinction when that’s not nearly enough to gin up attendance.