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and we're pleading with Sunshine...

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and we're pleading with Sunshine...

for a game on their local broadcast stations. ::)

Hopefully our days are not too far away when we may have a choice of moving days for televisions.

TAMPA - South Florida and Pittsburgh officials are in discussions to move their Sept. 4 season opener to Labor Day, Sept. 6, to be televised on ESPN.
If the game is moved it would start Monday afternoon, around 4 p.m.

``I think it's 50-50 right now,'' USF associate athletic director Tom Veit said. ``It's a national television game and would be a lead in for the Miami-Florida State game [on ABC Monday night]. There are a lot of positives and we would probably be inclined to do it.''

If the game is moved from 7 p.m. Saturday, it could hurt USF's attendance.

``There are some concerns about that,'' Veit said. ``We have to look at how it affects our fan base.

``We hope to get this resolved by next week. Coach [Jim] Leavitt will be in on the decision process. It's not a done deal, by any means.''

It's unknown whether Pittsburgh favors the move. Panthers AD Jeff Long could not be reached for comment Monday. ESPN and the Big East Conference are in favor of the move.

If the game is moved, both teams would have short weeks of preparation for their Sept. 11 games - USF hosts Division I-AA Tennessee Tech, Pittsburgh hosts Ohio.

USF already has one national TV game this fall - at Louisville Oct. 22 on ESPN or ESPN2.

``As a growing program and next year when we'll be in the Big East, these situations will happen more often,'' Veit said.

USF coach Jim Leavitt could not be reached for comment.

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