Since USF's teams are known as the Bulls, they might as well go all in and make it real. That's exactly what CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins did late Tuesday afternoon when he tweeted that USF has arranged for a live bull to be at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night for USF's regular-season finale against Rice.
No bull.
Well, actually, yes bull.
Bulls Nation, we heard you wanted a live bull at our games, so we hit up our friends @PBR on this collab to help make it happen at this Saturday night’s home game! Can’t wait to see how this goes & then we can determine what may be possible for our new on-campus stadium in 2027.… https://t.co/azTLfQQKSY
— Rob Higgins (@RHiggins_USF) November 25, 2025
Higgins pulled it off through a partnership with Professional Bull Riders and it might not be a one-time thing. Higgins said USF will entertain the idea of making it a part of the games at the on-campus stadium that opens in 2027.
Now, before the University of Texas snickers that USF is co-opting the Longhorns' live mascot Bevo, know this. USF was already pretty good at this mascot thing. Its beloved mascot Rocky The Bull -- a human in a bull costume -- won the 2013 Capital One Mascot Challenge.
What this does is take it to the next level.
And, yeah, USF "may" have co-opted the Texas bull horns raised fingers salute. They need to get over it.
Besides, a live bull and the horns up salute are light years better than what USF had when the Bulls first ventured into intercollegiate athletics. They were known then as the Golden Brahmans, named for The Order of the Golden Brahman.
That was explained as a group that "represents individuals who hold the ideals and interests of the University of South Florida and its surrounding community. We are both student and alumni leaders, working together and collaborating to lead the USF community, promote campus engagement, and increase our personal knowledge through group development, all while having ambitious purposes."
That's obviously good, but illustrating it on the side of a football helmet would be a challenge.
Oh wait. USF didn't have football back then.
But the Bulls have a good one now, along with a cool "horns up" logo on the helmet, a national champion human Rocky, and now a real bull set to make an appearance.
Now, all USF needs to do is ink a home-and-home series with Texas so we can settle, once and for all, who wins the coveted title of coolest mascot.
Pssst, Rob Higgins. Are you listening?