USF turns football game with UAB from "homecoming" into "home-giving"

Everyone in the Tampa Bay region understands what a rough stretch it has been going back to August when Hurricane Debby caused flooding and beach erosion along the coast.

Helene soon followed, bringing major flooding to parts of Tampa, and all that was followed by the main event – Hurricane Milton. It was the strongest storm to hit Tampa in more than 100 years.

Against that backdrop, USF is about to play a football game against UAB at Raymond James Stadium. When balanced against the damage inflicted by the trifecta of climactic chaos, a football game might seem trivial.

I’ll say upfront that I don’t generally buy the narrative sports pundits sometimes spin that a game will help an affected area “heal” from Mother Nature’s wrath.

Many people here are trying to rebuild their lives after losing their homes and belongings. It would be a stretch to say those folks care about the outcome of this game.

However, USF is making this game relevant beyond whatever happens on the field, so what’s happening there really will be part of the healing process for a wounded area.

"In one way or another, these hurricanes have affected all of us in the Tampa Bay region, and we are proud to offer our support to all those affected," USF Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly said.

"Our community is strong. I know we can make a significant impact to help those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene by working together. Together, we will rise!"

This was supposed to be USF’s homecoming game, but that was changed to next month because of Milton. Now, instead of homecoming, USF has turned it into a home-giving to support those throughout the community most in need.

And, who knows? Maybe USF could make "home-giving" an annual thing. We know there will always be a need for what outreaches like this can provide.

For now, though, the school partnered with Feeding Tampa Bay to address a desperate need by those most impacted by the storms. Fans who brought at least three shelf-ready food items received two tickets to any home game for the rest of the season, including this one.

They requested canned goods, dry goods, and supplies like disinfectant wipes, hygiene items, trash bags, and wrapped plastic utensils.

USF also launched the “Tampa Bay Strong” t-shirt sale, with 100% of the sales earmarked to help students affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

I ordered mine right away.

I have lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 50 years and have experienced my share of tropical storms and hurricanes, but Milton made them all look like gentle summer showers.

Earlier this week, we noted the 35th anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake that caused severe damage and shut down the World Series. I was there for that calamity, and it was awful.

However, Milton was worse.

Maybe a football game will give people a little piece of normal, and that’s good. In this case, though, the greater good is what USF is doing off the field.

This is one time when we really are all in this together.