TAMPA, FL. At USF hope springs eternal – hopefully.

After months of waiting, the majority of the Bulls’ fall sports teams are preparing for their 2020 seasons…in 2021.

“It’s an interesting challenge,” said USF men’s soccer head coach Bob Butehorn. “It’s definitely unique and we don’t have any experience in it.”

Teams were allowed to train and build up intensity for a season during the fall months. But it’s been a different pace for different sports, particularly soccer.

“It’s been like a year since some of our girls have played the game,” USF women’s soccer head coach Denise Schilte-Brown said. “We’re doing a lot of managing of our intensity and managing our bodies because they are going full tilt. They went from nothing to full tilt.”

“At least being able to have the ability to be out there and train and enjoy each other’s company and try to get better – we take that as a positive and we’ll just keep moving on that,” said Butehorn.

The challenge is even greater when you’re starting over. USF alum Jolene Shepardson was hired just over a year ago to lead the volleyball program.

“The building process through the fall was really fun for me,” said Shepardson. “I got to work with my new young team. I got to know the returning athletes a lot better. It was good for them to get that repetitive practice. They could get used to my level of expectation and the lifting schedule was a little more intense.”

Expectations are high, especially on the pitch. Women’s soccer is the reigning American champs, and the men are coming off an AAC semifinal appearance.

“That’s been bubbling and that’s not just because of COVID,” said Butehorn, who recently saw two players get drafted in the 2021 MLS Superdraft. “We are ready to take that challenge because we are built now.”

“We’re not having to do as much motivating for them to give the same level of energy as we would for a regular season,” said Schilte-Brown.

These teams know nothing is guaranteed in the age of COVID. But as each day comes and goes, there is a growing feeling that this time around, games will be played. And the level of gratitude will be evident in the way these Bulls perform.

“COVID has really put in our face the sacrifices we have to make as a team sport or any sports working together,” said Shepardson, who has the Bulls 2-0 entering Friday’s match vs. FGCU.

By working together, and staying safe, these fall teams will move Bull Speed Ahead into their spring seasons.