Birmingham Bowl botches USF’s name on official T-shirt
The University of South Florida football team recently played in what might have been the game of the season against rival UCF and is preparing for its second consecutive trip to the Birmingham Bowl.
Still, no respect.
On Tuesday, the bowl’s official online merchandise store was selling T-shirts with the words South Florida University in all caps below the bowl logo and an image of a Bulls helmet.
After the mistake was recognized, bowl officials were quick to issue a response:
We have recently been made aware that there is a graphic misrepresentation of a T-shirt on the Birmingham Bowl Merch Site. Please rest assured that the T-shirt had not been produced, and the image is now being corrected. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
— Birmingham Bowl (@Birmingham_Bowl) December 5, 2017
Official #BirminghamBowl shirts get USF's name wrong: https://t.co/Yijkyu2lzi #BullStrong pic.twitter.com/lVCMyBA7mv
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 5, 2017
Remember, it’s not as if USF wasn’t in the same game last season, beating South Carolina 46-39 in overtime.
Or in 2006, when the game was known as the PapaJohns.com Bowl, and beat East Carolina, 24-7.
Bulls fans can rest easy, though – the mistake was corrected.
Update: It's been fixed! #BullStrong pic.twitter.com/5N6tuFQ9Om
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 5, 2017
Not surpisingly, social media had its say:
Meanwhile, no coaching drama, for now, at #USF. But Bulls fans can pick up a snazzy “South Florida University” Birmingham Bowl shirt, in time for the holidays. pic.twitter.com/ksWZbl8maj
— Dan Lucas (@WFLADan) December 5, 2017
We appreciate the Birmingham Bowl’s swift response in correcting an error by an outside vendor producing bowl merchandise, which occurred without the pre-approval of USF or the bowl. We accept the bowl’s apology and look forward to another fantastic game on Dec. 23. https://t.co/6S1c7q4Ewm
— USF Athletics (@USFAthletics) December 5, 2017
The Birmingham Bowl is clearly thrilled to have USF...or SFU, whatever. pic.twitter.com/dh6BShQqUx
— Commod⚫️re Brian W. Fx - Bearcats Sports Radi (@BearcatsRadio) December 5, 2017
YALL HAD ONE JOB @Birmingham_Bowl⁉️ pic.twitter.com/2HFzbhSlOz
— natty (@ndaboo) December 5, 2017
USF (9-2) faces Texas Tech (6-6) on Dec. 23 in the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on ESPN.
Mike Garbett: 941-745-7011; @MGarbett52
This story was originally published December 6, 2017 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Birmingham Bowl botches USF’s name on official T-shirt."