There were green-and-gold balloons, members of the school's band setting a spirited tone and a full dais of dignitaries Wednesday when USF held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its $22-million Indoor Performance Facility on the east end of campus.
Why was it a big deal?
Rewind to Tuesday's football practice.
"Our current players and former players will tell you there are countless occasions when we're practicing when lightning strikes 10 miles away and we have to go inside,'' USF football coach Jeff Scott said at Wednesday's ceremony. "It happened again on Tuesday. We got an hour in during a big week of practice and we had to go inside.