a parade, and a carnival (called Carni-BULL), all leading up to the football game that weekend. Before USF's football team was founded, homecoming took place in the spring semester and led up to a basketball game.
==== USF Week ====
In 2009, Tampa mayor and USF alum Pam Iorio declared April 9 as USF Day. The celebration has evolved to include the entire week of April 9, and features events including a pep rally, talent show, battle of the bands, a birthday celebration for Rocky the Bull, and Bullstock, a music festival which features multiple artists and is opened by the winner of the battle of the bands competition the day prior.
==== Alma Mater ====
The university alma mater was composed by USF professor of music Wayne Hugoboom in 1960. The song was the result of a campus competition, for which Hugoboom won the first-place $250 prize. The alma mater was first used in 1961 and can be heard at the opening of every USF Commencement Ceremony. It is also played by the USF Herd of Thunder marching band and Rumble …
