In the late part of last football season, I decided that I wasn't going to shave until USF football lost. It was December, and their only game was the bowl game against Clemson, which they dominated. So I decided to keep it going and not shave until the Jets were out of the playoffs. They ended up making it all the way to the AFC championship game. Sadly, I had to part with the facial growth, but I decided that it would definitely become a recurring thing. So what better time to do it than whan USF has a chance to make some magic? I'll catalog my playoff beard days until the next time USF basketball loses.

Freshly shaved, I got out of bed with only two responsibilities for the day: Watch Big East basketball and go to the USF Baseball game. The day started off as expected, with Seton Hall beating Providence and Connecticut beating DePaul. Then things got awesome. USF Men's Basketball coach Stan Heath won the Big East Coach of the Year award yesterday after improving a dismal 10-23 team to one that has a shot at the NCAA tournament for the first time in two decades. Personally, I think the award is well-deserved, but there are many people I've talked with (mostly Cincinnati fans) who believe Cincy coach Mick Cronin was more deserving of the title. At least we can all agree on one thing: It isn't Jim Calhoun. Anyway, things took a turn for the even better when #15 seed Villanova demolished #10 seed Rutgers in the late game. I had said just before the game that I was hoping not to play Rutgers because they were currently hot and our game against them was too close to be confident about.

Confident in my playoff beard so far, I entered the USF baseball stadium to see the Bulls take on Jacksonville University. And if you've read my past posts, you know how I feel about USF baseball. I wasn't expecting much, but I was hoping maybe USF could pull together and finally beat a team from the state of Florida. What I got was an 8-0 thrashing of the Dolphins, thanks to a large set of JU errors that I'm pretty sure I could have played properly. The only complaint I have from the night is that whoever is the USF scorekeeper for these games should be fired immediately because that person clearly does not understand baseball.

So not a bad first day for the playoff beards. But tonight is where it counts. USF Softball plays a doubleheader against Central Michigan, beginning at 5; Baseball plays the last of this two game series against Jacksonville at 7; and of course USF Basketball takes on Villanova at 9 PM. If anyone needs me or my facial hair, we'll be at World of Beer or Lee Roy Selmon's tonight watching the Bulls make their run for the tournament.

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