Biggest Big East Fan: Challenge Number Two

Volvo's Biggest Fan of the Big East contest has begun the second challenge of the contest and this one is perfect for me. For this challenge "Pick five or more things that you HAVE to do when you return to your Alma Mater-places to see, best bars, best food, cool places on campus, etc." For those who know anything about USF and Tampa, we have the greatest places to visit ( you can check out our first challenge here in case you missed it somehow).

I'm very fortunate to live close to USF, but when I visit for games or other events held on campus, there are a few places that are a must see for me. For those who went or still attending USF, these places hold a special heart, for those who don't, prepare to learn that USF and the Tampa area is the best.

While the rest of the Big East conference freezes in the cold, heading back to USF and sunny Florida looks a little something like this. I can hear how jealous you are from here.

With the warm weather, sunshine, and beaches just minutes away from campus, heading back to USF is the ultimate alma mater trip. There is nothing better than rolling your windows and cruising the open roads heading back to the greatest campus around in the world.

One of the greatest restaurants around. If you know anything about anything, you will stop here!

The first thing I have to do and anyone that visits USF is get something to eat. Tampa is known for is wide variety of restaurants, but there is one just minutes away that holds a special place in the hearts of all USF students and alum and has the best food for miles around.

Mr. Selmon did so much for USF and the city of Tampa.

Lee Roy Selmon's - Mr. Selmon is an icon not only to USF, but to the Tampa Bay community in general. The former NFL legend became the AD at USF, bringing football to the school and was part of the process of USF joining the Big East conference. He recently passed away after battling illness, but his legacy lives on, not only on the field but in his incredible restaurants that are dotted throughout the bay area.

I can hear your stomach growling from here, don't worry, I understand.

Lee Roy Selmon's is all about Oklahoma BBQ, nothing in the world can come close to that. The best item on the menu (there are no wrong choices of course) is the Mile High Pulled Pork Sandwich with the incredible Lee Roy Selmon home made BBQ sauce (I can hear you drooling right now over it). Add that with a side of sweet potato fries and a frosty beverage, plus the big screen TVs showing the USF Bulls winning another game, there is no place like Lee Roy Selmon's. On my return to my alma mater, I will make sure to stop here to get my favorite sandwich, but not to worry, I won't get any stains in the Volvo S60 when driving back to USF though!

If you are craving another style of food that is walking distance from the campus, then Mr. Dunderbak's is the spot. The iconic German restaurant and bar was once located within the University Mall, right next to the campus. But they soon realized they needed more room and expanded to a location right behind the campus and among all of the college apartments (best location in the world).

If you have never been to Mr. Dunderbaks, then you have not lived.

Mr. Dunderbak's is one of the best places around the entire Tampa area. There are large benches where you can sit next to strangers and strike up conversations. They carry authentic German cuisine and have over 400 types of bottled beers and over 55 craft beers on tap. There is live German music on Thursday nights, plenty of TVs all around to keep up with any game on (only USF of course), and many other events. Mr. Dunderbak's has a very laid back atmosphere, a perfect place to grab lunch or visit after a long day at work or school. I can't wait to stop back in here on the way back to USF and have a helping of pommes frites (German fries) and a frosty beverage.

The Marshall Center is the student union on campus, including On Top of the Palms Restaurant.

But if your looking for something a little fancier, you don't even have to leave campus for that. On Top of the Palms is an upscale restaurant right inside the student union of USF, the Marshall Center. When I was a student, the Marshall Center was a small building with only a few places to get fast food and a basement area with a small study space. However, the new Marshall Center, 230,000 square feet in size, has everything from a Beef O'Brady's, multiple restaurants, and even a pharmacy! On Top of the Palms sits on the third floor, overlooking the the beautiful campus. There is a full buffet of incredible food and all located right on campus.

So after eating, it's time to go have some fun, even though driving around campus in a Volvo S60 is more than fun!

Right next to USF is Bush Gardens, a theme park known its wild life attractions and roller coasters. I have fond memories of owning season passes, getting out of class, heading to the park and riding a roller coaster before heading back to class in the afternoon. Name another school where you can do that!

Is there anything better than strapping into a roller coast like Cheetah Hunt, zooming along at 70mph, and having the time of your life? Well, maybe behind the wheel of a powerful car like a Volvo S60, but this is as close as you can get to that. Bush Gardens is only a few minutes from the campus, with the roller coasters visible from nearly any street in the area.

At the Yuengling Factory you can learn about the oldest brewery in the USA and also have a few samples along the way.

If roller coasters aren't you favorite thing (must be something wrong with you), another great place to head over to is the Yuengling Brewing Factory. Established in 1829, Yuengling is the oldest brewery in the USA . They opened the factory in Tampa in 1999 and it has been a landmark attraction since opening its doors.

There are free guided tours that show you the process of brewing the frosty beverage, including the history of the company, and a few free samples along the way. The factory is a great way to spend an afternoon and its free, the ultimate dream for a college student.

So after big meals and taking in the sights, it's time for a night out and the Tampa area is known for its nightlife. Two of the top places to go on a weekend are Peabody's and MacDinton's.

So many fond memories of Peabody's, a place that everyone has to experience at least once in their lifetime.

Peabody's, located behind the campus is a well known party spot for USF students and alum. It features 4 bars, pool tables, music, beer pong tournaments, and plenty of televisions throughout. Peabody's is one of the busiest places on the weekends and it a spot I can't wait to visit when I return.

Another favorite place to visit, although not exactly right around the corner is MacDinton's Irish Pub. While it is not within a walking distance of the campus (around 15 minutes away) it is a favorite place for all USF students and alum to visit. MacDinton's is located in the SOHO district of downtown Tampa. It is hot spot for restaurants and great night life, but MacDinton's is the best out of all of them.

MacDinton's is one of the best night life scenes in the Tampa area.

MacDinton's has a large bar inside, serving everything from your favorite drinks to traditional Irish food. On weekends, there is live music outside on the deck and great drink specials all evening long. It is a great place for friends to gather after a long week or in my case, a place to reunite with friends as we reminisce about the good old days! The great part about MacDinton's is its central location to a ton of other bars and nightlife areas. Dubliner, Corner Bar, The Rack, and others are some of the best places around to have a great time and enjoy the night.

So what else could I do when I return to Tampa for my alma mater weekend. There seems to be something missing from the list, I covered great bars, restaurants, and attractions in the area, what am I missing?

What makes Tampa and USF so great, hmmm....

What could I be missing? It seems so simple, why can't I remember what makes USF the best to visit and makes my alma mater the best?

While your digging out of the snow, I will be soaking up the sun on the beach.

Oh yes, that's right, Tampa and the state of Florida is all about the beaches. For those who live on the west coast of Florida, the Gulf beaches are the best in the world. From Indian Rocks all the way to Clearwater and down to Long Boat Key, the Florida beaches are the best around for someone who went to USF or returning for their alma mater weekend, a short trip over one of the bay bridges is worth the it to soak up the sun. For you other Big East schools, you have great campuses, but awful weather during this time of the year and being in the cold is not that fun. Kicking back by the beach under a palm tree, I think anyone would take this over anything!

There is nothing better in the world than returning to USF and hanging with the greatest friends and family like this!

So there you have it. These are some of the places I will be stopping in my return to my alma mater. There are so many choices to pick from for the ultimate trip, but these are a few that are on top of the list. Like the picks, think there are others we could all pick from? Share your thoughts. Thanks again to Volvo for allowing me to be part of this fun challenge.