From #10 to #10,000: USF Football alum makes Life Member history

Feb. 6, 2025
By Molly Urnek

In 2023, as Jonathan Ross watched from the field for the last time as the clock counted down in Raymond James Stadium, he knew his time with USF was far from over.

What the former Bulls defensive end didn’t know was that he would soon be the face of a milestone for the university: the USF Alumni Association’s 10,000th Life Member.

“I was very blessed for the opportunity to represent USF in this aspect, outside of playing football,” Ross says. “I was very honored and felt so much support and love from the university.”

Ross had previously played football at Bowie State University in Maryland, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. He came to USF to earn a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and continue his athletic career. After graduating in May 2024, Ross set out to build a team of his own. 

Trading his #10 jersey for Life Member #10,000, Ross joined a group that mirrors the excitement he felt about USF on the field and multiplied it tenfold. Some of USF’s most engaged fans, Life Members are alumni and friends dedicated to supporting the university by growing scholarships, fostering student success and developing community relationships.

“Our Life Member program represents some of USF’s most committed supporters, and Jonathan is a wonderful example of that pride and passion,” says Bill McCausland, MBA ’96, Life Member, vice president and executive director of the USF Alumni Association. “It’s no coincidence that the growth in Life Membership since its inception in 1990 mirrors USF’s amazing upward trajectory. Great alumni and friends are critically important in creating great universities.”

Life Members enjoy access to exclusive discounts and offers, but Ross values the intangible benefits even more. He treasures the connections he has made at Life Member events, such as the spring Life Member Appreciation Baseball Game and the fall Life Member Welcome Home Party during Homecoming. These high-energy gatherings have an easy, welcoming camaraderie that fosters relationships among members.

Ross enjoys the fun-loving community and values the support system he can rely on as a Life Member.

“You're around people who can help you get to where you want to be,” he says. “You’re finally in the rooms you’ve wanted to be in; being a Life Member helps get you in the door.”

With 10,000 members and counting, the group’s impact has a powerful ripple effect. Life Members have helped support almost $8 million in scholarships, leadership programs for USF students and recognition for alumni achievements. 

Those opportunities to give back, while plugging into a network built on strong bonds, were central to his decision to invest in a Life Membership.

“As a member, I always have people who want to see me succeed,” Ross says. “I always have a group of people who have been through some of the same things that I've been through, and I’ve been able to show people how to get through difficult things, too.”

He was encouraged to join by a fellow Bull, Suzanne Ward, ’86, Life Member #1516. She has been to every football game in the 27-year history of the Bulls program, missing only one when Raymond James Stadium was closed to fans during the pandemic; undeterred, she finagled her way into the other stadiums that season working as team staff. Ward became fast friends with Ross’ mother as they hid from the Florida sun while waiting for the gates to open at the 2023 spring game. They subsequently spent every game together, home and away, until Ross graduated.

“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if a #10 football player became our #10,000 Life Member?’” Ward says. “The Life Member program is a way to bond with people throughout the years of USF, so why not have a representative who is well loved, respected, soft-spoken and just plain nice?”

When she proposed becoming a Life Member to Ross and his mother, it was a no brainer.

“I wanted to be more connected, and one thing Suzanne showed me when I was there for the Life Member Homecoming tailgate was how we are such a community, how we all come together for events and how we support each other,” Ross says. “There was no doubt I was going to join.”

He did — and became Life Member #10,000.

Being a Life Member led to Ross meeting his current financial advisor, and the connections he’s made have helped catapult his business ventures, one of which is owning and operating vending machines in his Maryland hometown. 

As he continues his professional football journey as a defensive end for the Indoor Football League’s Bay Area Panthers, Ross knows he will always have a green and gold fan — or 10,000+ of them — cheering him on.