Fans get popcorn, courtesy Ferrari
Frankie Ferrari’s split-second decision at Cal last week has enabled USF fans to get their popcorn ready for the Dons’ game against Eastern Washington on the Hilltop on Thursday night.
USF will give each fan a bag of popcorn as a tribute to Ferrari’s grab of a few pieces of the snackfood staple during the Dons’ 79-60 romp at Haas Pavilion on Dec. 5.
“I had an alum actually email me the promo and I thought he created it himself jokingly,” the point guard said Wednesday morning. After USF assistant athletic director Matt Fontenot told Ferrari that the promo was indeed legit, “I thought it was hilarious,” Ferrari said.
The Dons surely were in a good mood with about 5½ minutes left in their rout at Cal. They were up by 26 as Ferrari drove down the right side of the lane and then found Jordan Ratinho in the left corner for a three-pointer.
“I threw it out to Jordan,” Ferrari said, “and got tripped up and ended up in the first row. … Looking to brace myself, I put both hands out on the seats, and my left hand, I think, ended up in this lady’s popcorn. And I thought, ‘Why not?’ ”
The Pac-12 Networks telecast captured that basketball-culinary moment on a replay that has gone viral over the past week.
“Once I ate the popcorn,” Ferrari said, “I was focused on getting back on defense as fast as possible so Coach wouldn’t get on me.”
Head coach Kyle Smith hasn’t had much reason to get on Ferrari or any of his teammates. Ferrari ranks third in the WCC with 6.6 assists per game, and the Dons are 8-1, their best start since the 1999-2000 team went 12-1.
Ferrari realizes that the Dons’ success makes the popcorn clip easy to swallow, so to speak, but said he very well might have made the same food move if, say, Cal was ahead in that game and/or USF had losing record.
“I’ve always tried to have fun with basketball,” Ferrari said. “I think people tend to take it a little bit too seriously. I think if you’re not having fun, then you’re not playing the right way.” Briefly: Former Cal guard Shantay Legans is in his second season as Eastern Washington’s head coach. The Eagles are 1-6. … USF will celebrate the 60th birthday of Memorial Gym at halftime of Sunday afternoon’s game against Cal State Fullerton.